Renault on 5/10/2013 at 18:34
So yeah, I'm going, for about 10 days starting next Tuesday - sorry about the obvious Hemingway quote there. Is there anything/anywhere I should go, know, do, eat, drink, see, visit, explore, stay away from, etc.?
(Btw, I've already been told that I can't wear shorts)
faetal on 5/10/2013 at 23:47
My gf's brother lives in Paris - I'll ask him.
SubJeff on 6/10/2013 at 00:06
Why would you want to wear shorts? As this time of year?
demagogue on 6/10/2013 at 03:10
Haha, yes, France and Paris in particular is obscenely romanticized in Japan, and having spent time in Paris I can perfectly see how the disillusion shatters their worldview. (Jerusalem is another city with a famous syndrome like that.)
People have to go into Paris like people have to go into NYC. When you go to NYC, you have to brace yourself that you're on your own & you should have a thick skin; it's part of the charm... New Yorkers pride themselves on being tough & independent.
With Paris, you have to go in realizing (as I understood it anyway) Parisians pride themselves on a certain arrogance and entitlement ... like it's still the center of this grand empire and who are you? But even other French people roll their eyes at it and brace themselves. Anyway, I felt lucky to travel there with other non-Parisian French so they could translate, shield me from criticism, and were a nice antidote that even other French people recognize Paris goes over-the-top sometimes. And once you go in with the right expectations and have around yourself the right kind of people, it is actually a fun city to visit. Food was great. Lots to do.
Kuuso on 6/10/2013 at 08:17
Versailles is just a small train trip away from Paris and it is definitely a must-go. You don't get much more historic than that (and it's fancy as hell).
Nicker on 6/10/2013 at 08:27
Avoid the French. You will do fine.
Have hot chocolate and croissant, in bed, for breakfast.
Briareos H on 6/10/2013 at 11:49
Quote Posted by Nicker
Avoid the French.
Nice one.
@Brethren, depends on what kind of person you are and what things you enjoy most... Museums, walks, historical tours, just pretty things, restaurants and good cafés, night clubs?
If you're in for museums, unless you're really turned on by classical painting, Mona Lisa, antique art or two hour-long queues, I'd advise against visiting the Louvre, instead staying outside and enjoying it from there. The whole area of Louvre + Tuileries garden followed by a walk to the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe is pretty much a must. I'd also recommend going from the Louvre / Châtelet area down along the Seine quays and the (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouquinistes) Bouquinists, crossing over the Seine and walking to Notre-Dame de Paris, then to the Place Saint Michel. Very close to there, if you're into bookstores, (
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare_and_Company) Shakespeare and co. is a particularly appreciated, English-speaking, cosy place when it's not too crowded.
So, anyway, back to the museums. I'd recommend seeing the Musée d'Orsay and the Orangerie, the former for late 19th century painters and sculptors and the latter for impressionists. If you're into modern art, you can't miss Beaubourg (centre Pompidou). Versailles palace, both inside and gardens is a must too as Kuuso pointed out.
The view from Montmartre and the Sacré Coeur is also interesting, very Parisian but beware of the many leeches that latch onto every tourist that passes by.
If you're in Saint-Michel, you can go through the Quartier Latin and its very fun, incredibly crowded streets BUT don't stop at any of the folky restaurants that litter those streets. Too expensive, too fake and not good at all. Instead, from there you can instead take a walk to the Pantheon and the nice streets that go up and down in that area. Nearby, the garden of Luxembourg is a nice place to stop and rest a bit. Don't push the walk towards Montparnasse, which is not very interesting -- at least if you're not accompanied by locals (there are interesting places in the area, but you need to know where they are).
Near Denfert-Rochereau, you'll find the catacombs which make for an interesting and different attraction, especially if you want to see the place that inspired one of the levels in Deus Ex.
For an evening drink, you can go to Bastille, there are several nice bars there. There's also a large and always interesting modern opera hall on Bastille.
The other, classical opera hall is equally interesting (in a completely different place, north of the Louvre - metro station "Opera"). From there you can go to the Grands Boulevards, a place characteristic of the Haussmann architecture period, very typical.
Those are some of the big, common things to do. I'll add to the list later, but it would be nice to know what kind of tourist you are.
snowcap21 on 6/10/2013 at 20:02
RE: Louvre. I'm not sure if it's still valid information, but years ago they had some evenings when they were open till late at night and it was always a pleasant stay then with no waiting time. But of course I'm also really turned on by antique art, so maybe I paint this a bit more rosy than it was.
Bosh on 6/10/2013 at 21:44
Yeah, the Louvre is still open late on Weds and Fridays. Closed all day Tuesdays. I personally love the Louvre, especially the Babylonian stuff and the winged bulls, and don't recall massive queues later on in the evening. The tour groups have gone!
Check out "Paris Pass" tickets - one price covers entry to loads of museums/places to visit, much of the stuff that's already been mentioned, as well as travel. Also, you beat the queues to buy tickets for each place - just go right in - and you can use as much as you like for one place i.e. go again another day. Well worth getting.
I like going up the Notre Dame tower (via spiral stairs) - great view over Paris and gorgeous gargoyles. Pick your time as, even this time of year, still loads of tourists (I was there last week and was a big queue in afternoon) - get ticket from left side of ND (as facing it) - cost 8.50 Euro or part of Paris Pass. For a quick rest afterwards, there are really nice gardens and a view of ND from round the back - enter by the right side of Notre Dame (along the river).
Catacombs - yes. And some of the cemeteries are interesting. Père Lachaise Cemetery is possibly the "famous one" - some great statues as well as famous dead people!
For nick nacks, cheap presents/souvenirs, the sellers along the Seine sell all sorts of stuff - no hassle and pretty cheap considering the location. I guess it's all the competition along places like that.
The Rodin Museum. (Gates of Hell - awesome.)
Versailles, as mentioned by Kuuso, is well worth a visit to see how the royals lived - one ornate palace with massive gardens! There's also another big fancy royal chateau - Fontainebleau - a train journey away.
If you go up the Eiffel Tower - walk down the stairs. Seeing Paris through the ironwork... :eek:
And watch backpacks/pockets/bags for pickpockets on The Metro and around tourist places etc. Some advice: (
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g187147-c56326/Paris:France:Tackling.The.Problem.Of.Pickpockets.html) http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-g187147-c56326/Paris:France:Tackling.The.Problem.Of.Pickpockets.html
Bon voyage!
