Travellers Blog

Many people think of Paris as one of the world’s most romantic cities. And, while Paris has plenty of romance to offer, today’s Paris is a bustling tourist attraction. If you want to navigate Paris safely and efficiently, as well as take in all of its beauty and charm, then you need to know what you are getting into before you make those travel reservations. The best way to get the most out of Paris is to be prepared. Here to help is this visitor’s guide to the city of Paris:

Transportation. Of course, many people opt to don a backpack and do most of their sightseeing by foot. However, Paris is large and crowded, and there will be times when only an engine will do. Paris’ public transportation is called the Metro; purchase tickets per ride or buy a pass to save some cash, and use the Metro to get from any one point A to any other point B in a short amount of time. There are also hop-on/hop-off buses that travel all around the city, and which are super easy to use; simply jump on one when you see it and jump off it when you see a place you’d like to stop. If you prefer something a little more old-fashioned, you may take a train (which is also a great way to travel to other parts of Europe from Paris). Of course, as in any big city, taxis are abundant. If you want the stereotypical Paris experience, you may rent a moped to scoot around in style.

Using your money in Paris. France is on the Euro system, and you will need to convert your US dollars to Euros. You can exchange your currency at your hotel front desk, or at any currency exchange office. However, it is actually generally cheapest to do your exchanges at an ATM. Just tell your US bank that you will be making foreign transactions before you leave home. Exchange money as you go, rather than get one huge lump sum, because it will cost you money to exchange your excess Euros back to US dollars when your vacation is over. Or, you may opt to use your credit cards.

What to see. There is a lot to see in Paris, but here are the musts: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Champs D’Elysees, Sacre Coeur, the Moulin Rouge, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles, Latin Quarter, Notre Dame Cathedral, Musee d’Orsay, Hotel des Invalides, the Catacombs, Pantheon, and Place de la Bastille.

When to visit. Any lover of Paris will tell you that the city of lights is charming throughout the entire year. The season you choose to travel is more a matter of personal preference. Just keep in mind that Paris’ high season (summer) is June through October, and its low season (winter) is January to March.

There you have it: the things you need to know when planning your Paris trip. Bon Voyage!

About the Author: Willis Carranco loves traveling the world and will be spending a month in Paris this summer. He and his wife are currently looking for Paris vacation rentals and plan on living the life!

All over France, and probably in the whole of Europe, Paris has the most number of destinations concentrated in one place. Aside from housing the world’s most renowned museums, this city has a lively historic center, a wonderful riverscape, historical sites and monuments, as well as one of the most vibrant nightlife in the world. There is a great variety of Paris hotels from which to choose, meaning people from all backgrounds and countries can enjoy its pleasures.

Sightseeing

Paris is also known for its cafes and restaurants, arts and architecture, theatres and cinemas, and its overall romantic ambiance. Its sights are more than enough to make a library of travel books. One of the most famous sights dominating the city is the Eiffel Tower. Seeing the entire city from the top of the tower during night time is more than magical.

Other attractions include Arc de Triomphe, Grande Arche, Bastille Prison, Palais-Royal, and Elysee Palace. You shouldn’t miss Paris’ museums such as Louvre and Modern Art Museum. The churches are also a must-see – among them is the Cathedrale de Notre-Dame de Paris and the Church of St-Eustache. There are also gardens and quarters which are all equally fascinating.

Shopping

Paris is one of the fashion and shopping capitals of the world where you can find top designer stores. High end shopping centers can be found in avenue Montaigne, Place des Victoires and Rue du Faubourg-St-Honore. Smaller boutiques can be found in St-Germain-des-Pres. For jewellery stores, Vendome and Les Halles have all you need. If you want to buy gifts and souvenirs, Marais has a lot of items in store for you.

If you want great bargains, check out food and flea markets. You can find one at almost any neighborhood. At the north of Paris, you can find the largest flea market in Europe which is the Marche aux Puces se St-Ouen. On the bank of Seine, you will find books, perfumes, chocolates and other goodies that will satisfy your remaining budget for the holidays.

Outdoor Activities

Paris is an active city even during night time. From 10pm to 1 am, people skate around the city. They usually meet below the Montparnasse Tower. The skaters are divided in different areas depending on their proficiency. It is a traditional activity that you shouldn’t pass up.

For water sports, Aquaboulevard Water Sports is the place to be. You can also see the entire city in a different perspective – from a hot air balloon. The take off point is at Fontainebleau. This is an experience that you don’t want to forget when visiting Paris.

Eating Out

When visiting Paris, you will never run out of a place to eat. You can choose from fine dining establishments to corner brasseries. There are also creperies and bistros where you can pick up any type of cheese, bread and pastry. Great restaurants are located in Rue Mouffetard where you can find any cuisine of your choice, all day long.

Traditional French dishes are served in the Left Bank and Right Bank, at the small streets near Louvre, in the Latin Quarter, and Bastille area. For a fine dining experience, nothing beats the Ritz. If you are on a tight budget, Montparnasse and Butte aux Cailles are a favorite.

