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Welcome to
Paris!
From the Eiffel
Tower to lights along the Siene, Paris shines day and night.
In the City of Love, there is a lot
to love.
Paris is romantic, sophisticated but also simple, modern and at the
same time historic. At night, with the lights from landmarks shimmering
off the Seine, it glitters like a classic chandelier, as alluring as
a dazzling French julie femme.
With massive museums, famous landmarks, cafes on every corner, fun
bars and one of the world's most beautiful rivers at night, Paris is
a prime tourist destination.
This site has all types of information on Paris, starting with getting
to know the city, using the Metro, walking in Paris, top sightseeing
attractions, the experience of dining in Paris and its best bars, clubs
and nightlife.
Arrival & Orientation, Transportation and The
Metro
Even Being Lost in Paris is a Pleasure
The fountain at
St. Michel is a central gathering place.
Paris has two airports. Orly and the
disappointing Charles de Gaulle. We say disappointing because deGaulle
was perhaps the greatest leader in French history yet the airport that
bears his name is old, narrow and short on facilities. Many travelers
have missed flights attempting to get from one gate or terminal to another,
as this requires exiting the airport and re-entering through security.
Fortunately, escape to the city is easier to navigate, via the Metro
(8 Euros, about 40 minutes to the central de Halle station; it's called
the RER which means the suburban express), or Air France Bus (13, check
for dropoff locations) or taxi (about 40 Euros). From Orly, the Air
France bus takes about 25 minutes; there is no Metro but a RER bus trip
is about 45 minutes.
Six train stations serve Paris. They have tourists offices,
cafes and all connect to the Metro.
 Upon
arriving in Paris the first order of business is to obtain a map.
Any hotel has them, and there are even maps posted on large billboards
at key areas in the city. One thing the maps do not mark are the neighborhoods,
so one could wander into, say, The Latin Quarter, without realizing
it for a while. For orientation purposes, the Seine is an idea landmark;
it basically cuts the city in half. It's many bridges encourage crossings,
so it's a constant reminder of location. The signs and maps throughout
the city are a nice touch but the weakness is that while they may points
to a particular area, there are no follow-up signs letting tourists
know when they actually arriv. But remember, even being lost in Paris
is a pleasure.
The Latin Quarter, Rue St-Germain and many of the "typical Parisian"
cafes are located on what is called the Left Bank. The Right
Bank is more commercial with shopping (just walk down Rue de Rivoli
as proof) as well as the Louvre and Champs-Elysées. If there
is any such thing as a "main intersection" in Paris, it's
at of Rue St. Micelle and St-Germain. The fountain park and Metro stop
at St. Michel at the entrance to The Latin Quarter is a central gathering
place and Notre-Dame is just across the Seine. Backpackers and a similar
crowd gather on the Right Bank at the Place Beaubourg. It's
on Rue Burger; the main cross-street is blvd. de Sebastopol.
The hideous Centre Pompidou is here.
St. Michel, here
where it crosses the Siene, is one of Paris' major thoroughfares.
Paris has one of the world's best public transportation systems, The
Metro. It goes everywhere one would need go to in town and is easy
to use. The Metro operates from 5:30 a.m.-1 a.m. Tickets are valid for
up to two hours after departing a station. Daily and weekly passes are
available.
 Taxis
are plentiful, though it's often best to grab one at a taxi stand.
There is a small additional charge after 5 p.m. The drivers are generally
trustworthy, but have at least a knowledge of where you are going; occasionally,
drivers like to go in circles to run up the fare.
Best of all, Paris is a great walking city. There are so many
interesting streets, sites and areas to explore; one could easily head
out intending to spend a couple of hours and wind up being gone all
day. Cafes are everywhere and there are several parks and benches, so
pauses are plentiful. Just be sure and take along bottled water,
especially in warm months.
At night, starting at about dusk, the strolling is at its most spectacular.
Parisians come out for casual walks and barges crawl down the Seine.
It's peaceful, romantic and leaves no doubt that one is indeed in Paris.
It must be noted, though, that while many of the landmarks may appear
to be close, indeed they are not. For more on walking in Paris,
read our columnist's first-person guide to the city.
