How To Plan A Month In Paris
How To Plan A Month In Paris
Staying for a month in Paris is a dream and one we were able to accomplish this summer with proper planning. Today I am sharing how to plan a month in Paris, so you can make this dream happen. And, once you do get that apartment booked, check out my top 10 essential tips for visiting Paris.
This has been on our bucket list for so many years and after doing it last year for a month in July we knew it needed to become a yearly tradition if possible.
In case you’re wondering how we did this with work. I work on the blog full-time and am able to be remote. Plus, Paris content is what drives my blog so it only makes sense. My husband is also remote and received approval to do this while in Paris.
Which Month To Stay In Paris
For us, staying in Paris during the summer works best due to London’s school schedule. Of course, going in the off-season would be the most economical. This year we decided to stay during the month of June.
Last year, when we stayed for the month, we went in July. This month tends to be a bit warmer and it also does get a bit more crowded in July with tourist season in full swing. Plus, with the Olympics taking place in Paris this year, July wasn’t an option due to cost.
However, the big advantage of going in July last year was that London was able to attend a summer camp. The French school system doesn’t get out until the first of July, so there were no camps available for us during June this summer. However, Paris is full of activities for kids so that wasn’t a problem.
What Kind Of Budget Is Available For A Month In Paris
Obviously, budget is a big factor to consider as well. You will need to budget for your apartment and food, entertainment, shopping, and day or weekend trips outside of Paris.
Paris is the kind of city where it’s easy to get sucked into sitting down at a café for afternoon wine or evening apéro, so always plan more than what you think you are going to spend on food and dining out.
You can do Paris on any kind of budget but I would say keep in mind things you don’t plan on budgeting for. We ended up needing to buy an additional fan for our apartment, then we bought other random things like house shoes and extra socks, and of course, we shopped.
Also, keep in mind you will need to buy things for the apartment as well. Toilet paper, laundry detergent, hand soap, etc.. if these things aren’t provided or you run out. All of these items can add up so make sure to budget for these as well.
Decide Which Arroindissement You Want To Stay
Since we were already familiar with Paris, we knew specific areas where we preferred to stay for the month. We also knew areas we didn’t want to stay in for the month, and we preferred not to stay on the Right Bank.
For us, being close to Jardin du Luxembourg, our favorite cafés like Les Deux Magots, and Le Bonaparte were also important. This is also a central location to other places we like to visit as well. Easy access to the Louvre, Museé d’Orsay, and the Tuileries.
Decide what things you want to do, what you want to see, and where you think you would feel most comfortable. Also, remember the correlation between where you are staying and how long it will take to walk or ride to specific places.
Reach Out To Find An Apartment
Finding an apartment is the other big hurdle to figure out when trying to stay a month in Paris. Last year we stayed in an apartment we found through a friend who lives in Paris. This summer the apartment was unavailable so we went through a rental agency, Haven In.
We had a very specific arrondissement we wanted to stay in, Saint Germain-des-Prés. I reached out to the agency requesting to see apartments in this area within our budget.
Thankfully, they had the perfect apartment for the 3 of us on a great street, Rue Bonaparte. Down the road from our favorite cafés and a great place to stay. The agency was wonderful throughout the month, picked us up from the airport, provided a cleaning service during the month, and was available anytime we had questions.
Our apartment was quaint and quiet, and we looked out into a beautiful courtyard. Apparently, Karl Lagerfeld lived in the building at one point, also.
There are several agencies you can go through such as, Paris Perfect, Haven In, VRBO, the Plum Guide, and Guest Apartment Services. My IG friend Julie also rents out her apartment as well.
You just want to make sure wherever you are renting from, it’s a reliable source and they will provide assistance if needed during the month’s stay. Also, something to keep in mind, when you are looking at the apartment description, you need to see if there’s an elevator for the apartment.
If there isn’t an elevator, find out how many stairs you will be climbing to your apartment because you will be carrying groceries and other things up and down.
