Paris

[UpstateNYPH]

I know there are probably some threads out there, but I am going to Paris next month and would like some recommendations on sites and restaurants.

I have a travel guidebook and am going to dig through it within the next week, but first-hand knowledge is always the best....

We will be there about five days and have never been there before. Main sites and restaurant recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

[Snowparrot]

Lucky you to be going to Paris for the FIRST time!

Stroll by the River Seine. Take a boat cruise on the river for your initial orientation.
Go ahead and go up the Eiffel Tower. Everybody has to do it at least once.
I love the Rodin museum, with sculptures in the gardens.
The Louvre is wonderful, and be sure to linger at the foundations. But it IS tiring.
Watch (and watch out for) the traffic.
If you feel brave, rent a bike for nearly free, from the city stands.
Walk along (or take a boat ride on) the Canal St Martin.

Eat anywhere that smells good. You won't believe how good a ham sandwich can be at a sidewalk café, with a draft beer... or how expensive, sometimes.

Lucky you.

[peterb]

check out the batobus (http://www.batobus.com/) it is a relatively cheap and nice way to see the city from the water. Plus it stops at a lot of tourist attractions. If you go to the eiffel tower, try to be there early or be prepared to stand in line for a long time. (I thought it was not worth the wait honestly)
The Marais area is very nice for a stroll, there are lots of restaurants and smaller shops plus it is less busy with cars. Close by is the Place de Voges which is nice to just relax and enjoy the scenery.
We thought that taxis were really good value so we didn't bother with public transport other than batobus.

Have a great time

[labatt1876]

I reccommend heading to the Latin Quarter. I was in Paris last Sept (for Jimmy) and we stayed in the Latin Quarter. It was great, many sidewalk cafe's, creperie's,a nd an overall great vibe around there. And food wise, I thought relatively inexpensive, though the wife and I were not looking for fancy meals. There were many places where you could sit down, with a baquette/crepe and a bottle of win, and it would cost like 25 Euro.

We ended up spending alot of our time there, at night.

For during the day, bring your walking shoes. We brought some walking tours with us, printed off the internet, that lead us to many of the sites. There is no better way to explore a city than to walk it!

[digitalprintman]

Going to the Eiffel Tower, Yes, do get there early. We were there a few years ago and made it up in one of the first groups. By the time we came down the line was extremely long. We did also do a lunch on the deck level at the fine restaurant there. No reservations, but were there early enough that they fit us in. Champagne, French Onion Soup, Cheese (Formages) and other goodies. It was memorable.
http://www.eiffel-tower.com/

The French do frown upon Blue Jeans. Try to bring along some black pants or something a little nicer. You will get a better reception.

The Musee d'orsay is an excellent museum right across the river from the Louvre. Many of the Impressionists paintings. Whistler's Mother painting is there also. Worth checking out:
http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html

If you get a chance to go to the Palace at Versailles, do it. There is a train that you can catch near the Eiffel Tower to get you to Versailles. Try to get there early. It was very cool to see the Hall of Mirrors with no one in there.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace_of_Versailles

Public transportation will get you all around, but you will also do plenty of walking. Check the site for some good deals on subway passes and museum tickets.
http://www.parismetro.com/

Sacre Coueur is worth the trip also. You can see it from the city off in the distance on the hill. You will also be up near the Moulin Rouge. Not the best neighborhood at night but maybe they have cleaned it up some since we were there.
http://www.paris-tourist-information.com/sacrecoeur.htm

Do visit Notre Dame. The trek up to the bell tower and the gargoyles is worth doing.
http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/-English-

While on the island also visit the smaller cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sainte-Chapelle

Do take a river cruise whether it be during the day or at night. We did it at night it was very enjoyable seeing everything lit up.

Another thing to do is to go the department store La Samaritaine. There is a deck at the top where you can get a great view of the city. And it is FREE. Take a look around in the store also.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Samaritaine

Visit the arc de triomphe it is worth going to. Don't try to cross the circular street around it. There are tunnels that go underneath the street. You can walk around it and can pay a fee to go inside and go to the top. It's a fun thing to do.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe

Just down the street is the Lido. The shows there are pretty good.
http://www.lido.fr/us/cabaret-paris.html

Stroll along the Champs-Elysees, many great restaurants.

Have a Great Time!!!

[Dutch Harbor PH]

- Ice cream on Isle St. Louis ...Walk arcoss the bridge (upstream of Notre Dame)
- Latin Quarter... Just fun to cruise around
- Musee D'Orsay....the Lovre is impressive, BUT Orsay is where they keep the impressionists.....go straight upstairs....
- Use the Batobus.....when we go we ride the batobus until we are inspired to go do a particular thing...runs up and down the seine.....ride it all day if you want....
- Don't buy the unlimited 5 day metro pass......you will probably only use the metro coming and going to your hotel (Depending on where you are)...It is more economical to get the "carnet" of 10 tickets (Bee-yays)...if you need more just buy another....
- Les Invalides...go visit Napleon....after all the trouble of getting him out of Europe and then the trouble of going and repatriating him, you should at least go visit....also an impressive military collection....

Be prepared to walk around...it is a walking city..... Even if you know no French...pick up a couple of phrases and use them....it helps to at least try....
Hopefully it won't be too hot while you are there.... You will probably have to drink cold beer....as there is only 1 ice machine in the whole city and it is broken.....

Have fun!!!!

[Dutch Harbor PH]

- Ice cream on Isle St. Louis ...Walk arcoss the bridge (upstream of Notre Dame)
- Latin Quarter... Just fun to cruise around
- Musee D'Orsay....the Lovre is impressive, BUT Orsay is where they keep the impressionists.....go straight upstairs....
- Use the Batobus.....when we go we ride the batobus until we are inspired to go do a particular thing...runs up and down the seine.....ride it all day if you want....
- Don't buy the unlimited 5 day metro pass......you will probably only use the metro coming and going to your hotel (Depending on where you are)...It is more economical to get the "carnet" of 10 tickets (Bee-yays)...if you need more just buy another....
- Les Invalides...go visit Napleon....after all the trouble of getting him out of Europe and then the trouble of going and repatriating him, you should at least go visit....also an impressive military collection....

Be prepared to walk around...it is a walking city..... Even if you know no French...pick up a couple of phrases and use them....it helps to at least try....
Hopefully it won't be too hot while you are there.... You will probably have to drink cold beer....as there is only 1 ice machine in the whole city and it is broken.....

Have fun!!!!