I got a suitcase,
and when I opened it it was filled with, Evian water (and a few other trinkets from french companies), French/English dictionary, Paris travel books and a few other goodies... Including plane tickets!!!
Yes, he did very very good!! (and I told him I'd give him a little "shout out" here... he was pretty pleased with himself for thinking the whole thing up!)
SOOO... This brings me to where I need YOUR help! The trip is fast approaching, and I've NEVER been to Paris we are going next month for just 3 DAYS! I've been reading LOTS of travel books and am honestly just getting MORE confused about what to do and where to go. I'm just totally overwhelmed with information.
Normally when I travel I just like to "go with the flow", but with only 3 days there I can't afford to walk around doing the whole, "what do you want to do?", "I don't know what do you want to do?"....
So, If you have been there, (or live there even)...
*What were your TOP 3 things to do?: (aside from the Lourve, and Muse D'Orsay, those are MUST for me)
*Also, I LOVE good food.... we are not looking at going to super fancy places, but how do you know if it's a good place? Any hints, tips etc...
*AND, I'd LOVE to find some great fabric stores, sewing notions, ribbons etc... Anyone know any good places? Which flea market is your favorite???
Thanks in advance!
43 people said...:
Wow what a great Hubby you have!!! I've always wanted to go to Paris!! Someday......
I have no tips sorry, I have only been to Mexico. I should ask my friend who used to live in Paris if she has any tips on what to do in 3 days..
Have a great time!!!
Climbing the Eiffel tower and touring Notre Dame were musts for me and they were very worth it! Hope you have lots and lots of fun!
Not to overwhelm you - but check out ParisDailyPhoto blog. If you look through the archives you may find some hints. Paris is broken up into something like 15 'districts' and each of his pics have a tag from what area they are in. Having said that...CHEESE and BREAD are a must. But of course you knew that :) Cookie had a good article on Paris a yr a so ago - it is on their website still. It may help. oh and Notre Dame. The Front is only HALF of the story on the beautiful building. Enjoy, savor it all!
oh and check out what Rebecca did in Paris at www.dontcallmebecky.com it is in her travel tag.
I went to Italy and France in 2006 with my husband. We were only in Paris a few days, also. We went to the Lourve (on a free day, how fantastic!) and Muse D'Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame. There is shopping (I don't know about fabric, but I got some nice clothes). We started at the Arch de Trimph and walked along Champs-Elyses and there were lots of shops. Also, we went to the Sacre Coeur. It is on a hill and beautiful and overlooks the city. But my absolute favorite place was Giverny. This is a little outside of Paris. We had a rental car, so we could go see it. Anyway, it is Monet's gardens. I don't know how it will be when you are there, though. I went in the summer and the flowers and ponds were amazing. I have some great pictures from there.
For food, I loved the kebabs. You should try them. And, there are lots of good cheeses and breads.
You will have a blast!
And, I love your blog! Thanks for posting such great ideas!
It's been quite a few years since I've been to Paris but when we were there we had a wonderful time. The thing I remember most was how much walking we did. We walked everywhere and as we went we would give restaurants the sniff test. We were always sniffing and looking for where to have dinner that night. It worked perfectly, we had the most wonderful meals by just following our noses. None of them were expensive but always enjoyable. Have a great trip. I can't wait to read about it on your Blog.
OK, you know I have no travel advice for you, because all I ever do is go to California and Myrtle Beach...but I have to say...Have an awesome time! Your husband really did well! I'm going to have to hint, hint that one to a certain husband of mine..
How exciting! I like to read a blog written by a woman that has lived there 3 times. Her husband works at BYU I think and he takes some of his students there. The site it http://mtolivier.blogspot.com/, check it out. I think you will like some of the things she blogged about while there.
I went to Paris a year ago (has it really been that long?) and LOVED it! I would say to make sure and spend some time just relaxing and walking around. I loved walking along the Seine, especially at night, holding hands with my hubby. The Eiffel Tower at night is also a must. We went just prior to it getting dark so we could get views from the top, watch the sunset, and see the views in the dark too. It was fabulous! We love to read Rick Steves and followed some of his advice about walking around town and through the Louvre. The Louvre is ridiculously huge and there's SO much to see. My feet were killing me after only going through a little bit.
