Tips for weekend visit to Paris

[SettinSail]

Hello UK board, I am an American currently living in Germany (not military) and planning a weekend visit to Paris later this month to celebrate mine and hubby's birthdays. Our 13 year old son is going with us too. I've been to Paris once before but son & hubby have not. I've already booked Air Fare and Hotel (Duquesne Eiffel). I am looking for some recommendations for places to eat (moderate price and no fancy dress required) and fun things to do. We will hit the major sights: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Notre Dame and Champs Elysees but can you recommend something else that we might not know about? We don't have time for DL Paris and I don't think there is time to go out to Versailles either. Thanks in advance for any tips you may have!

Shawn

 

[Dimplenose]

I think you could fill a weekend with just the major attractions.

Get a guide book and do a walking tour - around Montmatre is particularly intersting as you get to see where famous artists once lived and worked. (A bit of a hilly walk though!)

The Louvre website lets you print out themed self guided tours - great when you are short of time and don't know what to look at first (DH and I did the da Vinci code tour which took 2-3 hours not the 1.5 stated on the plan as we kept getting distracted by beautiful things!) http://www.louvre.fr/llv/activite/liste_parcours.jsp?bmLocale=en We also found the tip of entering via the Carousel shopping centre to be a time saver. The queues at the louvre seem to be for security not for tickets and the queues are shorter down there (plus you get to see the inverted pyramid down there too.)

I found Pere Lachaise cemetry really interesting (not sure how a 13 year old would find it) but here's a link http://www.pere-lachaise.com/

If you're into sculpture the Rodin museum is also very good http://www.musee-rodin.fr/

Also look out for the Rat catchers shop at 8 Rue des Halles. It was used in the Ratatouille film.

The only restaurant I can recommend is Chartier (http://www.restaurant-chartier.com/www/visit/filsdesans.php) which was reasonably priced and very atmospheric. Apart from that we cheated and ate at the Hard Rock Cafe!

Have fun planning and don't go home too tired.

 

[strawberry blonde]

We haven't been to Paris since the 1980's when we went to see Bruce Springstein but I always remember the lovely boat trip down the Seine. I think they are called “Bateaux-Mouches” . Thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the top deck with the sun streaming down on us

 

[BethEJo]

We haven't been to Paris since the 1980's when we went to see Bruce Springstein but I always remember the lovely boat trip down the Seine. I think they are called “Bateaux-Mouches” . Thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the top deck with the sun streaming down on us

Yesssss, the bateaux mouches are wonderful! I did one in 2005 and again last year

I've only ever done them in the evenings - this is great because you can see all the locals dancing and having fun on the side of the Seine. They'll always give you a wave too

 

[disney_princess_85]

I've only ever done them in the evenings - this is great because you can see all the locals dancing and having fun on the side of the Seine. They'll always give you a wave too

I wish I was a local!

 

[A Small World]

I love Paris and think its a wonderful place for just wandering round exploring. I worked there for a few mths years ago and used to spend my afternoons walking and exploring - I covered miles by foot

Try wandering through the Latin Quarter (student area) near Boulevard St Michel towards the Jardin de Luxembourg. There are also some lovely cheap and cheerful restaurants in this area.

Explore the Ile de la cite around Notre Dame and cross the bridge onto the smaller Ile St Louis

Walk from Notre Dame along the river looking at the bouquinists (little book stalls) on route. Head towards the Louvre and look at the architecture from the outside even if you dont have time to go inside

I like standing in front of the Pyramid in the courtyard of the Louvre and looking through the Jardin des Tuileries towards the Place de la Concorde and up the Champs Elysee- its a great view

Also the best view of the Eiffel Tower is from Trocadero - then walk down past the fountains towards it

Visit Galeries Lafeyettes and Printemps - the 2 large department stores

As already mentioned explore the area around Montmatre behind the Sacre Coeur - watching the artists. Ive also had some wonderful cheap meals in this area as well

As well as the Bateaux Mouches you could get a ticket for the Batobus (Boat bus) which stops at several points along the river and you can get on and off

Its an amazing city and youve made me want to go again now

 

[SettinSail]

Thank you all very much! You have given me some wonderful ideas!

Hmmm....I have exited the Louvre through that shopping center and seen the inverted pyramid, great tip to enter that way as well.

Cheers!

Shawn

 

[John245]

did you had fun during your weekend?

 

[SettinSail]

We did! But, the weather was awful. Even worse, the forecast we got off the internet was wrong so we didn't have warm enough jackets. But, we managed to squeeze in a lot, we even got out to Versailles for 1/2 day Saturday morning. Still need to go back and do DL Paris and I picked up some brochures and found many MORE things I want to do there! We are lucky to be so close and I am going again with a friend in May. She will mainly want to do shopping though.

Thanks for asking!
Shawn