Hi, I'm interested in visiting Paris for my 1st Europe trip, but I've always been afraid it might be too big. I would love however, to see the Louvre, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, etc. As long as there are good transport options, I think it might be doable. Is there a hop-on/hop-off bus that goes around past the main sights? I would also like to find a flea market type place for unique souvenirs and art prints.

Someone recently recommended Saint Germain as a good arrondissement to stay at. Does that sound right or should I consider another one? I need either a private-room hostel or maybe a pension to stay at. As an alternative to Versailles (not against visiting it), is there a Chateau I can visit as a one-day trip from Paris? More questions to come later. Thanks, Greg

There are great transport options https://paristouristinformation.fr/p...lic-transport/
There are flee markets
St Germain is part of the 6th arrondisement. It depends a bit on how much you want to pay etc, I find 4 or 5 are ok.
Tell us how much you want to spend a night in euros would be a good place to start.
Various Chateau in various places.

For accommodations, it would need to be $100 or less per night. I'm not a youth anymore (50+) but I'm ok with a hostel, as long as I can get a private room. Would love to find a Cafe nearby for coffee and croissants.

After a little more research, 2 chateaux I'm interested in:
Chateau de Chantilly
Chateau de Maintenon - Right now, I have a preference for Chateau de Maintenon.

so Euro 87

have a look at google maps for Paris, prices should spring up

As bilbburgler says, Paris has excellent public transportation. The city is large, but the historic core is small and, for many of us, quite walkable.

For a chateau other than Versailles, consider Fontainebleau. For transportation options, rome2rio.com

For your lodging, have you consulted booking.com? It's an excellent resource, IME.

The Michelin Green guidebook is excellent, as is the Rough Guide.

That rate for accomodation in Paris - even for a hostel - is going to be a tall order, especially if you want a private room. And more than likely will not be in central Paris at that rate.

I'd take a look at Booking.com for options. You do not have to book through them, but booking agencies allow you to filter and sort by accomodation type, rate, room/bed type, etc. so you can see what is available in your budget.

As far as transport, Paris has a robust bus and metro system. I have never done Hop On - Hop Off in Paris in part because you spend so much time in traffic and their transport network is so efficient, it's not usually worth the money. YMMV. You may want to consider a Seine cruise - it is incredibly enjoyable at sunset.

For some attractions, especially if you want to go on/in them, such as ET, Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Versailles, you need to pre book tickets. Book at the official websites of the attractions, avoid resellers like Viator or Get Your Guide.

Hi there! If you’re hoping to find a room in Paris for around €100 a night, I’d suggest coming during a low season — February, for example, is a great time to visit. You could check out Hotel Rosalie, which offers rooms under €150 per night that month. It’s in a great location near Place d’Italie, where you’ll find plenty of cozy cafés serving classic café-croissant breakfasts. And if you walk up Avenue des Gobelins, you’ll reach the charming Rue Mouffetard and Place de la Contrescarpe — two of the most picturesque spots in Paris.

There are plenty of hotels in Paris that cost less than $100, but they are in the outer arrondissements of the city. I live in the 18th (not Montmartre) and the 5 or 6 hotels in my area all cost no more than 70 euros. Obviously, they are quite basic, but maybe they're all right for you.

You would be hard pressed in Saint Germain-des-Prés to find a hotel under 200 euros a night. It is what I call a North American tourist ghetto. No need for that.

It doesn't matter where you stay in Paris in terms of transportation -- the metro is always very close. For a modern hotel under $100, check out the Ibis Budget at metro Laumière in the 19th arrondissement.

Thanks for all the replies. In a description for Chateau Maintenon, it's described as "50 minutes on the train from Gare Montparnasse, and then an easy 15 minute walk". Are you familiar with Maintenon? Does that sound manageable for a first-time visitor to France?

Is there a way I could hire a local guide to maneuver the trip with me?
As of now, I'm planning my trip for September, but I could possibly change that. My birthday is mid-March, so maybe then?

If you have a mapping app or, for that matter, if you can read a map, then getting to that Chateau should be easy. I'm sure you can hire a local guide if you want, but the chateau advertises a free visitor's guide so I think you can forego hiring someone. If you are traveling on a budget (as suggested by your stated range for lodging), I think you might have other priorities for your money. JMO.