The Paris Metro is a great system and can get you nearly anywhere. I highly recommend utilizing it (for when you aren't strolling hand in hand :). I feel like I've typed too much already, but if you'd like to know about a great bakery and some places to get gelato, email me. (I'm totally jealous that you're going, by the way. I want to go back right now!)
I follow your blog and love all your ideas. This is the first time I have posted, and that's because Paris is my most favorite places I have ever visited. Seriously, you will love it. You have received some great advice here. Eiffel Tower is an absolute must and walking along Champs-Elyses is so much fun! But if you love history, then you totally have to visit Versailles. It is so amazing. I LOVED it there. I went in the summer, so the gardens were fantastic. I hope you have so much fun on your trip. Please post pictures when you get back!
This is a little out there but my husband and i went last year to London, Italy and Paris. We only had a couple of days in Paris and we did a biking tour in Versailles and around the Chateau, etc. It was chilly in March, so be prepared, but the tour guide was awesome and it was BY FAR the BEST thing we did on the entire trip! So romantic, and a nice alternative to walking!
I'm jealous. Paris is my favorite city in the world. If you're looking for some fabric, I'd recommend the area around Sacre Coeur called Montmartre area. There are a ton of fabric stores in that area. I found most to be more clothing style fabrics since it is all about fashion in Paris, but I bet you can find some great stuff. I wish I was into quilting when I went there, but sadly, I wasn't.
I would also consider Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle a must do. Go to Sainte Chapelle on a sunny day. It has the most amazing stained glass you've ever seen. I'd give yourself an hour to an hour and a half for each.
You didn't mention Le Centre Pompidou. It's funky and has some great art. You could do this in 2 hours.
As for food, If you want to see some of the city you could do a dinner cruise down the Seine. I did this and loved it. We didn't use the Bateaux Mouche, which is the most famous. It's been 8 years since I've been, so I don't remember the name of the company we used, but this was very nice. In my two trips to Paris, totaling 12 days there, I never had a bad meal. Say away from the places near the big tourist places like the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre and you'll be fine. Explore down some side streets to find some great local restaurants. That's where you'll find the best food.
The only other thing I would add is the Paris Opera House. If you happen to be around the area just pop your head in, it's stunning. I'm so jealous. The city was made for you. I hope you have a wonderful time.
I'm so excited for you! I love Paris so much! If you love little boutiques, the Saint Germain des Pres area (just across the Seine from the Louvre, Tuileries, etc.) is the place to go. That neighborhood is also the birthplace of the "cafe culture," so there are lots of lovely little cafes (Les Deux Magots is a popular one). For food, less expensive is better --you will never eat better sandwiches or steak frites than in Paris. Avoid the touristy restaurants because the food is subpar. Pick one part of the Louvre you MUST see or just certain pieces and plan your route in advance so you don't spend hours in there without seeing any of the stuff you wanted to see. I second the recommendation of the Centre Pompidou if you like post-modern art. Notre Dame is so beautiful and worth the visit if only to walk over the bridge and back. Definitely take an afternoon to visit Sacre Coeur/Montmartre area and climb the stairs at Sacre Coeur for amazing views of the city. The young people in Paris are so friendly and helpful and will surely give you insider recommendations for food, shopping, etc. Have a wonderful time!!!!
Some tips from when my husband and I went almost 2 yrs ago. 1st the subway. In Europe the credit cards are different the swipe strip is on the short end of the card so make sure you have some Euros before hand to buy tickets or go to a larger station first where there is a ticket window to get tickets.
2nd if you decide to go to th Louve you should go first or alot plenty of time to be there. When we went we rushed through b/c we went a little later in the afternoon.
Other than that have a wonderful time!!
You lucky girl! my hubby and I were there for 3 days in November about 5 years ago now. I would say the best thing we did was hit the Louvre on the day that it had extended evening hours. We were able to see all the major highlights. Surprisingly, the Eiffel tower was a disappointment for us both (too many ugly american attitudes) but the Arc de Triumph and Notre Dame were simply divine. I would also HIGHLY recommend seeing Sainte Chapelle. Even standing there it was hard to believe how beautiful it was.
