I'm going to Paris in April - any tips on hidden gems???

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cowshaveeyes

Hi!
my advise is to take things by area and walk. WALK. seriously although the metro is very useful and sometimes cool, you won't see as much or learn to appreciate the cute little passages etc. If you ARE taking the metro, take line 6 to go to the eiffel tower/champs de mars and make sure to be on the line for the stops from I think.. KlĆ©ber to Bir Hakiem (where you can get off to go to the eiffel tower.), it's the "out door"metro, and although a few of these exist on other lines, that one is worthy of the trip (you get to see the seine and eiffel tower etc..very pretty).
otherwise. go to notre dame, visit it. take lots of pretty pictures. then walk around the latin quarter. there are loads of VERY touristy greek places etc. but it's fun and it's open on sundays (most shops are closed on sundays in paris) and its quite "boho"..so very fun! and theres nice cute cafĆ©s there as well. You can get yourself a take out (greek sandwiches are yummy. and if you're veggie or vegan there's a maoz falafel in the latin quarter as well...ooh and greek sandwiches are cheap..like 4euros :) ) , you can walk by the banks of the seine and sit down and watch the boats go by. very cozy.
If you go near Odeon (not too far from the latin quarter) you can go to a shop called "gudulle"(i think that's how it's spelt) anyway ask about it. they sell jewelry by the kilo. if thats the sort of thing you're into. Near the metro Odeon there are loads of "shisha" bars. if you get out next to starbucks, facing a big building, with the starbucks on your right, cross the street to your left. then turn left again (or ask around) there is a little shisha bar there..with comfy couches and all. (get the mint tea. its yummmy!)
umm otherwise if you want the more GRANDIOSE it's always lovely to walk around champs eleyses and Invalides. Walk around, admire the architecture. Go shopping on the champs! Fouquets is one of the loveliest (and very pricey) restaurants, but at lunch you can get a relatively cheap sandwiche and feel JUST as cool.
Also be sure to go to "La durĆ©e" on the champs elysees. and get a "macaron au chocolat" they're the best in town, very rich but verrry good :)!
You could check out invalides, which is always a nice visit and will teach you more about the history of france...and walking towards le grand palais you will be crossing one of the most fantastic bridges! Plus the grand palais often has very interesting art exhibitions, so it's worth checking out (sometimes expensive though, so be sure to ask about the price before you queue for 2hours.)
Don't forget the louvre. not just the museum itself, but the shopping centre, is great too and there's a food court..they have good sushi :) plus outside the louvre is as amazing as the inside. so don't forget to explore the carousel du louvre!
If you like bicycles there is a "veli'b" system. you go to a machine next to all the "veli'b" bikes (theyre all over) and type in that you want a day pass, and put your credit card in.
then just return the bikes at any other velib station when youre done with it. it's nice to have a little ride.
Don't forget to check out parc des vosges, a nice "green are"..ish a nice parc more like. but it is a beautiful little gem.
Have a picnic at the champs de mars..the eiffel tower glitters at night..its preettty cool :)!
Visit all the touristy attractions or you won't feel quite as accomplished, but it's worth forgetting them and just exploring!
for a more touristy feel, go to montmartre. it's nice but you'll get about a billion guys trying to paint your portrait. its worth a little trip though ;)
outside paris, I completly agree with previous posters Giverny is fantastic but I would go for Versailles. you need to have seen it. It's wonderful!
otherwise for museums, check out le musĆ© carnavalet. it'll teach you more about the history of paris and la
ile de la citĆ©e..go there for AMAZING sorbets!! and cute little flower/animal markets. plus there is the conciergerie ..an old prison where marie antoinette was kept. I like it.
go to L'opera garnier, its worth the visit. and if you can, try getting tickets (sometimes you can get quite cheap ones) to a ballet. make sure you look at the ceilling and admire chagall's fantastic work!
it's worth getting one of those "paris" books and even going on a bateau mouche (the tour boats of the seine) to know where you are and what you're admiring :)
hope this helps!
and have a lovely time in Paris!

skyblacker

Hidden Gem: The Latin Quarter is full of outdoor cafes and art galleries. Far away from the Eiffel Tower, it's exactly what you think Paris would be like. Very artsy and oh-la-la!

