Hi again

If this is your first trip to Paris, then I’d suggest one very touristy, but incredibly beautiful thing to do (that was already mentioned briefly above). Go on a bateau mouche cruise on the Seine on your first evening in town. The boats that go from Alma-Marceau have outdoor decks that afford better views (but dress warmly as the breeze on the river can be chilly). You get a capsule history of almost all the major monuments, dramatically lit at night. If you do this early in your trip, you can decide which sites to go back to for further exploration. It takes a little over an hour, costs only 9 euros, and is worth every centime.

Otherwise you can spend a lifetime exploring Paris. It depends on what you like: shopping, food, art, architecture, history, nightlife.

Of course, nightlife might be a probelm if you have to catch the last RER back to your hotel. There is a night bus, the N130, from Gare de Lyon that will get you home if you do miss the last train, but it might be easier to decide to stay out all night!

Hey! I highly, highly recommend visitng Montmarte. It is a little piece of the Paris that you always think of\see in pictures. I also personally preferred the top of the Arc de Triomph to the top of the Eiffel Tower because it is a much prettier view (Champs d’Eyleese and the Eiffel Tower in the background). I also do reccommend the Louvre but if you go mid week and get there fairly early I don’t think you should have any problem getting tickets, because I did not (especially if you are not there during prime tourist season). Also if you are staying for a few days, buy a metro pass instead of just purchasing tickets every time you need to go somewhere because it will definetly save you money (just be sure not to lose it because it is very small!!). Also, good side note that I did not find out about until after I had left, if you go to Notre Dame, you can climb stairs to the top provided its before a certain time in the afternoon. Hope that was helpful and have a wonderful time!

oh and p.s. eat lots of croissants, cheese, and WINE!

oh I forgot one more thing. I absolutely recommend Versailles (spelling?) as well. The palace is pretty impressive but the gardens are AMAZING! You have to take a major, regular train to get to it (its outside the main part of the city) but it is very easy and there are signs that point you the entire way there and back.

So much good advice. I’m a little surprised at all the advice to avoid the Louvre … however, if you don’t care about art, it’s probably good advice. That being said, if you do care about art; get a guide and have a look at what’s there. You might consider avoiding the enormous crowds around Mona and the other attractions and, instead, take in some of the rest of this fabulous place.

Temporary exhibitions now on include:

Gabriel de Saint-Aubin 1724–1780
A unique chronicler of bohemian Paris under the reign of Louis XV

Babylon
For the first time assembling works from all over the world, this exhibition seeks to reconcile Babylon’s history with its legend.

“Three Empires of Islam: Masterpieces of Ottoman, Safavid and Mughal Art from the Louvre Museum”

The permanent collection has: Near Eastern Antiquities Islamic Art
Paintings
Egyptian Antiquities Sculptures
Prints and Drawings
Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities

Pretty much something for anyone, I’d have thought.

Most of all; walk around … Paris is a city to love. Gaze at her, drink her in, walk around and revel at the contrasts … one moment brassy and loud, the next, prim and enclosed … but always magical.

And check out Versailles too! Palace of where King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette used to live! http://www.chateauversailles.fr/index.cfm?langue=en

Check out:
1) ANGELINA’S for the best hot chocolate in the world—it’s not your typical hot chocolate, it’s thicker (but so, so good).
2) WILLI’S WINE BAR—This is pretty close to the Louvre…ten minutes walk maybe. Expensive but good.
3) THE LATIN QUARTER—just a cool area, on the other side of the Seine from the Louvre.
and as many others have said, the Musee d’Orsay is AMAZING (mostly impressionist art). I liked it much better than the Louvre.
Have fun!

The Picasso Museum is not to be missed. It was not even on my original list when I decided to go to Paris, but it was the most memorable of all of the art museums we visited!

If you only have four days, I would suggest the following (I had one week and plan to use some of the above suggestions NEXT time): 1) Plan one art and museum day. Do see the Louvre (yes, for the Mona Lisa; even seeing the crowds in awe over her is an experience) and Orsay or Picasso. Sketch something there if you can, and don’t expect to see everything- information overload- go for a couple of hours. 2) Plan a food day- markets and Laduree or Pierre Herme for macarons. A cafe for people-watching. Steak-frites in a bistro. Bread at Eric Kayser. 3) A trip up the Eiffel Tower, crepes when you get down again, and walking to the Arc de Triomphe & Notre Dame. A boat ride on the Seine. 4) A shopping day and Pere Lachaise.
Make a note of everything, and keep the leftovers on your list for the next trip! Bon voyage.

unfortunately, i went to paris on a fixed tour. I guess we got the standard but high-end tour package as it was a corporate junket trip.

I did like the palace of versailles though. I wish I was able to try the underground club scene ..we stayed at a hotel in ‘place vendôme’ which was pretty nice..and walking distance to the jardin des tuileries and the famous Buddha Bar ..

hardly got to do anything that wasn’t on the itinerary and so I am hoping to return to Paris and have a real experience of this beautiful city.