What to do with 48 hrs in Paris?

Question

I'm taking my girlfriend away for 2 nights in Paris and wanted to know the best things to do with limited time. We're both in our early 20's and both fit and energetic. We're staying in Marais but am willing to travel all round the city.

Answer 1

Hi, you have to try the segway tours. You can "absorb" so much standing up but on wheels. Check out the web site: http://www.citysegwaytours.com/paris/ Both day and night tours are awesome.

You are in a great area and can't go wrong in Marais. Just walking around this area will be a delightful experience. You have to try the famous Ice Cream Berthillon at Pont Louis-Phillippe the bridge between Marais and ILE. ST. LOUIS St. Louis-en-l'Ile.

The things you can’t miss in Paris are:

Eiffel Tower, perhaps have a nice dinner there at Jules Vernes, or less exclusive Altitude 95 (very reasonable Brasserie style). Both restaurants are physically in the Eiffel Tower and have great views.  The Louvre Museum – If you read Da Vinci Code, it would be fun to follow the points of interest from the novel.  St. Germain des Pres – The Latin Quarter of Paris, very charming, lots of bistros and less expensive restaurants you can just walk in, no reservations required, and there is a Starbucks right across the street from the Metro “Odeon”. Paris is known as the city of lights, I highly recommend you walk around at night and see the Eiffel Tower lit up, and the romantic bridges lit up at night in Paris.

My favorite Bridge is the Alexandra III, with huge gold lions on each end with lovely lamp posts from the Art Deco era. My  fiance proposed to me here! Pont Neuf is the most famous, but not as beautiful.

My recommended itinerary for 48 hours in Paris is as follows:

- Walk around and get an ice cream at above mentioned place very near where you are staying.

- Take a segway tour of your choice (can book on web noted above).

- Visit Nortre Dame (also very near where you are staying).

- Go to the Latin Quarter (take metro 4 purple line and get off at Odeon. Grab a chai tea or latte at Starbucks to accompany your visit in the area.

- Get a 2 day pass to any of the Museums in Paris, including the Louvre to skip the lines for a condenced tour to see the main highlights. You can book the pass on line.

http://museumpass.tourpackagers.com

The PARIS MUSEUM PASS gives you access to over 60 museums and monuments in and around Paris including the worlds famous Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Arc de Triumph.

- Have lunch or Dinner on the Eiffel Tower at Altitude 95, inexpensive for Paris standards and an amazing experience with views to die for.

- Go to the hottest show in town is the “Bonheur Lido” show, right on the Champs Elysees. Worth seeing, very fun. Get the cheapest tickets 80 Euro per person with show and glass of champagne at 11:30 p.m. You can book directly on this website: http://www.francetourisme.fr/uk/lido.htm... It is a very lively cabaret, very true to the famous Parisian Cabarets.

Here is the contact info for recommended restaurants:

ALTITUDE 95

Altitude 95 is located on the first floor. The name comes from its height, 95 meters above sea level. The large bay windows of the restaurant look out over the Seine and the Trocadéro to one side and the inside of the Tower to the other. The atmosphere is reminiscent of an airship moored above Paris.

The restaurant has a ground floor bar serving drinks and refreshments all day.

Reservations (by telephone only): :

Tel: Dial From USA 011 33 1 45 55 20 04

Local Dial: 01 45 55 20 04

Address: On the Eiffel Tower

$$ Reasonable, food not as good as the view, but good enough

LE JULES VERNE  

The prestigious Jules Verne Restaurant is located on the second floor and has its own private elevator access (south pillar). Sitting in the heart of this intricate iron structure full of angles and perspectives, the Jules Verne looks out over Paris from 125 meters above ground. Chef Alain Ducasse took the helm of the Jules Verne Restaurant cuisine on January 1, 2007.

Reservations (by telephone only):

Tel: Dial from USA  011 33 1 45 55 61 44

Local Dial: 01 45 55 61 44

Address: On the Eiffel Tower

$$$ A bit expensive - Worth it if you can afford it, excellent food

Tournesol (absolutely wonderful for French style lunch)

Local Dial: 01 45 25 95 94

Dial USA: 011 33 1 45 25 95 94

Address: President Kennedy Blvd

75016 Paris

Excellent, Charming, Reasonable $$

L'Auberge de la Reine Blanche

closed on Wednesdays all day and Thursday lunch

Local Dial: 01 46 33 07 87

Dial USA: 011 33 1 46 33 07 87

Address: 30, rue Saint-Louis-en-l'Ile

75004 Paris

Excellent, Charming, Reasonable $$

Hidden little treasure in Paris! VERY ROMANTIC

(discriminating local' favorite and my personal favorite)

You must try the honey duck..

Au Passé Retrouve

Local Dial: 01.42.50.35.29

Dial USA: 011 33 1 42 50 35 29

(ask for Pascal or Serge)

13 rue Mademoiselle, 75015 Paris

Excellent, Charming, Reasonable $$

I have great metro maps with areas to see highlighted as well as fun map of Paris, but I can not attach here. You are welcome to contact me at [e-mail] and I will send to you (free of course)!

Kind regards, Wendy

Answer 2

You can see at least the exteriors of most of the major tourist sights in two days of energetic walking with a few strategic hops onto the metro.

Whether you really want to spend that much energy sightseeing  is up to you to decide.  

If you want to see what I usually suggest for a one or two day walking tour then check out this answer of mine: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 3

Take the metro (get one or two day pass) otherwise taxi

I stayed in Marais and had great time, perfect location

Have fun!

1. Eiffel Tower (especially at night)

2. Champs Elysees (drive down in taxi, get out walk shops) Arc de Triomphe

3. Place de la Concorde (you can walk around, eat, take river boat)

4. Louvre

5. Notre Dame

6. Opera House

Answer 4

The Moulin Rouge offers a fun night out!

Plus there's the Notre Dame, the Louvre (which can take all week!) or a trip to Versailles...

Bon weekend

Philip

Answer 5

Go to Cafe de Flore on the Rue Bonaparte for breakfast and their absolutely out of this world "mocha" which is actually an incredibly thick hot chocolate. It's famous for being frequented by Sartre and Simone De Beauvoir back in it's heyday, and is a local favorite. Have fun!

Answer 6

Don't try to do too much.  Make a vow to enjoy yourself and that you will one day return to see the things you missed.  The best site is the city itself.  I would make reservations for the altitude 99 restaurant in the eiffel tower.  Decide which museums you want to see but don't see them all.  My suggestion is Musee d'Orsay (top floor) or the Musee Rodin.  small museums, beautiful art, lots of makeout spots.  The churches are all terrific.  My favorites are Ste Chappelle and Sacre Coeur.  The view from the Arc de Triomphe is terrific.  If you can stand it, let your girlfriend walk down the Champs Elysee window shopping.  I know most guys would rather take a trip to the dentist than shop at the ultra chic stores, but it is a good place to people watch and girls love the experience.

Answer 7

Take a day-tour of Paris in the open-top double decker bus. There are several tour companies in Paris which will offer such a trip. Check http://www.gotoparis.net for rates and timings.

Next day, visit the Louvres museum to see Mona Lisa and take an elevator ride up to the top of Eiffel Tower.

On both nights, you can dine at chic French restaurants to complete the Paris experience.