HOW WE USED GOOGLE MAPS TO HELP PLAN OUR PARIS TRIP

Planning a trip to Paris can feel overwhelming - there is just SO much to see, do and let's be honest, eat. We knew we wanted to hit the big landmarks, but we also craved hidden gems, cozy cafés and those unplanned moments that make a city feel like home. That is were Google Maps became our secret weapon.

HOW WE USED GOOGLE MAPS TO TURN OUR PARIS TRAVEL DREAMS INTO A REAL-LIFE, STRESS-FREE ADVENTURE.

1. Dropping Pins on Everything We Loved

Anytime we came across a recommendation - from Instagram, blogs, TikToks, or friends - we

would drop a pin and save iit to our "Paris Trip" list on Google Maps. We created custom icons for

café, attractions, restaurants and bakeries. This helped us visualize the city and see where the

clusters of must-visit places were, which came in handy later when planning our days.

PRO TIP: USE THE "LABEL" FEATURE TO COLOR CODE OR CATEGORIZE YOUR PINS.

2. Building Loose Itineraries Based on Location

Once our map started filling up, we noticed patterns. Instead of jumping all over the city each day,

we grouped activities by neightborhood. This helped us explore more deeply without feeling rushed

or burned our from constant metro or Uber rides.

PRO TIP: PICK 1-2 SIGHTS PER DAY, THEN LET YOUR SAVED PINS GUIDE THE REST.

3. Finding Hidden Gems Nearby

One of the cooleset things about using Google Maps this way? When we would finish visiting a

landmark or grabbing lunch, we would check our map to see what else we had saved nearby. That is

how we ended up at a quiet bookstore just around the corner from Notre-Dame.

PRO TIP: WHEN YOU ARE IN THE MOMENT, SWITCH TO MAP VIEW AND FILTER

YOUR SAVED PLACES NEARBY. IT IS LIKE HAVING YOUR OWN PERSONAL TRAVEL

GUIDE IN YOUR POCKET.

4. Offline Mode = Lifesaver

Before we left, we downloaded offline maps of Paris. That way, we could still access our saved places

and navigate even without Wi-Fi or Data. It make things so much easier when we were wandering

side streets or hopping between metro lines.

PRO TIP: ZOOM IN WHILE OFFLINE TO SEE DETAILED DIRECTIONS AND USE

WALKING NAVIGATION, EVEN IF YOU ARE IN AIRPLANE MODE.

5. Creating Our Own Personalized Guidebook

By the time we landed in Paris, we did not need a guidebook. We had build our own - curated with

everything we were excited about. Google Maps helped us stay organized, flexible and confident as

we explored. And the best part? We are still adding to it - so it will be ready to our next Paris trip.