Emily in Paris? More like Envy in Paris.
Raise your hand if Netflix’s chic guilty pleasure has you all but convinced to move to Paris and embrace the adventure, romance, and style only found in the City of Light.
Emily in Paris may be a scripted show, but you don’t have to wait for an unexpected career opportunity to have your own whirlwind adventure in Paris just like Mademoiselle Cooper. You can visit a number of Emily in Paris filming locations right now, having steamy encounters with handsome chefs and documenting all of your fashion faux pas on Instagram.
And you can do it all with ease via train.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Diamond Dogs
Très good: Emily in Paris filming locations to visit
So many fabulous Emily in Paris filming locations, so little time. Thankfully, Paris’ rail system includes both trains and subways, allowing you to visit your favorite backdrops from the show, including:
Le Jules Verne
Nearest stations: Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel & Pont de l’Alma
No trip to Paris is complete without an Eiffel Tower selfie. While you’re there, head into the tower’s Le Jules Verne restaurant and hope that Madeline, Emily, and Sylvie aren’t ruining the vibe with a heated argument.
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
Nearest stations: Buttes Chaumont & Botzaris
Nothing says romance in France quite like a picnic in a Parisian park (especially with a guy like Alfie lounging beside you on the blanket). Parc des Buttes is a wonderful place to find a breath of fresh air, tranquil walking trails, and a wonderful restaurant if you’re short of a picnic basket.
Hôtel Molitor
Nearest station: Porte d’Auteuil
You need a place to stay, so why not choose a room at the Hôtel Molitor? The rooftop pool makes quite a splash in the third season. Just don’t expect free samples of Soleil de Paris.
Palais Garnier
Nearest stations: Opéra, Auber, & Chaussée d'Antin — La Fayette
Whether or not you’re ambushing a beau during Swan Lake, the Palais Garnier opera house is a sight to see. Plus, it’s a short walk to Pont Alexander III, the site of the Maison Lavaux perfume ad.
La Boulangerie Moderne
Nearest stations: Luxembourg & Cardinal Lemoine
Where better to stop for a bite to eat between filming locations than Emily’s favorite bakery? Grab a pain au chocolat then pop next door for a meal at Terra Nera, a.k.a. Gabriel’s Les Deux Compères.
Image credits: Getty Images, frantic00
Emily in Paris filming locations outside of Paris
To capture the full Emily in Paris experience, one must spend a weekend in the French Riviera.
Unless your name is Gabriel, you don’t have to choose between the cosmopolitan protagonist that is Paris and the stunning, sophisticated beauty of the French Riviera. You can fall in love with both, guilt-free, with a loving locomotive as your matchmaker.
While there is no direct train to Saint-Tropez, a stunning scenic train ride between Paris and Nice will get you to the French Riviera with ease. To access Saint-Tropez, you’d need to ride the rails to the St. Raphael and Les Arcs Draguignan stations then take a bus into Saint-Tropez.
But, spoiler alert, many of season two’s scenes weren’t actually filmed in Saint-Tropez and the Orient Express doesn’t roll that far south.
However, the “fake” Saint-Tropez, a lovely seaside town called Villefranche-sur-Mer, is accessible via train from Nice.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Pierre Longnus. Image Location: Villefranche-sur-mer, France
And Nice is nice. The Nice Côte d'Azur Airport has direct flights to the United States and is a wonderful introduction to France. Not only does a train go directly to Paris, but you can also take short yet sweet train rides to Cannes and Monaco.
Getting around the French Riviera by train is surprisingly smooth; some actually find it much more convenient and reliable than rideshares. The biggest obstacle U.S. travelers face, beyond the language barrier, are the antiquated train ticket machines. Some visitors find it difficult to figure out which ticket they need, resulting in long lines at these kiosks.
But you don’t have to stress about missing your train. Download the Trainline app and purchase tickets directly from your phone so your trip is filled with joie de vivre, not champagne problems.
Remember, a little bonjour may go a long way, but saying oui to train travel will take you farther in France.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, lechatnoir