What should I do and see while in Paris?

Question

I'm surprising by boyfriend with a trip to Paris and I was wondering where we should go and what we should do while we are there. He speaks French, but I don't and I also don't know much about French culture and what there is to do and see. I don't want to ask him questions about it because I don't want him to get suspicious. I know the obvious ones like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre and Notre Dame, but other than that, I'm clueless. I want this to be an awesome trip. Help!

Answer 1

Years ago I was in Paris with my boyfriend. We went to La Defence at night (because someone had told us that we could get something to eat there... nothing was open though). That's the business district of Paris, a lot of modernistic architecture, strange modern art.

At night, it seemed like a setting from a science fiction movie. That big new(ish) square arc they have there... at night, it's so spaced out. We walked around for hours, hardly anyone else was there. It was fantastic.

It's not the most typical tourist thing, but I would definitely recommend it.

Answer 2

As said above, La Défense is a modern neighbourhood. At noon at is very busy as a lot of people have their lunch break in the shopping mall.

For seightseeng, go to the Sacré Coeur church. It is on top of a hill where, you'll have a nice view on the city, such as this one http://www.olivierbouillaud.com/img/phot...

You can go shopping (or just watch) at the Galeries Lafayette near the saint-lazare train station.

If the weather is warm enough, you can spend some time in the Luxembourg gardens (near the Sorbonne) or the Buttes Chaumont park.

You can also take a cruse on the river with a "bateau mouche" boat. A good way to see many monuments while sitting in a chair.

And of course, stop in local cafés just to watch people go by, while having a hot chocolate.

Enjoy your trip!

Answer 3

Paris is one most beautiful places I have ever been to. The sights are all amasing. Some things to do/se are the Moulin Rouge I guess it is a dance show musical thing, it is somewhere great tot take your bf, even if he dosent like dance musicals as much as you might think, it is basically a bunch of almost naked girls dancing around on stage, I think he would like it, and you too. Just walking around and seeing the great cafes and coffe shops, and stopping to eat in one is an experiance of its own. The Louvre is great to say that you went there but after a while unless you love old paintings they all seem to look the same, but check out the Mona Lisa. The lines were never really as bad as what people might tell you. You can ride the subway to just about anything you want to see in the city. Another great thing to do is to take a boat ride along the rivers through the city, you can board a boat about every 30min right by the Eifel Tower, I would suggest to do this at night, you will see just about everything important in the city on one boat ride. Bring your own bottle of wine with you for a great date. Check out the Eifel Tower at night, every hour it puts on a light show that is amazing. You will wait in line to get to the top of the Eifel Tower though. Bring your walking shoes.

Hope this helps you out.

Answer 4

The first thing you need to do is pick up the latest Michelin travel guide for Paris from any good bookstore.  It's the best of all travel guides.  In it you will find directions for scenic walks and other information you will need.  The Metro is clean, safe and easy to use.  The traffic is heavy so do no attempt to drive. Taxi rides are a white knuckle experience which will make you want to hold on for dear life as you are thrown from side to side.  It's an experience.  Allow at least a week to see the major sites.

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Here's something fun to do.  Take a short train trip from the Gare d' Lyon for a day in the countryside. See the finest chateau and garden of them all.  Vaux le Vicomte. About 40 miles south of Paris.  A chateau-bus will take you from the train station to the chateau which is a great way to spend a day seeing the fully furnished chateau and magnificent restored gardens the masterpiece of the Versailles garden designer André Le Nôtre.  Paddle boats on the Grand Canal and the open air or indoor restaurant insure that you can spend the whole day without leaving the estate. It's a really beautiful place.  The fountains run on the first and last Saturday of the month.  This is a must see.

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http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/en/accuei...

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