Accommodations & Where to Stay
Rooms Can Be Found Any Time of the Year
Because Paris is such a great walking
city, PubClub recommends staying as close to the attractions travelers
find most attractive. For us, that's in the Latin Quarter/St.-Germain
or Bastille areas. The former is centrally located to cafes, sites,
the Seine and close enough to walk to Bastille (or a 5 Euro cab ride).Price
ranges are 70-200 Euros a night. More budget-minded travelers should
try the other side of the Siene, off Rue de Rivoli.
For those who arrive in Paris without reservations, don't sweat it.
It may take a bit of investigating, but rooms can be found at any time
of year in all price ranges. The Office de Tourisme de Paris is
at 127 Champs-Elysées, open 9 a.m.-8 p.m., with satellite offices
at the Eiffel Tower (May-Sept.) and in the train stations.
The Sites: Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees,
Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, The Louvre
No trip to Pairs would be worth the journey
without seeing the Eiffel Tower. But it's hardly the only landmark in
the city. It would be equally foolish not to step inside Notre-Dame,
walk down Champs-Elysees, see the Arc de Troumphe and at least look
at the Louvre (seeing the Louvre and actually going inside are two different
things; it's usually impossibly crowded)
 .
ARC DE TRIOMPHE – Commissioned by Napoleon to celebrate
French victories in battle, it proudly stands at the end of the Champs-Elysées.
It is in the middle of a roundabout where 13 roads come together! Getting
to the actual structure requires navigating a series of crosswalks to
an underground tunnel. Climb to the top for a great view of the city
(it's 8 Euros to visit to the structure); there is also an excellent
WWII museum to explore. The Germans, in what has to be one of the darkest
moments in French history, marched by the Arc de Triomphe after taking
the city in 1940. Four years later, the German commander thankfully
ignored Hitler's order to level Paris prior to the allies' liberation.
On 14 July – the French National Day, which is called Bastille
Day everywhere except in France – a military parade down the Champs-Elysées
begins here. Metro Stop: Charles de Gaull- Etoile.
Down Champs-Elysees,
Paris' most famous street.
AVENUE DES CHAMPS-ELYSEES – The world's most exclusive
shopping street, this massive (multi-lane) road is lined with luxury
shops, as well as cafes and cinemas. It's not as polished as one might
think – for starters, too many Parisians are grabbing quick lunches
at fast-food burger joints rather than at the low-paced cafes –
but it's worth a look. A grand tree-lined park is on one end, the Jardins
des Champs-Elysées.
Seen from the city and at any angle, the Eiffel Tower towers above Paris.
EIFFEL TOWER – The symbol of Paris, this 276-meter metal
structure towers above the Siene and offers the best views of the city.
More than six million people visit annually and in the summer, it seems
as if they are all in line in front of you waiting to ride the elevators
to the top (10.70 Euros to the summit, 7.50 to the second level and
4.10 to the first level). An alternative is to climb the stairs (3.80
and lines are considerably shorter), or walk to the second level and
take the elevator from that point. The best time to go is an hour before
sunset. There is an excellent restaurant mid-level. In addition to the
tower itself, there is a large park for reading and relaxing. While
swarming with tourists, it thankfully is not overwhelmed by tacky souvenir
stands. Metro Stop: Bir-Hakaem.
The massive Louvre
has impressive art, such as paintings by Ruben.
THE MUSEE DU LOUVRE – The largest, oldest and most visited
museum in the world, The Louvre has art and artifacts from eras and
cultures throughout mankind. It's huge, so grab a visitor's guide
in the bookstore and have at it. Among its collections are the Mona
Lisa. The Louvre is more popular even than the Eiffel Tower, so lines
to get inside can be almost as enormous as the museum itself (8.50 Euros).
Visiting the Louvre is an all-day adventure.
The cutoff point for the Louvre's collections is 1848; the Musee
d' Orsay has art between 1848-1903 and the Pompidou has art
starting in 1904. As relief after walking through its massive interior,
the Tuileries and Carrousel gardens provides a spacious area for relaxing
in the park or by two ponds. Metro Stop: Palais-Royal-Musée du Louvre
station.