What To Do For Kids For The Month
The city offers plenty to do with kids, it’s just a matter of how old your children are and what they want to do. I do suggest pushing them outside of their comfort zones and trying new things, eating new things, and seeing new things.
Start Making Appropriate Reservations
Everyone’s agenda will be different when staying in Paris for the month. We did not want to schedule in advance a lot of dining reservations because we wanted to see where the day would take us.
However, if there are certain restaurants you must eat at during your stay, I highly suggest making reservations before you go.
Also, if you are doing day or weekend trips of any kind and need hotel reservations or train tickets, you will also want to get those ahead of time as well.
During the month, we visited Burgundy with friends, went to Provence for a few days, and immersed ourselves in daily Parisian life. We saw fireworks at Versailles, had a private cooking class, picnicked in the Luxembourg Garden, went to the Petit Palais, and visited our favorite restaurants and museums.
Transportation
If you plan on riding the metro during your month stay you will want to buy the Navigo for a month, it’s around 84 euros. We did this the second day we were there and it paid for itself within a week.
It’s a card you will use to access riding on the metro and it’s a big advantage not having to buy a new metro ticket for every ride.
We also used G7 several times to schedule taxi rides when we needed to be somewhere specific at a certain time, like the airport or train station.
Before You Go
Obviously, before going to Paris for a month there are a lot of things to do at home. Make sure passports are up to date, mail is stopped, pets are taken care of, and phone plans are up to date for international travel.
Also, don’t forget to pack adaptors and other essentials you may need. Of course, you can buy anything you might forget.
Staying for a month in Paris can be easier than it seems with the proper planning ahead of time. This was absolutely one of the best experiences and months for all of us and one we plan on doing again.
I enjoyed a few days in Paris in early April…when it was off and on rain …(and wearing my Brooks Brothers trench)… prior to boarding a Uniworld cruise west on the Seine on SSJoie de Vivre ( highly recommend). Like you, I chose an area close to Les Jardins de Luxembourg , and the small Hotel Andre Latin at the corner of Rue Gay-Lussac and Rue Saint Jacques ( excellent breakfast with opportunity to take a bit extra for a lunch snack). I walked and walked , enjoying the gardens, the winding my way through streets towards the Seine , with so many small antiquarian shops and galleries, then was rewarded with views of Notre Dame. As a mid 70’s woman, with just enough French from 🇨🇦schooling, I felt safe ( near university area) and had no worries asking for help along the way a couple of times. People were very gracious. I found local bistros for my evening meals. I know a bit about Paris from former visits , and it’s quite different from your type of stay, but it worked for me. I looked through the rental sites you suggested, Noelani, and perhaps another time. Thanks for sharing your “ month in Paris “ .
Great article! Last year I went to Paris and stayed on Rue Bonaparte at the Hotel Villa St Germain across from Laduree and it was the perfect location! I’m with you, I love it there and would love to go back someday for a month in an apartment on that street!
Oh yes, I know precisely where that hotel is located—such a perfect location. Here’s to staying in Paris for a month one day 🙂
Thank you for reading,
Noelani
Do you use Airalo and have a French eSIM or how did you handle the cell phones?
Hi Liz. I use my international plan from Verizon; however, those are both great options! I tend to use a lot of data so I just do one lump sum with Verizon for the month.
thank you for this incredibly detailed guide on planning a month-long stay in Paris. This post has definitely inspired me to start planning my own Parisian adventure!
I’ve been waiting for you to post about the details of planning your month in Paris! However, I was really hoping you would provide more specifics about the costs, particularly around lodging. I get that you were able to avoid going through an agency to rent your apartment, but for those of us who dream of a trip like this, some actual numbers would have been helpful.
Are there things you packed for a month-long stay that you wouldn’t pack for a week-long stay (besides the amount of clothes)? I know you bought beauty/personal items once you got there. Thanks!