What to do in Paris?

Show all answers

Year of the Dragon

Here are a few of my favorites...

If you enjoy art, the Musee d'Orsay is hands down my favorite musem in the world.

Take the lift up the Tour d'Eiffel at night. Fewer queues and you will see why it is called the city of lights.

Notre Dame. Hit it in the early AM before the tour buses get there. This is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

Sainte Chapelle has one of the finest stained glass window collections in existence.

The Louvre. It could take a month in itself. Be selective, but it is a must. The building itself is a work of art.

There are a number of tour boats that run along the Seine. Do it a night. Even on your own, it is a romantic experience.

The Garnier Opera: I still believe in the phantom.

Skip Disney. Skip the zoo. See one of Cleopatra's needles in the Place Concorde. See the haunts of Toulouse-Lautrec and Ernest Hemingway and Victor Hugo. See Napoleon's tomb. These are things that you will never see anywhere else in the world.

Worry not, travelling alone. They pretty much all speak English, albeit with disdain. A cafe wants your business, but the waiter may not show it. You just have to show a little self confidence and you will be fine. A touch of l'audace goes a long way in dealing with the Parisians.

This is without a doubt, one of the finest cities in the world. But its special charm is in the street. Take it at liesure. Sit at a sidewalk cafe in the Quartier Latin. Have a drink. Watch the world go by. This is Paris. There is no place more magical.

Enjoy the trip of a lifetime! And plan your next visit. I have been there at least a dozen times, and have still not seen enough.

Rillifane

Well, to begin with remenber that it will be quite cold.

In Paris in January the average high temperature is 7 degrees celsius/44 degrees farenheit, and the average low is 2 celcius/36 farenheit. There are an average of four days with snow.

Unless you have a particular love of Mickey Mouse there isn't must justification for going to Eurodisney. Paris itself is so much more interesting than any children's theme park. The zoo's are pleasant enough but a zoo is a zoo anywhere. Again, with all the unique things in Paris why do something that is dead common.

Your age won't be much of a problem. The legal age to buy beer and wine is 16 and full drinking privileges begin at 18.

Being a solo traveller is a probelm only in that its a lot more fun to have a companion of whatever gender you prefer in this very romantic city. On the other hand its also nice to be able to see things at your own pace and based on your own interests.

At a minimum you ought to put the following sights on your list:

Louvre
Musee D'Orsay (Impressionists)
Centre Pompidou (Modern art)
Musee Cluny (medieval art)
Notre Dame
Sainte Chapelle (built by Louis IX to house the crown of thorns)
Conciergerie (a medieval fortress where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned)
Sacre Coeur
Ã‰glise de la Madeleine
Tuileries Gardens
Champs elysee (just to walk up this famous street)
Arc de Triomphe
the Trocadero and the Palais de Chaillot (across the river from the Eifel tower..great view)
Eifel tower
Invalides
Place des Vosges
Place de la Bastille
Opera Garnier
Place de la Concorde
Luxembourg Gardens and the Luxembourg Palace
Montmartre (the old artist's neighborhood)
Moulin Rouge (just to look at the outside not to go to a show)
Grand and Petit Palais
Pont Alexandre III (said to be the most beautiful bridge in the world)
Rue des Rosiers (the old Jewish quarter)
The Pantheon

There are many other sights and museums but I realize you will have limited time, perhaps not enough to even see these.

However, since you are flying to the other side of the world it would be sensible to expand your stay to at least 10 days. Paris isn't a cheap city but its not unreasonable and it may be a long time before you head that way again.

tee2

You should go to the Sacre Couer, definetly, it is a church but its on top of long hill overlooking parts of city, amazing. I would take the Seine Cruise at night, its incredible. Go to the Arc du Trompe, also amazing view. Walk down Champs Elysee, lots of shops and outdoor restaurants. The Louvre, be prepared to spend the whole day there unless you really researh ahead of time and know what exactly you want to see. The Louvre, is connected to the Jurden du Tuilleries, beautiful large park, a must. Musuee du Orsay is amazing, not only architectually beautiful but really great art works. Notredame, really your there for half hour and then you move one, I didn't think it was spectacular. Depending how much of a art lover you are, one of my favorite places was L'Orangerie which is near the Louvre, it has Monet's Waterlilies and more.

The Metro, is going to be your best friend. It literally takes you everywhere and it is like steps from all the major tourist sites. Don't forget to grab a map from the hotel, I would have been lost without it, don't need to buy one, all the brochures that are displayed at hotels have one inside. If your planning on doing alot of tourists spots (i.e. Eiffel, Louvre) I would purchase a 2 or 4 day Museum Pass but its includes alot of stuff not just museums, plus you bypass the huge lineups, I believe you can buy it near the Louvre.

Don't worry about travelling alone. Honestly, I just came back a month ago and there are always people around. I really don't think people who live there work very much. The Eiffie has guards everywhere. I went with my mom but I know I would of been fine on my own. I felt perfectly safe. Plus its tourist season and alot of people who live there speak english. You can also check Frommers website, has lot of good tips. Hope this helps!

mareeclara

Hey fellow kiwi!
I did Paris solo a few years ago now. I found it fine. The metro is a good way to get around, but you can use your feet as its not huge well the "good stuff". Notre Dame is lovely...from memory its free to get into too which is great.
If you do a boat ride up the Seine you can see the side view which is more spectular eg flying buttresses.
The Eiffel tower, well you gotta do. I went to the top...note: it sways in the wind! I went in Feb so it was quite chilly up there...the only time I really felt cold in my week there.

Sacre couer is another place for good views of Paris...its a decent walk up to the top and Arc de Triomphe has great views.
I went to Pare Lechaise...or pere I never remember but its a neat cemetary and has lots of famous people buried there like edith piaf, oscar wilde, chopin, and jim morrison. Apart from Jim's standard gravestone the rest are mostly elaborate and quite amamzing.......
Versailles was good, but there is not a huge amount in the i actual palace as it was mainly taken i think in the revolution. I did a guided tour which was great as it gave me more insight than what my sister got ( and was not impressed with it) but its ginormous as is the louvre....HUGE!!!! i got really sore feet.
anyway just meadering around is great.....i had a plan to see 2 or 3 things a day and then the rest was just discovered as i went.
anyway have a great time...there was so much to offer

LOL

imm.. Paris is Great but there is much nicer places in France.

Euro Disney is something you must do
Castles museums
Eiffel Tower

For more information about the location and more places... go check the Con'

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: