Vacationing in Paris, France... Our friend did a lot of research and found Points of Interest that I didn't know about. I've been to Paris a couple of times before and have seen well-known things like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, but I didn't know that the incorrupt body of Saint Catherine Labouré was in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Another Interesting landmark was The Wall of Love which featured the phrase, "I love you", in different languages. We also got a change to visit Missions Etrangeres de Paris (Foreign Missions of Paris) which wasn't open, but the receptionist was very helpful and friendly! It was nice to be back in the "City of Light" and learn about another aspect of Paris. read more

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This is our last two days in this Fantastic City. Every thing i feel wants me to remain but we can't. Gotta go back. We tried to do one special thing a day, plus meals. We had our coffee and hot chocolate at the same spot and were acknowledged by the same staff every morning. I gave my loose change to the same Gypsy lady at the tree each morning. She would greet me with a small wave and smile. I named her Mum. We came and went from Gare De Lyon Train station, really a hub and easy to get confused down there on the right back way up to the street. Always made it by the signs and arrows. Memory things. Today we ll put our gear in this hotel storage and go to the huge Fleamarket by subway. Just to see. Maybe find a small collectible. Then Come back and move to our Airport Hotel at T3, CDG. Morning flight tomorrow , might as well be in walking distance. Again, fly for free ,American Airmiles. Only a token amount. I added one night picture. read more

Our fourth stop on our Europe trip was Paris. I have been to Paris twice, in 1995 and 2000, but this was my first time in Paris as an adult. When my husband and I were planning our trip to Europe, I wasn't interested in Paris, but my husband really wanted to go. I'm glad we went, as we had a great time! We were only in Paris for three nights, arriving Saturday April 6 and leaving Tuesday April 9. I wish we had skipped Brussels and spent more time in Paris! We stayed at Hôtel Audran in Montmartre, which was a great area. There were plenty of restaurants, easy access to the subway, and it was a nice area to walk around. On our first day, we had lunch at Le Chat Noir 1881, walked along the Champs-Élysées (which included a quick stop at the Apple store to buy a new charger for my laptop), and saw many of the touristy spots, mostly from afar: L'Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, and Flamme de la Liberté, Princess Diana's memorial. We stopped for drinks at Le Copernic and had dinner at La Villa des Abbesses. On Sunday April 7, we went to the flea market (Marché aux Puces de Paris) as my husband wanted to look for old prints (he purchased a few with cats and crows -- two of his favourite animals). We had lunch at Au Roi du Cafe les Puces as it was near the flea market and there was a cat in the restaurant. In the evening, we went to the catacombs and then had dinner at Le Chinon, the restaurant below our hotel. Monday April 8, we spent the day in the Montmartre area. We walked around the Montmartre Cemetery (where we saw a lot cats!), had lunch at L'Anvers du Decor, went to the Dali Museum, stopped in at the Saint-Pierre de Montmartre Church for a look (and to get out of the heat), walked past the Sacré-Coeur Basilica (it wasn't worth waiting over an hour in the heat to get in), and had a drink at La Halte du Sacré Coeur. We also saw the best busker -- a beret wearing, accordion player with a cat! We had another drink and snack at Le Chinon and finished the day with dinner at Le Relais Gascon. Tuesday April 9, we left Paris and went to London. I really enjoyed my time in Paris and if I have the opportunity to go again, I would stay in the Montmartre area again. [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; Paris, France; Cities] read more

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I met my first wife in business school in Palo Alto got married and took a job with a PE firm in Paris After 5 years I swore off french women....long story but fell deeply in love with France and Paris there is a certain je ne sais quoi Of all the cities it is the one I keep going back to It is a magical place (albeit with warts) with amazing culture, food, architecture, and an aesthetic not found anywhere else If you never have been, I would highly suggest it on your top five read more

Paris - Plus le monde change et plus j'apprécie la France. - Local Flavor Near Me

