"Perambulations in Paris!" Top 5 Page for this destination Paris by BeatChick
Paris Travel Guide: 23,099 reviews and 57,388 photos
This was my 6th trip to Paris - this time with my son! It was a whirlwind 7-hour jaunt through the City of Light alighting at the Cité Metro station, a gander at the bird market, a pop around the corner then to see the Palais de Justice (with a large trompe l'oeil drop cloth - guess they must be doing some work on the building), and then to Notre Dame, brunch at Café Marly at the Louvre, off to take pics of the Obelisque at Place de la Concorde then on to MY 1st visit to see Monet's famous Water Lilies at the Musée de l'Orangerie followed by a late lunch at Angélina - surely some of the best of central Paris!!
During my 5th trip to the CITY OF LIGHT I stayed 10 days! This was my 2nd research trip for a book I'm finishing up of walking itineraries covering film sites in Paris (see my pbase.com site for photos I took last trip of various film spots).
I arrived in Paris Friday afternoon after a long flight delay, Nov 9th and returned Sunday, Nov 18th. This hapless tourist & intrepid writer SURVIVED (just barely) the transit strikes (which hit in the middle of the trip). I sojourned at the Port-Royal Hôtel on the boulevard Port-Royal, located at the edge of the 5th/13th arrondissements.
The previous trip was a glorious February jaunt to Paris for 16 days. I was there during the soldes season & took advantage of the sale by doing more shopping then I'd done the 3 previous trips combined. My first trip I stayed 2 days in Paris, the 2nd trip was 4 days, the 3rd trip was 9 days; 4th trip was 16 days and with the 5th trip of 10 days I now have a combined total now of 41 days, over a full month! Nice. :D
I've said before:
It's not how much time you spend in Paris that counts, it's what you DO with your time. And as you can see by my tips on Paris & photos on pbase.com, I tromp ALL OVER Paris!
Except for new tips, I've arranged tips to reflect grouping by arrondissement & listed each to show the order in which I saw them. For those tips that have multiple locations, those are listed before everything else.
I'M COMPLETELY FINISHED WITH TIPS FOR:
HOTELS
NIGHTLIFE
RESTAURANTS
SHOPPING
If you're curious to read my original trip report that inspired many of my Paris tips (and I haven't even gotten started on my 1st 2 trips), you'll find it on Fodor's website where I am a regular contributor (I once posted as MaryC and now post as, of course, beatchick).
*Thank you, Vincent, for the correction to the photo title!!
La Tour Eiffel
Paris is in my blood, Paris is me. If I believed in reincarnation I'd swear I lived there as an ex-pat in the '20s because that is the era that draws me. Paris feels like home.
Paris has everything you could ever want: wonderful food (from a humble satisfying delicious $3 limon sucré crêpe bought from a street vendor to a $400 meal at one of the hallowed gastronomic temples such as Taillevent), great little charming budget hotels, secret nooks & crannies, green pockets of interesting squares/parcs/places, the hidden courtyards, the rumored underground passageways, the hidden off-limit paths of the Catacombs.
It's also full of art & architecture. Where else can you ride the bus, peer over a wall and discover Rodin's The Thinker? Or his Balzac in the midst of traffic? Any architectural student would want to come here to see the blaze of styles that span from Gallo-Roman times (Arenes de Lutece, Roman baths at the Musée de Cluny) to present ultra-modern architecture (La Defense). This city loves to retain and maintain its history.
No other city is more artfully arranged!
Rue Galande in the Quartier Latin - Before Sunset
And then we must speak of radiant vistas seen from stairs that are actual streets in places like Montmartre or the Butte aux Cailles. The discoveries are neverending!
I've been to Paris 5 times and haven't even begun to put a dent into all the things I want to see: parcs, jardins, squares, places, Viaduc des Arts, inside the grands magasins Galeries Lafayette or Printemps (although I've shopped at the vendors outside). Can you believe I still haven't been to the famous cafés such as La Rotonde, Le Select, Le Procope? Ah, and the tea salons and the historic bistros to try. With each trip the list grows. So much to see, so much to do, so much to BE.
In 2004 I made reservations to Paris via Air France; the lady taking the call remarked with glee that I was going to Paris! I asked her if she liked it. Mais oui ~
- Pros:Everything - the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, feel.
- Cons:I don't live there. :0(
- In a nutshell:PARIS: food, ambience, art, architecture, views, history & mystery!
Reviews (377)
Musée de l'Orangerie - Nymphéas (Water... Things to Do (63)
From Place de la Concorde we wheeled about and strutted to the Musée de l'Orangerie which has one of the finest... more travel advice
A Lovely Stroll through History Things to Do (63)
The Jardin des Tuileries (Tuileries Gardens) is a lovely sojourn to get to the Place de la Concorde or Rue de Rivoli.... more travel advice
People Watching while Dining at the... Restaurants (81)
Another affordable luxury and in the same vicinity of Angélina is Café Marly located in the Louvre. What you'll love is... more travel advice
Hotels in Montmartre near Metro Stations Hotels (13)
Hotel Prima Lepic's rates run from a 110 euros for a single up to 210 euros for a quad. Weekend rates increase to 110... more travel advice
BeatChick's Related Pages
Paris Travel Guide
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Comments (175)
OMG...I couldn't even finish reading...I love Paris too...always have since I was a little girl and I'm finally going this fall. I love that you are writing a book on it...Touche' :) Any first timer tips would be greatly appreciated. I'm up on the driving (don't in Paris)...the rest rooms :P and looking for more help. Peace & :) M (back to reading your stuff) :)
I'm obsessed with Paris as well, been there many many times, harder now to visit since living in the US but what a magical city indeed.
Oh yes, Sienlu! Paris is magical!! :)
This is wonderful. We've been to Paris many times but these tips lead to many things we've not seen/done before. I think our son (then about 7, after his first day in Paris) stated your "con" in: "I want to die in Paris."
I'm so glad you enjoyed them and that you all had a wonderful trip to Paris!
Thanks for your comprehensive page full of your precious observations and excellent photographs! It's a great virtual tour of Paris!
Thank you, hunterV!!
Hey BC-
I LOVE YOUR PARIS PAGE! I've been looking at tips all day...and to be honest, my head is tired and I can't pull the trigger on a hotel. We are two newlyweds who had to postpone the honeymoon until the 1st anniversary. The trip ends in Paris for 4 nights, and we want a great, safe location, close to metro and great cafes, on a 75-100 euro/night budget. So here's the question...where would YOU stay???
It's been a long time since I commented on your Paris page. How are you? I am back in Paris for the 6th time. Checked out Angelina's website and thought it was interesting that the same group who owns Angelina's owns Quick. Must go for chocolate.
Hi Mary. In Sacramento they leave lost items in obvious places so they can be found. Perhaps we're a little bit of Paris in America. ;^)
I hope to visit Paris soon. Ciao!
COULD i ORDER SOME OF THE HOT CHOCOLAT. [email protected] tHANK YOU
The hotel Quai Voltaire has undertaken some serious renovations. I have been there lately and it was very pleasant. Still a 2 star hotel but the view from the room is just unbelievable, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Seine, Tuileries.