Theatre

Cinemas, concerts, and theatres are important parts of Paris’ nightlife. Although prices are costly, there are also student rates available. Among the most well-known places in this field are the Odeon Theatre de l’Europe, Champs-Elysees, Cinematheque Francaise, and Opera Bastille. For nights of music and dancing, Le Divane du Monde, Le Caveau de la Huchette and Re de les Lombards are your best bet.

Events

Paris has a lot of cultural festivities to boast of. It is a host of different yearly events such as Festival du Film de Paris and Foire de Paris from March to April. Le Marathon de Paris also happens in April. This city is also home to one of the best New Year’s Eve celebration which is the Reveillon.

Anne is a writer with a love of travel, she often writes about the worlds destinations.

Paris, the lovely capital of France, is home to Europe’s most well-known monuments and museums, amazing architecture and sophisticated cuisine. Known as the "City of Lights", Paris is also a capital of lovers luring couples with charming cafes, romantic cobblestone streets and unique ambiance.

Next, we share some fascinating  attractions and things to do.  You’ll also  find some interesting tendencies  for this interesting locations as well as great lodging options.

Reputed for such famous sites as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris has much more to offer than these popular tourist places. Fashionable boutiques, elegant restaurants and charming districts make up Paris making it one of the most popular holiday destinations on earth. Check below to read about Paris’ places of interest.

Maybe the first place that most Paris tourists consider to visit is the Louvre museum. It is a location where you can see the most amazing and valuable masterpieces of the world, like the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and Madonna of the Rocks. It’s almost 35,000 pieces including Egyptian antiquities, Greek and Roman art, Islamic pieces, besides paintings and drawings. It is impossible for anyone to appreciate everything in just one visit. Please, plan more than one visit or choose your primary areas of interest.

Fans of modern architecture should visit La Defense, one of the largest and business centres in the world. Located one and a half miles west of the city, La Defense boasts many spectacular modern buildings such as the Great Arch which perfectly lines up with the historical Arch of Triumph from Champs-Elysees. This area is easily reachable by subway.

If you are looking for beautiful art studios, eccentric cafes and a lot of amazing architectural landmarks such as Basilique du Sacre-Coeur, Montmartre is the place to visit. Have you heard about Moulin Rouge and Café des Deux Moulins? You will see those famous places there. People who love art need to visit Espace Dali museum.

Champs- Elysees is a seventeenth century garden -promenade that connects the Concorde and Arch of Triumph. This scenic avenue is perfect for a romantic walk and is also known for its numerous elegant boutiques, movie theaters and cafes. This city’s major shopping spot has been called "the most beautiful avenue in the world".

Sixty-one percent of the vacation planners showed curiosity about comparison shopping among Paris vacation rentals, bed breakfasts, motels, and hotels.  61 percent were also interested in getting offers from vacation houses, condos, guesthouses, inns, and hotels near Paris including Ile De France, Bagnolet, St Ouen, Montrouge, Pantin, Vanves, Vincennes, Clichy, Levallois Perret, Charenton Le Pont, Issy Les Moulineaux, Neuilly Sur Seine, Boulogne Billancourt, Boulogne, Asnieres, and Bobigny.

A market research shows that those careful and conscious vacationers who began their visit planning two or more months prior to their arrival to their Paris places to stay represented the 36 percent. Traditional travelers sent their lodging request one to two months in advance and they represented the 31 percent. Typical tourists that like to wait until the last moment, represented the 33 percent.

In accordance with a study, probably the most preferred vacation topic in Paris is, obviously, romance. Those loving couples looking for a place to stay in Paris for two represented the 31 percent of the lodging requests. Groups of more than four adults represented the 14 percent, families with kids the 21 percent and lastly, those travelling alone, the 19 percent.

In these troubled economic times, most travelers are looking for comparison shopping among different lodging solutions before determine where to stay.

For instance, below there’s two great lodging options to explore:

Paris France Holiday Apartment: Quiet treed courtyard apt in 13th district in a lived-in setting surrounded by bakeries, pastry shops, restaurants, fruit & vegetable stands, a twice-weekly open air market, and within a five minute walk of the Seine and the Simone de Beauvoir foot bridge to Parc Bercy, the Bibliotheque Nationale, a cine complex on Ave de France, the 14 Metro and RER C, the Paris vacation rental provides the best of two worlds: life with Parisians with easy access to the familiar touristic sites; in addition to the Metro and the RER, two city buses stop within a few feet of the street entrance to the Paris vacation apartment. For more information, photos and a practical inquiry form to contact the owner directly, please visit rentalo.com, property ID#303804.

Paris France Holiday Studio: Featured on the Fine Living Television Show Special Around the World In 80 Homes.This romantic Paris apartment is located in what has recently become a very trendy neighbourhood called So-Pi ( South of Pigalle ) out of the tourist area, yet within a five-minute walk of Montmartre and Sacre Coeur. The apartment looks out on a little garden, and is free from any street noise. As you stroll the surrounding area, you will find both hip and traditional restaurants, shops, and craftsmen nearby. And just two blocks away is a full-size swimming pool. For more info, pictures and a useful form to deal with the owner directly, please log into property ID#2205 at rentalo.com.