What Should I Do In Paris, France?

Question

We are going on our Honeymoon to Paris and would like to know anything that is a "must see" (other than the obvious: Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc, etc.). Any good cafes or restaurants? Places to stay? Any info or tips on anything would be greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

First, congratulations in your impending marriage. Paris is a wonderful city for a honeymoon and is where we went more than 30 years ago. We are still happily together after all these years so perhaps there is some magic to found in this wonderful city.

We stayed at the Hotel St. Andre des Artes, a very simple but very charming hotel on the Left Bank and that is place we have returned over and over again over the years. It may be a bit too simple for your tastes but take a look at it here: http://www.123france.com/en/0/hotel-saint-andre-des-arts-paris_486_en/index.html

For something considerably fancier but still not outrageously expensive try the Hotel Left Bank St. Germain (which is right around the corner) http://www.paris-paris.com/hotel_left-bank_saint-germain.php

There is so much to see in Paris that its a bit foolish to try to tell someone esle what they ought to see. The "obvious" sights alone will eat up more time than most people would have in a one or two week visit. Its best to take the time to go thru any standard guidebook and make your own decisions, based on your personal tastes, on what you want to see.

However, if you really want a specific itinerary then let me know how many days you have and I will be happy to write one out for you.

There's also a lot to Paris that is beyond the tourist sights. Its the ambience and the attitude of Paris which need to be lived and felt.

You should spend some time just strolling around the city to appreciate its architecture and to get a feel for its medieval layout, the Belle Epoch improvements of Baron Hausman, and the modernizations seen in places like the Les Halles Forum and the new Opera in the Place Bastille.

You should take a little time to just sit in a cafe in the Latin Quarter or St. Germaine and people watch.

Enjoy some of the nightlife of Paris. Not the tourist ripoffs like the Moulin Rogue or the Lido but the vast number of fantastic music venues, from the jazz joints to discos. My favorite hangout is Aux Trois Mailletz at 56 rue Galande in the 5th arrondissement just a few blocks south of the Seine. There's a piano player and various singers who do everything from standards to Jazz in the ground floor bar/restaruant.

Eat! And be a bit courageous. Go to places that don't cater to tourists and don't have English menus. Just point to things on the menu or, better still, walk into a cafe at lunchtime and ask for the daily special which you'll almost always see displayed on a chalk board. don't worry if you don't know what it is! Try it! The worst that will happen is that you'll have a hilarious story to tell about how you got served a calve's head with cream sauce or something else too weird for you to eat.

Mainly, don't listen to the half wits who tell you Parisians are terrible people or adivse staying in a tight little tourist cocoon..

Strike up conversations with strangers, be open minded, put your map in your back pocket and just wander around, get lost, experiment, learn, take the time to really look at things.

May you find, as my wife and I did, that Paris,with its eternal beauty, its romance, and its charm, is everything you hope for your marriage.

Bonne chance and God bless.

Answer 2

Wow!! Congrats!!! Check out the modern art museum called Pompidou. Also the Louvre is a must see in Paris. The Luxembourg Gardens are perfect for photography. In my opinion the best place to take pics of the city is ontop of the Sacre-Couer in Monmatre. Make sure to come here early. The area is full of crime at night. Tracadero is one of the nicest places to see the eifel tower. Also hit The Latin Quarter. More specifically go down a street called St. Michel. At night it is full of life and a great and safe atmosphere with many little cafes. There is an awesome gelato shop called Amorina Gelato that you must try. The Arc de Triomphe is another great place for the city. Galaries Lafayette is a fantastic 7 story shopping mall. For more high end shopping go to the most famous street in the world Champse Elysee. Also La Gran Arch is a great place for views of the city.

Just a little tip: The metro is the easiest way to make it around the city. And for more info about Paris check out the tour guide Paris Top 10. It is full of information and advice.

Hotel: I stayed in a beautiful hotel called Mercure Terminus Est. It has a metro station right by it. It was very clean, safe, and effective. There are other hotels in the Mercure Chain that I would highly recomend.

Answer 3

Notre Dame-Go around lunchtime and make sure you go to the veryyy top!
Lourve-This will take a whole day, and DEF buy the audio tapes, you learn SO much!
Eiffel tower-go at 8:30 (it opens at 9:00) and have your wife stand in one line, you stand in the other then wen one of you gets to the front just call the other, my mom did that and we all went on the first elevator of the day!
Versailles-Go at lunchtime, make sure you take the metro everywhere! Cabs run about $20
from the Arc to Versailes, whereas the Metro will be around $2 a person!!
Pompadeau Centre- If you like modern Art, you will LOVE this mueseum! and the gift shop is AWESOME!! If you are familiar with the company Flax, the gift shop is JUST like it!

Good luck and Have fun in the best city in the world!!!! If you have any other questions just email me!!!

