for people who have visited paris....?

Question

aside from the main monuments and hot spots in paris, what are some of the detailed spots where you have visited that you loved the most? like for example, a little restaurant that isnt written in a guide book that you went to and loved so much or little odd spot that wasnt even informed in the guides that left you in awe? also what are the best main spots to definetly go to and which ones where not worth the wait?

im going there in about 2 weeks, just wanted to get some ideas from others, thanks!

thank you so much to all of you!! it really helps!!!

Answer 1

Well...Besides those Effiel, Notre Dame blah blah blah...You really such visits their pubs and clubs..They operates till the next day morning 5am, which is real cool...

For food, should try Pizza Pino and Kebah..

Les Catacomees, millions of white bones underground...

Moulin Rouge which is at the red light district..It would be interesting..Along the whole streets there are lap top dances, sex shops...But if you are interested in going in the shops, pls make SURE that you already discussed the prices..

Seine River, see the Status of Liberty, the original have given to US, then French build a smaller version which faced the original in US..Take a boat ride and u would be able to see most of the famous buildings in Paris..

Grevin Wax Museum..Rather cool if you know most of the europe artists..

La Defense, a modern version of Arc..Both are facing each other..

Pere Lachaise, a visit to the dead..Someone impt is sleeping in here..

Robin and Invaild...Status of the thinking man...Both are very close to each other..Visit both on one day..can be a time saving..

Versailles, outside Paris can take RER to the place..

Buddhabar, Rex, La Queen are some of the famous bars and clubs..

I don't know whether the guide books have these all, but these are some of the places I kinda like during my 6 month stay in Paris..

Answer 2

Take a stroll around the Marais. It's the neighborhood surrounding the Place des Vosges. It's the last remaining section of Paris that has retained its medieval feel.

Visit Berthillon ice cream on the Ile St. Louis. You can get there by crossing the bridge behind Notre Dame. It's on the main street that runs the length of the little island. Great for a snack! You get your ice cream, and then walk back toward Notre Dame and sit on the top of the wall overlooking the river. Very picturesque!

I love visiting the modern art museum on the top floor of the Pompidou Center. It's always entertaining! Modern art is more "fun" than classical art. Pompidou stays open late, so you can visit this museum in the evening.

Visit Samaritaine, a department store in the first arrondissement near Pont Neuf. During the summer months, you can go to a free viewing platform on the roof. There's also a cafe there where you can get a snack. It's not the Eiffel Tower, but it does give you a nice view over the rooftops of Paris.

Speaking of department stores, the Galaries Lafayette store has a wonderful atrium and a gorgeous stained glass ceiling. Check it out!

Pick up a good metro map that includes a bus map. If you can use the bus to get where you're going, try to choose that over the metro. You'll see so much more of the city that way! The buses are very easy to use, as the stops are clearly marked on the map and on the street. Like the metro, the stops even have names.

Do you like movies? Paris is filled with wonderful movie houses that show classic movies all the time. Pick up an english-language entertainment guide from any news stand, and you can find almost any movie you want playing somewhere in the city during your visit. Parisians love movies, so this is a legitimate way of experiencing the local culture.

That's all I can think of for now. Don't be afraid to just wander around and soak up the atmosphere!

Answer 3

If you're an art lover, you really shouldn't miss Giverny, which is actually near Vernon, "The Gateway to Normandy," and Auvers sur Oise, which you can easily reach by train. Giverny is the home of Claude Monet, and you can see the waterlilies in the Japanese pond. Auvers sur Oise is the town where Vincent van Gogh spent the last two months of his life, and where he's now buried on a hillside next to his brother Theo. Of course there's also the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay (the BEST if you're a fan of the impressionists and post-impressionists, as I am) and the Dali museum in Montmartre. And there's Beaubourg, (the Pompidou Center)... there are so many things to see - and that's just some of the places to enjoy art!

Answer 4

Go to Luxemborg Gardens - just to people watch - look at Bocci, kids on ponies, etc.

Near St. Sulpice (featured in the DaVicci Code) there are some nice little restaurants up to the left of the church (serv best garlic soup I ever had)

Go to Rodin museum if you like sculpture.

Past the St. Chapelle church there is a neat little outdoor / indoor market.

Do a bus ride (you can get near the Louvre) or elsewhere - you get a guided tour inexpensively and see and learn a lot then you can decide where you want to spend your time. The buses are red (you can sit in or up top).

On St. Michelle (a Street) lots of stores and places to eat & lots of side streets with lots of restaurants and stores.

So many places ...
use the metro - its really easy to get around and fast.

Answer 5

I love Paris. Can't wait to go back.

Nestled in the heart of Montmartre, there is a restaurant called "Auberge de la Bonne Franquette." It's so much fun. We go there for a group dinner (I go with my university's French dept) on a Saturday night and everyone has a great time. There are these two entertainers...one plays the guitar and sings and the other plays the accordion and hits on me. You just have to see it. We easily spend a few hours there, it's a lot of fun and the food and wine are delish!

The whole area of Montmartre is great to wander around in. The steps of Sacre-Couer Basilica offer a splendid panoramic view of Paris.

Dinner with Jim Haynes at his home in Paris. It's a 20-Euro donation and a lot of fun. It's not well known, but check out his web site. It's like a dinner party...people from different backgrounds getting together for dinner and talking. It's a great way to meet new people.

The Bateaux-Mouche cruise along the Seine...both during the day and at night...is great...offers a different view of Paris.

A picnic underneath the shade of the Eiffel Tower.

Hang out in one of the many parks. I love walking from the Louvre down the Champs-Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe. Great photo opps.

I love taking nocturnal photo safaris. No need to have anyone lead you on a tour, just pick a few places you would love to see after dark and hit them up (the Louvre on Wed and Fri nights, the Eiffel Tower, Moulin Rouge, Notre Dame, etc).

Shakespeare and Company Bookstore. I love books, so of course I have to go here and browse for a while. It's across the street, to the right of Notre Dame.

The best popular sites to go to include the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Rodin Museum, the Eiffel Tower, stroll along the Seine. The second floor of the Eiffel Tower offers the best views. I just like looking at the Eiffel Tower...but you have to go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower just to say you did it. It's cheaper if you climb the first two floors and ride the elevator to the top.

Answer 6

I stayed in Paris for about a week, and I can tell you that I had the most fun at the Sacre Coeur! It's where all the locals hang out. I mean, it's also a tourist attraction, but if you go there at night, you'll see a lot of locals hanging out and having fun.

Answer 7

There is a flea market in the northern part of Paris on the weekends. Great place to see if you like to shop. I will say it's a big North African community, so not very French.

The Latin Quarter and surrounding area is a lot of fun to explore.

Answer 8

If you like Monet and don't have enough time to go to Giverny, you can visit the Musée Marmottan, which has the world's largest collection of Monet paintings. It is located in Paris (16th arrondissement).

The museum website is: www.marmottan.com

Answer 9

Luxembourg gardens was fun but Sacre Couer beats everything.
Go there in the evenings. Plenty of roadside restaurants.

Answer 10

There's a tea shop on the rue du Bourg -Tibourg called Mariage Freres. I go every time I'm there, usually every other day.