PARIS! Where to go? What to do?
 

My boyfriend and I are headed to Paris in a few days for 3 nights!

What MUST SEE places should we note? Shopping areas (esp. where we can find great bargains), street markets, fun dining places, cafes? Not much of a fan of museums (we'll probably go to one).

We'll probably visit Versailles one afternoon.

Thanks for your help!

There is a Paris section under "Destinations" if you click on that word above this forum...Not sure where you're from, but between global markets and the currency exchange (for $US, at least) there probably aren't many bargains in Paris. You could probably use and enjoy a 'top 10' or '25 best' style of guidebook about Paris.

In addition to the Fodor's destinations section suggested by travelnut, you might want to check out the guide to Paris on frommers.com. It offers suggested itineraries for one, two or three days which might help you in your planning
http://www.frommers.com/destinations...062010007.html

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Hi I,

Look at
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

Kerouac’s Ethnic Walk
http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=35095155

With only 3 days in Paris, I wouldn't do Versailles this visit.

I am from Orange County, California.

Thanks, i will check those threads out!

3 nights is not very long in Paris and certainly is not enough time to try to fit in Versailles.

I would skip Versailles this time and just stay in Paris. There is so much to see and do even if you never set foot in a musuem.

But it is really up to you to decide what "Your Must See" places are because everyone has their own definition of that.

Mine is Berthillon (sp?). Okay, not just that but it's pretty high on my list!

Without trying to sound rude, may I ask how old you are and if you are just adding Paris on to another destination?

If you go to only one museum, I suggest the Musée d'Orsay. It's less overwhelming than the Louvre, and it's a nice building besides.

I'll state the obvious . . .

-- Eiffel Tower

And since you're not a big museum fan, then I second the suggestion to opt for the Musee D'Orsay over the Louvre. The D'Orsay has many of the impressionistic works that many enjoy and are familiar with.

A coworker of mine recently was in Paris; So I combed thru this forum and pulled together list of websites. You may find these helpful as well:

Official website of the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau
http://en.parisinfo.com/

Paris Tourist Information
http://www.paris-tourist-information.com/

http://europeforvisitors.com/paris/resources/paris.htm

http://www.paris.org/

http://www.timeout.com/paris/

http://www.paris-eiffel-tower-news.com/

http://www.parisfranceguide.com

Paris Metro/Subway System
http://www.ratp.info/touristes/index.php?langue=en
http://www.subwaynavigator.com
http://www.paris.org/Metro/

Paris Restaurants
http://www.10best.com/Paris/Restaurants/
http://www.paris-restaurants.net/

Paris
http://www.paris-anglo.com
[Excellent site, many suggestions for sightseeing, daytrips, shopping, etc including special activities for English-speakers];

http://english.pidf.com/page/p-289/ >> PIDF Paris guide;

http://www.paris.org/navigate.html >> Navigate Paris

http://www.parisinfo.com/ >> Paris Info, Hotels museums, sightseeing, transportation, tours, hotels, etc.

http://www.chateauversailles.fr/?CFI...TOKEN=41993373
[Online guide to Versailles];

Tourist guide
http://www.parisbalades.com >> Architectural walks, + clicks to other sites for events, museums;

http://www.parisdigest.com

http://www.pariserve.tm.fr/quartier/egl.htm .. / ..Info (in French) on Paris's churches;

http://www.parisinsites.com
>> Weather tips, good current museum info, transportation, general info

http://www.parisnotes.com

http://www.paris-tourism.com
>> Links for airports, sightseeing, Paris for kids, walking itineraries for short visits, shopping, electricity, embassies, weather, hostels, etc

http://www.pariswater.com
>> Fountains, bridges and email postcards;

http://www.ratp.fr
>> Paris transportation routes, airports, neighborhood maps;

http://www.theatreonline.com
>> Theater Online, Paris;

http://www.voila.fr
>> Web phone directory.

