Paris Features

Paris Features

• Top Things to Do in Paris
  

  The 164-foot-tall Arc de Triomphe has served as the backdrop to official military parades since its completion in 1836. Use the underground passageway... read more

• Today's Paris …
  

  … is cleaner. Parisians breathe a little easier today as the city moves toward a more eco-friendly lifestyle. And while the image of intellectual... read more

• What the Locals Do in Paris
  

  To appreciate the City of Light as the locals do, you can start by learning some of the daily rituals of Paris life. These simple, fun pleasures... read more

• Paris With Kids
  

  Paris is often promoted as an adult destination, but there's no shortage of children's activities to keep the young 'uns busy, not to mention... read more

• Left Bank Artists and Writers
  

  Some of the greatest artists and writers of the 20th century were attracted to winding streets and bustling boulevards of Paris's Left Bank between... read more

• Hands-on Paris
  

  Sometimes it's not enough to see the sights, shop the boutiques, and sample the regional delicacies: there is the compulsion to really immerse... read more

• Money-Saving Tips
  

  Paris has never been cheap and we know you're going to be looking for some tips on how not to break the bank. Who better to ask than travelers... read more

• Cheap Things to Do in Paris
  

  It's easy to break the bank in Paris, but those acquainted with the city know where to find the free (or almost free) stuff. Here are some tips... read more

• Paris Museums, an Overview
  

  There's no shortage of museums in Paris, so it's a good idea to make a plan. This overview includes all the museums listed elsewhere in the book... read more

• Romantic Things to Do in Paris
  

  It isn't hard to stumble across a romantic moment in Paris. Couples kiss on park benches, dine by candlelight in cozy neighborhood bistros, and... read more

• Shopping the Champs-Élysées and Avenue Montaigne
  

  Step into your Chanel suit, gird your loins, and plunge into Paris's most elegant and daunting hunting grounds, where royals, jet-setters, starlets... read more

• Shopping Rue St-Honoré
  

  You're just as likely to bump into a Saudi princess as a Japanese DJ on what is unarguably one of the world's great shopping streets. All the... read more

• Shopping Canal St-Martin
  

  "Off the beaten track" aptly describes this up-and-coming neighborhood, dotted with galleries, vintage shops, and iconoclastic boutiques.... read more

• The Food Scene in St-Germain and Montparnasse
  

  Small bistros are moving into the spotlight in St-Germain, and crêpe stands, fish restaurants, and oyster bars attest to the Breton influence... read more

• The Food Scene in the Latin Quarter and the Islands
  

  Whether you're seeking a cheap Chinese eatery or a table for two at La Tour d'Argent, the Latin Quarter dishes up something for every taste and... read more

• Shopping the Marais
  

  The Marais has just about stolen the show as the city's hottest shopping spot—for sheer volume it can't be beat. Not to mention atmosphere:... read more

• The Food Scene in the Marais, Bastille, Nation
  

  The center of Jewish and gay life in Paris, the Marais is the place to find the best falafel in town and some great bistro fare, too. Farther... read more

• Shopping Rive Gauche
  

  Ever since the 1960s, when Yves Saint Laurent cashed in on the neighborhood's bohemian-artistic allure, the Rive Gauche has been synonymous with... read more

• The Food Scene in Montmartre, Canal St-Martin, Northeast Paris
  

  Perched above central Paris, Montmartre is buzzing with a hip vibe, and cutting-edge cafés are springing up along the banks of the Canal... read more

• The Food Scene in Champs-Élysées and Western Paris
  

  Style often wins out over substance around the Champs-Élysées, but a handful of luxury restaurants continue to defy fashion.... read more

• The Food Scene in the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides
  

  Lively bistros and daring contemporary restaurants bring unexpected exuberance to the otherwise sedate streets around the Eiffel Tower and in... read more

• The Food Scene in the Louvre, Les Halles, and the Opéra
  

  All-night restaurants and hearty bistros continue to thrive around Paris's former wholesale market, creating a boisterous contrast with the elegant... read more

• Bicycling in Paris
  

  You've seen those 1930s photographs of Paris—men in berets bicycling the streets, a baguette tucked under one arm; elegant women in billowing... read more

• Hemingway's Paris
  

  There is a saying: "Everyone has two countries, his or her own—and France." For the Lost Generation after World War I, these words rang... read more

• Paris's Covered Arcades
  

  Before there were the grands magasins, there were the passages couverts, covered arcades that offered the early-19th-century Parisian shopper... read more

• The Top Spas in Paris
  

  After a long day of shopping, nothing beats a retreat to a Parisian spa. They're easy to find, with one or two in the department stores and an... read more

• A Scenic Walking Tour of Monmartre
  

  One of the Paris's most charming walks begins at the Abbesses métro station (Line 12), which has one of only two remaining iron-and-glass... read more

• Bastille at Night
  

  From Place de la Bastille, take Rue de la Roquette and turn right onto Rue de Lappe, Paris's answer to Bourbon Street, once a haunt of artists... read more

• Shakespeare & Company
  

  This English-language bookstore is one of Paris's most eccentric and lovable literary institutions. Founded by George Whitman, the maze of new... read more

• Dueling Cafés
  

  Les Deux Magots (6 pl. St-Germain-des-Prés) and the neighboring Café de Flore (172 b. St-Germain) have been duking it out on this... read more

• Artists, Writers, and Exiles
  

  Paris became a magnet for the international avant-garde in the mid-1800s and remained Europe's creative capital until the 1950s. It all began... read more

• Notable Neighborhoods, Select Streets
  

  Paris's legendary shopping destinations draw people the world over, but perhaps a deeper allure lies in the lesser-known attractions: the city... read more

• Worth a Look
  

  There are some stores that are worth visiting, whether or not you're going to make a purchase; check these out for a priceless slice of Parisian... read more

• Apartment Rentals
  

  Many Fodorites rent apartments in Paris because they favor extra space plus that special sense of living like a local. Rentals can also offer... read more

• After-Hours Restaurants
  

  Craving steak au poivre after a post-midnight party? Most late-night brasseries and 'round-the-clock restaurants don't need reservations. Here... read more

• Jazz Clubs
  

  The French fell hard for jazz nearly a century ago, during World War I, but the real coup de foudre—literally "lightning bolt" or figuratively... read more

• The Best Chocolate Shops in Paris
  

  The French take chocolate seriously. There are dozens of chocolatiers to choose from, but the purveyors listed here are unusually distinguished... read more

• Top Paris Shopping Experiences
  

  Visiting Le Bon Marché. The city's chicest and oldest department store is a great first stop for an overview of the current season's pieces... read more

• Museum Stores
  

  La Galerie de L'Opéra de Paris. This is every ballerina, ballerina wanabe, or ballet lover's dreamstore. The majestic landmark's soaring... read more

• Jardin du Palais Royal
  

  Paris's secret oasis no more. With the arrival of Marc Jacobs, Rick Owens, and Stella McCartney, the palace and gardens of the Jardin du Palais... read more

• French Restaurant Types
  

  Bistro: The broadest category, a bistro can be a simple, relaxed restaurant serving traditional fare or a chic hot spot where dinner costs more... read more

• A French Cheese Primer
  

  Their cuisine might be getting lighter, but the French aren't ready to relinquish their cheese. Some restaurants present a single, lovingly selected... read more

• Canal St-Martin
  

  The Canal St-Martin area is one of the latest neighborhoods to become a cultural hub for up-and-coming young Parisians, offering an enriching... read more