Things to do in Paris?

broona

broona

broona

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Following on from my Dubai thread where we booked Paris and Gran Canaria instead - https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/any-opinions-on-dubai-please.19009815/

We'll be staying in the Montparnasse area, but we love a walk, can't beat seeing the less touristy areas that way.

Has anyone got any recommendations please? We're thinking usual touristy Eiffel Tower (I got half way up when I was 12 and they closed the top as it was too windy, been meaning to go back for 30yrs!), Montparnasse Tower, Seine cruise, Folies Bergère/Moulin Rouge, Arc De Triomphe, etc.

Unfortunately the catacombs will probably still be closed when we're there, but open to any options people recommend, thank you.
 
Louvre
Eiffel Tower (so you can say you went there)
Arc de Triomphe (so you can complain why you went there)
Leave

I've been to quite a few big cities in a few countries, from north america, south america and europe... Paris is the worst one for sure, even French people don't like people from Paris.
 
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I can't pick anywhere can I...

:D:p:D

Thanks for the replies, it's all booked and paid for, hopefully I can complete my childhood quest to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and all will be well in the world.

We always make the most of wherever we go, so I'm sure we'll make the most of Paris, even if nobody else likes it.

Dare I ask for any Montparnasse area restaurant recommendations? ;)
 
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Drangueos said:
Arc de Triomphe (so you can complain why you went there)
Leave
Click to expand...

We went to the Arc De Triomphe on our school visit, it was crazy busy then, and the traffic was insane, hate to think what it's like now, but we'll probably head there anyway.
 
The churches are worth it IMO, Sacre Coeur and the Notre Dame (though not sure what state the latter is in now).

I found the Ile De La Cite interesting in its own right.

Last time we were in the area we more or less skipped it and went to Versailles, which was everything I'd expected it to be and well worth a visit.

Can't remember much else of note unfortunately!
 
broona said:
I can't pick anywhere can I...

:D:p:D

Thanks for the replies, it's all booked and paid for, hopefully I can complete my childhood quest to climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and all will be well in the world.

We always make the most of wherever we go, so I'm sure we'll make the most of Paris, even if nobody else likes it.

Dare I ask for any Montparnasse area restaurant recommendations? ;)
Click to expand...
Did Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Arc de Triomphe, Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, Champs-Élysées, Palace of Versailles and few museums.

Yes Paris isn't as clean and nice as I expected, but worth a visit. We went around Christmas. Were some markets about also to see.

Around the Palace of Versailles is nicer, versus inner city.
 
Did Paris extremely fast in 2 days including proposing Infront of the Eiffel tower (building site) lol

I'm from London so I'm kinda over big cities being cool and exciting if I'm honest.
It's fine for a few days to see the cliché tourist traps, we got them all.
And a night time boat cruise, which was us and 498 other tourists mostly teenagers and annoying ******** from everywhere ( a lot like London)
The Louvre is cool .... But huge
Some opera themes shopping mall. Meh
Champs Elyse, meh it's Oxford Street...
Eiffel tower. Is cool.
Sacred heart church it's cool, you can pretend to be in John Wick.
L'Hospital of something, Napoleonic Era museum fascinating to me... Rabbits everywhere.
Moulin rouge.., meh
We walked a lot we saw a lot i can't remember where we had dinner it was nice enough. We had a great small hotel.

Its funny we were talking about going back but chose Poland instead.

It's incredibly convenient to go by Eurostar if you're traveling from London.....that's honestly one reason to go.

But ..... It's like any big European city, full of scum bags near anywhere of interest, keep your manbag close, and be prepared to tell a lot of Africans selling plastic Eiffel towers to f off.
 
Efour said:
Did Paris extremely fast in 2 days including proposing Infront of the Eiffel tower (building site) lol

I'm from London so I'm kinda over big cities being cool and exciting if I'm honest.
It's fine for a few days to see the cliché tourist traps, we got them all.
And a night time boat cruise, which was us and 498 other tourists mostly teenagers and annoying ******** from everywhere ( a lot like London)
The Louvre is cool .... But huge
Some opera themes shopping mall. Meh
Champs Elyse, meh it's Oxford Street...
Eiffel tower. Is cool.
Sacred heart church it's cool, you can pretend to be in John Wick.
L'Hospital of something, Napoleonic Era museum fascinating to me... Rabbits everywhere.
Moulin rouge.., meh
We walked a lot we saw a lot i can't remember where we had dinner it was nice enough. We had a great small hotel.

