Facts | Places of Interest | Eating Out | Bars/Nightclubs | Your Comments

 

 

Paris is the capital of France and many believe to be the most romantic city in the world. Experience the charm of this place and it wont be long before you agree. Visit the Louvre, enjoy and become immersed in its fantastic paintings and statues. Take a photo of the Mona Lisa, stand next to a life size Venus then relax on the outdoor terrace with a coffee. Paris is very expensive, but there are many bargains to be had. Take your time browsing through the little boutiques and flea markets and you’ll be sure to find that perfect gift to suit every pocket.

 

A short stroll away is the Champs Elysees with many shops and cafes to explore. And of course the Effiel Tower is stunning to see especially at night when it lights up, eveything is within walking distance to each other,so make sure you have really comfy shoes on, and there are street stalls every 10 mins that sell cool water. Walking around Paris is is the best way to feel the energy of the city and also to find yourself a unique souvioneer as the streets and parks are full of local artists who will dazzle you with their crafts for a couple of euros.

 

Are Parisians rude? There’s no doubt that they can be a little frosty, particularly around major tourist sights. It is interesting to note that to many Parisians, particularly shopkeepers, it is the tourists who are rude. When sloppily dressed foreigners barge into their carefully tended stores and begin to snoop around and demand things without even offering a simple “bonjour” to the management, this gets their hackles up. You would be amazed what a polite “bonjour, madame” will do to that crabby woman behind the croissant counter. If you throw in a respectful “merci” and “bonne journée” at the end of your transaction, she just might get downright, well, friendly!

 

The weather in Paris is famously unpredictable, so it's always a good idea to carry an umbrella most of the time during your visits. Summer can be mild or extreme, depending on the year and your luck, and it's jammed packed with lots of tourists. Many Parisians, especially in August, head for the coast or the mountains. Cultural life dwindles, and many restaurants, cafes, and shops close for up to a month—what the French call the fermeture annuelle (annual closing). But it’s a wonderful time to visit! The long hours of daylight give you more time to explore the city.

 

Are you living or been on layover in Paris? Please share information about what2do. You can recommend places of interest, restaurants, clubs and much more we will do the rest.

 

 

Many of the most impressive sights in Paris are free: the majestic sweep of the Champs-Elysées, the quiet grandeur of the place des Vosges, or the leisurely charm of the Jardin du Luxembourg. The city’s magnificent churches are all free; it won’t cost anything to spend an hour beneath the vaulted arches of Notre-Dame. Paris hasdozens of affordable museums, from the mighty Louvre to the tiny doll museum, Musée de la Poupée. If you want to see the best view of Paris then head up the 130 metres high Montmartre hill, excellent for the romantics.

 

Note: Most museums close on Mon or Tues, and admission is discounted 1 day of each week or free on the first Sun of every month.

 

Louvre: The most visited and famous museum in the world. The structure is located on the Right Bank between the Seine River and the Rue de Rivoli.

 

Rue de Rivoli; Métro: Palais Royal; tel. +33 (0) 1 40 20 50 50

Avoid the long lines around the I.M. Pei Pyramid: there are three other entrances; buy tickets in advance at FNAC or Virgin Megastore. Select a few rooms in a particular collection for your first visit—it would take months to see everything.

 

 

 

Musée d'Orsay: Museum housed in a grand railway station built in 1900. Home to many sculptures and impressionist paintings, it has become one of Paris's most popular museums. See spectacular collection of Van Goghs and much more.

 

62 Rue de Lille; Métro: Assemblée Nationale; tel. +33 (0) 1 40 49 48 14

 

 

Moulin Rouge!! This is fantastic, a little pricey.. but TOTALLY worth it!! It is a once in a lifetime experience. Booking a table is essential, you can either go for dinner and a show or the show only. Id recommened dinner and show, its really delicious and you get the full experience. Make sure you dress nicely ladies a cocktail dress and heels, guys no jeans please. Arrive early because it gets full quickly, then sit down at your beautifully lit table, sip champagne (its included in price of ticket) and enjoy a fabulous night!

 

Shows including a half bottle of champagne at 9 p.m. ($134) and 11 p.m. ($120); dinner available.

 

82 Boulevard de Clichy; Métro: Blanche; tel. +33 (0) 1 53 09 82 82.

 

 

 

Eiffle Tower: Paris's signature landmark. At night, the tower becomes a beautifully illuminated sculpture so please take lots of photo's and (share them with us).

