Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - First Time to Paris

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First Time to Paris

I am going to Paris for the first time in 3 weeks. I am overwhelmed by all the information available and was wondering if anyone could give me first hand info for where to go, what to do, etc...

Hi Amy, Your question is way to broad to answer here. There are so many things to do and see in Paris, I think the first place to start is your local library and/or bookstore and start reading. Then decide what it is that interests you and make a list of the places you would like to see. Make three - Must sees, would like to see, and if I have time. 3 weeks is awfully soon, I would hope that you have done some research by now. You should also do a search on this board as this type of question has been answered ad nauseum.

Amy: If you'd like, I can email you a copy of my trip notes which contain basic info on how we got around, what we saw, etc. Email me if you would like a copy and I'll send them out to you.

Amy, I know your question seems reasonable to you. Your use of the word "overwhelmed" suggests that you have done the job you're supposed to do - - you've been reading and reading and reading and now, all of a sudden, it just all seems like so much too much to be able to formulate a plan. And so, you're thinking that the anecdotal information of just one or two people (who may be good with words, but might not be good at seeing Paris!) would somehow be something in which you could take refuge. Relax. Paris (and its surroundings) really WILL be too much for almost every first-time visitor - - and yet, the worst day I ever had in Paris was still a whole lot better than the best day(s) I ever spent in a whole lot of other places. Now, at the risk of suggesting that you read FURTHER, here are two items that I think will help you get a "big picture" grasp on Paris. Get the Eyewitness Guide (published by Dorling Kindersley - - at bookstores and libraries everywhere) ans just inside the front cover are the "Top Ten" - - you cannot wrong with anything there. And for the best brief (less than 2000 words) overview of Paris I ever read, check out: http://travel.boston.com/world/europ..._paris_4.shtml - - admittedly, this is a little dated (June 98) - - but after all, the city IS timeless. Best wishes, Rex www.allexperts.com

After a trip to Europe (included Paris) after graduation, I did not return to the city for 20 years. It was like the first time and I decided to do the typical tourist things: Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Musee d'Orsay, Notre Dame, Versailles, les Invalides. I made a "calendar" of the time I was going to be there and began filling each day with biggies. I'm a Napoleon fan (short, egocentric, convinced of his own infallibility - my idol) so I wanted to visit Josephine's home, Arc de Triomphe, etc. and blocked those in also. I used the Let's Go guide to find a hotel, used my nose to find restaurants and had plenty of time to wander and discover. Soooo - admit that you must see all the biggies, then decide what really interests you (people recommend Longchamps for the races; I find horseracing ho-hum so I've never been; on the other hand, I've made repeated visits to the Picasso Museum because I love his stuff) and visit those places (do you like to cook? do you do needlework? are you a soccer fan? always thought le Corbusier was ahead of his time? fascinated by the history of fashion?). And admit you'll never see it all and you'll just have to go back again (do NOT wait 20 years!)

If you are suffering from a surfeit of information, which an easy ailment to acquire in these days of electronic spewing, I have a practical suggestion. First decide what kinds of places you want to visit the most. Art museums, bakeries (my second choice -- hence my gain of 4 pounds in 4 days; I walked around stuffing myself.), historical sites and sights, musical performances, boat ride on the Seine, etc. Then make a list of about 4 places per day (which is too many probably). Put them in a hat. Draw them at random. Group them geographically. And let that be your list. Of course if you decide one place is an absolute must, then fudge and put it at the top. I did that with Versailles and Musee d'Orsay and Ste. Chapelle and the Louvre and a night at the opera. Don't be so fixed in your purpose that you forget to allow time for whimsical diversions. One afternoon we started out for the Place de la Concorde full of historical intentions to see where the heads rolled, but we got side tracked in street markets and never got there. Figure on seeing about 30% of the target list. Second, get maps of the subway system and bus sytem (on the web) and study them well so you don't flounder around trying to get from place to place. Memorize as much of it as you can so that when you glance at the maps you don't need 5 minutes to re-orient your thinking. Third, don't worry too much about where you eat unless you want a special meal. We played it by ear and the only bad meal was at a place where we had a reservation. The rest of the time we played by our fatigue and hunger. We always found a good place to sit down and recover. Fourth, have an umbrella. Paris gets attacks of the rains. Fifth, don't stop at as many bakeries as I did, they hinder progress; but my addiction needed feeding. (I acquired it the first day we were there.) Sixth, have a reserve of cash for a taxi ride in case of an emergency. If you get tired as the devil, you are all the way on the other side of Paris from your hotel, it is raining, and you have a dinner reservation, don't fight it. Use your reserve and take the easy way out. After all this is supposed to be enjoyment, not torture. Seventh. Don't worry about what you miss. If you miss it this time you saw something just as good. Get it next chance. (I missed Versailles my first time around because I was sick and broke. That was 40 plus years ago; but I got it last time through.)