I'm calling this review, 72 hours in Paris. Only because I'm going to try and cover what you can see over three days. First, I grew up in the northeast, but consider Paris to be my home away from home. Having relatives who live here, also makes it feel we're with family and we get more of a local's appreciation of the city. TRANSPORTATION Paris has one of the best inner-city subways in the world. The Paris Métro is very accessible if you have mobility issues, as I did on one visit. It's clean. It's fast. It's quiet, thanks to those rubber tires. And, it's inexpensive. In a pinch, use an Uber, it's also great. HOTELS Let's face it, major world cities aren't cheap. So, earning points on a travel card, towards a room is something you'll need to consider. We have stayed at both the major brands and some smaller ones too. Both are good choices, but consider the local French brand Accor, or their upscale chain Sofitel. Btw, the very small hotels will sometimes leave a tray of croissants and café au lait outside your room in the morning. Nice! SITES You're a tourist, right? So make a list, using your guide of what's important to you, but consider these a must... * Walking the Champs Élysée. Yes, there are too many American retailers and it's been so commercialized, but there are quite a few smaller shops, too. But walking up a side street has its benefits. * Musée d'Orsay or the Louvre? Both have their pluses, but the Louvre has become ridiculously over crowded. Our Yelp friend Robyn P posted a photo of nearly a hundred visitors clamoring around the Mona Lisa this past summer. We much prefer D'Orsay, but we tend to like Impressionist artists. They also have James Whistler's Mother. There are lots of museums in Paris to visit, from the modern art of Georges Pompidou Center, to individual artists like Pablo Picasso and Auguste Rodin. So many Musées, so little time. * Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, here it's a two-fer. If you're walking the Champ Élysée, hang a right after visiting the Arc onto Avenue George V and go over the Seine to see Eiffel's erector set, or if this is too far take Paris Métro. When you are walking up the Avenue George V towards the Seine, consider stopping at the American Cathedral. Link: https://amcathparis.com Sadly, the Champs de Mars is no longer a grassy field. But you can still find a park bench and admire Gustave Eiffel's master work. * Paris Métro, when in Paris... do as the locals do. As I've mentioned, it's clean, inexpensive and quiet. Here's a Link: https://www.ratp.fr/en/plan-metro * Visit the Jardin des Tuileries off the Champs Élysée between Place de la Concorde and the Louvre. It's breathtaking in the Spring when everything is in bloom. * It has been said, if you haven't visited the Latin Quarter, then you haven't visited Paris. It's on the Left Bank, near both Notre-Dame and Shakespeare & Cie bookstore. The Cathedral of Our Lady reopens in December 2024 btw. If you stop at Shakespeare, I high recommend any of Stephen Clarke's humorous books on the French. He's an Oxford trained Brit living in Paris. Ask them to stamp your book, too. * Other places to visit.... Place de la Bastille, Père Lachaise Cemetery, Panthéon in the Latin Quarter, Hôtel de Ville (City Hall), Sorbonne Université, Hôtel des Invalides and Musée and if you are not claustrophobic, try visiting the underground Catacombs. A must however is Basilique du Sacre Coeur de Montmartre Link: sacre-coeur-montmartre.com SHOPPING Ah Paris shopping, what fun. Obviously Galleries Lafayette and Printemps are the two on Haussmann most people choose. But there is this wonderful shopping district nearby, in the 4th Arr called le Marais. Wow. You need to come here. Here's a shopping Link: https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/shopping/shopping-in-the-marais FOOD Again like shopping and sights, there are so many choices, but here's two: * le Soufflé in the 1st Arr, near the Tulleries and Place Vendôme. We've been coming here for over forty years. The food, the Steak au Poivre and the soufflé desserts are magnificent, Five Stars. Link: https://www.lesouffle.fr/english/ * Au Pied de Cochon It's another foodie place, that was frequented by Dame Julia and her husband Paul Child when they lived here. Again, everything is excellent and Five Stars. Link: https://www.pieddecochon.com/en/ Just for fun, watch Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" before you go. Bonne Chance and Bon Voyage! read more