Take the Métro to the Trocadéro station and walk from the Palais de Chaillot to the Seine.
tel. +33 (0) 1 44 11 23 23.

Go at night to avoid the crowds (open until 11:45 p.m., 12:45 a.m. in summer) The gold lighting highlights the lacy delicacy of the steelwork in a way that daylight doesn’t. Head to Ecole Militaire for a more tranquil view.

 

 

 

Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame de Paris is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture. Napoléon crowned himself emperor here, then crowned his wife Joséphine empress.

 

The art of Notre-Dame continues to awe 12 million yearly visitors. It’s one of the top three most visited sights in all of France.

" Did you know that Notre Dame translates as "Our Lady" from French".

 

 

Arc de Triomphe

"Did you know that beneath the arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, An inscription reads:
ICI REPOSE UN SOLDAT FRANÇAIS MORT POUR LA PATRIE, 1914–1918. (“Here rests a French soldier who died for his country”). Although it has come to symbolize France and her greatness, it has also witnessed some defeats, as in 1940, when German armies marched through the arch and down the Champs-Elysées.

Pl. Charles-de-Gaulle, 8e.Tel:01-55-37-73-77

 

 

While out eating out in Paris a 15% service charge is included in your bill and it’s very common to leave a tip of 4% to 7% in cash. Note that credit card slips in France do not have an area to add a tip so you must havecash with you. If service is exceptionally unpleasant, however, Parisians don’t leave a tip, and you might want to do the same.

 

Local beers are least expensive: 1664 and Kronenbourg are the most popular. European beers such as Heineken and Amstel are a bit more expensive, but widely available.

 

Several budget restaurants near the Champs-Elysées where you can have lunch.

 

There is a gorgeous organic vegetarian restaurant we found in Paris called - Le Grenier de Notre Dame

 

http://www.legrenierdenotredame.net Address: 18 rue de la Bucherie


Even the litre red wine we had was organic, healthy food, friendly service in a chilled atmosphere with old french music playing in the background - stunning!!!
I'm a lover of kitsch things (like fake vegetables, mosaic mirrors, multi-coloured walls and wall paintings, people with weird clothing, hair styles and personalities) and I absolutely fell in love with this place

Otherwise, ignore it all and just enjoy the wholesome food:) posted by Alta

 

 

At clubs you can save money by sitting at the bar instead of at a table. Some clubs are cheaper than
others, and some are cheaper during the week. Avoid weekends if you want to save money. Relaxed bar-cafes, high-tech dance clubs, and mellow jazz haunts fit your mood like a well-worn glove, promising good times in any format. Cabaret venues deliver a dose of vibrant entertainment, and pubs prove to be more than just the domain of the British Isles. Progressive Paris also promises a wealth of night time opportunities for gay men and women, mostly in the Marais neighborhood. Trend-setting is a regular pastime for young club-goers along rue Oberkampf, and the Bastille area courts folks intent on an evening of fun. If money’s not an issue, the Champs-Elysées features plenty of high-priced places and attracts lots of tourists. Buddha Bar, with its signature Asian icon, is great for people-watching, and La Flèche d'Or boasts terrific live music and alternative ambience. If you simply want to dance, Paris’s top choice is Queen, nominally a gay venue but one of the city’s best (and most packed) places to groove and be beautiful, no matter your inclinations.

 

Bamboo Bar, Bar des Ferailleurs, Bar du Crillon, Bar Fontainebleau, Bar Ourcq, Bar Rosso, Bound Bar, Buddha Bar, Cafe de Paris, Café Beaubourg
De La Ville Café, Experimental Cocktail Club, Fu Bar, George V Hotel Bar,
Harry's Bar, Hotel Costes, Hotel de Paris, Hotel Lancaster, Hotel Raphael Bar, Ice Kube Bar, Impala Louge, Jaipur, Kong, L'Etoile, La Chinoiserie
La Perle, Le Bar 30, Le Bar de L'Hotel, Le Bar Dix, Le Cabaret, Le Coeur Fou, Le Dokhan's, Le Fumoir, Le Mange-Disque, Le Plaza Athénée,
Le Trésor, Mezzanine Bar at Alcazar, Murano Urban Resort, Nirvana Lounge, Pershing Hall Lounge Bar, Queen, Senso, Sir Winston, SoMo
The Barrio Latino, Bastille, The Hemingway Bar, The Lizard Lounge,
Zebra Square............ Tell us about these bars or any others