First time in Paris-- any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

La Sainte-Chapelle, for the windows. We went back in the evening for a concert, also worthwhile. The Marche aux Fleurs is lovely, and is a bird market on Sunday.
Another vote for Berthillon, the Musee Rodin, and the Musee D'Orsay.
I really enjoyed the Pantheon and, across the street, Saint Etienne-du-Mont.

[Anonymous]

The Winged Venus and the Mona Lisa are in the Louvre. If you don't go, prepare to feel regret. It would be like going to London and skipping the British Museum. Dumb.

[Anonymous]

Book a room with www.airbnb.com

give you opportunity to mix with locals, and not fall into tourist trappings.

[Anonymous]

The Seine boat ride, we did it our second time there, in April, and it was amazing.

The Orangerie and the Marmottan are great if you are a Monet fan.

Eat a lot of baguettes.

Luxembourg Gardens is lovely that time of year.

[Anonymous]

Treat yourself to a delectable pastry every day - you will walk it off.

Have a hot chocolate at Cafe de Flor or Angelina (check the names b/c it has been a few years since I was there)

Fave tourist destinations: Notre Dame, window at La St Chappelle, Luxemboug Gardens, Musee d'Orsay, sections of the Louvre (pick something you like cuz you can't see it all in one bite), Rodin Museum and take the bateau mouche at NIGHT, preferably starting or ending at the top of the hour. You will see the Eiffel Tower light up and for lack of a better description it reminded me of watching a fizzy bottle of champagne. I found it completely enchanting.

Agree on L'as du Falafel. great food and interesting cultural experience (in the Jewish Quarter and you will likely be greeted by an ex-Mossad guy trying to figure out if you are a troublemaker or not).

Pace yourself. It is easy to run yourself ragged, but paris is a place to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace- wander somewhat aimlessly, have sit-down lunches and dinners every day and enjoy excellent wine, chocolate and pastries daily. Your taste buds will thank you.

Google Paris and English language walking tours. We took one of the Marais District, where we were staying, and it was enjoyable.

For language tips, we checked out a Pimsleur language program from the library. This was about 5 years ago, pre-iPhone, so there is probably a comparable app. Learn the phrases: Do you speak English? I;m sorry I don't understand French. That made a WORLD of difference.

Bon voyage!

[Anonymous]

Day trip to Giverny, Monet's home

Picnic in Bois du Bologne

Musee D'Orsay

[Anonymous]

I second sainte-chappelle, it's my favorite spot in Paris. Went to Pere-Lachaise last time I was there and really enjoyed it.

[Anonymous]

make sure to eat crepes from street vendors and enjoy local cafes and bookshops. Try to climb on top of Eiffel Tower-night view is amazing. You can also climb on Sacre Cour, Notre-Dame, Arc de Triopmhe. All offer magnificent view of Paris. Walk a lot, that is the only way to enjoy. Shop for Gucci/LV if you can afford. Much cheaper than US.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.davidlebovitz.com/paris/

- make an attempt to at least greet people in French and ask if they speak English. The Parisian's can be rude.
- dress a bit more formal than here
-see the Musee D'Orsay if you don't want to devote a day to the Louvre.
-Versailles is pretty amazing and a nice day trip on the metro.

Have fun!

David is a great resource - try L'Epigramme restaurant if it is still around (a few years have passed). The food was fabulous, and the owner was so welcoming.

[Anonymous]

22:58 again - get the book French or Foe - it will measurably improve your trip I guarantee it. It teaches how to interact with french people - there are some tips in there that I could CLEARLY see worked vs. when I was not employing them. Just in the way you ask for directions or assitance, the phrasing is a big deal in how helpful people will be. Its not just trying -its how you try. Trust me, you won't regret it.

Enjoy!!! (And don't pack sneakers or mom jeans- you will regret that )

[Anonymous]

All of the above and make sure you walk a lot-- sometimes it's not worth it taking the metro and as you walk you will find a lot of hidden (or not so hidden) treasures. Just soak it in.
The Louvre is open late a couple of times a month-(and is cheaper on those days) -- you can go in the evening and finds yourself alone in a room with, say Chardin -- it's quite magical. Also, if you like the Middle Ages, Musee Cluny where the famous unicorn tapestries are. Musee Carnavalet for the history of the city of Paris (also the building itself is amazing; you can walk there from your place in the 11th)

Make sure you stop and look at things. After spending quite a lot of time in Paris over the years, I recently found myself on the square in front of Notre-Dame late in the evening, just looking at its magnificent towers, to realize that they are completely different from one another!

Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

I went in 2009 snd the catacombs were closed