Sightseeing in Paris
 

Krista,
Paris is a great city to see on foot. For a "cheap" visit I say go to Notre Dame, L'Arc de Triomphe, Eiffel Tower, du Louvre,and walk the Champs Elysees(warning: window shop only!)<G>. One of the areas that I really like is Montmartre, its has old stone roads, great food, some "hip" clubs. The Hard Rock Cafe is in this area.
Nothing in Paris is "cheap", but if you get out and just see the city its somewhat cheap and awesome to look at!....Have fun........Mark

You MUST see Paristoric, a multimedia theatre presen-
tation near Place de l'Opera (short walk from Opera
metro station). Address is 11 bis Rue Scribe. Show
is daily 9-9 on the hour. Phone 42 93 93 46. Think
admission is $10 American but there are discount
coupons in free publications at hotel desk and tour-
ist bureau. Huge screen, great music, history of
Paris, modern sights. Awesome. ALSO, get yourself
a one-day museum pass (about $15) at your hotel desk
or any large metro station). Go to the Louvre (see
any tour guide e.g. Frommer) for highlights. Go to
the Musee d'Orsay and l'Orangerie and Rodin and
Napoleon's Tomb at Dome Church. These are all in
a relatively small radius. For about $25 you can
get a 3-day pass and you'll still save plenty over
individual admissions, even if you only use it for
two days. Not only does the pass get you in to 65
places, you don't have to wait in line to buy a pass.
If you have time, would also recommend Musee Carnava-
let, Conciergerie/Sainte-Chapelle, all on pass. NOTE!
My husband and I were in Paris for nine days last
September. The BEST selection and BEST prices on
souveniers are on the main street from the Eiffel
Tower heading for the Bir Hakeim Metro stop. Tee
shirts, "paintings" of Parisien scenes, magnets, and
the usual. Awesome postcard selection. BORROW MONEY
or do whatever (run up your credit card?) and spend
a little seeing the sights and enjoying the food!
You WILL NOT REGRET IT. Also, would HIGHLY recommend
CHEZ FRANCIS corner of Place d'Alma & Ave George V
for a meal, drink, or a cup of coffee. Incredible
view of Eiffel Tower - day or night (especially nice). Best
bar (in our opinion) at Hotel Frantoeur Suffren, near
Eiffel Tower (walking distance) with piano player
every night, reasonable drink prices, very friendly
bartenders (one is British) and most of the clientele
consists of business travelers/tour groups. ALSO, if
you ride up Eiffel Tower - pay the extra and go to
the top. Take your camera. Go just before the sun
goes down. Spend some time to see it at dusk and in
the dark. Not to be missed. Stay away from the
Montmartre area. If you must go (and the Sacre Coeur
is BEAUTIFUL) WATCH OUT FOR PICKPOCKETS on the sub-
way and just go there and come right back. We found
this area to be very seedy. Be sure to visit the
corner where St-Germain-des-Pres is located. Cafes
all around. Pick the one that appeals to you. Order
your beverage of choice and just watch the passing
parade - day or night. Be sure to take a camera and
LOTS of film. OR, pick up a picture book at the duty
free shops at the airport (very reasonable, compre-
hensive and only about $12. If you'd like more info,
feel free to ask. Get up early and go to bed LATE.
You don't want to miss anything!.