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"In your light, I learn to love. In your beauty, my poetry. You dance inside my heart, where no one sees you, I do, and that's my inspiration..." Oh Paris. The city of light and love. The above my take on Rūmī. I was sitting in a café, the Madeleine district, and couldn't help think romantic thoughts on... that freshly baked chocolat croissant... mmm. Wanderlusting across Jardin des Tuileries made me feel so alive! To be here, to BE here, is to be blessed. The Louvre, Sacré-Cœur, La Eiffel, Moulin Rouge are names that just roll off your lips. Ohh! La! La! To wake up every morning with a warm buttered croissant, with jams from La même Parisian garden, is simply indescribable. Have you ever had a French hamburger? I have, and with red wine in left hand! In the end, Paris is a place I feel so at home. She's like a soulmate to me. Not everyone will love her, because like any major city she has her ups and her downs, yet I find no where else where I fit right in. The perfectly imperfect description is perfectly true. I love Paris for what she is: artistic, diverse, historic, eccentric, emotional, breathtaking, and beautiful! This review is for a city I fell in love with and my 3000th photo is dedicated to her. Je t'amie! read more

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Une Ville Incroyable! Incredible City! The City of Love! In my younger days, I tended to view things like trips to Hawaii, Paris, and other tourist must-sees as cliche'. Fortunately, I went to Hawaii on business and the narrow mindedness was broken. How could I have ever not wanted to go to these fabulous places? So, I've always kept that in mind when considering where to travel. Paris was never on the top of my list. However, after only 30 minutes walking the streets I was in Love! OMG! Just writing about it makes me want to go back. I was planning a return trip last spring when the pandemic altered my plans. Damn you COVID! My best advice when visiting Pais is walking then walk some more. Take your time, do not get in a hurry. Enjoy! The Historic core of the city has more to do and see than you will ever get to so, even though you will be tempted to branch out and see " everything" to try to stay close. Trust me, there are tempting options outside the city but the time you spend getting there means you are just trading one great experience for the one you missed. I'm an advocate for conserving energy and staying "local". First of all, it's more charming because you can literally walk, relax,walk, people watch, etc. Did I mention drink wine! Let's hope the privelige of global travel is restored soon. read more

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Bonjour!! Paris. The city of love. "All you need is love." I really enjoyed the incredible architecture in Paris. Everywhere I turned, it was picture perfect. I'll keep this review short. If you've never been, you must come for a visit. Speak French if you can, and if you can also, stay and visit local places. We did and enjoyed it. We did however, visited landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Arc and the Pyramid which were breathtaking. We traveled via MTR. It's the best mode of transportation in Paris. No traffic and can get you anywhere in Paris within 20 minutes. Lastly, what I enjoyed most about Paris was their Boulangerie. Regardless which one I went to, their croissants were amazingly good. I am definitely missing it. Till we meet again Paris.... Au revoir! read more

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When I was young I heard the phrase falling in Love referring to "falling in Love with a city ". I didn't understand the feeling until I spent a week in Paris. I fell in Love with that particular city. At least as a tourist I did. If I lived there I may not feel the same. My daughter and I love cemeteries. I had graves I wanted to see. We visited at least three and the Catacombs. We went to a show at the Follies, learned a few lessons riding their subway. Be sure to keep your tickets. We went to the Louvre which I reviewed. I reviewed the Eiffel Tower Visit also. We packed a lot into almost a full week. It's my last time leaving the United States. I'm so happy I have had the opportunity to fall in Love with a City. read more

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Paris * For my 1000th review I had to write about this amazing city. I've been here several times and it always is a good idea to be in Paris. Is it prefect? No. There are a lot of things this city can improve. But is it worth visiting? Absolutely. I love the historical landmarks, architecture, shopping, public transportation, food, museums and so much more. Whether your visit is a day or ten days, you will have a great time in the city of lights and love. This past visit was a special one due to my parents coming with me as well. I celebrated my wedding anniversary with Sam M. And it was my mom and dad's wedding anniversary month as well. It was a laid back vacation with soaking in the Parisian atmosphere. J'aime Paris et toute sa beauté. ~ read more

