Editor’s Note: In the comments section for a recent post, a member of the family asked me for advice on what to see and do in Paris. It occurred to me that a lot of folks might find the information useful, so I decided to post my reply here, to make it easier for everyone to find.
Recommendations for Paris
– Don’t worry about your hotel. You won’t be there much, so unless Trip Advisor comments indicate it’s unsafe, I wouldn’t worry. Meantime: if your booking isn’t pre-paid, consider snagging a Priceline room. We got rooms in the Marriott Rive Gauche (a four-star hotel) for less than one hundred dollars per night … a remarkable bargain, given that most terrible hotels were advertising rates that were two or three times higher.
– Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Take the Metro to the Trocadero stop. Buy some bread, a crepe, and a bottle of water and get in line. The view is stunning, and the experience, when shared with someone you love, is worth the wait. If the weather is cloudy, though, skip this.
– If you can only do two museums, dedicate a morning to the Louvre and a morning to the Centre Pompidou. Resist the temptation to do more than one museum per day, and always make museum visits in the early morning, when you feel fresh and alert. If you’re visiting on a weekday and have time for a third museum, combine a trip to the Musee d’Orsay with lunch at the reasonably-priced, eye-popping dining room there.
– Window shop. I recommend making a visit to the Galleries Layfayette and Printemps, just to see what a huge Parisian department store is like. (Beautiful!) Don’t plan on buying much, though — prices in Paris are high. The best sale prices are equivalent to the full retail price in the States.
– Get a delicious, reasonably-priced, authentically French lunch. For a real treat that won’t break the bank, follow up your morning at the Lourvre with lunch at L’Ardoise (28 rue du Mont-Thabor, 75001 Paris, phone 00 33 1 42 96 28 18, open Wednesday through Sunday). This was one of our most memorable meals; you’ll love it, I promise.
– See Sacre-Coeur at night, when you can appreciate the glittering skyline and when this stunning architectural wonder is at its most mysterious and moody.
– Stroll along the Seine. Artist stalls open around 9:30 along the Seine. I recommend going for a morning visit to Notre Dame, then walking up the river, admiring the various wares on sale. Take your time and dig for treasures. When you get weary, hop on board a boat tour. If you love taped commentary (I can’t stand it), take the Bateaux Mouche (the red cruise boats); if you’d rather watch the sights go by in blessed silence (Aaahhhhh!), take the blue hop-on, hop-off boats and use them to gain quick access to many of the places tourists want to see.
– If you have time, a day trip to Chartres (one hour outside Paris by train) is a must. This is the most purely Gothic of all cathedrals in the world; in addition, the village is made for walking, shopping, and browsing.
– Go ice skating. This time of year, ice skating rinks have mushroomed up all over the city, marked by large white igloos (where people change into their skates). Join the locals, strap on your skates, and go.
– Schedule some unscheduled time. Paris is at its best when its delights are unexpected. Wander the Marais. Amble through Pigalle. Get lost!
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