Everyone who knows me knows that I know and love Paris almost
like a native. Whenever a friend goes to
the City of Lights, they will contact me for help with things to do. I love to help out, so I have thought about
it, and have come up with a few of my favorite places and things for me, and
also for first timers. As Audrey Hepburn
once said, “Paris is always a good idea.”
Quelque chose à manger? Something to eat?
My favorite restaurant is a restaurant traditionnel –
Bouillon Chartier. It’s located in the 9th
arrondissement (neighborhood). The restaurant itself is a throwback to the 19th
century with beautiful ceilings, mirrors, lamps and luggage racks for all those
purchases you have made. The menu is
vast with traditional dishes at great prices.
The waiters are dressed in their usual outfits and are willing to help out
those who might have trouble deciding what to order.
Bouillon-Chartier,
7 rue du Faubourg Montmartre | 75009 Paris
If it is your first time to Paris, I recommend that you stop
at any café and sit on the terrace (if the weather is good) to do what the
French love to do – people watch. Just be aware that smoking is still permitted
at outside tables. There is usually a limited
menu with croque monsieurs (grilled ham and cheese sandwich), roasted chicken or
steak with fries, and some salads. Lots of wine and beer though!
So many museums, so
little time !
There are 130 museums within Parisian city limits. If this
is your first time to Paris, you must visit the Louvre. Once a royal residence
and now the world’s largest museum, this gorgeous place is so large that you
need to commit to at least several hours and to also wander through lesser
known galleries. These days, the Louvre
is so popular that you really should purchase your tickets online before showing
up at the Pyramid.
Highlights include the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace,
Venus de Milo, and the Egyptian collection from Napoléon Bonaparte’s campaign.
Wear comfy shoes and leave big purses behind!
My favorite museum is the Musée de l’Armée – the Army museum
– which is located in the Hôtel des Invalides.
This complex also houses Napoléon’s tomb. Antique artifacts and information cover the history
of France’s warfare from Saint Louis to the war in Indochina. This museum is a must-see for any history
buff!
Take a walk!
So many places to see, so little time! Where to go?
Tulieries Garden to the Arc de Triomphe
Leave
the Louvre, cross the street then stroll through the Tuileries Garden to the
Place de la Concorde. Stop for ice cream
in warmer weather, or hot chocolate when the weather is crisp. The Place de la Concorde was once where folks
were guillotined during the Revolution; it is now the home to the Obelisk, a
gift from Egypt. Keep going onto the Champs-Elysées,
have a crepe while you appreciate the gardens before continuing to the shops
that line the busy part of the boulevard.
To reach the Arc de Triomphe, take the tunnel, don’t try to cross the
roundabout that is fed by 12 streets!
Like the High Line in New York?
Try the Promenade Plantée, built on an abandoned railway in
the 12th arrondissement. It is
beautiful, and you get a lovely view of the city from the elevated
walkway. You will definitely need comfy walking
shoes to go along its 2.95-mile length.
There are plenty of stairs that you can use to get to street level and
wander through places that tourists often ignore.
The Opera District (and
shopping!)
Located in the 9th arrondissement, the Opéra
Garnier is the iconic symbol of the area.
Also known as the Palais Garnier, it is a tourist attraction for its
architectural and historical importance.
The inspiration for the Phantom of the Opera, the Palais Garnier does
indeed have a water source beneath the building, but it is not open to the
public. You can take tours through the
Palais Garnier and see the beautiful ceiling created by Marc Chagall.
Behind the Palais are located the two largest department stores
in Paris, le Printemps and les Galeries Lafayette. My favorite is The Galeries Lafayette, which
was was created in the 19th century and boasts a beautiful stained
glass dome above the makeup and perfume department on the ground floor. There is a terrace too, on the roof that
gives everyone a beautiful perspective of Parisian rooftops and the Eiffel
Tower, too! There are plenty of shops in
the Opera district, so make sure you have someone to help you carry your purchases!
