Blog — Destination Dreamer Diaries

Is It Safe to Visit Paris During Protests?

Wondering if Paris is safe to visit during a protest or a strike? As a local, I’m going to share my tips on how to have a safe trip to trip Paris during protests.

France, EuropeStephanie SafdieOctober 21, 2026paris strikes, paris protests, is paris safe to visit during the protests, is paris safe to visit during a protest, is paris safe to visit during a strike

15 Best Things to Do in Paris in the Fall

Visiting Paris during the fall? Autumn may not be the time of year Paris is best known for, but as a local – there are plenty of things to do in Paris in the fall worthwhile.

Europe, FranceStephanie SafdieOctober 10, 2026best free things to do in paris, best things to do in paris, best things to do in paris in the fall, fall things to do in paris, fall things to do paris, things to do in paris autumn, autumn paris, paris fall, when to visit paris in the fall, when to visit paris in the autumn

25 Best Free Things to Do in Paris: Day & Night

Looking to see and do Paris on a budget? As a local living here for years, these are my tried and true best free things to do in Paris when I’m trying to not break the bank.

Europe, FranceStephanie SafdieSeptember 19, 2026best things to do in paris, best free things to do in paris, free things to do in paris, free things to do in paris day, free tihngs to do in paris at night, free things to do in paris during the day

Your Guide to A Day Trip to Épernay: Is It Worth It?

Trying to decide if a day trip to Épernay is worth it? As someone who lives in Paris and took a day trip to Épernay myself, here’s what I think – especially if you’re not big on drinking champagnge.

France, EuropeStephanie SafdieSeptember 12, 2026day trip to epernay, paris champagne region, day trips from paris

Best Paris Music Festivals: My Local Guide for 2026

Between Rock en Seine, We Love Green, and Lollapalooza Paris – there are lot of music events in Paris to choose from: but what are the best music festivals in Paris?

Europe, FranceStephanie SafdieSeptember 5, 2026music festivals, best music festivals in paris, paris concerts, paris concert venues, best paris concert venues, best paris concerts

Your Guide to A Day Trip to Reims: Is It Worth It?

Trying to decide if a day trip to Reims is worth it? As someone who lives in Paris and tested out this day trip to Reims myself, here’s what I think.

Europe, FranceStephanie SafdieAugust 22, 2026day trip from paris, day trip to reims, reims, is reims worth it, cathedral in france, tihngs to do in reims

10 Best Places to Picnic in Paris

Summer’s not over yet! Here are the best places to picnic in Paris, from parks to waterways – hand picked by myself after years of living in the city.

Europe, FranceStephanie SafdieAugust 15, 2026places to picnic in paris, picnic spots in paris, places to picnic paris, best places to picnic in paris

How to Renew Your U.S. Passport in France

Trying to figure out how to renew your U.S. passport in France? Look no further – as an American living in Paris, I have all the answers on how to renew your American passport in Paris!

France, United StatesStephanie SafdieAugust 8, 2026how to renew us passport, renew us passport abroad, how to renew us passport living abroad, how to renew us passport in paris, how to renew us passport in france

13 Best Views of Paris You Can't Miss: A Local’s Guide

Looking for the best views of Paris? Whether it be for the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur, or 360 degree views of Paris – as a local, I’ve got you covered.

Europe, FranceStephanie SafdieJuly 25, 2026views of paris, best views of paris, views of the eiffel tower, views of the sacre couer, views of the louvre, views of notre dame, things to do in paris

Nice vs. Cannes: Which French Riviera City Is Better?

Planning a trip this summer to the French Riviera but can’t decide between Nice and Cannes? I’m going to provide a full breakdown of Nice vs. Cannes to help decide which vacation is better for you.

Europe, FranceStephanie SafdieJuly 18, 2026nice, cannes, cannes from nice, cannes film festival, day trip to cannes, should i go to nice or cannes, french riviera, French Rivera

Paris vs. Rome: Which City Is Better?

Paris vs. Rome – two of the most popular European captials – but is one city really better than the other? Read more for a full breakdown from someone who has spent time in both Rome and Paris.

Europe, France, ItalyStephanie SafdieJuly 5, 2026paris or rome, paris vs rome, which is better paris or rome, should i go to paris or rome

How to Survive a Heatwave in Paris: My Local Tips for Staying Cool

If you’re planning on visiting Paris during a heatwave, a little extra planning to stay cool and safe will be involved – but don’t worry. I’m sharing all my local tips on how locals survive a heatwave in Paris.

Europe, FranceStephanie SafdieJune 25, 2026visiting paris during a heatwave, paris heatwave, heatwave in paris, travel during a heatwave, how to survive a heatwave

15 Best Rooftop Bars in Paris You’ll Actually Want to Visit in 2026

Looking for the best rooftop bars in Paris? Read more to discover the most beautiful rooftop bars in the City of Lights from a local’s point of view.

Europe, FranceStephanie SafdieJune 14, 2026paris, views of paris, best rooftop bars, best rooftop bars in paris, paris local advice, paris summer

Paris vs. Barcelona: Which City Is Better?

Paris vs. Barcelona – they’re both popular cities in Europe, but are they really similar? Read more for a full breakdown from someone who has spent time in both Barcelona and Paris.

Europe, France, SpainStephanie SafdieMay 9, 2026paris or barcelona, paris vs barcelona, what is paris like, what is barcelona like, where should i study abroad, barcelona, paris

10 Best Day Trips from Paris by Train (From a Local's Perspective)

Looking for the best day trips from Paris by train? Read more to discover everything you need to know about taking day trips to places like Versailles, Chantilly, and more.

Europe, FranceStephanie SafdieApril 20, 2026day trip from paris, best day trip from paris, day trips from paris, villages near paris, places to visit near paris

Your Guide to A Day Trip to Giverny: Is It Worth It?

Discover everything you need to know before taking a day trip to Giverny from Paris, such as how to get there, the best things to do in Giverny, and how much things cost.

France, EuropeStephanie SafdieApril 6, 2026giverny, day trip to giverny, day trips from paris, day trip to giverny from paris, claude monet, monet's house, monet's gardens, france water lily pond, water lily pond, france, day trips in france

Top 10 Most Underrated Places to Visit in France

Wondering what the most underrated places in France are? As someone who has lived in France for years, I’m going to share what I believe to be the most underrated cities in France.

Europe, FranceStephanie SafdieFebruary 28, 2026france, living in france as an american, living in france, underrated places in france, places in france besides paris, places in france to visit that aren't paris, avignon, arles, dijon, mont saint michel, aix en provence, annecy, bedoin, menton

Your Guide to a First Trip to Paris: A Local-Approved 5-Day Itinerary

Trying to plan the best first trip to Paris? As an expat who has lived in Paris for many years, read my guide for my local-tailored 5 day itinerary to make the most of your first trip to the City of Lights!

France, EuropeStephanie SafdieJanuary 24, 2026first trip to paris, paris first trip, things to do in paris, what to do in paris, guide to paris, first time going to paris, local tips paris