2006-09-23 11:39:57 · 17 answers · asked by markclitheroe 2 in Travel ➔ France ➔ Paris
Its easy enough to name tourist sights and museums. Paris is a large and ancient city with many such things to see. A weekend is a very brief time and you can easily fill it with sightseeing and not see even a small fraction of everything there is to see.
What you can't find in a list of places to see is the charm of Paris. That charm is the reason I keep returning despite having seen just about every "sight" in more than thirty five years of regular visits.
All that introduction is to to suggest that Paris should be experienced rather than viewed.
Go to the Luxembourg Gardens, sit on one of the lounge chairs that are scattered about and watch kids sail toy boats in the pond.
Stroll thru the Tuilleries Gardens and find the sandy courts where older gentlemen gather to play boules (maybe someone will offer to teach you how to play).
Get a good map then put it in your pocket and just wander around off the main streets. Peer into shop fronts, check out a grocery store, take in the architecture, and when you see a small cafe with no bright lights or "english spoke here" signs, just walk in and have a glass of wine. Sit a spell and watch the world go by.
In the evening try Aux Trois Mailletz at 56 rue Galand (left bank) or Un piano sur le trottoir at 77 rue des Francs Bourgeois (right bank) for dinner. Both places are very friendly, relatively untouristy, and have pianos playing and people singing. Join in.
Be both fearless and open minded. Meet people. Become part of the city for just a little while. Don't worry about seeing some list of "must see" tourist sights. Fall in love with Paris as so many of us do and you'll be back.
2006-09-23 15:37:08 · answer #1 · answered by Rillifane 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Basilique St denis. It's just outside paris, accessible with the subway and it's full of history (every french king but 2 are buried there!
Check out also if there is a concert in the St germain de l'Auxerrois. it's a church near the louvre, and the accoustic is fantastic.
Eglise St Austache, in "les halles". The architecture is phenomenal.
Musee d'Orsay is also a great museum to explore and it is not too big.
If you have a chance, and weather permitting, you should take a walk at night on the right bank along the river. start at the hotel the ville and go all the way to the Eiffel tower. All the buildings on the left bank have some great lighting; it's gorgeous.
A peacefull place to go to is also Place des vosges. it has some nice romantic restaurants around it.
you can also go and see the parisian statue of liberty. it's in the 16th area, on the island by "pont Bir-hakeim".
enjoy the week end.
2006-09-23 18:50:31 · answer #2 · answered by panda 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would go to Le Musee d'Orsay instead of the Louvre. The Louvre is too big and probably you will stay in line to get in the museum for half a day. It is very crowded. Monmatre and Sacre Coeur are beautiful spots in the city. Musee Picasso and Rodin are also a good choice. If you have time, Versailles is beautiful.
2006-09-27 00:30:08 · answer #3 · answered by lilreveuse 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Museum de Orsay, Cathedral of Notre Dame, Cathedral of St. Chappelle, The Arc de Triomphe, Musee Cluny, The Pantheon, The Sorbonne and Opera Garnier. That should keep you busy. Save some for a delightful return. A boat ride on the Seine is a highlight.
2006-09-26 00:39:48 · answer #4 · answered by Lance U 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only for one weekend! Oh man, you'll never see everything good!
I liked the Musee d'Orsay and the Pompadou Centre better than the Louvre. Also, the Notre Dame, the island it's on, and the island next to it are gorgoeus. And river cruises are fun during the night, so you can see a lot since you'll not be there for long.
2006-09-24 19:51:19 · answer #5 · answered by princessnoopy2003 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
All the answers above will help you to discover Paris and I won't add anything more, even if I come from Paris !
But just to say that apart from all those touristic places, take time to walk around and discover for yourself the quaint little 'quartiers', or sit at a terrace of a cafe and enjoy watching people going pass and if you smile, they will smile back ! !
Paris is full of true colours, and the best thing in a town is : its people !
2006-09-24 04:57:36 · answer #6 · answered by possibly 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The boat ride on the Seine, and Ste. Chapelle is wonderful and all the little side streets. You can't see Paris in a lifetime, much less a weekend!
2006-09-24 15:38:20 · answer #7 · answered by bathagent 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Statue of Liberty, museums, walk on the streets, the city is a museum itself. There is even a historic preservation district.
2006-09-23 18:50:38 · answer #8 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Champs Elysses, Arc de Triomphe
2006-09-23 18:43:25 · answer #9 · answered by casa2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pick a neighborhood and get a feel for the street life, cafes and window shopping and people watching. Lonely planet.com will give you the feel of the neighborhoods so you can chose whether to go upscale, touristy, bohemian, leftist intellectual, or ethnic.
2006-09-23 21:36:11 · answer #10 · answered by browneyedgirl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