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If you are Vietnamese it's a must see, their Little Saigon is phenomenal, you think you are in VN. If you are not VN, it is still the #1 Destination in the world voted so every single year. Sadly the Nôtre Dame de Paris was burned, destroyed on 4/15/2019, lucky me I had seen everything inside n walked a lot of steep steps to see the rooftop w the famous gargoyles n the hunchback of notredame bell. I saw a dinner show in Moulin Rouge n Lido showgirls. We didn't see Tour d'Eiffel because the line was too long but I had been on top 3 times already. Paris is such a charming city, I feel nostalgic n sad my eldest sister died of a heart attack n all the doctors were out having 2 hours lunch in the café, nobody rescued her n that's free health care, it's nit free if you pay fir it w your life. #parisjetaime I lm so thrilled hearing the #breakingnews that #europe will allow travel for yankees w #vaxpass I guess their economy had collapsed wo the greenbacks #jetaimeplusquhiermaismoinsquedemain translation #iloveyoumorethanyesterdaybutlessthantomorrow. I got all emotional as this will be my lasttangoinparis to see my brother and other relatives. I had booked a 1stclass trip last #july14th2020 to see the #fireworks around the #eiffeltower but it was canceled because of the . Louvre museum was phenomenal I was exhausted after 8 hours visit, the only landmark I have not seen is La Défense. read more

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Formidable. I've said before in a Yelp review that I can never leave my heart in San Francisco because its buried some where in the belly of the Five Boroughs...that being said...Paris definitely made a strong play for stealing it and moving it "across the pond". On my London-Paris-Amstersam "grand tour" I was probably originally least excited about Paris. (after talking to people I felt like I was the one who wasnt dieing to go there...) But after spending 4 days there...I am a total convert. The city is really enchanting...theres no other way to describe it. Even upon arriving at Gare Du Nord, I was in love with the buildings surrounding it. Theres the Seine and the Louvre...the Eiffel tour looming in the background. Just about all the food I had was amazing. The Metro has those adorable Beaux Arts signs that look slightly theatrical, and while the metro was kind of on par with the cleanliness of NYCs subway (sorry to the mouse I nearly stepped on!) it was fast, ontime and easy to figure out....even in a different language. It helps to know a little french if you go here...but I'd tell people it helps to know a little English if you come to the states so that seems like a fair deal to me. read more

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PARIS FRANCE -- Everywhere you look is a postcard. Literally, the city, itself, is art and a lesson in architecture. You can literally take snapshots all day long. Albeit, not much color, it may be best in B&W. An argument could be made that my favorite thing to do is to find an outdoor cafe, get an espresso, and sit and people watch. I'd get a little notebook, sketch, write, and doodle the day away. There's just so much to take in, and it's all absolutely wonderful. Things to do: 5/5 Safety: 3.5/5 Cleanliness: 3.5/5 FAMOUS SITES -- So many to choose from, but here is a short list: Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Arc de triomphe, Montmartre Square, walking Champs-Élysées Avenue, Sacré-Cœur church, The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Tuileries Garden, Catacombs, Panthéon, Rodin Museum, Musée de l'Orangerie, and Disneyland Paris. MUSEUMS -- Perhaps the best in the world, rivaling only Italy and London, but so many famous works here. I love the Louvre (which is so gorgeous even on the outside), but smaller Musée d'Orsay and Musée de l'Orangerie are so very special, with the latter having a few from one of my favorite artist, Sir Alma Tadema. The Rodin, made me fall in love with sculptures -- amazing. MONTMARTE SQUARE -- Head to the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur (and peak in, you might be able to hear the most amazing singing ever, and at the top of the steps, beautiful view or the city), and nearby, is the square. True, it's touristy now, but you can just feel the creativity -- it still lives. If you read the stories, all the famous artists and poets used to live here, and then gather at Cafe Brasserie until all hours of the night. I found it so wonderful. BEST TIME TO GO PARIS -- The best time to visit Paris is from April to June and October to early November when the weather is mild and enjoyable and the tourist crowds are smaller than summer. The cheapest time to visit Paris is early December, January, and February. Thank's Wiki! TRANSPORTATION -- So convenient by train, you can easily get to/fro anywhere in Europe. For getting around the city, the rental bikes (Velib) is the way to go. The Metro is a great local train, like SF Bart, NY Subway, or the London Underground. OTHER -- you can't go wrong picking any cheap bottle of wine, getting a chunk of cheese, a fresh baguette, a little olive oil, and a tomato or two. It just may be my favorite meal! read more

