New Years in Paris
 

Will be in Paris 12/31/05 to 1/4/06 to celebrate the New Year. Need help with planning the evenings. Any suggestions?

you've given us no information about yourself and what you like to do...

Last year we were in New York in Times Square. We want to be where the crowds are. We are a 30 something group. Willing to experience most anything.

If you want to be where the crowds are head to the Champs Elysees. However, locals do not go there; it's pretty much frequented by tourists, and from what I was told, troublemakers from the suburbs. Generally what you'll encounter is nothing special at all. In fact, there have been lots of rowdiness in years past. To me the best experience is to book a restaurant for their special New Year's Eve menu and go back to the hotel. Be aware that it'll be very difficult to find taxis and public transportation like the metro stops after a certain time during New Year's Eve.

Hi francophile03,
That is exactly the type of information we are trying to find out -- what public transportation doesn't run on New Year's Eve and after what time...we aren't arriving until after 9pm at CDG. Will the RER B line be running since that's what the hotel suggests taking. Thanks.

I thought your question about New Year's Eve transportation was already answered, Fairway. Click on your name.

The streets of Paris are filled with drunken rabble on New Year's Eve. The last time I took someone up to the Champs for the evening (at her insistence) they were begging to return to the hotel shortly thereafter, after being soaked by beer thrown by drunks and having their ears damaged by the noise of cigar-sized firecrackers thrown at their feet.

It's best to either spend the evening quietly at home, or go out to a good restaurant or club (but be prepared to pay top euro for it). If you do go out, bring earplus and eye protection, and be very cautious. It's best to avoid large crowds, and the area around the Champs can become infested with dregs from the suburbs on evenings like this.

I was told by a couple of local acquaintances the same thing AnthonyGA mentions. Apparently the troublemakers apparently are from the suburbs. The Champs Elysees is not where locals go on NYE. Locals will either have a nice, quiet dinner with friends and family at home or they go to a restaurant. Even my hotel warned me not to go to the CE. And as an added precaution they told me to be careful around the quais. But they added there is alot of police presence around on that night. I can't imagine being in a rowdy crowd and risking being injured. That's not a good experience at all.