Below is my personal tips, I hope this helps with your travel plans.
Best regards, Jana
________________________________
Here is a list of things to do and our favorites.
Buy a L'Officiel - a small white and blue paperback book that comes out weekly and is filled with all of the events - music, art exhibits, clubs, etc - that are happening in the city. It used to be 1 euro but it's been a while since we bought it. Or buy a Time Out Paris. That's always good too.
Museums:
Musee d'Orsay - probably my favorite museum in Paris because I love the art (impressionistic through some modern) and it is in an old train station. The building is beautiful. Louvre - large and a bit overwhelming (for me) but a must see if this is your first time - go off hours otherwise it is a total zoo - for example go when they open and make it your first stop of the day.
L'Orangerie - absolutely amazing - it houses Monet's Waterlillies
Centre Georges Pompidou Rodin Museum - try to go in the afternoon on a sunny day if possible. His amazing sculptures are housed here and when the light shines through them, it is absolutely gorgeous.
Churches:
Notre Dame Sacre Coeur Sainte Chapelle (make sure you go upstairs to see the stained glass windows)
Other Sites:
Arc de Triomphe - I like going up to the top of the Arc rather than going to the top of the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
Champs Elysees Montmartre/Moulin Rouge -
walk the Siene at sunset to see the lights of the city come on Ile de la Cite (where Notre Dame is)/Ile St Louis - we particularly love Ile St Louis
Shopping:
Gallerie Laffeyette - huge department store
Griff Troc - amazing women's vintage pieces/consignment pieces from top designers. still expensive but you can find some great pieces if you're into that.
Colette - really great store - definitely expensive but great to see (if you've ever been to Jeffrey in NY, it reminds me of Jeffrey)
RUE SAINT-HONORÉ - this is the street where Colette is. The entire street and the side streets are filled with great (but expensive) stores. It's a fun place to see Paris fashion. Also on Rue Saint Honore is Hotel Costes. The inside courtyard is wonderful to have a cocktail. Restaurants
Willi's Wine Bar - http://www.williswinebar.com/
Bertillon - ice cream on Ille de St Louis - http://www.berthillon.fr/
La Christine - http://www.restaurantlechristine.com/
Gerard Mulot Deux Magots/Cafe Flore La Petite Cour La Poulene - patisserie L'As du Falafel - sounds crazy but these are the best falafels I have ever had - better than I've had in Israel! Traiteur Maroccain - amazing tagine vendor in the back of Marche des Enfants Rouges Le Royal des Landes - great small French Bistro in the 20th with amazing escargot and foie gras and duck Pain de Sucre - amazing little patisserie at 14 Rue Rambuteau near Centre Pompidou
Hi Dean,
ReplyDeleteBelow is my personal tips, I hope this helps with your travel plans.
Best regards,
Jana
________________________________
Here is a list of things to do and our favorites.
Buy a L'Officiel - a small white and blue paperback book that comes out weekly and is filled with all of the events - music, art exhibits, clubs, etc - that are happening in the city. It used to be 1 euro but it's been a while since we bought it. Or buy a Time Out Paris. That's always good too.
Museums:
Musee d'Orsay - probably my favorite museum in Paris because I love the art (impressionistic through some modern) and it is in an old train station. The building is beautiful.
Louvre - large and a bit overwhelming (for me) but a must see if this is your first time - go off hours otherwise it is a total zoo - for example go when they open and make it your first stop of the day.
L'Orangerie - absolutely amazing - it houses Monet's Waterlillies
Centre Georges Pompidou
Rodin Museum - try to go in the afternoon on a sunny day if possible. His amazing sculptures are housed here and when the light shines through them, it is absolutely gorgeous.
Churches:
Notre Dame
Sacre Coeur
Sainte Chapelle (make sure you go upstairs to see the stained glass windows)
Other Sites:
Arc de Triomphe - I like going up to the top of the Arc rather than going to the top of the Eiffel Tower
Eiffel Tower
Champs Elysees
Montmartre/Moulin Rouge -
walk the Siene at sunset to see the lights of the city come on
Ile de la Cite (where Notre Dame is)/Ile St Louis - we particularly love Ile St Louis
Shopping:
Gallerie Laffeyette - huge department store
Griff Troc - amazing women's vintage pieces/consignment pieces from top designers. still expensive but you can find some great pieces if you're into that.
Colette - really great store - definitely expensive but great to see (if you've ever been to Jeffrey in NY, it reminds me of Jeffrey)
RUE SAINT-HONORÉ - this is the street where Colette is. The entire street and the side streets are filled with great (but expensive) stores. It's a fun place to see Paris fashion. Also on Rue Saint Honore is Hotel Costes. The inside courtyard is wonderful to have a cocktail.
Restaurants
Willi's Wine Bar - http://www.williswinebar.com/
Bertillon - ice cream on Ille de St Louis - http://www.berthillon.fr/
La Christine - http://www.restaurantlechristine.com/
Gerard Mulot
Deux Magots/Cafe Flore
La Petite Cour
La Poulene - patisserie
L'As du Falafel - sounds crazy but these are the best falafels I have ever had - better than I've had in Israel!
Traiteur Maroccain - amazing tagine vendor in the back of Marche des Enfants Rouges
Le Royal des Landes - great small French Bistro in the 20th with amazing escargot and foie gras and duck
Pain de Sucre - amazing little patisserie at 14 Rue Rambuteau near Centre Pompidou