naffi said:

Ok, so will be in Paris for three days in July, what should I see, I have the obviou:-

Effel tower

The louvre

Catacombs

Moulin Rouge

Notre Dame

Opera House

Versailles

Anywhere else that people can recommend?

* I see you've got Notre Dame Cathedral planned. Make it count! Don't just go for the standard visit; look up the schedule for pipe organ recitals there and book yourself. You might be able to catch a free rehearsal, but if you have to pay, it'll be worth it. Even if pipe organ/liturgical music isn't your thing, the acoustics in the place are grand.

* Don't forgo planning a night to party it up in the Latin Quarter (And plan the morning after to recuperate).

* Don't forget Montmartre and the gorgeous Basilica Sacre-Coeur at the top. Best view in Paris. And the adjacent Place du Terte has some cool little cafés, gift shops and (weather permitting) outdoor artists, vendors and street performers. Nearby, you can still also visit the old, famous Lapin Agile caberet, the longtime haunt of famous writers and thinkers since the mid 1800s.

* If you have time, trek up to the northern suburb of Saint-Denis. It's got the reputation of being a slightly tough neighbourhood, but it's got some decent ethnic (mostly north African) eateries, and its centerpiece is the beautiful Basilica of St. Denis, the oldest gothic church in the world. There you will find the crypts of many of France's royals and nobles.

* Get your hands on a bike and ride up and down both banks of the River Seine. This is really nice at dusk. In summertime this makes for particularly good people watching as the city's "Paris-Plages" program turns the river banks into a sort of sprawling downtown faux beach (albeit with no swimming in the river allowed).

* If you must swim (and I can vouch that Paris in July can be brutally hot ), there are some decent public pools. One of the better kept ones is Piscine Josephine Baker, but it is somewhat small.

* If the Radio France headquarters are done with renovations by July, I'd suggest to stop by. I'm not even sure what you'd find there , but their online giftshop has some cool stuff and they have a MASSIVE music library (though I don't know what sort of access they give to the public). At worst, just to the south, you'll find one of several Parisian versions for the Statue of Liberty standing guard in a small island in the Seine. Cool thing to see, even if the immediately surrounding area in this part of the city is otherwise quite boring.

* If you're into bargain hunting, antiques, etc. (and you have a good eye for counterfeits), hit up the gigantic flea market at Porte de Clignancourt. It can be hit or miss, but I was lucky enough to come away with a very cool late 19th century Afghan prayer run and antique copper pots that I had a ball haggling over.

* If you have a bit of time and extra money, take a bus trip down to Fontanbleu, 24 miles south of Paris. The Chateau de Fontainebleu is there as well as a beautiful national forest. Between the two, I prefer the forest, but Chateau de Fontainebleu is in some ways cooler than, say, the Chateau de Versaille, as unlike Versaille much of its period furniture still occupies the place.

* You must stroll the Avenue des Champs-Elysees. Paris' main street, its a great place to feel the buzz and grandeur of the city. While you're there, visit the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde. The Arc is an iconic French Revolution monument on the western tip of the street and the Place de la Concorde marks the site of many French Revolution-era executions on the eastern tip of the street. The stores that line the street now are pretty down-market compared to those that used to be found there. (Expect usual mall go-tos, like the Gap, Nike and Banana Republic.) But just a few blocks northeast, you also can still stroll exclusive high-end fashion outlets and foofy boutiques on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Rue Saint-Honoré, Rue de la Paix and at Place Vendome. If you're into celebrity watching, this is a great place for it, too.

* Visit Pere Lachaise Cemetary. It's where Jim Morrison, Chopin, Oscar Wilde, Moliere, Pierre Abelard and other notables are buried. Expect a bit of an odyssey -- the place is big and somewhat tough to navigate, even with a map. It's quite beautiful, though, and it's interesting to see people from all across the world visit to pay respects to their favorite dead celebs.

