Paris Travel Tips
The city of lights, the city of love -- Gay Paree is also a city of fashion, five-star dining and exquisite collections of art. But ambience is perhaps its main draw. The gentle River Seine rambles through the city, flanked by stately museums, centuries-old churches, and blocks of Rococo- and Neo-classic-design architecture, further enhanced by charming trees and glowing streetlamps. Peppering the Seine's cobbled walks and graceful bridges are impossibly chic Parisians, probably on their way to the market, café or cinema.
Containing world-class museums, fashion, cuisine and an atmosphere all its own, Paris is also a city of "many splendors," as Ernest Hemingway recalled in his memoirs, A Moveable Feast. Visit the Centre Pompidou, enjoy gourmet pastries, shop couture on the Champs Élysées or boutiques in Les Halles, take in the view atop the Eiffel Tower, or even daytrip to Versailles Palace. But don't miss out on the simple pleasure of meandering the marvelous arrondissements (districts).
Centre Pompidou
River Seine
Champs Élysées
Les Halles
Eiffel Tower
Versailles Palace
Keep in Mind...
- "Parlez-vous Français?" Parisians adore their native tongue -- and will like you better if you try to speak it. Bonjour is hello, au revoir is good bye, s'il vous plaît is please, and merci is thank you.
- Coffee is a leisurely affair When you order a café in Paris, sit down and stay awhile. If you're simply looking for a quick jolt of caffeine, order an espresso or coffee from the bar.
- Don't toss your ticket Hold on to your metro ticket until you exit the station (for proof-of-purchase reasons). If you're caught empty-handed, you could be liable for a hefty fine.
Paris Culture & Customs
There's this idea that Parisians stick up their noses to Americans -- that they're notoriously unfriendly and even rude. Fodor's says, "North Americans, raised on the principle that the customer is always right, may find servers and store clerks a bit curt (and not always so efficient)." However, a little savoir-faire, or diplomacy, helps. So, try to speak the language, if only a kindly bonjour (good day) or bonsoir (good evening). If you're at a loss for words, politely ask the waiter or shop attendant, Parlez-vous anglais (or do you speak English?). Try to blend into the refined sophistication of Parisian life rather than stick out as a loud, garish or uncouth visitor.
Speaking of trying to blend in … Paris is arguably the fashion capital of the world. Leave the fanny packs at home! After all, everyone from Marie Antoinette and Coco Chanel to Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Lacroix got their start in haute-couture fashion in Paris -- and their influence remains. Concierge.com recommends, "Avoid bright colors -- even kids' clothes come mainly in cream, navy, gray, and brown -- and take care to shun the plethora of other offenses: pleated chinos, walking shorts, sport sandals, baseball caps, golf attire, loud logos, sneakers, T-shirts, sexy clothes."
Most restaurants and cafés will include a 10- to 15-percent service charge, service compris, on the bill. You can leave some additional change, if you wish. Taxicab drivers usually expect a 12- to 15-percent tip, though usually rounding to the nearest euro will suffice. France uses the euro, which is at an advantage to the U.S. dollar. Keep in mind the exchange rate when you tip and make purchases.
Tips on What To Do in Paris
The options of what to do in Paris are almost infinite, and short-term visitors might find it difficult to narrow down their itineraries. However you order your days -- by theme or region -- travel writers recommend at least some aimless wandering. Take the time to peruse the outdoor market offerings; to leisurely drink a glass of wine; to nip in boutiques and purchase Parisian goods and wares; to pause for more than a moment at the Eiffel Tower; and, of course, to smell the flowers at the Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg).
Eiffel Tower
Luxembourg Gardens
Museums
Paris inspired many an artist; it only makes sense for world-famous museums to congregate here. But pace yourself. The massive collection at the Musée du Louvre which includes the Large Sphinx, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Mona Lisa -- could itself take a lifetime to tour, and the Impressionist works at the Musée d'Orsay which includes works by artists Monet, Cezanne, Degas, Bonnard and more -- are enough to make an art enthusiast fall to pieces. Beyond the hyped collections exists a just-as-amazing compilation of specialized galleries and museums, such as the Musée Rodin, the Centre Georges Pompidou (Centre Pompidou) and even the Musée de l'Érotisme.