Its funny we were talking about going back but chose Poland instead.

It's incredibly convenient to go by Eurostar if you're traveling from London.....that's honestly one reason to go.

But ..... It's like any big European city, full of scum bags near anywhere of interest, keep your manbag close, and be prepared to tell a lot of Africans selling plastic Eiffel towers to f off.
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Nice write up, thank you!

We're fortunate enough not to live in a big city, just a small country town, so a few days in a big city is a break from normality for us.

Like all big cities, we'll be keeping everything locked down on our person, we did Madrid last year, and my son and I went to Berlin the year before, so we've hopefully got half an idea what to expect.

We've got 3 full days there, and as long as I get my 10k steps in, get to the top of the Eiffel Tower, eat some nice food, and drink some decent lager, I'll be happy. :)
 
Louvre
Eiffel Tower - we booked advance tickets in order to skip the queues.
Arc de Triomphe
Notre Dame
Champs-Élysées
Palace of Versailles

We ate here one night and had a great meal, but again this was several years ago now, https://auboncoin-bistrot.com/

1st visit was beautiful. 2nd visit was horrendous. Streets filled with immigrants/homeless, rubbish everywhere and so many thieves and scammers.

We also went on the Eurostar, if you're doing the same, take a bottle of Champers/Prosecco and some treats - make the Mrs feel special and a nice start to the trip :)
 
ivrytwr3 said:
Louvre
Eiffel Tower - we booked advance tickets in order to skip the queues.
Arc de Triomphe
Notre Dame
Champs-Élysées
Palace of Versailles

We ate here one night and had a great meal, but again this was several years ago now, https://auboncoin-bistrot.com/

1st visit was beautiful. 2nd visit was horrendous. Streets filled with immigrants/homeless, rubbish everywhere and so many thieves and scammers.

We also went on the Eurostar, if you're doing the same, take a bottle of Champers/Prosecco and some treats - make the Mrs feel special and a nice start to the trip :)
Click to expand...

Thank you, that restaurant looks lovely, and it's only a 30 minute walk from our hotel too.

We're flying in from Newcastle, I hadn't even thought of getting the train down and across, maybe next time, overpriced fizz on the plane it is then. :)
 
Just checked my emails, it was 2023 when we last visited Paris, so if you are thinking of auboncoin, please DYOR - it was great when we went, hopefully it's still the same, but you never know :)
 
broona said:
Following on from my Dubai thread where we booked Paris and Gran Canaria instead - https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/any-opinions-on-dubai-please.19009815/

We'll be staying in the Montparnasse area, but we love a walk, can't beat seeing the less touristy areas that way.

Has anyone got any recommendations please? We're thinking usual touristy Eiffel Tower (I got half way up when I was 12 and they closed the top as it was too windy, been meaning to go back for 30yrs!), Montparnasse Tower, Seine cruise, Folies Bergère/Moulin Rouge, Arc De Triomphe, etc.

Unfortunately the catacombs will probably still be closed when we're there, but open to any options people recommend, thank you.
Click to expand...
Taxis are expensive in Paris and the traffic is terrible so walking is a good idea.

The Paris Metro is old but does the job, reasonably priced and you can load a travelcard onto your phone.

Take the RER from the airport to Montparnasse - should only take around an hour and will be significantly cheaper than a taxi.

A walk along the river is a good way to spend some time, you never know what you might see of interest.

A walk up the Champs-Élysées to Arc de Triomphe from the Louvre, walk round to Eiffel Tower from there.

It's not a massive city centre area - all of the major attractions are well within walking distance.
 
I went to Paris two weeks before the Olympic Games - bad idea but we did do the Eiffel Tower and Seine Cruise.
Everywhere was cordoned off with fences.
If you want to go to The Louvre book the tickets before you go.

You're not that far from the Palace of Versaille so see if you can get a trip there from Paris - that was well worth the money.
 
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