As far as food goes, we popped into the neighborhood bistro wherever we were and we were NEVER disappointed in the food. That's really saying something as my hubby is a big foodie. I really don't think you can go wrong.
Have so much fun! You can see so much more than you think in 3 days. And the French have this delightful habit of staying out late and not opening their shops too early in the morning. We were still able to stay fairly rested.
(I have to say, I'm a little jealous!) Bon Voyage!
Ask the Parisians for advice on where to eat while you are there. They are total food snobs and give great advice. Just know that the service is usually slow.
Versailles is awesome and you can get there on the train. When we asked for train tickets to Versailles, they sold us tickets to the castle too. They are a little more expensive, but they let you skip the long lines - not only for tickets but also for the castle. They also came with a ticket to the beautiful gardens and the Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette's little house and an audio tour kit.
I also recommend Rick Steves travel guide.
You MUST visit La Fromagerie 31 (64 Rue de Seine
75006 Paris, France 01 43 26 50 31). It's a great place for lunch. The walk down the block and visit the absolutely delicious Pierre Marcolini chocolate shop. Yum... Also, stop by any Laudree, or any patisserie for that matter, and buy yourself some macaroons. You'll thank yourself later.
we only had a short time there as well and I still made Versailles a must see. We went first thing in the morning on the train and it was perfect. afterwards I went to the Musee Dorsey while my hubby went to the room to nap. Don't miss out on Notre Dame either!
Melissa, I am so excited for you! And what a great husband you have. (My husband had a horrible layover at the Charles deGaulle airport on the way home from his mission and has hated Paris ever since. I keep trying to convince him the airport is NOT Paris!)
Anyway, GREAT advice on here already. Paris is relatively compact and you can get to a lot within a few days. I, too, would suggest a day trip to Versailles if you can. Absolutely amazing! Also a lesser-known museum in Paris called the Orangerie has Monet's giant water-lily murals. Beautiful.
There is a great pass (carte) that you can buy that will get you into lots of the museums and monuments (Versailles included) at the front of line for a flat price. Here's a link: http://www.parismuseumpass.com/en/pass_tarif.php
Worth EVERY penny. I did things that I normally wouldn't have paid extra for like climbing to the top of Notre Dame and the Arc d'Triomphe, or Saint Chappelle.
Also, check stephmodo.com. Stephanie lived in France last summer and found lots of great flea markets and brought home lots of amazing ribbons and trims. She's really nice - I'm sure you could email her with questions.
Have fun! Can't wait to live vicariously through you!
oh my! ok..I'm so excited for you! My husband and I went for 2 days! We actually did alot with a little time! We flew from England to Paris...just with back packs. We did buy a bus tour...to get around. you can get off and on whenever you want. My must's were the Eiffel Tower. It's worth the wait to go up. I had to see the Mona Lisa. We went down the champs elysees and ate. Probably one of my favorite things was that we stayed in a place in the 13th arrondisement. And we ate in a local restaurant where everyone was speaking french! no one spoke english. It was just the little bit of french immersion i was looking for. if we'd had the time, I would have driven the country roads in the south of france. i bought a scarf as a souvenir...because every single french woman had one! i'm still learning how to tie mine! oh, i'm just going to live vicariously thru you. oh, i also wanted to sit at an outside cafe, drink a cafe au lait and eat a croissant...which we did! We walked an outside market also. you will have a blast and i can't wait to hear all about it!
(1) Sacre Coeur
(2) Cruise on the Seine
(3) Notre Dame
If you are doing any day trips, consider Versailles, Champagne, Mt St Michel.
I would suggest you take a slow, leisurely walk around the neighbourhood where you are staying. Have a look at what restaraunts, shops and cafes are packed with locals. But baguettes and pastries at your local patisserie, buy fresh ham and cheese at a local 'super' and have your own picnic on the Seine. Just a few ideas! Hope that helps a little!
