One of the absolute joys of being an expat living in Paris is that I can be a tourist without the jet lag and limited luggage space for new shoes. It's such a privilege! Having traveled to Paris several times, with and without kids, I have a few tips I can share to make your trip here enjoyable.
Wear good walking shoes. Paris is one of the most walkable cities. You can start at the Notre Dame, walk to the Louvre along the river, and up the Champs-Elysees in one day. Or over to the Palais Garnier. And just strolling through neighborhoods, picking up snacks, desserts, etc., is the reason to come here. It's beautiful. But it can also be hell if your shoes are too tight. I love my grey Nike sneakers or a pair of trusty Birkenstock sandals for when the weather is nice.
To blend in with the local gals, you'll want to pack a scarf. Or two. I love a scarf and always travel with one, because it's a blanket/pillow on a plane, and an extra layer while walking around -- adding just a pop of color. And every proper French lady wears a scarf. And speaking of accessories, I recommend a cute backpack purse, because you're likely to buy a few things as you're walking around.
Don't get off the plane without a plan. There is so much to do here, from museums, to monuments to restaurants. Have at least a rough plan sketched out for each day. You can buy tickets for attractions in advance and skip those long lines (Eiffel Tower and Versailles especially). Also, there are a bunch of private tour guides that are pretty cool and worth it if you've been to Paris a few times and ready to see the lesser-known parts.
And remember who you're traveling with, and be realistic. Paris is perfect for little kids, but hit more parks and the open areas than museums and monuments.
Buy the hotel breakfast package. And plan to stop at boulangeries at least once a day. Oddly, as a tourist here, I found I was hungry a lot. It's not a city you can "run in" for a big breakfast or grab a to-go cup of coffee. It's a food-focused culture, so they expect meal times to be observed. Don't skip meals. And keep in mind many restaurants don't open the kitchen for dinner until 7.
Oh, and speaking of restaurants, you can make reservations to many on TheFork.com (La Forcette). Even on the same day. Just look up the restaurant online (while on your hotel wifi) and book. It takes the guess work out of arriving to a popular place hungry and getting turned away. You can call, too, if you've got enough French to muddle through that conversation.
Brush up on French polite words. Remember to start all transactions in bistros, grocery stores, bars, anywhere, with "Bonjour." You'll get a frosty reception from who ever you are working with if you forget. A few "s'il vous plaîts" go a long way, too.
Most locals know English but some only know enough to sell you a purse or ticket. Unless you're sure they are fluent, don't just assume and start a long conversation.
If you're going to museums, visit some of the lesser known ones. Yes, the Louvre is awesome and the farther you get from Mona Lisa, the less crowds you bump into. But there are dozens more that have great, small collections and, depending on the day, almost zero crowds.
Sundays in the non-touristy areas are quiet. Shops close early, or don't open at all, and the general population either get out of town or picnic in the public park, if the weather is warm. Plan accordingly.
Lastly, if you have school-aged kids who might not be overly-delighted with being dragged around a city, download the "Invader" app and scout for the 1,000+ Invaders all over Paris. Our recent 8-year-old visitor became so obsessed with finding new ones, he'd walk almost anywhere.
Other than getting to be a tourist here, myself, it's been fun to be the tour guide. And with each group of friends that visit, my stories and directions get better and better. Mainly, I'm just a big nerd for Paris.
Related posts:
More Paris posts
I love to travel, read all those Travel posts
To blend in with the local gals, you'll want to pack a scarf. Or two. I love a scarf and always travel with one, because it's a blanket/pillow on a plane, and an extra layer while walking around -- adding just a pop of color. And every proper French lady wears a scarf. And speaking of accessories, I recommend a cute backpack purse, because you're likely to buy a few things as you're walking around.
Don't get off the plane without a plan. There is so much to do here, from museums, to monuments to restaurants. Have at least a rough plan sketched out for each day. You can buy tickets for attractions in advance and skip those long lines (Eiffel Tower and Versailles especially). Also, there are a bunch of private tour guides that are pretty cool and worth it if you've been to Paris a few times and ready to see the lesser-known parts.
And remember who you're traveling with, and be realistic. Paris is perfect for little kids, but hit more parks and the open areas than museums and monuments.Buy the hotel breakfast package. And plan to stop at boulangeries at least once a day. Oddly, as a tourist here, I found I was hungry a lot. It's not a city you can "run in" for a big breakfast or grab a to-go cup of coffee. It's a food-focused culture, so they expect meal times to be observed. Don't skip meals. And keep in mind many restaurants don't open the kitchen for dinner until 7.
Oh, and speaking of restaurants, you can make reservations to many on TheFork.com (La Forcette). Even on the same day. Just look up the restaurant online (while on your hotel wifi) and book. It takes the guess work out of arriving to a popular place hungry and getting turned away. You can call, too, if you've got enough French to muddle through that conversation.
Brush up on French polite words. Remember to start all transactions in bistros, grocery stores, bars, anywhere, with "Bonjour." You'll get a frosty reception from who ever you are working with if you forget. A few "s'il vous plaîts" go a long way, too.
Most locals know English but some only know enough to sell you a purse or ticket. Unless you're sure they are fluent, don't just assume and start a long conversation.
If you're going to museums, visit some of the lesser known ones. Yes, the Louvre is awesome and the farther you get from Mona Lisa, the less crowds you bump into. But there are dozens more that have great, small collections and, depending on the day, almost zero crowds.Sundays in the non-touristy areas are quiet. Shops close early, or don't open at all, and the general population either get out of town or picnic in the public park, if the weather is warm. Plan accordingly.
Lastly, if you have school-aged kids who might not be overly-delighted with being dragged around a city, download the "Invader" app and scout for the 1,000+ Invaders all over Paris. Our recent 8-year-old visitor became so obsessed with finding new ones, he'd walk almost anywhere.Other than getting to be a tourist here, myself, it's been fun to be the tour guide. And with each group of friends that visit, my stories and directions get better and better. Mainly, I'm just a big nerd for Paris.
Related posts:
More Paris posts
I love to travel, read all those Travel posts
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