Paris/France tips?

[mdgirl]

Get the Paris Museum Pass. It's a time saver and it's good for a lot of smaller museums you might not bother with otherwise.

Really the best thing to do in Paris is hang out and enjoy the atmosphere. I've been three times and the last trip was my favorite because we'd gotten a lot of the big stuff out of the way and could just be low key.

[Deleted]

There are so many famous things to see in Paris. It should not be a problem getting around because most of the metro stops are named after the major sights. Watch your purse everywhere, even the Louvre. There have been big problems with pickpocketing there lately. I think Versailles is worth a trip if you have never been. You can take the RER there.

[iammalcolmx]

Apr 24, 2013 12:55:51 GMT -5 @missy1 said:

There are so many famous things to see in Paris. It should not be a problem getting around because most of the metro stops are named after the major sights. Watch your purse everywhere, even the Louvre. There have been big problems with pickpocketing there lately. I think Versailles is worth a trip if you have never been. You can take the RER there.

YES!! Versailles is the shizzy.
Also whatever you do DO NOT walk from the Lourve to the Eiffel Tower cause its a long ass walk. Ask me how I know

[Deleted]

Apr 24, 2013 13:31:22 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Apr 24, 2013 12:55:51 GMT -5 @missy1 said:

YES!! Versailles is the shizzy.
Also whatever you do DO NOT walk from the Lourve to the Eiffel Tower cause its a long ass walk. Ask me how I know

HAHA I just did that last week. I was like, "Oh I can see it from here so I'll just take a nice walk." It turned out to be a 2 hour stroll without stops. It's like Vegas..everything seems walkable. Another option would be to take the batobus. Also, I suggest getting either a book of metro tix or a several day pass.

[iammalcolmx]

Apr 24, 2013 13:36:03 GMT -5 @missy1 said:

Apr 24, 2013 13:31:22 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

YES!! Versailles is the shizzy.
Also whatever you do DO NOT walk from the Lourve to the Eiffel Tower cause its a long ass walk. Ask me how I know

HAHA I just did that last week. I was like, "Oh I can see it from here so I'll just take a nice walk." It turned out to be a 2 hour stroll without stops. It's like Vegas..everything seems walkable. Another option would be to take the batobus. Also, I suggest getting either a book of metro tix or a several day pass.

That was exactly my thought. I was exhausted by the time I reached the Seine. Now this is my standing advice to everyone who takes a trip to Paris.

[lunabug]

the Metro is so easy but we also enjoyed riding the Batobus around- it was nice to spend 10-15 minutes between stops just relaxing and viewing the city from the River.

[anna7602]

If there are any restaurants you really want to try, I would recommend making a reservation now. The really hot places get booked weeks in advance. The NYT just had a piece this past weekend or the one before with some specific reco's, but you can also google "best bistros in Paris" or look at David Leibovitz's site to get recos.

I actually find Paris to be very walkable, but I like walking. If the good weather holds, it should be gorgeous here in a few weeks- perfect for wandering by foot. In addition to museums, I would make time for walking around the neighborhood of Montmartre, visiting some of the open air food markets like the one on Place Monge or Place Bretueil/Rue du Saxe or on Blvd. Raspail and for having a picnic somewhere like the Jardin de Luxembourg or Jardin des Plantes or even the Parc Buttes-Chamont (which is not really near anything else of touristic interest, but is such a beautiful, awesome park).

[lolo]

Here are recs I received from a friend who grew up in Strasbourg:

www.musees-strasbourg.org

Musée historique de Strasbourg
Musée Alsacien
Musée d’Art moderne et contemporain (with cafe + great view)
Musée Tomi Ungerer (rather new, never been, but personally really
appreciate ungerer's work)


bistrotetchocolat.net/ (near the cathedral, go for their daily
lunch specials)

www.mireille-oster.com/ (great little boutique in La Petite France)

maison-naegel.com/ (where people go for a real kugelhopf!!)

www.lepicerie-strasbourg.com/ (where the cool kids dine)

lartichaut.fr/ (where the cool kids hang out - great concerts!!)

I went to Maison Naegel whilst I visited Strasbourg a couple years ago and, OMG. MUST go. Had this ginormous macaroon with fresh raspberries and rose petals and just nom nom nom.... Also, it's touristy, but I really enjoyed the boat ride around the Petite France canal area.

[cricketwife]

I hate to send you out of Paris if you only have 5 days...especially if you're going to Versailles, but you may want to think about a day trip to Giverny. Actually, I would do one or the other, not both with only 5 days. I lived in Versailles -the city, not the chateau, lol! -- so maybe that's why I never loved it as much as everyone else does. The gardens at Giverny will be amazing at this time of year. Also, everyone's mentioning museums, but please, please, please go the the Sainte Chapelle! It's my favorite place in Paris. (you must go UP the stairs in the back corner,left of the entrance or you have missed what you came for and will think it was a big let down.) If the timing is right, I'd recommend going to one of the concerts (using a string ensemble) held there. The acoustics are incredible and the backdrop couldn't be more spectacular.

If you've never been to Paris before, I actually think it's worth doing the totally cheesy bateaux-mouches. It gives you a sense of what's where, especially if you do it on your first day or evening.

[jobell]

Musee D'Orsay is a must. We spent more than half a day there! We did a LOT of walking. Our last day I think we walked from our hotel on the border of the Latin Quater & St. Germain to M'O, then to the Eiffel Tower, then over to the Louvre and up to the Opera House, and back to our hotel. I definitely recommend good walking shoes! Though the Metro was super easy to get around on.

