First time in Paris

[BTROZ]

Hi everyone,
this is my first question here, so I hope I am asking in the right place.
My partner and I are visiting Paris from late February until the 6th of March next year, arriving and departing via the train from London. We are 2 Aussies in their early 50s who have never been before. We are spending 8 days in France and plan to see all the touristy headlines as well as visit a few markets and possibly see some live music.
I have some great tips from a recent post here on what to do, and to swat up on some basic French language skills, hpwever I would appreciate if someone can help advise a convenient and safe location to base ourselves at. 20-30 minutes travel into town is no issue, we tend to stay just out of the hot spots and see how the locals live.
I had considered La Marais and the Latin quarter, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Also, I am wishing to check our La Defense arena in anticipation of returning in May to see Mr Springsteen there, is this an easy area to comute to, and would you advise staying nearby for the show?
Thank you in advance,

 

[gigatoaster]

Paris is safe, just be careful with your belongings. Avoid ghettos. One thing, if you plan to visit Sacré-Coeur, your might have to be more careful that usual, just take the minimum with you (one phone, 20€). As you mentioned the thread, I strongly recommend to visit the inside of Opéra Garnier, it’s gorgeous inside. Also check out le quartier de Montorgueil. It’s very nice.

I would also recommend one night in Reims to visit some Maison de Champagne. It’s a 45min train ride by TGV, but better stay one night. A great restaurant is Le Foch, highly recommend it.

For staying in Paris, I like 2 hotels: Hotel Keppler, just besides Arc de Triomphe or Best Western Plus Hotel Sydney Opéra near Opéra Garnier.

Finally, I would add extra days to your trip to go outside of Paris, there are lot more interesting things to see, visit or experience.

 

[rhett7660]

WE had a freaking blast... I have a thread on here about some of the things we did. We did five days in Paris itself. Our next trip we are planning on going outside Paris itself. I have a thread on this forum about it.

Be prepared for the way people drive! Holy smokes!

The city itself is relatively safe. Just remember, it is still a city occupied by humans. So...

 

[BTROZ]

WE had a freaking blast... I have a thread on here about some of the things we did. We did five days in Paris itself. Our next trip we are planning on going outside Paris itself. I have a thread on this forum about it.

Be prepared for the way people drive! Holy smokes!

The city itself is relatively safe. Just remember, it is still a city occupied by humans. So...

Hi,
thanks for your thread. We are kind of using your thread for a template. You did a great job! We have booked a hotel in the Latin quarter. We definitely will not be driving.
We can't wait to get up there and enjoy the city.

 

[BTROZ]

Paris is safe, just be careful with your belongings. Avoid ghettos. One thing, if you plan to visit Sacré-Coeur, your might have to be more careful that usual, just take the minimum with you (one phone, 20€). As you mentioned the thread, I strongly recommend to visit the inside of Opéra Garnier, it’s gorgeous inside. Also check out le quartier de Montorgueil. It’s very nice.

I would also recommend one night in Reims to visit some Maison de Champagne. It’s a 45min train ride by TGV, but better stay one night. A great restaurant is Le Foch, highly recommend it.

For staying in Paris, I like 2 hotels: Hotel Keppler, just besides Arc de Triomphe or Best Western Plus Hotel Sydney Opéra near Opéra Garnier.

Finally, I would add extra days to your trip to go outside of Paris, there are lot more interesting things to see, visit or experience.

Hi,
Thanks for your reply and advice!
We like the idea of visiting Reims and checking out Le Foch.
We have booked in the Latin quarter for convenience at this stage.

 

[max2]

Awesome going to Paris in December can't wait!

Surprised we got it for $150 round trip.