To me Paris is two things: romance and the Louvre. Romance seems to permeate the city. A walk along the Seine at night. A view of the Eiffel Tower. A view of the city from Sacré Coeur in Montmartre. Or nice romantic dinner in some small side street near Moulin Rouge. If you want to spend a romantic weekend with someone then Paris is the right place. To especially appreciate Paris you need to have a wonderful view of the city. Here is a list of places with the best views of Paris 1. Sacré Coeur in Montmartre 2. Notre Dame's tower 3. Commanding views from the Tour Montparnasse (skyscraper in Paris) 4. Arc de Triomphe Now I do not need to explain in much detail the importance of the Louvre. Only the most important art museum in the world. I can spend days there. You need to be selective when visiting the Louvre Remember two things though when visiting Paris. There are long lines to climb the Eiffel Tower and to get into the Louvre. Plan accordingly. Also do not forget to visit Versailles when you visit Paris. No trip to Paris is complete without visiting it. read more

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History mixed with fashion, food, river, bridges, architecture, and loads of hidden cobblestoned passages, Cours, and courtyards! Museums everywhere too. My faves!! My French improves as I apply daily the task of learning more and more. Positive reinforcement is on the way! Engaging with sales people is no longer as scary for me. Pour moi, this is hands-down THE EASIEST way to get 22-24,000 quotidian steps. I am amazed by it all. PS YOU KNOW YOURE IN PARIS, WHEN, IN ST GERMAIN U R, and saucisson is €6.5, but a hot dog is €11!!!!!!! read more

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My first time in Europe! Paris is beautiful, historic, iconic, you name it. The architecture, the monuments, it's all so amazing to see in person. I was really surprised by their metro system, it's very elaborate but very easy to navigate. The people are also very nice! I was afraid to ask for directions but turns out lots of locals are eager to help struggling tourists. However, most servers were rude. My highlights were: Eiffel tower to watch the sunset, arc the triomphe, the hot chocolate (out of this world delicious), and Ladurée macaroons! I'd say the only downsides are that lots of people smoke so it smells pretty strongly, also some areas are not clean at all! read more

Do you love constant second hand smoke, hordes of people everywhere.. Paris could be for you. The sweet smell of urine and lots of rain. Travel is subjective, Paris a one time experiment for me. read more

