Hello Autumn in Paris : Your 5-Day Magical Journey - Day One
While so many launch straight into the Christmas spirit on November 1st, decking halls, lighting candles, and queuing up carols, I prefer to linger here, in the richness of now. Autumn still has so much to say if we’re willing to listen. Out in Bretagne, the trees are only just beginning their performance… gold, amber, and russet leaves 🍁 unfurling against soft gray skies. The air carries that unmistakable hush between seasons, when the world seems to exhale.
This is my favorite kind of beauty: the quiet, lingering kind. The kind that asks us to slow down and notice. With Thanksgiving and other seasonal gatherings still ahead, I like to think of November as a month for presence - a pause before the sparkle. If you’re seeking a haven from the early commercialization of Noël, you’ll find it here on my Instagram and blog.
I won’t be sharing Paris Christmas content until the final week of November. Until then, we’ll be celebrating the deep comfort of autumn — good food and recipes, the art of savoring, and what I call my seasonal equation: abundant patience + presence = peace.
So, welcome to your Free Five-Day Paris Autumn 🍁 Itinerary.
Each day offers a themed exploration of the city… time-stamped, address-ready, and filled with ideas to help you experience Paris (or your own hometown) through a slower, more intentional lens.
Let’s begin with Day One: Shopping for Cozy Sweaters & Scarves in the Marais.
Because sometimes, the truest form of luxury is simply dressing warmly, walking slowly, and remembering that we don’t have to rush toward joy — we can inhabit it.
𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗙𝗶𝘃𝗲-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗻 🍁 𝗜𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆, Day ONE.
Saturday, September 23rd is the first OFFICIAL day of autumn 🍂 and I seriously could not be happier. To help celebrate, I am putting together a super autumnal Paris itinerary. Each day has a theme, time-stamps & addresses, so you can easily use any or all of these ideas!
Day One: Shopping for Cozy Sweaters & Scarves in the Marais district, Paris.
9 AM - Breakfast at Le Pain Quotidien (@lepainquotidienfr) I like this organic bakery because there's indoor/outdoor seating, the food is fresh and not too heavy, and there are options for every palette, including vegetarian, affordable, relatively quick, and open 7 days a week. I enjoy their salad bowls, ginger juice, detox shots, and deviled egg and avocado toast on hemp bread.
18-20 Rue des Archives
10 AM - The frips should just be opening up now, so walk a block up to Rue de la Verrerie, which then changes into Rue du Roi de Sicile. But don't worry about that. Just stay on this street to discover all the unique second-hand stores. I find the BEST cozy sweaters here for fantastic prices. The on-trend F/W 2023 cardigans, university dark academia vibes, and Fair Isle sweaters are perfect to be shopped here.
Fav frips include:
The King Of Frip, 33 Rue du Roi de Sicile
Mamzelle Swing, 35 bis Rue du Roi de Sicile, 75004 Paris
BHUMI, 28 Rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris
FREEPSTAR, 22 Rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris
TILT VINTAGE 8 Rue de Rivoli, 75004 Paris
THE ROOM, 14 Rue des Écouffes, 75004 Paris
12:30 PM - Whew! Let's stop for a bite to refuel and recharge. Le Loir dans La Théière is the most charming, cozy space to enjoy their homemade quiche, salads, & weekend brunch amongst the theater posters, murals & mismatched chairs. Save room for their epic pies!
3 Rue des Rosiers, 75004
2 PM - Let's stretch our legs and search out a new French perfume or autumn candle, more great clothing stores, and visit a favorite park, Place des Vosges. The leaves will be falling, and the red brick square is so romantic!
Head a block and a half up to Rue des Francs Bourgeois and take a right. Pop into any store that catches your fancy as there are a TON of fantastic French brands along this street. Place des Vosges is straight ahead, an easy two-block walk.
After snapping all the autumnal pics, backtrack up Rue des Francs. We're making a big loop, and I am working you back towards our starting point.
Plus, there are a ton more shops you shouldn't miss along that street, including Uniqlo. Be sure to go upstairs and check out the hidden room in the far left - there are often micro collections only available in Paris.
As you approach the Archives Nationale, take a moment and pop in here. Trust me, it's worth it. There's security, but don't worry, they want to check your bags because this is the national archives.
What you want to see is the hidden park, because it's the PERFECT spot to rest, with no cars, no people to bump into on the street, sit for a moment and enjoy the beauty of the space. It's SO romantic and perfectly Parisian. Access via a little hidden gateway in the upper right corner.
Before you take a left on Rue des Archives, note that my favorite Paris chocolatier is on that same corner, Patrick Roger. If you like chocolate or you are shopping for gifts, you MUST head in here.
43 Rue des Archives, 75003
Shop the street until you end back up where you started, at the bakery. Almost directly across from the bakery is @bhv. Pop in here to grab whatever you feel is missing - they have a great selection of gloves, hats, and scarves on the ground floor. Oversized, cozy blanket scarves are on trend!
If you're not weighed down with too many bags, finish the afternoon by visiting the front of the magnificent Hotel de Ville and drop down to the River Seine for a walk along the river.
