Exploring Paris: 17th Arrondissement

If you're looking to get off the tired tourist path see the "real" Paris, you should definitely take a day to explore the 17th arrondissement of Paris.

The 17th arrondissment of Paris contains several neighborhoods, each unique in it's own right, and all brimming with beautiful architecture, amazing restaurants, markets and shops, local hot spots, and good dose of the Paris hipster scene.

Ready to explore?

Stop 1: Place de Clichy

Place de Clichy is a great place to start your exploration of the 17th district of Paris.

Explore the little streets next to the square, and you'll find tons of cool little bars, restaurants and cafes that are less "typical Paris tourist trap" and more Paris local chic.

Stop for Apéro or lunch at the straight out of pinterest The Little Italy caffe aperitivo (https://www.thelittleitaly.fr) and observe Parisiens (and Parisiennes) in their natural habitat.

Stop 2: Take a stroll down Boulevard de Courcelles to Parc Monceau

In the mood for a French picnic? Hit up a Fromagerie, Boulangerie and a wine shop to stock up on all the frenchie goodness, and take a stroll down the beautiful Boulevard de Courcelles to one of the most beautiful parks in Paris, Parc Monceau.

During your stroll down Boulevard de Courcelles, make sure to take note of the beautiful French architecture on both sides of the boulevard.

Maybe take a minute to smell the roses at Au Nom de la Rose on the way. (https://www.aunomdelarose.fr/)

Take a break at Parc Monceau.

Note: I did this little exploration on a Sunday, which apparently was mistake. Because the neighborhood is more local and less touristy, almost all of the shops, and Parc Monceau, were closed (as is French Sunday tradition), so unfortunately I wasn't able to go inside.

However, I can promise you it's absolutely not to be missed, and will update pics on my next visit. In the meantime, make sure to visit the 17th on a Saturday or weekday so you can enjoy it to the fullest.

Stop 3: Soak in some Sacredness at Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Whether you're a cathedral junkie or not, you'll definitely want to check out this beautiful landmark. Just a quick stroll from Parc Monceau, Cathedrale Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky was the first Russian Orthodox place of worship established in Paris in 1861. It's an absolutely beautiful sight, and tucked away on a quiet, empty street, which makes you feel like you might have just stumbled on treasure.

Note: The cathedral is only open to visitors three times a week, on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m, so if you want to take a look inside (which you do) plan accordingly.

Stop 4: Arc de Triomphe

One of the most famous landmarks in Paris is just another short stroll away from the Cathedrale Saint-Alexandre-Nevsky, so don't miss it.

The only downside? You'll have to deal with the hoards of basic tourists fighting for their perfect selfie...but it's a beautiful landmark you'll definitely want to add to your list of been there done thats.

A bonus: If one of the tourists sneezes on you and you catch basic tourist fever, you will realize you are standing at the start of the famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées! So if you're feeling up to it, you could split off here and take a different adventure down this legendary boulevard.

But if being around the tourist crowd is giving you the urge to start muttering "merde" like a seasoned Frenchie, even though you don't know what that means, stick around for the rest of the adventure ;-)

Note: a few of these stops are actually in the 8th district, not the 17th. But don't judge. I started in the 17th, let the wanderlust take over, and ended back up in the 17th, so we'll leave it at that.

Stop 5: Head to Guy Moquet and take a cafe break

Guy Moquet is a very interesting part of the 17th district. It reminds me of Brooklyn a bit. Edgy, a little dirty, with lots of discount stores and a sprinkling of very cool restaurants and cafes, and just about any type of cuisine you can think of. Feeling ethiopian cuisine for dinner? Check out Guy Moquet.

One cafe I would recommend hitting up for a coffee break is Café Pimpin 17 on Guy Moquet. It's quintessential Paris hipster chic, and a great people watching spot. There's a big stack of French magazines so you can practice your French while you sip on a Café au lait.

Note: The avocado toast in this picture was beautiful. Pinterest worthy. But the toast was rock hard, and we waited over an hour for the food, which even by French service standards is not great. So, I cannot personally recommend the food. BUT the coffee was great, the prices were right on, and the atmosphere was perfect. So I would definitely recommend going for the coffee and ambiance (and lack of tourists).

Last Stop: Rue Legendre

My favorite street in Paris. They named it Legendre for a reason. It's truly legendary.

Don't let the pic above fool you. Start your Legendre stroll at Rue de Clichy and Rue de Legendre (walking towards Batignolles) and let the adventures begin.

Littered with chic shops, the cutest of restaurants and the coolest of bars, you can really make some great memories on this little street in Paris.

Feeling a sweet break? Scoop Me a Cookie (http://www.scoopmeacookie.com/en/) had such a long line it must be really good (I can't say from experience because I don't wait in lines - but it looks like it's worth waiting for)

Need a sweet view to match? Head to Square des Batignolles, a cute little park and square with plenty of perfect Paris ambiance to go around.

Finally, find a nice restaurant, sip a glass of fine French wine, and soak in the magic of this little gem of a neighborhood, in this most beautiful of cities, Paris.

I hope you enjoyed this Wanderlust Paris Adventure. I have 19 more districts to explore, so stay posted, and don't forget to subscribe below to follow me on all my Wanderlust Adventures.

Have recommendations for the 17th district? Please share! Post a comment below, or email me :-)