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.
Montmartre is the best part of Paris, the true Paris, and the area by itself is secure. To stay in Montmartre is a must if you find a nice accommodation to stay -- don't do like me and read carefully the Paris' hostels reviews before you book online because, for some reasons, Paris is a uniformly horrible city for hostels. My parents, who backpacked in Paris in 1978, had warned me -- bad security, rip-off, showers full of mold. Trust me, it has not changed for twenty-nine years! Expect body fluids and dehydrated insects' carapaces on your bedding (not a joke, I saw that!). The area of Montmartre is absolutely gorgeous with its pedestrian streets and its famous basilica du Sacre Coeur. Go there at sunset with a bottle of wine and puckered lips. Relax as Paris lights up around you and enjoy watching people stroll by for hours.
I went to Paris last summer with few expectations, it was the last stop on a European vacation. I fell in love! Paris is beautiful. The Eiffel Tower was amazing especially at night with all the lights. Fat tire bike tours is a must -- four hours of touring around Paris on a mountain bike then a hour on a boat going up the Seine drinking wine! Wonderful. I only encountered two rude french people. One was on the overnight train from Basil Switzerland to Paris, the ticket guy made fun of my high pitched voice, pinching his nose to imitate me! The second was a waiter in a Paris cafe. The waiter was trying his best to be haughty, but he had a black eye and several scratches on his face and looked like he had been in a fist fight, he ended up looking silly. Everyone else I encountered was more than helpful and very friendly. Several people went above and beyond common courtesy to help when I was lost. I love Paris! Going back next year!
Be very careful when you choose your hostel in Paris! 80% are old and ruined by time and very poor maintenance. I've heard that some even have rat baits under the bunks, and that it seems totally normal to the owners, so don't expect any help in case you wake up during the night hearing "something" scratching into your backpack. Always go for the top three, this will avoid bad surprises.
Paris, it was as beautiful as everything I had read. I just returned from Paris and I am in love. Everything is within walking distance from the Metro/RER system. The Parisians are very warm, friendly, and helpful (especially the police). It is true that Parisians dress well, but that can be said for most of Europe, so if you go to Europe in general, try to dress a little better than you usually do. I fortunately wore black most of my stay, so I fit right in. As far as the "snobbiness" - I did not encounter any. The French were most charming and happy to help me. (I do speak French, so perhaps that was my ticket). I took a night train from Paris to Rome and made some great friends! Train is the way to go - buy one of those Eurail passes! They are well worth the money! Ciao!
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.
Just two tips for Paris: Take a bottle of red wine, some bread, and cheese up to the top of Mont Martre to the steps of the Sacre Coeur at dusk and just gaze. And two: do a Fat Tyre night bike tour from the base of the Eiffel Tower, a great way to review everything you've seen that day as the sun sets in summer!! A truly beautiful city!
Paris is wonderful. I just finished backpacking across Europe for 5 weeks and it is my favourite place! Try the Berthillon gelato on the Island. Accept no substitutes...it is the best stuff you will ever eat. Also try a Chocolate Crepe with real chocolate (not Nutella). It may be on the menu as Crepe du Chocolate du Maison. And try to speak some French! The locals will laugh with you, try to help you and overall be friendlier. Oh, and watch for the dog poop on the sidewalks!
"Les trois maillets" is great only for people who love the piano. If you hate jazz, it's not the place for you. My favourite is "le Vrai Paris," in the Montmartre area, which is the real Paris. The Latin Quarter area is really too sketchy.
Paris is amazing, I fell in love with it and so do most people. I have to say the Eiffel Tower and the more touristy sites were a little bit of a disappointment. On the other hand Montmartre and places like the Sacre Couer were amazing. But seriously screw what they say about French attitude, people are fantastic.
I was robbed in Paris and almost lost my life. The hospital was awful and French doctors were rude. I won't go there ever again!
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.
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