What to do in Paris?

Question

I will be visiting in May/June 2008 and I am interested in visiting all the famous spots as well as some that are off the beaten path. Are there any not-to-be missed sights? Also, money is a huge factor so anthing that is free would be great! Thank you!

Answer 1

you need to spend a lengthy time in paris, I was there for 4 days, and I didnt get to see it all, Paris is so deep in culture, and history, it boggles the mind.......

at any train station there are maps of the city,and famous tourist spots are marked on it. start with those, and just go have fun.....

Answer 2

Paris is the city with the most tourist visits of any in Europe. Its difficult to believe that anyone is not aware of the vast number of "not to be missed" sights from the Eiffel Tower to the Arc de Triomphe to Notre Dame to Sacre Coeur and at least a hundred other things in between.

Buy a guidebook and start reading. Make a list of what looks interesting to YOU. Unless you're planning on spending a few months there you won't have time to see even a tiny fraction of what is available. So do your homework and prepare.

The real pleasure of Paris is not tourist sights but the laid back way of life. Paris is a great city to just hang out in.

Go to the Luxembourg Gardens on the Left Bank Just walk south (which means away from the river) on the Boulevard St. Michel and it will be on your right. You'll find a lot of people (including lots of students)  just sunning themselves or chatting with friends. There's a terrace cafe in the park. Just get a drink and sit. Strike up a conversation with someone.

Find a cafe close to your hotel and become a "regular." Just show up and have coffee or a glass of wine, maybe eat lunch or buy a sandwich a couple of days in a row. Get into the rhythm of the city.

Go out clubbing. Things in Paris get going around 10 PM and a lot of places don't close till the sun comes up. Meet people.

Paris is a great city and once you get comfortable with being there you'll want to come back again and again. that's what I've been doing for about 35 years now.

Answer 3

Mont Martie (pronounced Mo Mart)is beautiful.  It's an area/or building up on a hill with views of paris.  There is an awesome church there and a lot of cafe's and stuff.  There is also a neat courtyard with bunch of artists, like 50 of them selling and painting... Thats all free and you can spend a few hours there.  I believe the Louvre is free on the 1st teusday or something like that. You'll have to find that out but one day a month its free I know that.  As far as the Eiffel tower don't bother going up.  You'll waist money and time the line is like 4 hours. Instead grab yourself bottle of local bubbly a baguette and hang out on the grass near the tower.  Good luck.

Answer 4

I would suggest starting off your visit with an introductory bus tour of Paris with Cityrama or Paris Vision. Both offer comparable prices and are located on Rue de Rivoli (great for souvenir shopping), across the street from the Louvre and Tuileries Garden. A historical commentary is offered via headsets.

Also, a museum pass (available in 2-, 4- and 6-day passes) would be a good idea...saves you time and money. You can purchase them at any major Metro station ticket booth....when you buy your Metro tickets. If you're planning on being in Paris for the better part of a week, get a Carte Orange (you'll need a passport-size photo with it)...they're about 15 Euros and are good from Monday-Sunday. A carnet of Metro tickets is also a good idea...you get 10 tickets for around 111 Euros. Much more economy-sufficient than buying individual tickets.

The obvious not-too-be-missed sights include the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Musee d'Orsay, Champs-Elysses, the Seine River (take a bateaux-mouche tour for a different perspective).

I enjoy exploring Montmartre. Not only is the Sacre-Coeur Basilica beautiful, but it also offers one of the best panoramic views of Paris. There are cheap souvenirs in the neighborhood...but watch out for pickpockets and the guys with the bracelets at the foot of Sacre-Coeur. There is a great restaurant...Auberge de la Bonne Franquette...go on a Saturday night, but watch out for the amorous accordion player. *wink*

The Rodin Museum is beautiful, picturesque and not crowded. It was recently renovated...the gardens are beautiful. Just across the street is Invalides...pay your respects to Napoleon while you're in the neighborhood.

Pere-Lachaise Cemetery is also popular...Jim Morrison, Chopin, Edith Piaf and Jane Avril are among the many buried here.

There is a park with a 89 m stalagmite-covered cave, Sybil's Temple and a waterfall: Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. (Metro: Buttes-Chaumont). It's a little different perspective of Paris.

Marmottan Museum, featuring Claude Monet. (Not covered by Museum Pass: 7 Euros.) Photography not allowed. Cameras must be checked. (Metro: La Muette. Walk six blocks in 10 minutes, following brown signs down chaussee de la Muette through the delightful, kid-filled park to the museum.)

Answer 5

Well I went last summer, because my Dad swam the English Channel. But, I guess doing things in Paris, kind of depends on what you like to do! We for sure, went to the Eiffel Tower, and the restaurants there are very good, but can be a little expensive. Umm, the castle's and stuff are always good to see. But, buy and bunch of travel guides about Paris. Oh! You should go see Notre Dame. And if you wanted too, you can buy tickets and take a ferry over to Dover, and once you get to Dover, you can head in to London, which is PERFECT! I loved it there. But, I guess if you wanted to save money that might be expensive.

OK well, have fun in Paris!  

P.S. The Lluve, in France is amazing, go see the famous Mona Lisa, and stuff! (I think that is how you spell the "luve"

You can email!