 

[gigatoaster]

I’m going there in 10 days. We’ll have dinner at Le Cinq😊

I won’t show you the bill, haha

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Hi everyone,
this is my first question here, so I hope I am asking in the right place.
My partner and I are visiting Paris from late February until the 6th of March next year, arriving and departing via the train from London. We are 2 Aussies in their early 50s who have never been before. We are spending 8 days in France and plan to see all the touristy headlines as well as visit a few markets and possibly see some live music.
I have some great tips from a recent post here on what to do, and to swat up on some basic French language skills, hpwever I would appreciate if someone can help advise a convenient and safe location to base ourselves at. 20-30 minutes travel into town is no issue, we tend to stay just out of the hot spots and see how the locals live.
I had considered La Marais and the Latin quarter, I would love to hear your thoughts.
Also, I am wishing to check our La Defense arena in anticipation of returning in May to see Mr Springsteen there, is this an easy area to comute to, and would you advise staying nearby for the show?
Thank you in advance,

Another thread (started by @rhett7660) also covered this topic, (a fascinating one, I love Paris).

I can only do what I did then, and offer some suggestions featuring some of my favourite spots and places in Paris, which are some of the less well known attractions of that splendid city.

Musée d'Orsay (the gallery - a former railway station from the 19th century with the characteristic glorious glass and steel architecture of the era - fantastic), for Impressionist Art. Gorgeous museum, and terrific art (if you like Impressionsm). On the banks of the river Seine, very walkable - but not nearby, not five or ten minutes, more a good 30-40 easy stroll - from the Latin Quarter.

Musée de Cluny (Musée National du Moyen Âge): The Cluny Museum - a stunning and spectacular museum dedicated to Paris in the Middle Ages - this museum is in the Latin Quarter - and plays host to - and is home to - the magnificent and enigmatic set of tapestries known as The Lion and The Unicorn (among many others, equally spectacular). One of my favourite places in Paris. Some of the old Roman baths of Paris are also to be found here.

Place des Voges: An amazing square - the oldest planned square of town houses in the city - of town houses built in the 17th century, absolutely gorgeous. In Marais, in the city centre, very walkable from the Latin Quarter. Once upon a distant time, the writer Victor Hugo had a house here.

Basilica Cathedral of St-Denis: The first Gothic cathedral ever built, and, as such, something of a hybrid in terms of architecture (there are Romanesque features), but a testiment to the creative genius of the legendary Abbé Suger; located in a grotty, not at all gentrified, suburb of north Paris. Reached by Taxi, or metro, or suburban train.

 

[gigatoaster]

Just visited my favourite monument in Paris: l’Opéra Garnier. What a spectacular opera to visit.

 

[organerito]

I lived 4 years in Paris. It was great!
If you go to the north of Paris, Sacré Coeur, St Denis...etc, you should go early in the morning or early afternoon in case you want to walk around. The north is a little messier than the rest of Paris. It is not as bad as the north or south of Chicago. Some people will ask you for money or cigarettes. That's all.

If you go outside of Paris, you could go to Versailles.

Food
You cannot leave Paris without having Raclette!

 

[decafjava]

I lived 4 years in Paris. It was great!
If you go to the north of Paris, Sacré Coeur, St Denis...etc, you should go early in the morning or early afternoon in case you want to walk around. The north is a little messier than the rest of Paris. It is not as bad as the north or south of Chicago. Some people will ask you for money or cigarettes. That's all.

If you go outside of Paris, you could go to Versailles.

Food
You cannot leave Paris without having Raclette!

*Angry Swiss noises*

 

[Burningtime]

I always stay in Montmartre. Lovely area where it's easy to walk down the hill to the subway and go to any part of the city. Affordable hotels as well. I love Paris.
Sacre Coeur at night, sitting on the steps drinking a beer and watching the city below.
You really can't go wrong just walking around the city, it's beautiful.

I'd also recommend taking the train a little bit outside the city and seeing Chateau de Vincennes. Really cool place to check out for part of the day with none of the tourists of Versailles (which is still nice to see).

 

[organerito]

*Angry Swiss noises*

Yes I know Raclette is Swiss. I had raclette while in Paris. That's all