The metro is the best, I loved the Palace at Versailles-a must! Also if you get a chance to shop-my favorite is Etam (got the best hoodie there) and Promod. Not too expensive but nice clothes. My all time favorite thing to do was to go to the Eiffle Tower at night-so beautiful and it twinkles every hour on the hour.
I wish I had advice! I'm just jealous! :)
AH, I am SO jealous! I love Paris. I would highly recommend Versailles. It was definitely one of the highlights of my trip. I also really liked the Arc de Triomphe because you could climb up to the top (prepare yourself for STAIRS galore!!) and see all of Paris...absolutely breathtaking. Plus it is funny to see the CHAOS of the 12 lane roundabout below it. The Louvre is great and Musee d'Orsay. Sacre Coeur, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame are of course must sees. We also took a tour boat down the Seine. SO amazing!!
My only advice is to eat at a pastry shop every morning for breakfast. They have a crossiant with a chocolate strip in the middle that I still dream about and crave. Have a wonderful time!!!
well done you! We have been to Paris several times, and there is always more to see, so depends on how long you are there
1. The Eiffel Tower is a must see and climb (yes climb)during the daytime - the views are fantastic!! At the bottom of the Eiffel Tower and under the Bridge is a carnival type area, we went there one night (again worth it to see the tower all lit up - and fun strolling and eating down here - extremely casual)
2. Walk along the East of the Seine to Notre Dame, lots of vendor stalls - and very close by (on the west) to Notre Dame is a wonderful quilt shop - Le Rouvray (http://www.lerouvray.com/ - visit her blog for a map) simply a must see.. and while you are here visit the Concierge (Marie Antoinette's prison and an old palace), same side as quilt shop but further down - we walked past it several times looking for it before we realised where it was! - it is part of a larger complex known as Palais de Justice which is still used today for judicial purposes, and yes St Chappelle is well worth the visit too.
3. Sacre Couer in Montemarte - the views are spectacular, and the are a lot of eclectic shops nearby, and of course the Moulin Rouge - which you at least need to see even if you don't do the show which is very expensive but one of the check of the list thingees, have lunch or coffee at le chat noir - or a beer/wine - again eclectic (we stumbled across this by pure chance but definitely worth the stop)
4. Walk from the Arc de Triumph along the Champs Elysee, and into the Tuilleries (close by the gates is a lovely Monet museum/art gallery, and of course this leads into the grounds of the Louvre - allow a whole day tho.There is a lovely cafe on the RHS as you walk from the Arc de Triumph, maybe about halfway, where they wear sailor stripey blue and white tops, and little hats - very good coffee and food, sit on the pavement and watch all walk by - fun!! And walking this way at night is wonderful too to catch all the lights.
5. 1st Sunday of each month all the museums are free, but don't expect to do more then 3, and then they need to be in the same vicinity as the queues are long.
6. if you go to the Louvre, take the underground straight into the Louvre station, it takes you right to the ticket machines and you get in much much quicker then standing in the queues up top. Go early in the morning, 'cos you could spend a whole day here.
7. If you have time, take the train to Versailles, Marie Antoinette's summer palace - again allow a whole day
8. a night time dinner river cruise was delightful
Best of all, ENJOY -it is so so much fun! and a very wonderful city.
I look forward to seeing all about your trip on your blog when you get back!!
p.s. just another thought, buy a metro (underground) pass (you can get 1 day, 2 day, 1 week etc - well worth it) we never had any trouble with credit cards at all (we were last there New Years 2008/09), even the stalls accepted them - technology huh!
Food wise, you can eat really expensively or as cheap as chips, there are a lot of the usual European hole in the wall bakeries with delightful yummies, and lots of off the track side street restaurants or cafes. Don't be put off by to few people in them early evening as they eat late over there. try this blog - lovely lady - http://fabulouslyfrench.blogspot.com
Just wanted to say -- I am way jealous! That is my dream trip!!!!
