Can anyone dispense some advice for three eighteen year old girls (who are all fluent in French) to best enjoy Paris this summer? Such as the best places to meet people, what not to miss, and things to avoid. I assume it will be safe; we are traveling alone but are not strangers to city life.

We don't have definite plans yet but will probably stay in Paris for a week before heading to the northwest and south of france for the remaining three weeks of our trip (my friends have friends there). Basically, we want to have fun (and even a little adventure as well) and learn as much about the culture as possible since we are all francophiles.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

I suggest you stay in either the Latin Quarter (5th district) or the Marais (4th district). There are tons of young people congregating in the Latin Qtr. especially around the Blvd. St. Michel.

Rue Oberkampf, in the 11th arrondissement, is the place. Everywhere else is "over." You could start at ground zero, Cafe Charbon. There's a discreet door at the back of the first, large room, which itself will be jammed at night, that leads to the dance floor.

In case you're approached with offers of "dates" and who knows, perhaps even "marriage" that DON'T interest you, the key is stony silence. (No smiling).

keep your wits about you, as you would in any large city, give an evil eye to the hawkers at the eiffel tower, that is really all they understand, but most of all have a truly wonderful time!

The Oberkempf area is indeed a place to start, or else rue de Lappe near Bastille. If you are more adventurous, check out the new places along the Canal Saint Martin and place Sainte Marthe. Avoid the Latin Quarter and Saint Germain des Prés at all costs -- it is the epitome of what fatuous middle-aged American tourists want of Paris.

The Latin Quarter and St Germain des Pres are both fine for your age. Yes, they are swarming with tourists but this can add to the appeal, particularly at night - ...it just depends on what you're looking for.

The Oberkampf is an area frequented by 'swank' Parisians that now attracts the 'pseudo-nouveau Parisian' breed of tourist (and there are hords of them!)
If they're not Botoxed, you'll recognise this 'trendy' lot by the raised nostrils and perpetual sneers.

Use the Batobus from the landing near the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower and any other stops that appeal to you. Their website is superb: http://www.batobus.com

Two weeks ago today we had an excellent dinner at a very lively cafe/winebar/bistro at the foot of Rue Mouffetard named Cave La Bourgogne (144 rue Mouffetard, 01-47-07-82-80, open from 7am to 2am). On Sundays, they are open only until 7 pm, which meant you could be seated until 7 pm. It is located on a charming little square of the Medard Church. Our dinner and wine were excellent; be advised that the portions are very generous. They serve large salads that are a meal in themselves and many fine main courses but no soups. The bakery across the square bakes the superb bread that they serve. After dinner, we went to the bakery and bought a large and a small palmier for our dessert. The Cave La Bourgogne has fine looking desserts, too, but we didn't think we wanted any until we saw the pastries at this bakery.

There were many students there as well as older people - an interesting mix. Excellent, friendly service, too.

Gosh, Bob, it sounds like your time on rue Oberkampf wasn't the best. I was just there for brunch today, and didn't run into a single botoxed, supercilious person. The crowd in the Cafe Charbon was downright scruffy. But maybe it glitters at night? I'm getting a little to old to stop by in the wee hours.

Kerouac's suggestions of the Canal St. Martin and St. Marthe are good ones. I don't care much for the rue de Lappe, though. A few too many bars crowded into too little space. And there are all those pesky foreigners like myself hanging out.

depending on your dates this summer - how about Paris Plage, when they close 2 miles of expressway and put in a city beach, or Bastille Day festivities?

and, as above, i'd stay in the 4th or 5th.

There are many different types of nightlife in a city like Paris. The Latin Quarter does appeal to tourists, but since these girls will be tourists, what's wrong with that. The aforementioned area around the Bastille is the trendy spot for young people just past majority these days, but that can change at any time. The Marais is for a somewhat older and more touristy crowd and for people who are perhaps less interested in finding partners for the evening. The Champs appeals to a still older and more touristy crowd, with high prices. It all depends on what you want.

Teenagers tend to be more interesting in courtship than culture, so perhaps the Bastille area might please them the most. They won't necessarily see much of broad French culture (apart from the fact that most people speak French there), but they will meet guys, which is probably more important.

If they are exceptions to the rule, the Latin Quarter would be next on the list. The Marais is a bit smaller and quieter. The Champs is for shopping and strolling. The 16th is animated in some areas, but mostly with married locals. And so on.

