Normandy, Brittany & the Best of the North_ With Paris (Fodor's) - Fodor's [105]
It’s worth picking up a copy of Paris Pratique, the essential map guide, available at bookstores and souvenir shops.
From Notre-Dame to the Place de la Concorde. Spend time wandering around the lovely Ile-de-la-Cité, home of Notre-Dame, and relaxing in the Tuileries before and after tackling the Louvre.
From the Tour Eiffel to the Arc de Triomphe. You won’t be able to cover this whole area in one day, but plan lots of time for what could be called “monumental” Paris. In addition to the Eiffel Tower, the Champs Élysée, and the Arc de Triomphe, there are several excellent museums worth planning your days around.
The Faubourg St-Honoré. Chic spots in cities come and go, but the Faubourg’s always had it and probably always will, with its well-established shops and cafés.
The Grands Boulevards. Use the Opéra Garnier as your orientation landmark and set out to do some power shopping. There are some intriguing small museums in the neighborhood, too, if you want a dose of culture.
The Marais, the Bastille, and the Canal St Martin. The Marais is Paris’s most popular lazy-Sunday-afternoon neighborhood, where you can while away the day at the Place des Vosges, shop to your heart’s content. Or hang with the hipsters in the Bastille or along the Canal St. Martin.
Ile St-Louis and the Quartier Latin. Ile St-Louis is tiny, and one of the most romantic spots in Paris. Leave yourself lots of time to wander the Latin Quarter, a ‘hood known for its vibrant student life.
From Orsay to St-Germain-des-Pres. Fabulous cafés and two of the city’s most fabulous museums are found here, on the Left Bank, but make sure you also leave yourself time to wander the Jardins du Luxembourg.
Montmartre. Like a small village inside a big city, charming Montmartre feels distinctly separate from the rest of Paris.
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The Big Picture | Rules of the Rue: Etiquette | Getting Into Paris from the Airport | When to Go | Tips on Dining | Saving Time and Money | Hours | Visitor Information
THE BIG PICTURE
As world capitals go, Paris is surprisingly compact. The city is divided in two by the River Seine, with two islands (Ile de la Cité and Ile St-Louis) in the middle. Each bank of the Seine has its own personality; the Rive Droite (Right Bank), with its spacious boulevards and formal buildings, generally has a more genteel, dignified feel than the carefree and chic Rive Gauche (Left Bank), to the south. The east–west axis from Châtelet to the Arc de Triomphe, via the Rue de Rivoli and the Champs-Élysées, is the Right Bank’s principal thoroughfare for sightseeing and shopping
RULES OF THE RUE: ETIQUETTE
Simply put, the French like to look at people, so get used to being stared at. Flirting is as natural here (at all ages) as breathing. The French don’t smile at strangers, and doing so can be taken as an invitation for something more. Are the French rude? In a word: Non. In France, politesse is highly prized, as well as good manners. For example, failing to say bonjour (hello) when entering a shop—and au revoir (good-bye) on the way out—is considered rude.
GETTING INTO PARIS FROM THE AIRPORT
Paris is served by two international airports: Charles de Gaulle (also called Roissy) (3950* in English; outside of France, 0033–1–70–36–39–50 | www.adp.fr) and Orly (3950*; outside of France, 0033–1–70–36–39–50 | www.adp.fr).
Charles de Gaulle
The RER-B, the suburban commuter train, beneath Terminals 2 and 3, has trains to central Paris every 20 minutes; the fare is €8.50, and takes about 45 minutes. Note that you have to carry your luggage up from and down to the platform. Remember to hold onto your ticket because you’ll need it to exit.
Coaches operated by Air France (you need not have flown with the airline) (08–92–35–08–20 recorded information in English | www.cars-airfrance.com) run every 20 minutes between Roissy and