What are some non-touristy things I can do on my own in Paris?

Question

I'm a young artist, and I'd like to spend a lot of the time sketching, so I'm hoping to find beautiful or unique places to explore. I'll be staying in the 11th Arrodisement.

Merci!

Answer 1

well i am in Paris right now and i see with my eyes that Paris is really expensive so i just walk around , well there are " centre pompidou" and "grand arche" it's commercial and business center and in summer you can sleep under " tower Eiffel " like i did . well that's my answer there are millions of things to do but they are expensive i think so because i'm estonian....

Answer 2

Hi Skylark: lucky you ...*sigh*...

Rather than direct you to a visitor website (though there are heaps) this is what I do any time I have the luck to be heading for Paris.

Go to the CouchSurfing website http://www.couchsurfing.com (you need to sign up as a member but it's all explained on the site.)

Although CS is primarily for people needing and offering accommodation (free, in their homes) it's also a huge social site. Not dating; social. =D

Several cities have wonderfully friendly CS communities. I've checked out Paris for you and they meet every week as well as arranging other stuff as events and inspiration occur.

Apart from the chance to meet locals (and other travellers) these meetings are fantastic times to pick up tips on places, events etc that just don't get on to official tourist info-type websites.

You can start making contacts right now, before you leave, too. Loads of CS hosts are happy to meet for a coffee and will show you around their favourite places.

So sign up and then have a search through the CS forum groups. "CS Meetings Paris" will be a good place for you to start.

Even before you sign up, you can visit the CouchSurf wiki on Paris, which has some really handy info: http://wiki.couchsurfing.com/en/Paris

Bon voyage et bon séjour. =D

Answer 3

Yes, definitely find a nice cafe, they are great for people watching/sketching the day away...

There are many beautiful parks like...

Jardin du Luxembourg,

Jardin des Tuileries

Just taking a few hours and walking around will let you find numerous areas to sketch, have fun!

Answer 4

1) Have dinner with an icon of the Hippie era.

Jim Haynes is one of the founders of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and founder of the London Traverse Theatre Company. He started Suck, the sexual freedom newspaper, in Amsterdam in 1969 and taught Media Studies and Sexual Politics at the University of Paris 8.

He throws a dinner party every Sunday night. The crowd will include college professors, artists, the occasional rock star of famous actor. Give him a phone call or send him an email and you'll be invited. Details are on his website at: http://www.jim-haynes.com/index.htm

2) Become a member of the least exclusive club in the world

The Café Metropole Club meets every Thursday after noon. membership is very exclusive...you have to show up. details can be found here: http://www.metropoleparis.com/aclub.html the people who show up are a collection of expatriates and tourists. A good place to meet some nice people and get some good advice about current events.

EDIT: As to where to go to sketch, I think you'll find that almost anywhere in Paris will give you vistas and people that are good subjects.

You may not be aware that in France its considered perfectly acceptable to sit for hours in a cafe nursing a single drink and doing whatever you fancy, including sketching. That's why the cost of a cup of coffee can seem so high. The price tacetly includes "rent".

Get yourself established in a likely looking cafe close to wherever you are staying. Take some of your meals there. Stop in a couple of times a day for coffee or a glass of wine (you can buy wine at age 16 in France). You'll very soon be considered a regular.