Hidden Gem #2: The overpass above the Pont de l'Alma Tunnel, where Princess Diana died. It's marked by a flame-shaped sculpture and people still leave memorial notes there.

Amazing Architecture: The Louvre is a mind-blowing museum. Its glass pyramid and interior structures are unique. Also, you could spend a week just walking through there and you'd never see the same thing twice. The tourists may crowd around the Mona Lisa, but a few rooms away, you'll have less hyped (and amazing!) art all to yourself.

Hidden Gem #3: When you take the Paris Metro subway to the Louvre, don't get off at "Musee de Louvre". There's a stop right after it called "Louvre Rivoli", which is directly under the museum. Full of ancient artifacts, the "Louvre Rivoli" stop looks like a museum with trains running through it!

If you arrive at the Louvre by above-ground transportation, the entrance to this subway station is marked by an Art Nouveau "Metropolitan" sign.

Travel Tip: The easiest way to get around Paris is the metro. If possible, get a hotel room within walking distance of a stop.

Not Hidden but Still a Gem: You may think that Versailles is big and grand, but you have no idea. Photos don't do justice to the Hall of Mirrors. (by the way, you'll have to transfer from the Metro to another train system to get there. Versailles is maybe a twenty-minute train ride from Paris)

Totally Exposed and Not a Gem: The Eiffel Tower doesn't live up to its hype at all. Glance at it once, but don't bother joining the long line to go up the thing. It looks better from a distance.

Hidden Gem #4: There are sidewalk vendors that sell crepes and waffles slathered with melted Nutella. Nutella is what the Europeans use instead of peanut butter. It's like fudge, but better!

Hidden Gem #5: I'm a big Rimbaud fan, so going to his hometown of Charleville -Mezieres (a two-hour train ride from Paris) was a dream come true. The poet also left a few marks in Paris itself. As you can tell, Paris has a long tradition of artists passing through. Maybe your favorite is among them?

To cowshave: I agree that Paris is a nice city to walk in. However, if your hotel is ten miles from where you want to go, the Metro is the best way to cover most of that distance. Taxi prices are sky-high, and cars aren't the greatest idea in most urban settings.

Rick B

There are lots but if I tell you they wont be hidden anymore, Paris is a beautiful city with a hidden gem around every corner

mavenofmusic

If you can, take a trip to Giverny. It's about a 50 minute train ride from Paris. It is the site of Monet's home, gardens, and waterlily pond. It was his source of inspiration for his paintings.

If you have any interest in impressionism, Monet, or art, it is something not to be missed. The flowers should be beautiful then, too.

Also, check out Berthillon (in Paris.) Great ice cream!

maranta

Nobody I know has ever been to the Antoine Bourdelle atelier. If you like sculpture this place is superb. The sculptures were made for public places and not sold so their great size within a small garden makes the place like something out of Gulliver.
If you go -----facing Gare Montparnasse main entrance turn right and left and its a 100 yards up the road ---all the locals know it.
Cheers

Juliet

Angelina's (Not too far from the Louvre.)
(Get the hot chocolate - OMG - it's amazing)
226 rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

Musee D'Orsay
The Picasso Museum
The Eiffel Tower at night
Palace of Versailles

mareeclara

Pare Lechaise cemetary....amazing. Has lots of famous people buried there like Oscar Wilde, Chopin, Jim Morrison and Edith Piaf. Worth a look.

Scooby Doo

Around the Moulin Rouge area is cool, a couple of nice bars and restaraunts.

Brian

i was in paris for the first time last christmas : to be honest, if going with your boy/girlfriend its the kind of place you'll only go to once. disneyland is absolutely fantastic!!!! what a place, fun fun fun. there are 2 sections, the "studios" and the "park". the "park" is a total waste of time, because you will spend more time queueing than actually doing stuff..... but the studios, my god, wht a rush. the car stunts show...fantastic and worth every minute. in paris itself, i found it to be expensive and boring. a few shops were ok but overall, the eiffel tower is the main attraction. absolutely beautiful @ night/evening but the queues once again...terrible. enjoy , i hope you do, but dont try and make it what it isnt..... it is a city with limited enjoyable qualities, but a quite enjoyable experience. :)

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