Hi forum:
I am a single female traveller visiting Paris at the end of April for 8 days. It's my first time, i don't speak much French and would like to see as much of Paris's historical sites, museums and other attractions as possible.
I need advice with the following:
1. Finding a cheap but safe hostel in a centralized walking distance location of the city.
2. The MUST sees of Paris during day.
3. What activities i can be doing in the evening. I dont know anyone in Paris.
Any ideas would be really apprciated!
Goldie
Advice for first-timer to Paris who has 8 days
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First, get a couple of reliable guide books and study them. We can list the basics but you need to understand something of Paris - and what YOU want to see.
As for hostels - some re good and some are known for heavy partyers and drug users. Yo need to research this through student guides that will have info - like Let's Go or Rough Guides. I believe the members of Hosteling International are usually good- but have no idea of location in Paris.
As for what to do in the evenings - have several nice dinners, take a boar tide on the seine, visit museums (check to see which are open each evening) then google Paris activities at night to see what is on offer.
As for location - learn how to use the Metro - walking in Paris is great - but it's a large city and sights are spread out- esp if you run into April showers.
Goldie, a great book to get is Culture Shock: France (http://www.amazon.com/Culture-Shock-France-Customs-Etiquette/dp/155868056X). Much of the content is for people who'll be living in France for a while but the insights into the culture really help you understand the place.
As nytraveler said, use the Metro. It's easy to figure out. Any guidebook can explain it.
Walking and spending time at café sidewalk table will let you soak up the ambience.
Rick Steves has good books and a nice approach.
Have a great trip.
Read the Fodor's guide here, as well as the printed one. Time Out is another good guide.
Museums... there are a lot. Louvre, Orsay, Marmottan, Orangerie, Jaquemart-Andre, Caginac-Jay, Cluny, Ecole Militaire, Mode, Victor Hugo, Arts et Metiers, Histoire Naturel, Carnavelet,Rodin, etc
At night, Seine cruises, jazz clubs, dance clubs, walking along the Seine, classical music concerts,etc...
You cannot see all of the city in 8 days. So you need to have a guide book to at least see the buffet of choice, before you pick the 'perfect meal' for you. You will also need to locate things on a map. For example, Eiffel Tower, Ecole Militaire, Napoleon's Tomb, Rodin and Orsay are all in the same area.
Louvre, Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, Palais Royal, Place Vendome, Champs Elysee, Arc de Triomphe are all grouped together.
Notre Dame, St Chapelle, Ile St Louis, Left Bank...
So map out your days. Include walking tours (like Paris Walks.
Add in time to do nothing, like sit in a park with a lunch, have a coffee at an outdoor cafe. Some people put so much time into planning and filling their days, that the forget that some of the best moments are to be found just wandering.
Because I had sprained my feet the week before we arrived in Paris, we took the Hop-On, Hop-Off bus. For us, it was great. We took all 3 loops which gave us an overview of the city and various landmarks. We bought a three-day pass and used it to get to the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Marais, etc. because the HO-HO stop was only a half block from our hotel. It was a good introduction to Paris.
Hi G,
Don't worry. There is so much to do in Paris that it doesn't matter if you see B instead of A on one trip.
You might find these helpful,
You might also find these helpful.
Paris Superthread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=34519236
100 Great Things to Do in Paris
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=1277898
Degas’s Paris Walks
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=34712768
Kerouac’s Ethnic Walk
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2&tid=35095155
Jacquemart-André Museum
http://www.musee-jacquemart-andre.com/en/jacquemart/
A DAY IN PARIS FROM LONDON
The Eurostar uses the Gare du Nord station.
Get out your "Streetwise" map of Paris.
I suggest taking the no. 4 metro Direction Clignancourt one stop to the Rochechouard stop. Transfer to the Line 2 direction Dauphine and get off at Etoile.
You are now at the Arc de Triomphe. (OOOOH, AHHHH).
Walk down the Champs Elysee to the Place Concorde. (AHHHH, OOOOH)
Head toward the river and stop at http://www.musee-orangerie.fr/ for the Impressionists.
Walk down to the river and go right to the Palais complex.
Buy a day pass for the www.batobus.com and take it to the Eiffel Tower. (OOOOH, AHHHH).
Go across to the Trocadero, for the best view of the ET. (Take pix).
Take the Batobus to the d'Orsay stop. Visit the Museum.
Stop off at the Pont des Arts. (Take pix)
Walk East along the Seine (buy souvenirs at the book stalls) to Notre Dame.
Cross the river, see ND. (OOOOH, AHHH)
Cross the Pont St Louis onto the Isle. Have some gelato at Amorino, 47 rue Saint Louis en L’Ile. It is better than the ice cream at Berthillon. (or do both)
Cross back to the left bank on the Pont Tournelle and go left to the Batobus stop at the Jardin des Plantes (well worth a look, if you have time).
Take the Batobus to the Louvre stop. See the Louvre and the Tuileries.
Go North through the Louvre to the Rue de Rivoli. Window shop while walking East to the Louvre metro stop.
Take the no. 1 line dir Vincennes to the Bastille stop. See the monument.
Go West to the Place des Vosges. Walk through the park and follow your map to the Rue Rosiers. (Get some felafel). Follow Rue Bretonnerie to the Pompidou. Continue on to Les Halles.
Au Pied de Cochon (15, Rue Montmartre) is open all night.
Take the No 4 metro from Les Halles dir Clignancourt back to the Gare du Nord.
www.ratp.fr will give you travel times on the metro.
Enjoy your visit.