- If you only have a few days, you can't go wrong with the obvious sights: the Louvre's extensive collection of art from antiquity onward; the Impressionist canvases of the grandiose Musée d'Orsay; and Notre-Dame de Paris, the Gothic cathedral midstream in the Seine."
- Paris has more than 60 museums, so chances are you will find one to accommodate your tastes and interests. They are usually open from 10a to 6p and most of them have a weekly late day, staying open until 9p (generally on Wednesdays or Thursdays). Public museums are usually closed on Tuesdays and private museums often close on Mondays."
- Musée du Louvre … Don't miss the big three -- Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo."
Musée d'Orsay
Musée du Louvre
Shopping
With its multiplicity of shops and boutiques, haute-couture houses, designers and generally stylish populace, Paris exemplifies the French love affair with fashion. For upscale shopping, check out Les Grands Boulevards in the 9ème arrondissement; for couture houses and designer labels, wander along the Rue de Faubourg St-Honoré; for a typical mall, head to the enormous underground mall in Les Halles.
- Collections of boutiques can be found in most of central Paris, though the highways to designer heaven are primarily on the Right Bank." --
- Get an early start to avoid crowds at Au Printemps and Galeries-Lafayette, two of the city's grandest historic department stores conveniently side by side behind the Opéra Garnier. … If you plan on spending more than EUR 175 in one store, bring your passport to get the détaxe forms for your Value Added Tax rebate." --
Les Grands Boulevards
Rue de Faubourg St-Honoré
Les Halles
Markets
The vibrant plein-air markets, filled with everything from vivid-colored produce and fresh-baked bread, are part of Parisians' daily life. Travelers can pick up a picnic of goods at the markets -- Rue Mouffetard, Marché Buci, Marché Biologique, or others -- and walk to a nearby park to feast.- Nowhere encapsulates Paris' village atmosphere more than its street markets. Not simply places to shop, the markets are social gatherings for the entire neighbourhood, where residents toting quintessentially Parisian canvas shopping bags on wheels chat with stallholders and pick up culinary tips." --
- A fine finish to any day (Mon-Sat) spent meandering along the Seine is a stroll through the Marché aux Fleurs, place Louis-Lépine. You can buy rare flowers, the gems of the French Riviera -- bouquets that have inspired artists throughout the centuries." --
Rue Mouffetard
Marché Biologique
Marché Buci
Sightseeing
One of the top things to do in Paris is to sightsee, whether on your own or with a tour guide. And some of the most popular things to see include the Eiffel Tower, either from the top looking down or from the grass of the Parc du Champs de Mars and looking up; the Sacré-Coeur if you can make it up all of those steps; the Arc de Triomphe (the real one -- not the Las Vegas rip-off); the resplendent Versailles Palace; and the Notre Dame Cathedral, among many, many more famous attractions.You can also pay your respects to the famous residents of Paris' immaculate cemeteries: the Pere-Lachaise Cemetery (Cimetière du Père-Lachaise), located northwest of the city center and the burial place of Jim Morrison and Edith Piaf, and Montparnasse Cemetery (Cimetière du Montparnasse), located southeast of central Paris.
- While the Eiffel Tower is another no-brainer, it's best enjoyed from a distance: Instead of queuing up with the massive crowd waiting to ascend to the pinnacle, head for the steps fronting Montmartre's Sacré-Coeur basilica, and you'll be rewarded with amazing views that include the Eiffel Tower's elegant fretwork frame." --
- The 164-foot-tall Arc de Triomphe has served as the backdrop to official military parades since its completion in 1836. Use the underground passageway to reach the monument, where you can visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the arch or climb the stairs for amazing panoramic views of the city." --
Sacré-Coeur
Arc de Triomphe
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