Going for our 10 yr anniv. in March. Hotel booked. Need help with the rest! We're looking for 1/2 sightseeing, 1/2 eating & drinking our way thru town (is there a difference??!!). Would love some vetrans to make suggestions. What's worth it, what's not. Must have's?

1st suggestion: read the Destination Guide at this site
2nd suggestion: get a good map, I like Michelin Blue
3rd suggestion: do a search on this site...there are tons of itinerary suggestions as well as trip reports

Without knowing your interests, it is hard to say "do this" "see that". That is why the Fodor's destination guide is a good starting point for a rought trip outline followed by conversations on this site.

Take a swag at a plan and we will help. Build int your plan jetlag (so no bus toru first day), travel time to and from airport and allow for "radomness" time i.e. don;t plan every minute. In each day build in "walking from xxx to yyy".

Paris Walks is good for english language tours. Vedettes du Pont Neuf good for Seine cruises ( night better than day).

Mike

Buy a guidebook and read it together on the plane ride over.

We didn't have anything pre-planned for Paris, but each morning over breakfast would pick 1-2 things we specifically wanted to do... and just start walking. The rest fell nicely in to place. Keep your eyes open for restaurants that look appealing to you and jot down the address so you can find them again later on.

Random planning worked for us, especially since I'd sprained both feet in Salzburg prior to our arrival in Paris. Just read some posts, check guide books and get some ideas ready. We had planned on doing the Fat Tire Bike Tour, but with sprained feet...no. Our daughter and her husband loved the Fat Tire Bike Tour! Check it out as a possibility. We fell in love with Luxembourg Gardens. You will find your own "loves."

Hi

My wife and I went to Paris in April last year and I have posted a trip report with pictures and links on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/Paris_France.htm . Maybe you can find some useful information there

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures

HI C,

See Paris Superthread
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34519236

100 Great Things to Do in Paris
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...mp;tid=1277898

Degas’s Paris Walks
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34712768

Jacquemart-Andre’ Museum http://tinyurl.com/p9pol

And throw in a 2h-3hr tour by Paris Walks, or an overall tour by Parisvision or Cityrama

http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pariswalking/

http://www.parisvision.com/index.php?langid=en

http://www.pariserve.com/city/paris.htm

(sorry about the long URLs)

All well noted, and are being put to use. We have our lists of "musts" but want to make sure we're not over- looking something obvious. (my 4th visit, his 2nd - got engaged here 10 yrs back- to the day)Things change so quickly. We're just glad to get there at all!
What is the name of the chocolatire down by Tulleres?
Best "big" dinner?
Thanks - it's hard to plan fast and with 3 little ones at my feet!

Hevin?

My suggestions:-

Le Centre Pompidou - fabulous modern art collection - much more fun than the Louvre.

Rue Moufftard Market - picturesque narrow winding street on a hill, opens onto little squares with fountains, and lots of fab food and drink to test/buy en-route.

Coffee and patesserie - my favourite cake is 'Opera' - multiple coffee/chocolate layers. I like Angeline, it's a modern tea-shop chain so the shops themselves aren't terribly pcituresque but the patesserie and hot chocolate are to die for!

Basilica Sacre Coeur - yes, a bit of a tourist cliche, but the church is beautiful - full of candles, incense and gold mosaic, and the views across Paris are stunning.

Ice cream at Berthillion - try a more unusual flavour like Cassis or Peche.

Are you American? If you are, it's your patriotic duty to visit the 'other' Statue of Liberty - best done by Seine river cruise.

Buy underwear at a big dept store like Samaritaine and have it wrapped with rose petals.

Avoid Les Champs Elysees - busy tourist trap and most of the shops are pretty international.

go to:
L'Orangerie for the Monet, and the Picasso Museum.

for markets:
the one at Metro Rennes on Sundays is Organic. even if you aren't cooking food where you are staying, they have lovely things to eat while you brows, gougeres, galettes, etc.

Bastille is great for tourist and locals alike - long walking and colourful. Great babaganouj

Great sexy food: L'Atelier du Joel Robuchon, they do take resos, even for lunch. But if you miss that, show up around 12, ask for the second seating, show up at 230 and have a luxurious, late lunch.

Le Petit Picard in the Marais for simple bistro food.

Great Tibetan restaurant on rue Lepic in the 18th

La Maison du Chocolat is a great place for chocolate, but if you really are into the good stuff, go to Pierre Herme in the 6th. He also has the best macaroons. And I hate macaroons. (try the chocolate with sesame)

Wine bars:
La cremerie on rue des Quatre-Vents in the 5th (organic wines)
and, even smaller, Le Verre Vole in the 10th/3rd, near the canal on rue de Lancrys. Also organic wines.

And, way up in Montmartre, Le Cave Cafe. The last two are very simple (read: not flashy) wine bars. But are great.

Great yoga: Rasa Rive Gauche in the 5th.

Great used CDs:
crocodisc in the 5th, on rue des Ecoles, near La Sorbonne. Find Franck for that elusive world music CD. He will find it for you.

there is a great map available at most newsagents - it has each arondissement and a great metro map. Worth the 6euros.