Answer 4

Well for a simple reason, it's the most beautiful city in the world, and the most romantic as well.
There is a lot of things to do in Paris, but is a perfect city for discovering walking.
Don't forget going to Saint Germain du Pres, go for a drink in Aux des Magots or Cafe de Fiore,see the chuch of Saint Germanin du pres ( the most antique in Paris i believe), go to Palais de Versailles, and don't forget the Tulleries.
Enjoy it!!

Answer 5

This is a good day trip out of the city to see the finest chateau and pleasure garden in France. Fully restored and furnished this prototype of Versailles is a must see to anyone with day to spend out of the city. A short train ride from the gare de Lyon takes you to the small town of Melun. At the station a shuttle bus wil take you to the chateau. There's a indoor outdoor restaurant on the premises. A great place to spend a day out in the countryside. Here is their web site.
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http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/en/video-...
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http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/...

Answer 6

Go to Versailles, Euro Disney, Do to as many museums as you can, go to Notre Dame. I loved my 2 weeks in Paris. Have fun!!

Answer 7

Eiffel Tower... Montmarte... Notre Dame.... de Lourve.... Sainte Chapelle... many other things... its gorgeous...

AND THE RODIN MUSEUM and Napleons tomb....

Answer 8

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Hope this helps

Answer 9

Congratulations!!
I loved Paris. It was where my husband and I went on our first trip. A favorite spot we shared was a love nest that is now a museum. Nest may not be the word that first leaps to mind of a major mansion on the right bank's bd Haussmann, a rather elite address in its day.
I looked at those rooms trying to see what life must have been for those at the time when Paris was rebuilt by the Baron Haussmann. This was the house of the future with moving walls and floating staircases. But it is a love story, too.
She came to paint his portrait she stayed to be his wife. These two people designed this, together, to hold their shared loves, their belief in the future, their home. It still feels like it was their home because she left it as it was in their life. No one else has ever owned it to live in she gave it to the state with the largest private collection of art in its day.
The entrance is easy to miss. Just a small sign. The first time I was there just walking by I saw the sign and was just curious what was through the tunnel. If they still sell the tapestries, and you like them, you won't find better prices in the USA. I have tried. You definitely will not find the traditional period French designs.

Le Musée Jacquemart-André 158, bd Haussmann , 75008 Paris
Phone [phone]
7 days a week, 10h - 18h
There is a cafe that is worth enjoying if only for un cafe. Sit there and imagine the carriages rolling in to disgorge the Parisienne élite.
http://www.culturevulture.net/ArtandArch/Jacquemart.htm
http://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/en/jacquemart/
http://www.igougo.com/travelcontent/JournalEntryActivity.aspx?entryID=15613

"Situé à côté des Champs Elysées, le Musée Jacquemart-André présente la plus belle collection privée d'œuvres d'art de Paris, associée à l'atmosphère d'une grande demeure du XIXème siècle. Découvrez avec une visite audioguidée ce magnifique hôtel particulier, la passion d'Edouard André et de Nelie Jacquemart et leur éblouissante collection de peinture flamande, du XVIII siècle français, de la Renaissance Italienne, de mobilier rare… Le café Jacquemart-André offre l'un des plus beaux décors de Paris. Un moment inoubliable dans le musée préféré des Parisiens"

Paris is a city for lovers but watch out for the train performers who demand money for junk or a song, some can be very pushy since it works to intimidate tourists. Watch out for the many pick pockets especially in the Metro. Carry nothing of value in outer pockets. A friend kept an old empty wallet with a note in it saying 'tough luck'. Yes it got taken but he never knew when or how.
Always be very polite on entering a store and call Bon jour Madame or Monsieur to the proprietor. This will get you past many difficulties in lacking their language. The more you try the more they help.
The wait people are professional and will not bring the tab until you ask for it. "Le addition, s'il vous plait." Water must be asked for. You can have bottled or tap. If you do not want bottled water be specific and ask for "Avec un carafe d'eau, s'il vous plait". With a carafe of water, please. Wine costs less than bottled water or soda and the tap water is very good. It will not usually come with ice, Europeans are not as fond of icing everything as Americans.
The French are very polite, always saying s'il vous plait, & merci. Saying pardon is worth the good will it brings and means "I apologize AND please repeat the previous phrase". I needed that a lot especially asking "Où sont les toilette publiques".
If you want a slice of lemon ask for "perrier rondelle", NOT a "perrier citron". That comes with syrup and is very sweet.
If you are not good with the language carry a post card showing the place you wish to get to. Many hotels offer a card of their own to visitors. Carry it to return to your own hotel easily by showing it. I'm lost = Je suis perdu. We loved getting lost but getting back was nice, too.
Go to the flower market on the île de la Cité. Wander through the booths full of plants, flowers, & exotic birds and some tatty junk for comparison. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in the morning. On Sundays is the bird market. This is one of the last existing old markets in Paris. Take the Metro to île de la Cité, right in front of you, when coming out of the metro station is the market. Bring flowers back to your hotel.