Paris Food
http://www.elegant-lifestyle.com/paris_restaurants.htm
>> Top restaurants in Paris
http://www.gourmetsociety.com
>> Restaurants in Paris by theme
http://www.paris-menus.com/en/parismenus.htm
>> Restaurants by theme, atmosphere, and price

Paris Museums/Galleries
http://www.intermusees.fr/flash/hp_fr.html
>> Paris museum pass
http://www.parismuseumpass.com/en/pass_presentation.php >> a more user friendly museum pass site – look on list of museums to evaluate whether worthwhile to get a pass;

http://www.louvre.fr/llv/commun/home.jsp%20Louvre >> Louvre

http://www.musee-orsay.fr/ORSAY/orsaygb/HTML >> Musee d’ Orsay

http://www.musee-rodin.fr/welcome.htm >> Musee Rodin

Paris Concert Information
http://festival.orangerie.free.fr >> Orangerie de Sceaux
http://www.academie-de-musique.com >> Academie de Musique a choir of students and young professionals
http://www.ampconcerts.com >> Paris Classical Music;
http://www.bnf.fr >> - Bibliotheque Nationale de France has an auditorium and concerts (search programmes cultural).

http://www.chatelet-theatre.com
http://www.cite-musique.fr -- also site of the music museum
http://www.civp.com
http://www.concertclassic.com >> http://www.concertonet.com
http://www.concertsparisiens.fr >> booking agent like Ampconcerts
http://www.frederic-chopin.com/f_b1a.htm >> Society of Chopin
http://www.leclubparis.com/paristravelguide.asp >> has all the music and art listings as well as the latest restaurant reviews.
http://www.operadeparis.fr >> they have some concerts there as well as dance/opera
http://www.orchestredeparis.com >> Orchestra de Paris
http://www.orguefrance.org >> (excellent French Organ site, -- see "concerts" at top right, then select by month)
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/f...st-sulpice.htm >> Saint Sulpice church, famous organ;
http://www.sallegaveau.com/index_flash.htm >> Caveau: Le Salon Musical de Paris;
http://www.theatrechampselysees.fr >> Theatre des Champs-Elysees;
http://www.eglise-sgp.org >> St Germain church, go to Arts & Culture, then Musique, not sure if they keep it up;
http://www.musique-en-sorbonne.org >> (Concerts at the Sorbonne);
http://ste-genevieve-paris.cef.fr >> (near the Pantheon, see "Actualities" for c concerts);
http://www.saint-roch.org >> in the 1st arr.; list concerts under "Agenda".

Skip Versailles, as has been suggested. As for shopping, it depends on what you want. And the sticker shock of the Euro may make you just want to take memories as souvenirs. I think even at a good exchange rate, there are few "bargains".

wow..thanks for all the feedback.

namaka--im 24, boyfriend is 26. so more young, hip, trendy places? *shrug*. We will be in paris for a few days before going to our final destination, London, to visit my sister (she's studying abroad).

There are a few options for WALKING TOURS:
- Classic Walks - €12-20 for 2-3.5 hrs
- Paris Walks - http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homep...ng/PWTHOME.HTM - €10.00 for 2 hrs
- Rick Steves - free download for your iPod and cruise at your own speed


RESTAURANTS:
The Latin Quarter has tons of places to eat from cheap eats (Donar, take-away pizza) to ethnic (Greek, Thai) to steak
Generally the student area (Sorbonne) of Paris
Hot chocolate on a terrace buys you a table for so long as you want. It is not unusual for prices to be higher at an outside table.


MUSEUMS:
Musee D'Orsay - top floor for works by the Impressionists - Degas' dancer statue (I love!)
Musee de Cluny - famous for the 7 medieval tapestries of The Lady & Unicorn
Musee Rodin - mainly sculptures


INTERESTING SITES:
Shakespeare & Co - unique and amazing bookstore - a landmark, open 12:00 - 24:00 - http://www.shakespeareco.org/
Pompidou Center - watch your bags - and the dancers on the sqaure
Trocadéro - view of Eiffel Tower by night from the stairs - - free
Sacre Coeur - view of Paris from the highest point of the city landscape, street artists - - free


DESIGNER SHOPPING:
luxury boutiques on the rue Royale
rue du Faubourg St-Honoré and the avenue Montaigne (via avenue Matignon) - exclusive French couture houses hold court such as Chanel, Dior, Hermès and Yves St-Laurent. The sales, alas, are not until July. . .

You might want to buy a Time Out Guide or Time Out Shortlist for Paris before you leave. Should be available at any big bookstore.

http://www.timeout.com/shop/