Since March 2020, life in Paris has changed. These have been tough times for us all, so whether you’re stuck in your tiny Parisian apartment or had to cancel your travel plans, we could all use a touch of that magical Parisian ‘joie de vivre’. Here are 7 ways to bring some of that special only-in-Paris feeling into your home, wherever you may be.
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With the Coronavirus outbreak causing the capital city to shut down, it seems like no one can really take advantage of what makes Paris so wonderful. But, believe it or not, there are plenty of ways to bring la vie parisienne to us!
Whether you can’t leave your Parisian apartment or had to cancel your trip to Paris, here are our Top 7 Ways to Cope with Confinement with a healthy helping of Parisian charm.
1. Enjoy a Night at the Opera de Paris in Your Own Living Room
Et oui! To keep us cultured and Covid-free, the Opera de Paris has been sharing shows online since the lockdown in March 2020.
Check the Opera’s Official Website and Facebook page for rebroadcasts of operas and ballets as well as unique one-time-only live online performances.
2. Take Virtual Tours of Parisian Monuments & Museums
Bien sûr it’s not the same as actually being there, but we can still visit many of Paris’s most famous museums and monuments from home. Click the links below to discover these top spots chez vous.
- Virtual Tour of the Eiffel Tower
- Virtual Tour of the Louvre
- Virtual Tour of the Musée d’Orsay
- Virtual Tour of Sacré Coeur
- Virtual Tour of the Grand Palais
- Virtual Tour of the Opéra Garnier
- Virtual Tour of the Château de Versailles
- Virtual Tour of the Monnaie de Paris (in French)
- Virtual Tour of the Espace Dalí
Or read about our Urbansiders’ experiences at Sacré Coeur, the Opéra Garnier, and the Espace Dalí.
3. Get your Fill of Paris Pictures on Insta
As we all try to stay social while practicing social distancing, a lot of us are relying on les réseaux sociaux. Social networks, especially Instagram, offer a great way to bond, exchange, and escape.
If you’re missing Paris and want images that will have you seeing la vie en rose, here are a few of our favorite Paris Instagram accounts to follow:
- @parisjetaime
- @visitparisregion
- @seemyparis
- @aparisianmoment
- @theglitteringunknown
- @margauxbrugvin
- @pariswithlanden
- and of course, yours truly, @urbansiderparis
Have your own Paris pictures and stories to share? Use #urbansider on your Instagram posts to share them with our community or submit a story for our website!
4. Shop Online at One of Our Favorite Parisian Boutiques
Although the stores may be closed, you can still shop online to get that chic Parisian style and support local creators.
For lovers of la mode, read our reviews of The Frankie Shop, Koshka Mashka, Sézane, Merci, Erotokritos, or Matières à Réflexion to see which style suits you and to find the links to their online boutiques!
If you’re after Paris prints, gourmet jams, beauty products to get that French girl glow, or hand-painted Paris handbags, you can always still shop the Urbansider Boutique! Bon shopping!
Paris-themed scented candles from Kerzon will have you feeling like you’re enjoying a nice day in a Parisian park!5. Read Books About Paris
Paris has been the setting for so many stories that it’s très difficile to narrow it down to a manageable list. But we’ll do our best, sharing a selection of our favorites that are available en anglais and in digital format.
Whether you love classic literature or are looking to learn more about the city itself, reading these books will have you imagining yourself strolling along the Seine and enjoying a café en terrasse.
Classics Set in Paris:
- Notre Dame de Paris, Victor Hugo (free for iOS)
- Bel Ami, Guy de Maupassant (free for iOS)
- Le Fantôme de l’Opéra (The Phantom of the Opera), Gaston Leroux (Kindle & free for iOS)
- Chéri or Claudine à Paris, Colette (Kindle & iOS)
- The Early Diary of Anaïs Nin, Anaïs Nin (Kindle & iOS)
- A Moveable Feast, Ernest Hemingway (Kindle & iOS)
Paris Guides & Stories of Paris Today:
- The New Paris, Lindsey Tramuta (Kindle & iOS)
- Bright Lights Paris, Angie Niles (Kindle & iOS)
- L’Elegance du Hérisson (The Elegance of the Hedgehog), Muriel Barbery (Kindle & iOS)
- Me Talk Pretty One Day, David Sedaris (Kindle & iOS)
- The Sweet Life in Paris, David Lebovitz (Kindle & iOS)
Looking for more recent reading material about the City of Lights? Here are our Top 5 Best Books to Read If You’re Missing Paris.
6. Listen to Paris Podcasts
If we won’t be hearing the bruit of the bustling city for a while, we can at least fill our ears with tales of Parisian life and interviews of those who make Paris such an incredible place. Ecoutez one of these English-language podcasts all about Paris and Parisians to pass the time while confined!
7. Watch Movies Set in Paris
A setting adoré by film-makers and film-lovers alike, Paris has been the beautiful background of so many great movies over the years. Take advantage of this time to turn down les lumières, make some popcorn, and settle in for an hour or two of Paris at its dreamiest.
- The Intouchables (2011), French, Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano
- Midnight in Paris (2011), English, Woody Allen
- Amélie (2001), French, Jean-Pierre Jeunet
- Moulin Rouge (2001), English, Baz Luhrmann
- Funny Face (1957), English, Stanley Donen
- An American in Paris (1951), English, Vincente Minnelli
Funny Face, 1957, Stanley Donen © Paramount PicturesDid you manage to do everything on our list before the end of the lockdown? Well, why not write up your favorite memories of Paris or your experience of Paris under confinement? We’d love to hear your histoires! Click here to submit your stories to Urbansider.
Editor’s note: Article originally published March 19, 2020. Updated November 20, 2020 to reflect new virtual programmes and visits.
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