What to do in Paris on a Budget
 

Hi Everyone! My husband and I leave for Paris in January. What can't we miss?
Merry Christmas all!!

Hi

Some tips here - http://travel.msn.com/Guides/article...umentid=345591. There is also some fantastic walks contributed by Fodorites - http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=2. And don't forget underground Paris - http://triggur.org/cata/index.html. The Paris markets - http://www.parismarkets.net. And if you want some respite from the cold - http://www.parisinconnu.com/passages/index.htm.

Sounds like its your first visit?
How many days have you got?
You can do most of the usual tourist sights in 4 days:
Eiffel Tower, Musee` du Louvre, Champs Elysees & Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre & Sacre- Coeur, Notre-Dame and, parts of the Latin Quarter: like a stroll down Blvd Saint-Germain with a stop-off at either Deux Magots or Cafe de Flore for a coffee, a visit to Musee` National du Moyen-Age, a peep into Shakespeare & Co the famous bookshop.
Next visit do the other 100 musts!

Hi

My wife and I went to Paris in April and I have posted a trip report with some pictures on my homepage http://gardkarlsen.com/Paris_France.htm . I have also made an interaactive Google map that shows where the different attractions are located. Hope that you can find some useful information there :d Have you bought a guidebook?

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

A walk around the Marais area is fascinating and free of course. The Musee Carnvalet is in that immediate area and well worth a look and is one of the few free museums. It is located inside two old mansions so you get to see a bit of architecture as the same time as viewing the objet d'art. Also check out the formal gardens in their courtyard.

If you're planning on doing some shopping, the soldes (sales)begin on January 10 (until February 17).

With ALL due respect, that is a little like asking "how long is a string". Have you looked at any guide books or trip reports. What are you interested in and for how long! And what is your budget--we travel on a budget also but it may be quite different from yours.

I am confused about "what can't I miss" and "on a budget". What are you looking to spend?

I am planning to walking a LOT on my next trip in April. Each area is so different, so I just plan to spend a lot of time walking the various areas and streets. (And of course, see some museums, do a Fat Tires tour or two, and have ice cream at Berthillon!)

Hi A,

>What can't we miss?<

You can't miss the Eiffel Tower. It shows up wherever you look. :)

Now is a good time to do some research.

Start with Paris under "Destinations".

Also 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

Enjoy your visit.

((I))

And don't miss the Petit Palais, the best free show intown if you pass on the current exhibition and just do the permanent collection.

and for a free museum, I enjoyed the Carnavalet A LOT...History of Paris; its near the Marais when you take a walk around there...

<i>...Paris in January. What can't we miss?</i>

The frozen fountains! We were there in January and all the fountains were frozen solid, turning each into its own version of fanciful statuary.

The cold hardly slowed us down, but there are things you need to prepare for. Take a warm hat or 2nd wool scarf to wear on your head. Warm gloves are essential. I took those leather Isotoner &quot;driving&quot; gloves and they weren't warm enough. I was much happier after I bought fleece-lined gloves in Florence. Warm, comfortable boots. And silk long underwear.

One of our favorite things in Paris was taking a boat ride on the Seine. It is very inexpensive on the Batobus, which is an unlimited hop-on-hop-off pass. It stops at 8 of the most visited spots in Paris along the river.

We were there in early June and paid about 13EUR per person for a two-day pass. I'm not sure of its schedule or price during January, though. If possible, ride it after dark to see the city lights from the river. Enchanting.
:)&gt;-

Hi a_paris,
I only travel on a Budget, and will be spending a week in Paris, in late January. The best thing I did was to rent an apartment - a one-bedroom near the Denfert-Rocherau RER stop for 450 euros (I will be there with my daughter and her friend). This way I can save on meals (breakfast and a few dinners), so that we can hit all the major sites.
One good tip: you can visit the Louvre for 6 euros (instead of 8.50) on Wednesdays and Fridays after 6.00pm.
For reasonable restaurants (bistros mainly), go to www.eatinparis.com, and click on the 16-25 euros choices.
Have a great time!

I believe the Batobus does not operate in January. It has never been operating when I have visited in February.

That would be too bad if you can't do the batobus (or another seine hop on/off ). If the boats are running, wear warm socks under your boots (that goes for most days in Jan, my feet froze unless I was wearing wool socks.)

I really loved ice-skating at night in front of Hotel de Ville, no admission fee and skate rentals are just 5 E per person:

http://www.pps.org/great_public_spac...c_place_id=352

Walk to Angelina's afterwards and split a hot chocolate (enough for two) for less than 7 E.

For another day, make sure to stop into Laduree for mini-macaroons to go, only 1.40 E each.

If you walk by a flaming rotisserie chicken spit and there's a line of locals in front, join it and start figuring out what to order for sides - an excellent meal for two and less than 12 E.

If you're in the Marais area and hungry for a quick bite, stop and split a falafel or shawerma at one of the many stands/restaurants in the Jewish Quarter (4 and 6 E respectively, on Rue du Rosiers). Fun late at night, there are lots of people around.