Walk everywhere when possible. Go to all the major tourist stuff - the reason these things are so popular is because they really are that beautiful! But don't forget the rest of Paris. Spend some time down by the canal, go to the Parc de Belleville & Buttes Chaumont, Chinatown in the 13th etc. Look up - or you'll miss a lot of the architecture. Sounds dumb I know, but you'd be surprised... Smile at people and make an effort to speak French. Enjoy!
The Montmartre area is the "real" Paris, away from all of the tourist and stuff. Eat at a cafe. Watch out for pushy guys in the Red Light District.
Paris is a great city. Don't believe the hype about the attitude. Check out the Eiffel Tower at night. The lights and hundreds of people drinking in the park all night can make for a fun night. Walk up the tower instead of the elevator. It's easy and cheaper. Try French, it's easy and you'll get a much better attitude, as you will anywhere, when you use just a little of the lingo. Merci is not hard to say. Don't miss out on a great city.
It was my first time in Paris in the summer of 2009. The architecture and old buildings are over whelming. La Louvre is outstanding. Go up the Eiffel Tower about an hour before sunset. Enjoy the view of this magnificent city, as it looks cleaner from up there -- otherwise Paris is very dirty. Watch where you walk and sit, even in the Metro. Wear good walking shoes that are easy to clean. There are lots of Gypsies especially in tourist areas -- just walk away. Yes, local Parisians can be rude too. Oh and some French would help but you get laughed at with Québécois French.
My advice is stay in the Latin Quarter for total funkiness! Also, go up the Eiffel Tower at night, other places like Notre Darme and the Arc will give you great views of the city too, so do those in the day and go up the tower in the night time. They do a light show and it's gorgeous. Also, unless you are in Paris for a full week, the travel pass isn't worth it. Just buy individual tickets or walk.
Yeah, Paris, joy, this place is awesome if you like big iron towers and bread. Buy the bread in shops and eat on the street. Don't buy cappucinos. Watch out for idiots on the subway. Spend a day here, then venture out into the countryside, the real beauty of France.
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