Paris suggestions...........

This fall we will have 3 full days/nights in Paris. Staying almost due NE of the Eiffel Tower about 5.3km walking distance away.

We've been to Paris before, but more whirlwind than this. We know most of the obvious 'attractions' and have been to a few.

We really enjoy 'hidden away' things when we travel. Lesser known maybe is the right term. Walking and things like hop on hop off buses are our preferred travel style; you get to absorb more of what's around you that way.

In places like this we also enjoy outdoor parks and gardens, particularly if they have some interesting history to go with them.

As far as eateries, we loving trying the out of the way places that draw locals, and may not be on the main drags attracting tourists.

So, suggestions please. I know some of you have been there and have recommendations of things to check out and things to avoid.

Even if you can't recall an address, if you can recall a name, we may be able to locate it in Trip Advisor.

TIA!

 

I wish I could help. In my 3 trips to France, I've only ridden the bus from CDG to Orly West, and ended up in Paris once by mistake (missed a flight from Biarritz to Orly, so we took the train and stayed at a airport hotel).

 

Check out the Great Paris WalkPack. A self-guided walking tour through 5 (IIRC) Paris neighborhoods, including some out-of-the-way places that tours don't take you to. We brought my wife parents with us (mid 70's age, average conditioning) and we all enjoyed the tours. You will hike quite a bit using this guide, but it's not too strenuous.

 

Did you go? If so what were the highlights?

 

We did. We found the metro to be quite easy to use, as long as you did a little map study beforehand and knew where you needed to get off or change trains. If you buy a ticket pack it will save you a bit of $.

Hop on hop off buses are still a good way to see lots of the town. You can make a loop pick out some spots you want to explore further, stay on the bus and get off the next pass by.

Many of the stores downtown look a bit unassuming from the outside. Not that they aren't nice, but they bely what they have inside. Sometimes there will be a basement grocery, a ground level clothing, upstairs something else. Almost worth wandering through just to see the layout.

Food is expensive. And not always very good to American taste buds. We found that if you stayed to something called a café or bistro they would be a little less expensive. If you like picking through a deli for your lunch you can find some things you like maybe easier than trying to decipher a menu. Some deli have seating available, and if you're close to a park you'll find that is popular with the locals. You'll also find that if you wander a couple of blocks away from a big tourist attraction like Notre Dame or the Louvre, there will be side streets with eateries that are much more budget friendly than the ones you are next to at the attraction.

If you are a museum buff, and there long enough, a museum pass that will get you into several different ones, at a nice discount, is a good idea. We had fairly good weather a couple days, and didn't really want to be inside. The day we intended to go to Versailles, which is out a little way, a wet cold front came through, so we had to change plans, as much of what we'd enjoy with it were outside.

Like with any travel to big cities, be prepared for weather changes and pickpockets.

 

The Paris Catacombs! Longg wait but well worth it