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Paris is one of my favourite cities in the world, a place I have been three times, I don't think I've ever visited one city outside of my home country more, and it's so easy to see why. I stayed at the Hilton Paris Opera during my most recent trip to Paris, this was one of the finest hotels I've ever stayed in, the whole experience was exceptional https://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/hilton-paris-opera-paris-2 Getting There: Most people will arrive into Paris at either Gare Du Nord or CDG Airport Gare Du Nord is the world's busiest railway station outside of Japan and provides services to many parts of mainland Europe, including the UK via Eurostar, while it is a major station I do think it is sad to see the unsafe area surrounding the station and how it seems to have been forgotten about https://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/gare-du-nord-paris CDG Airport is a pretty large airport too, providing services across the world as the city's major airport, they even had PS4's in the terminal back in 2016! https://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/a%C3%A9roport-de-paris-charles-de-gaulle-roissy-en-france-2 Travel: I found travel in Paris to be really bad, the Metro doesn't have step-free access other than on one small line, and the bus network also seemed poor, buses would often break down, not all of them would have step-free access and it wouldn't be stated on the bus, prices were also pretty high too. RATP didn't sell any bus only tickets, it was mainly ticketed for X length of time on all modes of transport, the funniest thing was I couldn't even buy tickets on the bus themselves and was expected to get a ticket beforehand, no cash or cards accepted - crazy! Shopping: Shopping isn't the first thing anyone would have in mind in Paris, but again you just won't be disappointed in Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the iconic street https://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/avenue-des-champs-elysees-paris-3 There was even many indoor shopping malls, which I found useful to shelter from the sweltering heat and sun, my favourite being Westfield Les 4 Temps, the La Defence region as a whole is well worth a trip, it is the city's business district, not far from Paris via bus or train and has many places to eat, shop and even hotels which are slightly cheaper than staying in the city. https://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/les-4-temps-puteaux-2 Common shops in France include Monoprix which I really liked as they had freshly squeeze orange machines, clothing sections and great deals on multi-by iced tea, they'd often charge lower prices for a huge 1L bottle than many places charge for 500ml so it's well worth a look in. Marks and Spencer is dotted around the city, again this is a huge British brand selling British food and drinks, even British milk which I was glad to find as french milk seemed to generally taste-off/not good to me https://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/marks-et-spencer-food-paris-3 Sights: There's so much to see and do in the city, I could hit the 5000 character limit ten-fold just listing them from the Arc D'Triumph to the Eiffel Tower,, the Louvre and even the Notre Dame, although there isn't much to see at the latter right now due to modernisation and improvement works following last year's sad incident. Food: Food and Transport seemed to be the two things which reminded me most of NYC, there's so many places to eat due to the huge cafe scene here, charging high prices for mediocre food, it's so easy to find somewhere to eat but it can be hard to find somewhere which doesn't serve overpriced rubbish, I learned the hard way. A word of advice is to avoid the touristy areas due to the high amount of tourist traps. Do check out my Paris collection for more https://www.yelp.co.uk/collection/EspPMPyEb5JsB0njFcTr7w Summarizing a city really is difficult, especially one internationally famed and renowned for a good reason like Paris, yes the transport is awful and it is sad to see they don't plan improvements ahead of the 2024 Olympics but there's just something about the city which draws me back again and again and seems to continue to do so and it's more than being able to get a return ticket for £78 from London on the Eurostar and being able to get ultra-high 4G speeds of over 100 MBPS on Orange. read more

Ah, Paris! The city of love, romance and second hand smoking. Home of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Arc De Triomphe, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur and overpriced coffee. Last year was the first year I didn't go to Paris because of Covid, normally I don't go because I can't afford it. So much history and culture to soak up and so many opportunities to be laughed at for sad attempts at speaking French. It's ok, they would be speaking German if it wasn't for us Americans right, wink wink. read more

One of my favorite destinations for culture, history, food and ease of getting around. I know many people that hate Paris. They find it dirty, they've had someone be "rude" and it's just not for them. That's completely ok - more for me! I can only speak to my personal experience, but I have never had anyone here be rude or even unkind to me. Part of it is a cultural thing - if you're expecting waiters to be chatty - um, no - they aren't working for tips. You'll get what you need in an efficient manner but that's it. Same with shop clerks - if you walk in to a place (especially a small one) and don't greet the worker, you're the rude one and will be treated as such. Ask permission to touch things, especially in smaller places. That said, when a city is heaving with tourists in summer, I expect folks to be a bit cranky. So maybe visit in spring or fall - less crowds, much more pleasant. Anyway, every time I've visited, I've had unforgettable experiences (fireman gymnastics show!), seen beautiful things and eaten incredible meals. Some of my favorite things: * The gardens at Versailles * Walking the Marais & St Germain neighborhoods, and peeping in the courtyards of historic hotels (many are public parks) * Grabbing a crepe or a falafel from one of the stands on Rue Des Rosiers for a cheap lunch * Stocking up in a high quality skincare at reasonable prices at one of the pharmacies (CityPharma forever!) * Strolling through the big department stores near L'Opera, but actually buying stuff at BHV or Monoprix * Market shopping at one of the neighborhood stops or one of the smaller flea markets * Buying delicious, fresh bread from the boulongerie Sure, every city has problems - and to be honest, Paris has plenty. I've found it to be (in general) a cleaner, safer place than it was 10 years ago. Some of that is an increased security presence from recent terrible events, obviously. It still is a beautiful place to visit, and I've been lucky enough to have people be kind and welcoming to me. read more

