I recently visited Paris for the first time and I have to say what a great city it is. Here is my brief guide to the most romantic city in Europe.
FIRSTLY: If you’ve never been to Paris then I suggest you do three things as soon as you get there. Firstly get yourself a map of the city. You can probably get one of these from your hotel although it might be a good idea to get one before you go. Secondly get a travel card. For around £15 you can get a 2 day pass that gives you unlimited use of public transport around Paris. Thirdly take a guided open top bus tour of the city. This’ll give you a good idea of what’s about and you can decide how you want to spend your time.
PEOPLE
If you don’t know any French, then I suggest taking a phrase book. The French people are more friendly if you make an effort to speak their language. Don’t expect them to go over the top in making you feel welcome, although some will, generally I found them to not be that bothered.
TRANSPORT
The Metro (Underground) is the best bet. Wherever you are in the centre of Paris there is a Metro station no more than 5 minutes away. If you buy the travelcard like I suggest you can also use buses and trains. Beware of Taxi’s though. They are very expensive especially if you get one from the Airport. It cost a lot to get from the airport to the centre of Paris.
HOTELS
As with every city there are hotels for every budget. The cheapest being for a very basic room and bathroom.
RESTAURANTS & BARS
Lots of Restaurants and bars around, catering for every taste, especially around the Champs Elysees. Try not straying to far if you’ve never been before. If you want somewhere with an American feel try Planet Hollywood. Excellent food at a reasonable price and the staff all speak good English. Otherwise try any of the many French (or other European) restaurants around. Quite pricey but excellent food.
TOURS
Open top Bus tours are cheap and last around 2 hours. There are loads of stops around the city and once you have bought a ticket, most allow you to jump on and off whenever you fell like it. A main stop is just in front of the Eiffel tower.
A Boat tour costs is cheaper for about 1½ hours and takes you around the Seine. Not as informative as the bus tours but lovely on a nice day and you’ll get to see the Statue of Liberty which you’ll probably miss if you stand on dry land.
PLACES OF INTEREST
Eiffel Tower: Reasonable price to get to the very top although you can pay less to only go half way. Wouldn’t recommend going all the way to the top if you have a fear of heights, especially given that the lift is a bit dodgy. You can walk up if you like but it will take a very long time.
Lourve: Very cheap to gain entry. If you are a real art lover than this is the place for you, if not it’s worth going just for the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. If you want to see the whole gallery it is probably better to set aside a whole day as it is huge.
Arc de Triomphe: Situated at the end of the Champs Elysees, it has great views of Paris, especially of the Champs Elysees. Open until 11PM during the summer so for the best views go up it at night.
Champs Delysee: Full of designer shops, restaurants, clubs and galleries. The best, and busiest place in Paris at night.
I know that I have only scratched the surface of Paris but this is all I have seen so far. No doubt you will all tell me about what I’ve missed out.