XOOX
Jen
The Versailles Palace is the #1 must see - the Notre Dame Cathedral is #2. Plan on spending WAY longer at the Louvre than you intend. Also, on a more practical note, watch where you walk on the sidewalks. Dogs are allowed to go "potty" wherever, and no one else seems to mind, or to clean it up. Sorry about that :(
You lucky, lucky girl! I'm so excited for you. It has been years since I have been to Paris so I can't recommend too much but I can recommend Versailles. It was AH-MAZING!!! I remember that the most and it's been 16 years since I was there. I would highly recommend that. The Hall of Mirrors alone is worth seeing and the grounds are impeccable. Camera worthy. :) I just love that place! No matter what you do you are going to LOVE Paris. I'm already looking forward to your blog updates. :)
I asked my husband who lived there and served his mission there. He said do these things:
1. At the Louvre, don't waste an entire day wandering. Visit the Mona Lisa (when I went I was surprised how small it was!), the Egyptian section, the Napolean III apartments, and various statues (Nike winged victory, venus de milo)
2. Catacombs.
3. St. Michael's quarter (it is right next to Notre Dame, and is great for restaurants)
4. Trocadero square (best place for pics of the Eiffel Tower)
5. Boat ride on the Seine river. Enter near the Eiffel Tower at nighttime and sit on the side of the boat furthest from land (for the best view).
*take a good pair of walking shoes and build up endurance before you go, or your feet will be miserable.
6. NUTELLA CREPES!
7. Kebabs! Find a restaurant- they are everywhere!
If you have an Iphone, I believe there is an app that will tell you where to go. Or so I hear.
i have to say, the san chapelle was a favorite of mine, but only if you love stained glass! it is amazing and close to notre dame. be sure to eat crepes everyday! also, before i went, i talked to a friend with an apartment there. she suggested with a short time that you take the red tour busses the day you get there. you can get on and off all you want, and you don't have to waste time looking for things you want to see! after that we walked everywhere, so as not to miss anything! i was there in june and surprised at how cold it was, so be prepared so you can enjoy everything! have a wonderful time!
Oh!! So so lucky...definitely figure out the metro...its easy and quick! You will def be walking- A LOT. :) Explore...it is so amazing! Do find a cafe to sit outside and face the street and "people watch". Go to a boulangerie and get bread...go to the market and get cheese/meat, grab a bottle of wine and picnic by the Seine! Good restaurant suggestions would just be to go off the beaten path...the places farthest away from main tourist-y places will be the most authentic! Have so much fun!
Jeff- Way to go! What an amazing Christmas present! (and maybe impossible to top!)
I went to Paris with my Mom when I was 17, so it's been a while, but I LOVED it. I can't imagine going with a husband, because it is so romantic. We went in early June and it was cool enough we always wore a jacket.
I think we did about what everyone else has said- Notre Dame (beautiful, beautiful), cruise the Seine, Versailles (most memorable part of our time spent in France- Hall of Mirrors and Marie-Antoinette's stage village and gardens were unforgetable), loved seeing real Waterlilies- just like Monet's, took a quick tour of a purfumery, walked the Champs-Elyses, went to the top of the Eiffel Tower, visited the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay (loved this as much as the Louvre), etc. No idea where we ate, but the food was delicious. We also walked past the Opera House, but we didn't go in. It is a beautiful city. I can't wait to read all about it!!!
Shoot we had little kids so we went to Disney, Eiffel Tower and the boat ride down the Seine (sp) River to see some pretty sights. I saw someone mention Kabobs...mmm!!! We miss those...we lived in Germany for 4 years.
HAVE FUN!
I am so excited for you, and a bit jealous. I so want to go there! *lol* My aunt lives in Denmark adn goes to Paris every now and then, but hasn't told me of many places that are a must.
Have a great trip!
While in Paris, take the time to go to Saint Chapelle. It is a church across from Notre Dame. While it doesn't look too impressive from the outside, it is gorgeous on the inside.
I loved watching the Eiffel Tower light up at night with a bottle of champagne from the park nearby!
The Musee D'Orsay is phenomenal, too.
If you have time, take a trip out to Versailles. It is amazing!
Otherwise, just spend time eating and shopping and just absorbing the culture.
Paris is an amazing city!
