nikijo

Hi! I'm a female in my late twenties looking to travel to Paris by myself for about a week. I'd want to spend my time going is the explore the sites, museums and other touristy places but I want to spend a majority of my time immersing myself in the local culture. I love food, wine and people watching at cafes. I'm a fun outgoing person and less serious or introvert. (Thought I'd give you a description of my personality because I noticed a lot of people need more details about you before they can offer suggestions.. which makes sense!) In the evening, I'd love to go to a fun restaurant or pub, but I'm not looking to go to a club. Safety is important too! I'd love chatting it up with locals (in English because I cannot speak French ) If anyone could help me out with the following it would be great! I plan to visit in May. Thanks in advance!

Questions:
- Which area to stay in (I want to visit the Eiffel Tower, Musee d'Orsay, Musee du Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg Gardens, Arc de Triomphe)
- Cute trendy places to eat
- Markets or places to visit during the day (besides the typically touristy places!)
- Tips on prioritizing my trip

janisj

>>I want to spend a majority of my time immersing myself in the local culture.

Whathello

Tourists like the inner arrondissements.
4-6 usually. Some like 7th.

I like 14th, 18th, parts of 19th and 20th. Cheaper and quieter and for me as interesting and more 'french'.

My daughter stayed in 14th recently. She loved it.
Ah she was 17 at the time. She didn't feel a problem of safety. I never did either but I'm supposed to be a male capable of taking care of himself and attracting less attention than a solo young woman.

Edward2005

Definitely get a Paris guidebook to see what interests you.

Consider getting a museum pass as it will let you by-pass long ticket lines. Such lines can be as much as 2 hours long at the Louvre in peak season! They can be a real time saver.

I love walking tours. Various companies offer many such tours of Paris with a wide range of foci: history, food, specific neighborhoods, wine, art - almost anything. There are even general city tours on bicycles. And city driving tours at night in a classic French car such as a Citrone.

kerouac

The area around Les Halles has just been revitalized with the completion of the Canopée and total renovation of the underground shopping mall. It is the principal restaurant, bar and entertainment zone in the city in the evening and cafés like the Père Tranquille or the Père Fouettard, both on rue Pierre Lescot, are famous people watching sites. (So was the Bon Pecheur, but it has closed for renovation or perhaps conversion into something else.)

Since the Châtelet-Les Halles RER & metro station is the main transportation hub of the entire Paris metropolitan area, you would have no problem reaching any tourist site from that area, which is also a huge pedestrian zone. This makes it much nicer for walking around than noisy thoroughfares like Boulevard Saint Germain or Boulevard Saint Michel.

Christina

I'd suggest staying in the 11th arrondisement, say the Oberkampf area or between there and the Bastille metro stop.

What you want to see isn't a problem with the metro, you can go to any of those things easily if you are near a metro and not on the far edges of Paris.

FrenchMystiqueTours

If you want to go someplace where you have a better chance of interacting with French people who speak English go to just about any Irish pub.

suze

For the sights/sites you list, Latin Quarter (5th) works nicely.

You aren't likely going to be "chatting with locals", just doesn't happen like that in one weeks time and not speaking the language.

Doesn't mean you won't have a great trip though!

You list 6 places. Mark them on a map to see locations and relationship to each other. Then plan your days to include 1-2 along with walking the various arrondisements.

suze

<you can go to any of those things easily if you are near a metro>

Easy for a local or frequent visitor to say...

For me in Paris my first time, I did not want to be tied to using public transportation every day to go sightseeing. I find it intimidating since I don't speak French and have zero knowledge of how things work.

That's why I suggested the 5th (or 4th, 6th or 7th) because then you can do everything on foot.

Blueeyedcod

Good for you. I would recommend Janelle McCulloch's Paris guide books.

http://tinyurl.com/z5plx4k
http://www.amazon.com/Paris-Style-Ja.../dp/0522866999

Agree with staying around Les Halles in the 1st. Easy walking to the Louvre, the Musee D'Orsay and easy metro connections elsewhere. Don't be afraid of the metro - it is probably the most efficient transport system in the world and the easiest to understand.

kawh

janisj... you have been a tremendous help to me and to many others... but why would you give a brand new poster a little slap over simple semantics?? cultural immersion can be many things... how about

instruction based on extensive exposure to surroundings or conditions that are native or pertinent to the object of study"...

i live north of san francisco in a rural setting. when i spend a weekend in s.f. i feel like i am experiencing cultural immersion. that doesn't mean that i'm completely interacting with the google gang or with old money nob hill. but i do get to share some of their experiences, see how they behave and absorb their energy. it all helps me to grow.

to the OP, someone suggested 'paris by mouth' to me the other day. i had the book, but didn't know they had a great web site. spent some time looking through it last night, and got many ideas from trendy to classic. i think it will give you some great ideas... and it's organized both by subject (like best hot chocolate) and by area.

janisj

I didn't mean to 'slap' her - sorry if it came across that way.

We get similar posts quite frequently: "Our first time -- we want to avoid touristy things and get to know the culture" The reality is on a very short first visit, without the language, one is not going to experience French 'culture', one is going to be a tourist/traveler

Whathello

Since when do you speak English in an Irish pub ? ��
But atmosphere can be great.
I recommend for cafes the green linnet close to rue de rivoli and 'Le bar de la fin du monde' close to hotel de Ville.
You can even play board games there. Young people there but they treated me well. ;-)
There is also this Australian bar on saint Denis street that I like
Enjoy Paris. And don't be afraid of not speaking French. You'll find a lot of people speaking correct English and some perfectly bilingual like Kerouac.

nikijo

Hi all-

Thank you all for your inputs! This is very helpful. I really appreciate it. I'll look into the suggestions you all left. I guess you're right that I can't really spend time getting to know people since I will be a tourist after all haha. I can venture out to the places mentioned just to explore and learn more about the city.

Thanks!!

menachem

If the popular uprising at Place de Republique keeps up, you might immerse yourself in old fashioned, yet evolving French revolutionary culture.

justineparis

Stay at a hostel.. there you will meet folks from many other countries.. and many of them will speak a bit of English at least.. so you will have the chance to chat with many other citizens.. not just French.. not just American or Brits..

When I did my youth backpacking trip through Europe we stayed at hotels and hostels.. and its way easier to meet folks at hostels.. we could sit and share some beers with other travelers from Germany, Nederlands, etc etc.. plus locals that are travelling around in their own country.

kawh

i agree that a hostel is a wonderful way to meet people. also often wonderful music being played in the gathering spots!

on the same note-- if not a hostel, i recommend that you book a place that serves breakfast. we often get to know fellow travelers over breakfast at our b&b.

janisj

>> I can venture out to the places mentioned just to explore and learn more about the city.are a tourist