I love art, markets, crafts, chocoloate & architecture... So I guess Paris is for me! It's my stopover for 4 1/2 days (by myself) between Switzerland and London. I have 4 nights booked at the tres French sounding "Stadium Hostel". I'm 26 & Australian, never been on an international trip. Any tips, places to go, advice etc would be GREATLY appreciated from seasoned travellers.
Thanks in anticipation,

violet_9

I've been here for a few weeks and it's a great place for solo, female travelers. Everyone is really protective and helpful, even despite my ghastly French.

Art - Depends on what you're looking for, but you can pick up a Museum Pass in town and skip lines to see more. My favorite has been the D'Orsay and smaller museums like the Jacquemart-Andre and Petit Palais, but it depends on your tastes.

Markets - I just went to the puces at St. Ouen (a HUGE flea market that operates on Sat, Sun & Mon) and it was really fun. http://www.parispuces.com/en/

Architecture - The boat tour and Paris Walks walking tours were my favorite way to see Paris's architecture (other than just walking around). I'm sure the bus is also a good way to get oriented, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I like to try and blend in.

Chocolate - Check the Paris Walks schedule (paris-walks.com) to see if you're in town for their chocolate tour. It is FANTASTIQUE. If you're not, you can sort of experience it by visiting Cote de France (25 avenue de l'Opera - best ganache EVER) and Jean-Paul Hevin (http://www.jphevin.com/). Hevin also has an attached tea room that has wonderful chocolate chaud (the kind queens used to drink) and, on Saturdays, their famous eclairs.

You can also click on my name to see some of the early threads I posted when I was planning my trip. Everyone here was really helpful with respect to lovely cafes and places to visit (especially Tod & kerouac).

And have a great time!

There is a big Paris thread on this site.

Genrally use as much of the language as you can. Say hello people in shops, restaurants etc in frnech and you will get on fine. People are generally both formal and relaxed with strangers particualrly the young (26 falls in this camp)

D'Orsay is my favorite.

If you like crafts, there is a market held every Saturday on Blvd Richard Lenoir at Bastille...and on Sundays it's FOOD!!

Paris is an easy city, in my limited experience (one trip only). Just grab a free map somewhere that shows the various monuments, museums, gardens, and other places of interest. Each day pick one thing and set out to see that (on foot or using public transportation). Then walk your way back across the city to where you are staying.

Maybe you'd want also to do one of the organized bus tours, so you'd get a narrated overview of the entire city in a short period of time?

I put together this do-it-yourself bus tour that you might enjoy: tinyurl.com/2zsw8z

There are many map resources linked in that article, so whether you do the tour or not, you should find something useful there.

Hi V,

>It's my stopover for 4 1/2 days (by myself) between Switzerland and London.<

I suggest that you take a day from London and another from Switzerland.

Take a 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

Enjoy your visit.

Thank you all for your feedback and help. I am brushing up on some French phrases & beginning a bit of a plan of sorts!
Ira, if I could take a day from Switzerland and a day from London I would - but I am going to Europe to see family & friends so they are my priority! I haven't seen my little sister (she's 17) since January! She is my main reason for going, as she is in Switzerland. I'm just stopping in Paris because I would die if I flew over the top of it without seeing something.
Thanks again all!

violet_9