You can definitely bank on having a good time if you hop on a velib

With the heavy traffic and expensive cabs, when I’m not on the back of my fiancé’s motorbike, riding a velib – the city’s self-service bike system – is often one of my favourite option to go around the city. 

Non-regular riders should definitely avoid the busy streets and cycle on the Seine banks instead. A UNESCO World Heritage site, the quays were recently closed to car traffic, which infuriated many Parisians at first, but makes cycling a lot easier and safer. 

With the Eiffel Tower on your left and the Louvre on your right, there’s definitely no other river in the world that offer so many iconic landmarks. In the summer, stop by Rosa Bonheur on Quai d’Orsay for a glass of rosé and in winter, take a break at one of the charming barges on the banks with a hot chocolate or a glass of hot wine. 

Just grab a bike at one of the many velib station and start exploring.

 

 Stop by one of the few book stalls located on the upper quays – they usually sell vintage magazines and literature classics.

 

A view of the Quai d’Orsay museums from the right bank of the Seine river.