| Our Paris Guide |
| The Cokers' totally subjective, somewhat incomplete list of stuff to see and do in one of the greatest cities on the planet. |
| While we�re certainly not experts on French travel, Rachel lived in Paris for several months in 1995 and we recently spent a week there together. We are neither student travelers nor extravagant spenders; the recommendations you find here will generally be quite affordable as long as you put yourself in that middle category. |
| Planning your trip Before you go, get a passport-sized photo. When you arrive, you'll need one for the weekly M�tro pass. Buy a one-week Carte Orange for Zones 1 and 2 and you should be able to get around with ease. Sights We took the Cityrama bus tour the day we arrived to get a good overview of the city (and because it's the kind of thing you can do if you're exhausted). Call 01-44-55-61-00 for more details. The Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe both offer wonderful views of the city. We went to the top of one at night and to the top of the other during the day and enjoyed both immensely. A river cruise with the Bateau Mouche, while a bit cliche, is also the best way to see some parts of Paris. It's relaxing and easy on the feet, too. Museums: If you plan to spend much of your time at the city's fabulous museums, you'll want to buy the Carte Mus�e et Monuments. You may or may not see a huge savings in admission costs, but it lets you skip long lines in some places. The Louvre and the Mus�e d'Orsay are the absolute must-see museums, in our humble view. If you're into modern art, the Centre Pompidou is a great place to go. The Mus�e National du Moyen Age focuses on medieval arts and crafts. The Mus�e Jacquemart-Andre is the city's best small museum, with an amazing collection in a truly unusual and spectacular setting. The sculpture garden at the Mus�e Rodin is also worth a visit. The Mus�e du Vin (yes, that means wine) is a bit cheesy but also fun. Churches Notre Dame is the obvious stop in this category. And it really is the type of building that could inspire faith in the most determined agnostic. But you should also visit one of the city's other amazing churches, even if you're Jewish and church sight-seeing isn't usually your thing. The Sacr� Coeur in Montmartre and the Sainte-Chapelle in the 4th Arrondissement are our favorites. Day trips Versailles and Giverny would be first on our list of day trips for people with the time and/or inclination to spend a day outside Paris. The weather is key here; both are definitely not places to spend a rainy day. Where to eat Le Souffl�, at 36 Rue du Mont Thabor in the 1st Arrondissement, offers a phenomenal prix fixe menu featuring three courses of souffl�s. You'll need to make reservations by calling 33-01-42-60-27-19. Take the M�tro to the Louvre or Concorde. Brasserie Bofinger, at 5 Rue de la Bastille in the 4th Arrondissement, has beautiful architecture and great seafood. Call 01-42-72-87-82 for reservations. Take the M�tro to Bastille. Julien, at 16 Rue Du Faubourg St. Denis in the 10th Arrondissement, is a fantastic art nouveau restaurant with very classic French fare. Again, you'll need a reservation. Call 01-47-70-12-06. Take the M�tro to Strasourg-St. Denis. Shopping The Virgin Megastore on the Champs Elys�es is worth a stop, especially if you're into French music or unusual European imports. Beyond that, there's almost too many places to mention. Stroll down the Champs Elys�es and see what strikes you. The underground mall at the Louvre is also a good spot for souvenirs. Online resources Bonjour Paris: www.bonjourparis.com Paris press Recent articles on the city: A Few Days of Plenty in Paris (New York Times, Feb. 16, 2003) French and Germans Woo American Tourists (New York Times, May 25, 2003) |
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