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Paris Travel Tips & Suggestions

Comment by Carla, Italia

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.

Comment by Anonymous

If you do not plan to use the metro too much, I would recommend getting a carnet of ten tickets for 11.10 euros -- which works out much cheaper than buying them singly.

Comment by Anonymous

Stay in Montmartre, it's beautiful. Eating cheaply is no problem if you visit the fruit/vegetable stands combined with the bread and cheese stores. I still have cravings for a real baguette. Knowing some French would be very useful. I knew nothing, and had to mime a lot and look like an idiot. It is not a problem as long as you are polite and attempt to communicate. Bike touring is also very nice!

Comment by Barnaby P. , London, England

"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.

Comment by El Pedro

Paris is great! There's a fine cabaret in the Latin Quarter called "Les Trois Maillets" -- be sure to swing by. It gets crazy in the basement later at night and, frankly, just a little bit sketchy.

Comment by Sofia, Södertälje (Sweden)

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.

Comment by Nse, Nigeria

It's a lovely city. I spent three nights there. Took a tour bus the first day, then it was me, my map, and my metro ticket the other two days -- just exploring. They have great food too, and I managed to get by with my smattering of French!

Comment by Alex W

Paris is truly a beautiful city, give yourself plenty of time to see it or you'll miss out. Travel is easy with the Paris Metro, just grab yourself a map and you'll figure it out very quickly. Never be afraid to (politely) ask questions -- the rumors about the typical French coldness is decidedly untrue, and most people will be more than willing to help! The Arc de Triomphe is breathtaking when viewed during sunset, while the Eiffel Tower is best viewed at night. Take the stairs if you're looking for a bit of a workout! Most importantly, don't be afraid to try out a little French! You'll amuse the locals a little, and they will be a lot friendlier with you and overall much more helpful! Bonne chance!

Comment by Pamela

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!

Comment by Natasa

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!

Comment by afrodisiac

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.

Comment by Anonymous

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!

Comment by Denise - Philadelphia, PA

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!

Comment by Jen

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!

Comment by Anonymous

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.

Comment by Sydneyboy

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!

Comment by Anonymous

Stay in the Latin Quarter if you want to see the "tourist" Paris. Stay in Montmartre if you want to live like a Parisian.

Comment by Janine

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.

Comment by DRD

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.

Comment by Robert

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.

Comment by VarKat

Ahh Paris! You have to grab opportunities here or they will pass you by... make the most of everyday. Go to a jazz club, try to mingle, befriend a Parisian show puppy. Learning a language opens many doors and I guess I missed out by being a clueless foreigner. Dress well or don't bother at all. Like really, khaki shorts will not be tolerated. Paris is a little more reserved than Italian cities and a little more practical. It's still a mystery to me. Why all the hype? hmmm... to be continued.

Comment by Andrea

You could stay in Paris forever — if you can afford to — and still not get enough. I ran the whole time day and night and did not see the half of it. And remember, please at least try to speak a little French and you will be surprised how pleasant Parisians will be—don’t try and you will experience the stereotypical aloofness. My advice, buy one of those language learning cd’s at your local book store before you leave home and get the basics like “Ou se trouve le WC”, the last part is pronounced VC (Where’s the restroom.)

Comment by Anonymous

You can't really go wrong as far as location goes when you're looking for a hostel in Paris. They're pretty much all within a few blocks of a metro stop, which means you're always about 10-15 minutes from anywhere in Paris. By the way, buy a multi-day metro pass rather than paying for each trip to save money.

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Paris Travel Tips & Suggestions