As for food - not too far from the Eiffel Tower is a place called Les Cocottes de Christian Constant. It was amazing. And go to Berthillon on Ile St. Louis for ice cream (an easy walk from Nortre Dame).

As for Versailles, I'm glad I went, but if you're a history buff the audio tour will leave you wanting more. They would say things like "you can see the doorway to the left, that is where Marie Antoinette hid as they stormed the palace during the Revolution wanting to kill her. No go to the next room and I'll tell you all about the desk that is a replica of a replica of a replica". Ok, not exactly but you get the idea.

[jobell]

Apr 24, 2013 22:17:51 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

I was just in Paris a few weeks ago - here's my blog post:

kanddtraveltheworld.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/paris-france/

All the restaurants we ate at were really good but the one by the Eiffel Tower (Constant?) took the cake. Also the fallafel place was amazing, which I know sounds really weird but seriously it was so delicious.

If you want to do the major sites like the Eiffel Tower, pre-buy tickets online to avoid the terrible lines.

YES!  Go to L’As Du Fallafel in Marais.  So good!!

And the Cafe Costant is the same chef/owner as the restaurant I suggested but about a block away.  Definitely hit up one of his restaurants and you won't regret it.

[wanderlustfoodie]

My favorite museums are the Musee d'Orsay and the Rodin Museum

For daytrips in lieu of or in addition to Versailles, I love the chateaux in the Loire Valley. Or Reims and Epernay if you love Champagne.

Food recs:

Splurges: Pierre Gagnaire, Arpege (these 2 restaurants are very different in terms of their approach)

Non-splurges:
La Regalade Saint-Honore, Josephine Chez Dumonet (best steak tartare I’ve ever had, classic neighborhood bistro), L'as du Falaffel, Spring, Frenchie, Chateaubriand

Bakeries:
Brioche Doree, Eric Kayser, Besnier Pere et Fils, Pierre Herme, Laduree

[travelingjen]

You've received some great tips for Paris; I will also echo the recommendations for a day-trip to Versailles.

While based near Strasbourg, I highly encourage you to explore the nearby area, including Colmar and the towns along the Route du Vin (Eguisheim, Kayersberg, Riquewihr, Hunawihr, etc). I've got a blog entry here from time that I spent in that area a few years ago.

[Étoile]

Apr 24, 2013 18:37:48 GMT -5 cricketwife said:

I hate to send you out of Paris if you only have 5 days...especially if you're going to Versailles, but you may want to think about a day trip to Giverny. Actually, I would do one or the other, not both with only 5 days. I lived in Versailles -the city, not the chateau, lol! -- so maybe that's why I never loved it as much as everyone else does. The gardens at Giverny will be amazing at this time of year. Also, everyone's mentioning museums, but please, please, please go the the Sainte Chapelle! It's my favorite place in Paris. (you must go UP the stairs in the back corner,left of the entrance or you have missed what you came for and will think it was a big let down.) If the timing is right, I'd recommend going to one of the concerts (using a string ensemble) held there. The acoustics are incredible and the backdrop couldn't be more spectacular.

If you've never been to Paris before, I actually think it's worth doing the totally cheesy bateaux-mouches. It gives you a sense of what's where, especially if you do it on your first day or evening.

Paris, je t'aime!

I've never been to Giverny, which is ironic since I first went to France to study art history and the Impressionists during a summer abroad.

But I second the bateau mouche, specifically the Canauxrama Bistrot Cruise. The very large boats were a major turn-off for me. The Canauxrama boat is frankly older, and may seem a little sad because it's not even half as crowded compared to the big name boats, but I liked that it was lower-key and cozier. I absolutely loved the whole experience of going through the Bastille lock to get to the Seine, and the trip over to the Eiffel tower and back at dusk is just amazing. We took the cruise on the tail end of our trip to Paris and it was such a wonderfully different perspective of the city from the river.

[anna7602]

I like the Time Out guide since it breaks everything down by arrondissement (neighborhood).

[travelingjen]

Apr 26, 2013 8:43:11 GMT -5 Adora Belle Dearheart said:

One more question. Which guidebook would you recommend? Or is there an online itinerary planner type thing that is helpful?

I would highly recommend purchasing one of Rick Steve's guidebooks. He's also got a website and a recommended itinerary for Paris, depending on the number of days you spend in the city here.

For other guidebooks, I also enjoy Lonely Planet and Moon Handbooks.

[jobell]

I'd rec Rick Steve's book. Frommer's was just ok. I have to say, one of my least favorite experiences was from a highly recommended restaurant in Frommer's. The food was good, but they heard us talking to each other in English and then only spoke to us in English. And everyone around us was American! I felt like I could have been back in NYC.


Oh, another recommendation - in St. Germain there are great jazz/swing clubs. I have to look up the name of the one we went to, but it was down in a cave and completely awesome.

[kelley182]

Apr 24, 2013 12:55:51 GMT -5 @missy1 said:

There are so many famous things to see in Paris. It should not be a problem getting around because most of the metro stops are named after the major sights. Watch your purse everywhere, even the Louvre. There have been big problems with pickpocketing there lately. I think Versailles is worth a trip if you have never been. You can take the RER there.

Another vote for Versailles.  We did the Fat Tire Bike Tour to Versailles.