Beautiful city but it has its own set of problems especially with pick pockets and theft. The demographics is quite not whee as you expect. Lots of immigrants. Don't get fooled by "Emily in Paris". read more

Going to Paris is a like opening a book. Every turn you make has a miniature Café, restaurant, market, flower shop, and you can't help but stop and look at it like it's an illustration. Parisian people are living a classic lifestyle and every local seems to love being a part of the most romantic place in the world. You will fall in love with Paris forever. read more

Having been to Paris twice now I can confirm that on both occasions we found the city to be a filthy, unpleasant, overpriced and unwelcoming disappointment. We travelled to many areas of Paris and found all of them to reek variously of urine, garbage or dog feces. Speaking of dog feces, it's EVERYWHERE. The city is absolutely filthy with dog crap and it seems the Parisians not only don't care, they actually seem to take some perverse pleasure in leaving stinking piles of stacked dog links on every street corner, as if it's some kind of badge of authenticity. And the Parisians themselves are almost uniformly dismissive and arrogant, treating you either like a bug beneath their contempt or a walking wallet with the word "sucker" embroidered on it. As for the famously great French cuisine, it is virtually impossible to find given that there are literally thousands upon thousands of terrible restaurants ranging from overpriced tourist traps to simply bad local interpretations of supposed classic french cooking. Perhaps if you spend the time to ferret out the few quality restaurants left in the ocean of mediocrity that represents Parisian cuisine your experience might be different, but we had not a single good meal during our entire visit. The single, solitary redeeming quality of Paris is the culture, aka the art museums, architecture and history. But you MUST book tickets in advance for any of these attractions or be faced with 3 to 5 hours standing in line for tickets at any of the major attractions such as the Louvre, Eiffel Tower or catacombs. Bottom line, I would never recommend staying in Paris to anyone. Stay in Versailles (much nicer) and train in to Paris for one day to see the Louvre etc. and then get back out. You're not missing anything by not staying in The City of Dog Crap. read more

It was almost 20 years since I was last here. Thank god I didn't rush to come again. Time has changed the Paris of old and I can disappointedly say that it has not been good to Paris. Like any other large metropolitan, there's pollution, over-population, snarled traffic, poor sanitation, and I can go on until I'm blue in the face. To worsen the visit, most of the city was under renovation/construction. I'm not sure if all these were a factors but the whole experience was rather disappointing. We got to visit all the iconic sites, i.e., the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Versailles. Arc de Triumph, etc. but was not able to enjoy them thoroughly due to the masses of people. Tourists were driven in by the bus load. We timed our vacation during a less busier period but that did not appear so. I can't imagine, nor would I want to go, when it's peak season. One lesson learned is that you really have to plan and make as many event purchases as possible prior to your arrival at a site. This will save you a lot of time and headaches. Now that I've been here twice, I can't see myself returning again but maybe head south to the beach cities. I know France has much more to offer. Just need to stay away from the major cities and get off the beaten path. Au revoir! read more

Came expecting a city of romance, art, and culture but it turns out that it is also the city of pickpockets, thieves, and scammers. I have never been so disappointed by a city before. It is dirty and the people are unhelpful and rude. Also...how does Paris have so many little kids stealing? Is the police force nonexistent? I'm sure Paris is worth seeing once in your life... but just once. The Eiffel sure doesn't seem very romantic when your harassed by people on the street. Keep a tight hold on your valuables and make sure to look around at everyone as potential pick pockets- especially in crowded tourist areas. Be smart and alert at all times. Do not put things down for even a second. Someone will steal them. If they could steal the clothes off your back, they would. Remember that those pretty pictures of Paris show a very small window of what it really is. I honestly don't know how people live here. I've been to many cities and this is by far the worst. It makes me miss NYC. I'm sure the countryside is much better though read more

