Things to do In Paris

[Cyrano]

Inspired by another thread and because a trip to DLP often includes a visit to the capital of France, thought it would be useful to hear what others think is unmissable in Paris.

Okay I'll start off...

Pompidou Centre - although many have complained that this area is not as bright as it once was, the eccentric building surrounding by cafes makes a great place to be of an afternoon.

Sacre Coeur - if you are adventurous, walk to here rather than take the metro. The walk up the stairs as Paris unfolds below you is beautiful. With cafes and artists abounding along with this magnificent cathedral a beautiful Sunday can be spent here.

Musee D'orsy - to sit in the cafe in the former rail station clock, with the River Seine nearby for me is when I know I'm in Paris

 

[chrismoo]

http://www.citysegwaytours.com/paris/

Segway tour of paris, day & night versions avalible.

 

[Miffy2003]

Really interested to see the responses to this!

Especially in light of the fact that DH last night (while under the influence) proposed an adults only trip to Paris & DLP

Proabably won't be until next year, but you've got to plan ahead, right?

 

[NJBlackBerry]

The Louvre. Staring at the Mona Lisa. Wondering if The Da Vinci Code is real.

Notre Dame. Isle St. Louis.

A day trip to the Palace of Versailles. Fabulous. The Eiffel Tower. Arc de Triumph. Just sitting in a bistro enjoying a meal at 11PM and forgetting (temporarily) that we left the kids at home.

The Picasso museum.

Didn't like the artwork at the Pompidou Centre, but after seeing at least three other museums in the past two days, I was museumed out.

And, without stirring things up too much, wondering how many stunning beautiful women ended up in one relatively small city.

Oh yeah, DLRP was fantastic

 

[Cyrano]

Enjoying the responses. Keep them coming

 

[Crunchiepink]

Since you lot have helped me on DLP, I can help here!!

It depends if you have kids or not, so I am going to assume not to start with.

Eiffel Tower - You MUST walk up it rather than the lift, it takes ages, but you get amazing veiws as you go, loads of things to read at every turn and no queues. If you take the lift a visit lasts an hour, walking means you have amorning/afternoon adventure.

Louvre - personally I wouldn't bother, except the outside. The mona lisa is tiny, surrounded by crowds and not that great

Musee D'orsay - the best museum if oyu like art. Beauiful views from the terrace outside

Arc D'Triomphe - well worth a climb, if only to watch MAD french driving

Sacree Couer - yes you must walk up all the steps and explore the area. Really beautiful, lovely square nearby, but don't waste money on thetourist tat.

Notre Dame - stunnming, both inside and out.

The river - I love walking along the seine particulary near the 'iles' the streets are old and cobbled, the shops pretty and the best Ice cream in the city at Bertillion

It depends on how much time you have TBH, if you get time to eat there is a lovely V FRENCH place called Chartier, cheap as chips, rude waiters and just fantastic. We are wondering if the RER trip into town will be worth it just to go there.

I love Paris more than any place on earth. Even if I just sit in a cafe, drink hot chocolate and people watch or play cards with my husband, it is the best place on earth just to wander.

I doubt we will get there this year as our DLP trip is our one and only trip there, paris will always be there, and I am dying to take our kids very very soon.

 

[wideeyes]

It depends if you have kids or not, so I am going to assume not to start with.

Eiffel Tower - You MUST walk up it rather than the lift, it takes ages, but you get amazing veiws as you go, loads of things to read at every turn and no queues. If you take the lift a visit lasts an hour, walking means you have amorning/afternoon adventure.

when we went to the Eiffel Tower we spent most of the day in a queue. First to buy our tickets then to use the lifts. we had a 3 year old and when people ask what she did in paris she says I stood in a line!
In the end we carried her down from the second floor to the bottom. The views from the top were amazing and we got some fab pictures however I do feel that we wasted the best part of the day. while we were their I decided that paris was something to be done in its own right with a couple of days given to it, rather than an extra attraction of DLRP.
we also went on the tour bus which dd enjoyed.

I would say that one of the most enjoyble things we did was have a meal in a bistro.

 

[Salford Steve]

Another fabulous thing to do is take one of the many evening dinner cruises on the Seine. It really is wonderful to see the city lights while enjoying good food and good company. Seeing the Eiffel Tower lit up and twinkling is truely magical.

The city tour buses are great, you can either just stay on and do the full tour in one go, or as we do, jump off wherever we feel like spending time.

Another place you may not be aware of is Berthillon on Île Saint-Louis which is in my opinion the best ice-cream manufacturer on the planet. Their ice cream is sold in many shops round Paris but their main shop is well worth the visit.

