I am planning a trip to Paris with my 18 year old daughter. Please give me some tips for a fun and safe trip!

Question

My daughter is graduating from high school this year and has always wanted to go to Paris. She is planning on majoring in Art in college, so she wants to see all of the museums. I have been to Paris once, only for a few days. Does anyone have any tips or advice for me about Paris? My daughter is also a vegetarian, so I hope to find some vegetarian restaurants. Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

Well you've certainly picked a great city for Art museums. In addition to the big three, the Louvre, Musee D'Orsay, and the Centre Pompidou give some thought to the smaller, lesser known museums. These include:

The Cluny - Musée national du Moyen Âge at 6, place Paul Painlevé 5th arr. The Lady and the Unicorn Tapestries are here and alone are worth a visit.

Maison Europeenne de la Photographie at 5-7, rue de Fourcy 4th arr.(METRO: Hotel de Ville)

Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris at 11, av du Président Wilson 16th arr. (METRO: léna or Alma-Marceau)

Musée Jacquemart-André at 158, bd Haussmann 8th arr. (METRO: Miromesnil or Saint-Philippe du Roule)

Musée Marmottan-Claude Monet at 2, rue Louis-Boilly 16th arr. (METRO: Ranelagh)

Musée Picasso at 5, rue de Thorigny 3rd arr.

Musée Rodin at 79, rue de Varenne 7th arr (METRO: METRO: (line 13) Varenne, Invalides or Saint-François-Xavier)

Musée de l'Orangerie in the Place de La Concorde (METRO: Concorde (lines 1, 8, 12))

The Galeries nationales du Grand Palais at 3, avenue du Général-Eisenhower 8th arr. (Metro : lines 1, 9 and 13 : Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau stations (lines 1-13) or Franklin-Roosevelt (lines 1-9))

One big tip for Paris is to walk a lot (and be prepared to do so...good sturdy shoes are a must). Paris is, in and of itself, a work of art. Its perhaps the most compact of European capitals and deserves to be viewed at a leisurely pace.

Feel free to wander as Paris is generally a very safe city with very little crime in the central city where tourists are likely to wander. Violent crime in Paris is generally confined to the outer ring of suburbs which house the  largely North African poor in huge souless Stalinist style housing projects.

Take time from museum viewing and general sightseeing to relax and enjoy the ambience of Paris. I see too many tourists rushing around from one place to another like players in a scavanger hunt, checking off "must sees" but missing any real understanding of what they are seeing. Indeed, even in the museums its better to sit and really see a single work of art than to rush by a dozen.

True Vegans have a somewhat limited choice in Paris. If she eats fish and/or dairy products there will be no problem.

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Answer 2

First off, I hope the two of you have a great trip. I'm sure you will! Here are some links I believe you'll find useful and interesting- at least I hope so.

Concerning the city itself:

http://www.v1.paris.fr/en/

The preceding link also contains the following one: http://www.parisinfo.com/en/

Concerning vegetarian cuisine:

http://www.fredshack.com/docs/resto_vege... (In French)

The preceding link also contains the following one (in English): http://nwfolk.com/vegparis.html

Any decent guide book available at your local library or bookstore should tell you everything you need to know about the major monuments (Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Sacred Heart Basilica, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, etc.)

Answer 3

Have a good trip!

Paris is great for an 18 y old. As she's into art, you can go obviously to the Louvres, Musee d'Orsay for the most famous.

if architecture is of her interest, just have a stroll in the heart of Paris. you can go to Versailles too and feel like a princess.

I heard that the musee de l'Orangerie in the jardin de l'Observatoire (if I am not mistaken) has opened and that a part of it displays Monet's Nympheas in a rounded room.

If think there is a museum pass you can buy there, on your first day go to the tourism office (Office du Tourisme) and prepare your visit from overseas at www.parisinfo.com (in English).

Answer 4

Hi, I'm in Paris right now, and its been a very safe trip.  The people have been lovely, helpful, and not rude--I'm still waiting for this outrageous experience with rudeness--much ruder people in New York (I can say it, I'm from New York).  

I do suggest that you practice a few phrases.  Most people here speak a little English.  The most practical phrases I've used over and over are:

sil vous plait:  Please

merci: thanks

Ou est..?:  Where is...?

L'addition, sil vous plait:  The check, please

Combien?  How much?

Left: a gauche

right:  a droit

bonjour:  hello

Perdon: excuse me

Also learn the numbers and how to pronounce words, even if you cannot translate them!!!

I bought a street wise map for Paris (at Barnes and Noble), and it has been invaluable.  It has the subway stops and if you get familiar with the subway and bus lines, you will find it very easy to get around the city.  There are tours to Versailles charging 60 to 100 euros a person--I paid less than five euros to come and go taking the C RER train.  Youre only a few blocks away from the Chateau.

Paris is very safe.  I read all of these horror stories about the French and how rampant the con artists.  Sorry, none of this has happened.  I think your daughter and you will be fine, and the city is safe.  If you can appreciate New York, this is very similiar--honestly I havent felt out of place as a New York native.  I have noticed though that the city shuts down around 8 pm, unlike the city.  I'm unsure about the night life, but I hope to go out tomorrow evening.  

I've seen some vegetarian restaurants in the Latin Quarter.  I would focus in this area to find specific names.

Hope my words help a little.

Answer 5

unfortunately i cant answer your question, so sorry if i waste your time, but u are one awesome mom....your daughter must be one happy camper!

Answer 6

When using the métro be sure to conseal all valuables. People may have replied that Paris is "safe", but there are pickpockets operating on the métro system.

Avoid using the métro after 10pm.

For travel - if you are going to be there for less than a week, the day ticket called "Carte Mobilis" will save you a lot of money on the bus/métro/RER suburban train. If over a week you might find it useful to buy a "Carte Orange". Both are sold by zone.

For vegetarian restaurants you might find the Paris Anglo Guide of use - link is below, then just click on "restaurants". I also added further links for public transport and other stuff.