What are you interested in? Architecture? Art? Food? Casual encounters? That will help you narrow down your choices. And, if you can, and I guess you can in Paris and you haven't yet made any decisions about lodging, try to stay with a family somehow. If you are truly interested in the life and culture, that's a good way you'll really see it, and meet people. When I first went to live in France a looong time ago, I lived in a tiny village in the south, as an exchange student. The father in my host family was the local mayor, and I still speak french with un accent du midi. I could play a mean game of boules, and it was a tremendous experience. Otherwise, how about a hostel (don't know how they are these days...)? Or somewhere that you can meet people...
Have a ball, in any case. And, check out a thread called "Answers" in the europe section, it's hilarious, and has a lot of good info. That goes for anyone, btw.
Oh, I also say go for the 10th and 11th arrondissements, mostly.

Oh wow, thanks everyone. In response to the first few replies -

I think I will have to check out Rue Oberkampf and most definitely the Canal Saint Martin (I couldn't find much information on Place Sainte Marthe - can anyone elaborate?). As for the Latin Quarter, my friends and I will probably check it out, at least to see what all the hype is about. It will be my first time in France and I don't think I want to leave before at least catching a glimpse of this neighborhood of which I have heard so much about. But we really would like to keep the touristy activities (and our English) at a minimum and absorb as much of the culture as possible. We don't want to leave without being changed.

Dave in Paris, I guess I'll have to practice my take-no-prisoners face. The thought of being approached by a random French person for a date and/ or marriage makes me laugh .

"We don't want to leave without being changed."

Yes! I have no doubt you're going to have a wonderful time. (I have personally witnessed an on-the-street "marriage" proposal. Can't say how sincere it was, because my friend chose not to pursue it.)

If ever you are feeling REALLY adventurous one evening, go to the heart of the 20th arrondissement and discover the Flèche d'Or (www.flechedor.com).

Mels,

Advice from a french guy :
- There is no more Latin Quarter (Parisians do not call it this way anymore). Bd St Michel, you can have a walk there but forget in the evening (just greek restaurants). The best restaurant right now in this area is Le Pré Verre (19 rue du Sommerard 5th). Go there, it's awesome, but book in advance.
- Yes, you should go in the day and in the night in St Germain and surroundings (the 6th) : the upmarket place. Shop in Le Bon Marché and around (rue de Sevres, rue de Rennes). Go out at night around rue de Seine. Try the bar upstairs of L'Alcazar (called la Mezzanine de l'Alcazar rue Mazarine Paris 6). For excellent creative french food, book (1 week in advance) at l'Epi Dupin (rue Dupin Paris 6) or have an incredible japanese dinner at Azabu (3 rue André Mazet, P6)
- Rue Oberkamp is great : more students there, cheaper restaurants, great bars like Café Charbon;
- Le Marais is in a between place : more upmarket than Oberkamp, cheaper than the 6th, very trendy, lot of gay places.
- Fantastic bar : is Bar de l'Hotel Murano (13 bd du Temple, Paris 3, off République). Very trendy and flashy.
- La Fleche d'Or is really worth a try (even if a bit isolated in the East)
- In daytime, you have to go to Place des Vosges and les jardins du Palais Royal : best square gardens in Paris.
- Museums : Louvre of course, Orsay, Beaubourg, Picasso and Carnavalet (history of Paris)

More advice if you need

Mmm excellent suggestions! I wonder how we'll stay in Paris for just one week, but I guess our pockets will feel the toll haha.

I'll chat with my travel buddies this weekend and get back to you guys later if we have any more questions. Thanks again!

There is most certainly still a Latin Quarter in Paris, and the Parisians still call it the Latin Quarter, as they have for several centuries.

I don't know what many Parisians call it, but bd St Michel and the few pedestrian blocks with cheap Greek restaurants on Huchette are not the total of the Latin Quarter. Historically, of course, this isn't true if you learn about the Latin Qtr, so anyone (French or not) might not know what the term Latin Quarter means and the area it comprises.

I will admit that a lot of people who go to Paris as tourists do talk about the Latin Qtr and mean that same area because that's the part they've seen when in Paris.

I think Parisians may not use the term Latin Qtr that much because they tend to refer to smaller neighborhoods when talking about areas, so they might refer to Quartier Sorbonne, Quartier Maubert, Quartier Val de Grace, and Quartier Jardin des Plantes, etc., rather than saying the Latin Quarter, which is generally the name used for the 5th arrondisement as a whole (or most of it).

Pariscope refers to the 5th arr. as the Quartier Latin when it labels the areas in their cinema section, and they are Parisian. There are also Parisian official associations and organizations who refer to it as the Quartier Latin (e.g., Comité de Défense des Habitants et Travailleurs du Quartier Latin).

Anthony, I'm french, I lived 15 years in Paris, half of it in the 5th/6th and we don't call it anymore "Quartier Latin" (my parents used to !)

Younger people often refer to neighborhood by the name of the nearest metro station. For a lot of people the Latin Quarter does not exist, but they talk of "Saint Michel" "Saint Germain" "Luxembourg" or "Maubert".