GPS is free if you download your map app of choice, or just print off paper map and do a little street view walking.
Buy th Rough Guide for Paris, it will explain everything
Trains seat61.com explains everything
Not everyone in Paris speaks English, but if you are going to tourist sites, hotels etc you will find they probably do
Paris is a great starter

London, Amsterdam or Copenhagen are probably a little easier from a language point of view but prices tend to be a bit higher, but Paris is certainly an easy first visit.

"Not everyone in Paris speaks English, but if you are going to tourist sites, hotels etc you will find they probably do"

Funny as it sounds, a few weeks ago I signed up for 'French Word a Day' to my email - that was before I considered Paris for a visit. And, I have a few friends who are Native French speakers, one is from Africa.

*Actually, I had considered Denmark in the past, but I could definitely see myself getting lost in the Louvre - and enjoying all the amazing art. Plus, I really would love to see that chateau. And do a boat ride on the Seine.

I guess everyone must visit Paris, but don't expect it to be what you envision or expect. You will encounter crowds at most tourist sites regardless of season, jostling and confusion until you learn the transit system, a quick learning curve and must exercise caution regarding your possessions and personal safety. But these are must-see's for first-time travelers so hassles must be endured. It's better to seek a smaller village or town and get a more leisurely and real experience, but I get it. I did it, too. Try to prepare and get tickets in advance, travel light.

There is no place in the world like Paris, so I hope you go.

Look at the Astotel chain of hotels. I stayed at the 34B, which I really liked, and found it very convenient for the metro and the bus. I could also walk easily to the Louvre--around 15 min away. Also, as a first time visitor, I encourage you to build in breakfast to your hotel stay. With all the focus on food, it can be overwhelming at times to order in restaurants. Cut your stress by having the first meal of the day taken care of for you. Especially if you are a solo traveler who may want to keep dining casual. https://en.astotel.com/

I think the best place to visit on a first trip is the place one most wants to see, regardless of size. Go for it!

I appreciate the suggestions. The main things I'm a little nervous about:
My first trans-Atlantic flight.
Riding a subway, I wouldn't go on one when I was in NYC by myself. I got a taxi instead. I know it'll be too expensive to do this in Paris.
I am a slow-walker so I take my time going places.

However, I have flown, used trains and buses myself many times, just not in a foreign country/language.

You may want to consider using busses over metro in Paris if you are nervous about using them. Added benefit is seeing the city. You may have to take regional trains to respective chateau, though.

If your slower mobility is part of your concern, just stay to the side and let people pass you. Your pace is your pace.

As far as the flight, flying over the Atlantic is no different than flying domestically.. A little longer, sure. If your trepidation is over the flight, I suggest maybe looking into seeking assistance from those that specialize in flight or other anxieties.

In looking at your post history, it does seem as you have a lot of hopes to travel and can't seem to pull that plug. And perhaps maybe looking into a tour for a first time trip is the way to go rather than independently, but it may be beyond your budget. Personally, feel Paris is one of the easiest cities to get around in - I find it loads easier than many cities in California, for instance. But an organized tour will usually get you from point to point without you needing to navigate the bus/metro system.

Edit: I speak marginal French. And can navigate the metro with my limited speaking ability, you mostly need to know what direction to go on and what stop to use. It really is no different than any other metro or subway anywhere. You do not have to be fluent.

If you want to familiarize yourself with a language, you can consider downloading a language app. Duolingo is popular and was very useful for basics on my trip to Italy last year. I am far from fluent, but could order a meal, request reservations, and was able to use basic phrases when I got turned around.

Good luck.

* Well. I do have some Spanish ancestry and considered Spain for a while. I know a lot of words and short phrases in Spanish, but not fluent. But with the anti-tourism in Barcelona etc., I decided against it. The Prado Museum in Madrid however, would be amazing with works by Velasquez and others. I think I might just be able to fall in love with Paris for now. I definitely want to get some neat souvenirs and art prints at a flea market place.

** I did fly over a small part of the Atlantic Ocean a little bit. I've flown to Puerto Rico twice, and it wasn't a big deal.

I wouldn't worry about the Barcelona protests. It's more media storm than real protests. Not saying people are thrilled with the likes of AirBnB but the media makes it seem like they're burning tourists at the stake. Far from it.

The bigger issue is prices have soared in Barcelona post Covid. I think Madrid has also jumped some but the starting point was lower.

I wonder ... how to you plan to approach this trip differently than the ones you have planned, but not taken?