Outside and in, Notre-Dame is an impressive cathedral.
CATHEDRALE NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS – A captivating cathedral,
Notre-Dame sits in the center of the Siene and is one of Paris' most
spectacular structures. .Built between 1163 and 1361, it features rose
windows with the Infant Jesus in the arms of Mother Mary and the Last
Judgment plus plenty of pews for individual prayer and meditation. .It
is open every day from 9:15 a.m.,-6 p.m. (free) and at night, its courtyard
is a gathering place for hundreds. Free organ recitals are held every
Sunday at 4:30 p.m. Notre-Dame is the top tourist site in Paris with
10 million visits annually. Metro Stop: Notre-Dame.
By day and particulary by night, the Seine presents true Paris.
THE SEINE – Nothing says "Paris" as much as a
stroll along the Seine, the river cutting through the heart of the city.
Whether seen from the side Quays, along its banks, on steps leading
down to the banks, along one of the many bridges, or even on the river
itself, the Seine is Paris' calming force. The views, particularly at
night with the lights shining from the buildings and barges, cause people
to pause to literally reflect on the day behind them and the night ahead.
It is this unhurried attitude in an otherwise hurried city that slows
down the Paris experience, putting it all into perspective. Pont
Nuef is the oldest bridge in Paris, dating to 1607.
Dining in Paris
Regardless of the waiter's pace, they all say, "Bon Appetite"
Despite their reputation
to the contrary, Paris waiters are friendly.
Dining in Paris is a lot like being on
a sailboat: Getting there is half the fun.
There are so many excellent restaurants, brassieres and cafes in Paris,
it's difficult to pinpoint which specific ones to choose. So enjoy the
experience. Stroll around to find a restaurant. Read the menus. See
where others are dining and what they are eating (many tables are on
a patio or directly on the sidewalk).
Where to look? Start the stroll down St. Michel. Turn down St.-Germain;
it's practically one cafe after another.
Just about any choice will prove to be satisfactory. The food is outstanding,
the wine excellent and the waiters are not rude. Some do, however, move
at the speed of a Metro train, racing from table to table as if their
car is about to get towed. Regardless of the waiter's pace, they all
say, "Bon Appetite" with each dish they deliver. It's a very
nice touch.
For lunch, we recommend Cafe Panis (21 Quai Montebello) with
a view of Notre-Dame out the door and the open-air windows. The Toasted
Country Sandwich has ham, frommage and goat cheese for 7 Euros. Soups,
sandwiches and entrees are also on the menu.
Dinner time is anytime, but cafes are most crowded from 10-midnight.
Despite the pace of some of the waiters, the pace of the diners is slow.
Eating out in Paris is an experience, a destination in itself. Most
places take credit cards, but tips are in cash.
In addition to the restaurants, there are many local shops selling
pastries, sandwiches, frommage and other satisfying choices, which provide
a perfect picnic in a park or along the Seine.
Paris Fast Facts
More Info to Know Before You Go
At the Paris Opera
House.
Here's are some other interesting facts
and information about Paris:
CITY OF LIGHTS – Paris has earned this moniker because
many of its structures light up at night. This includes the Eiffel Tower
and all 36 bridges across the Seine.
HOTEL DE VILLE – Signs point to this landmark, which is
where City Hall office are located. It's a large, beautiful building
with a big courtyard.
TIPPING – Is is common to leave about a 10% tip on meals.
Bar tipping, while certainly not discouraged, is less common.
TOURS – Red and yellow double-decker buses, and even barges,
offer on/off tours of Paris' major sites. They provide an efficient
way to visit the main areas, which you can later explore in more detail
on your own. Plus, you can enjoy a ride around the city to establish
bearings and landmarks.
WEATHER – Paris reaches a peak temperature of 25C
in July; it can be humid, though this isn't the tropics. In May, the
average is 19C, and stays warm thru October, which has an average daytime
temperature of 16C (9.5 at night). The coldest month is January (7C
and 2.6 at night).
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