Travelled in early September French proficiency: basic French (4yrs in hs, 10 yrs ago) First time traveling to Paris. Paris overall was a good experience. Minus one star for a bus changing its destination, bus driver only spoke in French and literally slammed the door in a tourist's face when she was in the middle of asking a question. We lost 1.5 hrs and ended up on the other side of town. Tips: (1) wear comfy shoes, Parisienne wear casual sneakers (saw a lot of converse chucks, adidas, and nikes) but in black and white, nothing too loud in color. (2) try not to dress like a tourist, apparently you get targeted by Roma people aka gypsies for pickpocketing. We didn't have any trouble, but then I was super paranoid so was always on alert. Though I did see a guy eyeing us and passing near us outside the Louvre... twice... very suspicious. (3) a bag that zips up or closes is a must, keep it zipped up at all times. (4) for women, a cross body bag is preferable than shoulder bag, lots of Parisienne women wear small crossbodies, and carry a canvas tote for non essentials. (5) knowledge of basic French is highly recommended. Nothing is in English, so you will be better off knowing a little French; (5a) like another reviewer said, the people always say Bonjour or Bonsoir to each other and is considered rude if you don't; (6) if you're able body and can walk, a carnet of 10 tickets will be plenty if you're staying for a week. One t-ticket can be used to transfer bw buses and subway as many times as you want within the first 90 minutes of using it as long as you're within the city limit. Note: bus drivers are not friendly. (7) not sure about the summer time, but always carry a small umbrella with you. (8) if you're doing tourist stuff, buy tickets online or get the museum pass, this will save you time, HOWEVER, you will still have to wait in line for security. Lines for just security is shorter than purchase. (9) try to visit the museums past noon or early evenings, there was no line to get in the Louvre and it was pretty empty, got right in front of the Mona Lisa. I liked the Museum D'Orsay and Museum de l'Orangerie better, but I'm more of a fan of Van Gogh and Monet. (10) always have snacks on you at all times. Meal times are very different than the US. In the US, a majority of restaurants/cafes are open all day long and coffee shops open as early as 5:30 am, in Paris that is the minority. Breakfast and brunch: is not a thing in Paris. In tourist areas you can find a few places open at 9am for breakfast/brunch, that's the earliest. I would suggest buying some baguettes or pastries from a bakery the night before for the next morning. Lunch: noon-2pm (kitchens closes at 2); Dinner: 8:00/8:30 pm, again in tourist areas some places open at 7pm. We ate at 7pm and were eating with other foreigners and the elderly, I didn't mind, I actually preferred it. (11) everyone smokes. If you're sensitive, book a hotel, not an airbnb. Guaranteed your host smokes and the place will smell of cigarettes. If your going to London via Eurostar, see below for tips. Watch out for pickpocketing Note that you will have to (1) check-in, this is where you scan your ticket; (2) go through border control (fill out the Landing Card before or while you're in line); (3) security like any airport. (1) buy premier business if you can, there is a separate line for business check-in and border control and you get free wi-fi and food. Economy is fine, but know that there is no wi-fi and lines to get through border control can get long; (2) buy your tickets online (at least 2 months in advance, they will be cheaper) and save it to your Apple Wallet or Android equivalent, line for paper ticket check-in was... well there was a line; (3) give yourself at least an hour to check-in, go through border control and security before your departure time. We gave ourselves the recommended 45 minutes and cut it close, got on the train 10min before departure. TRAIN LEAVES ONTIME. (4) there is a small bakery after security, so you won't go hungry if you need to wait. (5) large suitcases not recommended, but doable. Staff does not help you with your luggage, duh... and limited luggage storage at the end of each car. My sister and I both brought the medium sized luggage and we were fine but we travelled during the off season. Sorry for the long post. I wanted to write something useful for other first timers. read more