Laura
I just want to reiterate some of what others have said. I live in Germany we are 4 hours from Paris (my husband is active duty Air Force) anyway when we go to Paris it's a must have first thing without a doubt very comfortable shoes. The first time we went my feet hurt so bad and my ankles were swollen they were like pregnancy swollen because I didn't have a good pair of shoes. Next there are the Hop On Hop Off buses. We did this first so that we can see all the major sights and to kind of get our footing. Paris is huge and most of the tourist attractions are far apart by walking. And I agree with everyone else if you want to hit the Lourve make sure you give yourself an entire day. The Notre Dame is fantastic!! Have lots of fun and enjoy every moment. Make sure to take your camera charger...don't forget 220V in Europe.
I live in Germany, and have been to Paris twice...I would include the Eiffel Tower into your plans, and I would also recommend taking the Metro since you are only there for a couple day, the Lourve will take most of one day...also Notre Dame is free and beautiful!! I didn't care for restaurants that much but LOVE the pastry shops, nothing compares to a Croissant in Paris. Also the catacombs are very cool to see...they take about an hour to walk through. I never did see any fabric shops however over here in Europe the fabric is very expensive, what you pay 7.99 a yard for is about 20.00 or more for a meter. Hope you have a great time!!!!
As "touristy" as it sounds, we took the double decker bus around the city and it was so nice to get little tidbits of information around the whole city. You can get off an on anywhere you want. The Sienne boat tour sounds nice, too. I was too nervous to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, but I wish I went up higher. We just went to the first level, but it was still cool to see so far up there. Pastries and crepes---yum! We were just in Paris for 2 days, and that was enough for me. We took a train down to the Riveira and spent the rest of our 10 day trip there.
When i lived there, Notre Dame was my favorite place to go and visit (and just sit outside and watch people, but I know you don't have much time). Go to Ile-de-France and see Chateau de Versailles, too. Eat at some of the sidewalk cafe's, they are fun and make to sure to order water with "no gas" unless you like that sort of thing :) The bus idea is good, but the metro gets you places really quickly too and they go everywhere. You can get a few days pass and even combine the metro pass with museums pass all for one price. Just check it out at the computers in some of the metro stops. Alot of the monuments are free to enter unless you want to join a guided tour. I also, was glad I climbed (rather than rode) the Eiffel tower, good experience and wwaaayyyyy cheaper. Also, knowing a few words and phrases will go a long way to making sure the waiters aren't rude to you :) ANd....make sure to go to a crepe vendor on the street and get a warm one with Nutella (YUM!). Luxembourg Park is a gorgeous place to stop for lunch! The Sacre Coeur is a great place to get an unobstructed view of the city too. Oh man, this makes ME want to go back.....I'm sooooo jealous! Ok, sorry I'm rambling, HAVE FUN and make sure to give hubby LOTS of brownie points for this one!
We lived in Europe 6 years and Paris was a favorite weekend getaway for us. There is a cut little quilt shop walking distance from Notre Dame.(Notre Dame usually has a long line to get in but it moves very fast. Totally worth a quick walk inside) This is the quilt shops website. http://www.lerouvray.com/
When you are walking up to the shop on your left side will be a little cafe with some tables outside if the weather is nice. It is cate corner from the shop. They have some great deals for lunch and the food is great. Thy have th tiniest bathroom I have ever been in but is decorated with blue tiles from the Netherlands.
For the best first glimpses of the Eifel tower and good vantage point for photos get off the subway at Trocadero stop on th green line. After you take your photos you walk down thru a little park and across the street to stand under the tower. Taxi's are fairly cheap so instead of spending all your time on the subway use the taxi's sometimes so you can see more while you get from place to place. I hope this helps. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
Not sure if its been said already...sorry if this is a repeat. My suggestions are: The Louvre, Galleries Lafayatte (shopping), Eiffel Tower. Also, be sure to use the restroom before you land at Charles de Galle. I could only locate 1 actual toilet there and it wasnt usable! Eeek! Definitely have a french grilled cheese! Have fun!
If i remember correctly some museums are closed on Tuesdays. I love going to Cluny museum. They have wonderful tapestries including the Lady and the unicorn tapestry, baths. It is not a huge museum and can be toured in a few hours.
http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/ang/homes/home_id20754_u1l2.htm
I also think that there might be passes to get into a few different museums for a set price.
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