You MUST see Paristoric, a multimedia theatre presen-
tation near Place de l'Opera (short walk from Opera
metro station). Address is 11 bis Rue Scribe. Show
is daily 9-9 on the hour. Phone 42 93 93 46. Think
admission is $10 American but there are discount
coupons in free publications at hotel desk and tour-
ist bureau. Huge screen, great music, history of
Paris, modern sights. Awesome. ALSO, get yourself
a one-day museum pass (about $15) at your hotel desk
or any large metro station). Go to the Louvre (see
any tour guide e.g. Frommer) for highlights. Go to
the Musee d'Orsay and l'Orangerie and Rodin and
Napoleon's Tomb at Dome Church. These are all in
a relatively small radius. For about $25 you can
get a 3-day pass and you'll still save plenty over
individual admissions, even if you only use it for
two days. Not only does the pass get you in to 65
places, you don't have to wait in line to buy a pass.
If you have time, would also recommend Musee Carnava-
let, Conciergerie/Sainte-Chapelle, all on pass. NOTE!
My husband and I were in Paris for nine days last
September. The BEST selection and BEST prices on
souveniers are on the main street from the Eiffel
Tower heading for the Bir Hakeim Metro stop. Tee
shirts, "paintings" of Parisien scenes, magnets, and
the usual. Awesome postcard selection. BORROW MONEY
or do whatever (run up your credit card?) and spend
a little seeing the sights and enjoying the food!
You WILL NOT REGRET IT. Also, would HIGHLY recommend
CHEZ FRANCIS corner of Place d'Alma & Ave George V
for a meal, drink, or a cup of coffee. Incredible
view of Eiffel Tower - day or night (especially nice). Best
bar (in our opinion) at Hotel Frantoeur Suffren, near
Eiffel Tower (walking distance) with piano player
every night, reasonable drink prices, very friendly
bartenders (one is British) and most of the clientele
consists of business travelers/tour groups. ALSO, if
you ride up Eiffel Tower - pay the extra and go to
the top. Take your camera. Go just before the sun
goes down. Spend some time to see it at dusk and in
the dark. Not to be missed. Stay away from the
Montmartre area. If you must go (and the Sacre Coeur
is BEAUTIFUL) WATCH OUT FOR PICKPOCKETS on the sub-
way and just go there and come right back. We found
this area to be very seedy. Be sure to visit the
corner where St-Germain-des-Pres is located. Cafes
all around. Pick the one that appeals to you. Order
your beverage of choice and just watch the passing
parade - day or night. Be sure to take a camera and
LOTS of film. OR, pick up a picture book at the duty
free shops at the airport (very reasonable, compre-
hensive and only about $12. If you'd like more info,
feel free to ask. Get up early and go to bed LATE.
You don't want to miss anything!.

I go to Paris a lot, and lived there last summer.

I love the "Marais" district, which is the historic
area of Paris. My favorite cheap lunch is Falafel on
the Rue de Rosiers..find the place with Lenny
Kravitz's picture on the wall (its a grocery store
and Falafel joint) and you won't be disappointed.

The Picasso Museum is a 5-minute walk from there,
or you can sit in the amazing Parc des Vosges, and
mill around the shops in the square.

I also liked taking the Metro out to "Grande Arch
de la Defense" to see the incredible arch skyscraper
out there. It will make you like modern architecture.

Have a good time in Paris.

John Seed

Just returned from Paris on November 25th. 1st hint, wait until spring!!! It was cold and dreary. The sights are fantastic. E Tower @ night is worth the trip. Currently, you can only go up to the 2nd level (they are working on the elevator). Notre Dame and the Lourve are close - and well worth the visit. Great little bakery/restaurant behind the Lourve as you walk towards ND, called Cador. Best Quiche Lorraine we every tasted and the prices were reasonable. Take lots of money, and don't think about how much you've spent till you get home! Nothing is cheap in Paris except a ride on the Metro!! If the French food doesn't agree with you, there is a great restaurant in the 8th district. It's called "Shillay's" (actually it a Chilli's franchise - we're just embarrased to tell our friends we went to Paris and ate in an American restaurant)Good Luck. Contact if you want any specifics!

Neat and inexpensive? How about spending a few hours (free) at Pere Lachaise, the oldest cemetery in Paris. Some really famous stiffs there, and the crypt architecture is incredible. Also, no far from there are the catacombs. Yes, in Paris too, not just Rome. I guess this sounds as though i go for the morbid sites, huh. Not really, I love d'Orsay and the Louvre too. You might want to visit the Rodin Museum also.

I have a timeshare in Paris and visit several times per year. You can now do a day trip from London on Eurostar. Dont be afraid to walk in Central Paris. Distances are not great and most of the best sights along the Seine are walkable. Montparnasse Tower (FFR 45) is a better place to get good views though Eiffel Tower has more chic. L'Arche already mentioned in La Defense on the west side is incredible and to mount in outside elevators. The old Quai d'Orsay museum (now art, formerly a railway station) is interesting both for its architecture even if the paintings are not to our taste. Paris is getting cheaper as the franc is being devalued against the GBP.