 

[Salford Steve]

It depends on how much time you have TBH, if you get time to eat there is a lovely V FRENCH place called Chartier, cheap as chips, rude waiters and just fantastic. We are wondering if the RER trip into town will be worth it just to go there.

Is that the place off Rue Du Faubourg Montmartre? Been in there several times. They do an excellent Steak & Frites for something like 10 euros, which for Paris is megacheap.

 

[Crunchiepink]

'The river - I love walking along the seine particulary near the 'iles' the streets are old and cobbled, the shops pretty and the best Ice cream in the city at Bertillion'

See Salford Steve, I mentioned Bertillion first!! (I don't know how to quote!)

And yes Chartier is the place of Rue du Faubourg Montmatre. I have been going there for years (nearly 20) and it hasn't really changed much.

DH and I celebrated our engagement there.

Oh and BTW on teh rivcer, don't waste money on a dinner cruise, Hop on a Bateau Mouche they run regularly at night (summer time) and are only a few Euros.

Walking up the Eiffel Tower is not fun with kids, hence I assumed none. Otherwise you queue like wideyes.

Paris shouldn't be a one day trip out of DLP, it is brilliant (personally I think better) as it is real life, not fantasy.

I lived there for 6 months, and still didn't get enough.

 

[Travelbug12]

Thanks guys for this thread. I am a regular member of tripadvisor, and they don't like to give touring information becuase first they feel you should do the research yourself and second they feel its too personal...art, nature statues. Finally I'm avoiding them because there was a scary post suggesting that children should not be allowed in fancy restaurants which I don't agree with but can appreciate. It was that during this discussion at least 6 or 7 different poster referred to children as "brats". I don't want to go on and on, but I find calling any child a "brat" even if they are misbehaved unacceptable. Anyway, a I will probably stick to the attractions mentioned but wanted to ask about the Monet museum. I will probably go anyway, but wondered if anyone else had gone. Second question, I will actually stay in paris and was planning on going to the front of disney and catching the RER. Does this sound right? WIll it be hard with luggage. I do not want to take a cab so I think this is my only alternative.

Hope I haven't put you off by my strong opinions...you know its an american thing, can't help it.

 

[mumoftwo]

Try the Salvador Dali museum near Monmartre, my children of 8 and 11 loved this especially 'the melting clocks'. Also the Catacombes which is filled with bones and Skulls fascinating for any blood thirsty pre teens.

 

[Magix]

I know the chances are slim, but has anyone ever visted the branch of the French National Maritime Museum in Paris? I HAVE to go to their gift shop for a t-shirt (if they have them), but I couldn't tell if the museum was worth spending a bunch of time at. I'll have very limited time on my own, as I'm going with a group. I plan to visit the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, when I'm in London, so I thought maybe a visit to the museum in Paris would be good, too.

 

[Emmo]

I love Montmatre and we will def. be visiting there next week as well as the Eiffel Tower, Arc De Triomphe, Notre Dame and Sacre Couer. Matt and I have been before but as we are taking his mum and Dad we are doing it all again, which I don't mind one bit!

 

[DisneyElf]

Has anyone done the Segway tour ?


Hopefully - assuming all the info we have on DCL - I will be coming to Europe (very brief stay) in August of '07. I've read the reviews on the website (all positive of course ) but would love an objective review

Thanks !

 

[SandraVB79]

do a day or 3/4-day trip to Versailles
Go (window)-shopping
Go window-shopping at some high-end boutiques, and ask for something they don't have with an air as if you can pay for it anyway. I know, it's mean, but I loved doing that on Rodeo Drive. Hey, I got to try on some Chanel-clothes ($5000+ for a jacket, woohoo!), Gucci-shoes, and they weighed the Louis Vuitton golf bag (also $5000+!) for me! I also got to try on some jewelry from which the price made me almost faint, and at Dior, they got a French-speaking salesperson to help me find sunglasses, which I would have bought if they had it in the right colour (I really DON'T like to view the world in pink, NO WAY! If they had it in brown (like my Chanel-ones), I would have bought it. Really, I would, because I LOVE that style of sunglasses!)

 

[LukenDC]

I love Paris. It's my favorite city in the world.

My favorites include:

1) A long, leisurely daytime walk through the Marais
2) Lunch at an outdoor cafe
3) An evening walk along the Champs Elysee (with a stop at the Hagaan Das tea house!)
4) Day trip to Versailles
5) The Trocadero at night
6) Starting the day with coffee and baked goods
7) Walks along the quais of the Seine
8) Sitting in the Tuilleries Gardens and thinking to myself, "Wow, I'm in Paris"
9) Discussing international affairs with the French
10) Visiting museums

 

[kitashus]

Thank you very much for this info. It will be our fist time in France and we will be spending time in Paris, separate from our DLP time. So this info is greatly appreciated!