Don't worry because you will never see everything or even a small bit of the places that veryone tells you that must be seen. Just enjoy yourself and who will have wonderful time. Some ideas however: Paris is a great walking city. If you get tired there is always the metro. A previous note about rain and umbrellas is excellent. If you are into museums perhaps a rainy day would be the best time to go. There are so many and they came be crowded. Don't worry about the food. You will eat well; perhaps too well. I can keep from gaining weight by only eating two meals; breakfast and either lunch or dinner while in Paris.

Amy, There is a park called the Parc de la Place des Vosges in the Marais district. Bring your lunch and sit a while. It's one of my favorite spots in all of Paris. You won't be disappointed.Afterwards,go for tea at <<Marriage Freres>> in the Marais as well. And to top it off, I recommend <<Les Gamins de Paris>> in the Marais for dinner. I can taste the food as I type!!! :-) The Marais is a beautiful neighborhood, sort of a cross between the West Village and Soho in NYC, but prettier! The Musee d'Orsay for the impressionist paintings, and don't leave Paris without trying some pates de fruits. Any questions, E-Mail m

Don't fret. Paris has enough to keep you busy for a year. I've been there many times and always see new things. Hopefully, you have a good guide book. Another person has suggested listing things which are a "must" for you and those which are "interesting if you have the time." One thing you should establish is that you can't see everything. If you rush around trying to see too many things, you will miss the shear pleasure of the atmosphere of Paris. For museums, I'd recommend the Louvre and the Musee D'Orsay. If you have time for more, read about the different museums and select that which interests you the most. Do you sightseeing by neighborhoods, which will save you time and permit you to absorb the character of each "Arrondisement." Again, your guidebook should have recommended walking tours. The metor is great and easy, but walking is the best thing to do in Paris. A good first time experience (touristy but enjoyable) is a ride on the Bateaux Mouche - the sightseeing boats which go up and down the Seine at all hours. It is fun and gives you an idea of the layout of the city. The main sights to see on a first time trip - the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, the view from Sacre Coeur, the two aforementioned museums. Strolls along the Seine is always pleasant. A tip - if you like shopping, it is most pleasant to shop in the morning. The store tend to get very crowded in the afternoon. Dining - if you have a special place that you really want to eat, I would reserve, possibly before you leave for Paris. I personally love fine dining, and make most of my dinner reservations before I leave. That way there is no disappointment. Despite what many say, you can get a bad meal in Paris, particulary if you let yourself get drawn in by hawkers in touristy areas. Again, trust your guidebook and follow some of their recommendations. One can go on and on. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact me. Bon Voyage !

Amy; See my trip report here - Our Romantic 30th Anniversary in Paris to see what we accomplished in a week. The city is beautiful and big, but you can see and do a lot in a week. You can feel like you've "done" Paris. Have a marvelous time.

Also, don't rule otutaking a tour of the city either by one of the bus companies, like Cityrama or the doubledecker open-air bus, or one of the smaller walking tours. It's a good way to familiarize yourself with some of the larger sites and learn a bit about the history of them and the city. That way, with some of the more prominent sites out of the way in one day, you can concetrate on some the lesser known gems, museums and activites that you like doing, like shopping (?) or eating (?).