[Edited 1/10/14 9:30am]

Be sure to visit Napoleon's Tomb.

I had an incredible experience there with a fun photo booth just outside the tomb area. I have NEVER laughed so hard in my entire life. HONEST TO GOD! I will remember that experience as the time I laughed so hard that tears were flowing down my face, my stomach ached & I could barely stand up.

People from all over the world speaking many different languages (not English) were so caught up in our (me & my aunt) laughing over the photos that they were all coming over to us to see what all the hoopla was about. When they came over, we showed them the photos we just took & everyone started laughing hysterically. The laughter was thick & contagious. The photos were so hilarious that we all just stood there and laughed uncontrollably. Everyone wanted to get in on the fun & the photo line grew & grew. That photo booth must have made a gazillion dollars that day from all the laughter cuz we drew a crowd just by having a fabulous time.

This wasn't a regular photo booth. It was one that you have to get in it and then it puts your face in like suits of armor, old army outfits etc. They were super funny when you did it correctly but when you made a mistake and didn't line up the face (size wise) with the armor etc, it was beyond funny.

Hopefully, that photo booth is still there.

The Musée d'Orsay.

just know that slight smell is just a minor thing compared to the artistry...

naffi said:

Ok, so will be in Paris for three days in July, what should I see, I have the obviou:-
Effel tower
The louvre
Catacombs
Moulin Rouge
Notre Dame
Opera House
Versailles

Anywhere else that people can recommend?

You will need more than three days to visit all those places.

Versailles is a day trip by itself at least. I could spend the entire day just wandering through the gardens alone.

The line for the Catacombs was obscenely long when I went. Allow half a day for that.

Definitely buy tickets for the Eiffel Tower in advance online if you plan on going up there.

The Moulin Rouge exterior makes for a nice photo, but I'd go to Crazy Horse instead for burlesque.

I agree with Lammastide about Père Lachaise, Sacré-Coeur, Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe. The roundabout around the Arc is hilarious--total anarchy!

If this is your first visit to Paris then you may want to do the free walking tour first: http://www.newparistours....-tour.html

Versailles is not really that special. It's a long journey out and it looks just like every other palace from that time period. Only that it's really huge.


Montmartre is a really stylish, nice art district. So is the jewish district.


Also, don't try to focus too much on all the sights. Try to walk around the city with no clear destination. Just walk around and pretend to be from Paris, no maps, no camera. Suck up the atmosphere, breathe the air, feel the rhythm of the city and the people around you.

That's when you get to know a city and those are the impressions you will keep forever and be able to connect with (as opposed to random pictures of sights), in my opinion!

Don't forget to take some time just to slow it down, chill out and sit at a pavement table at a bistro drinking wine and eating food while you watch the world go by.

Go to Rue Mouftarde and shop up a storm at the fromageries and patissiries for a picnic with a bottle of champagne.

It's all about food and drink with me as you can see.

Try escargot.

naffi said:

Ok, so will be in Paris for three days in July, what should I see, I have the obviou:- Effel tower The louvre Catacombs Moulin Rouge Notre Dame Opera House Versailles Anywhere else that people can recommend?

^ you could easily do all this in 3 days!

there are lots of gypsy/pick pockets tho so watch out for those bastards

get a metro ticket for unlimited travel is the cheapest option

i'd suggest don't waste time or money waiting in queues for the eiffel tower or notre dame, get a picnic & enjoy these attractions from outside in the park & by the river.. lush!

check out the french men, also very lush

i would pay to take the steps to the top of the arc de triomphe, great views & crazy traffic/sexy traffic cops

in addition to your list, must dos are the sacre coeur church with breathtaking views & during the summer, the pompidou centre with lots of street performers & people watching

walk along the champs elysees, you will see the grand palais where prince played his 'all day all night' concerts 2009 & imagine the tour de france in it's final stages, stand in the middle of the road to get some photos & have drivers hoot & swear in french at you

watch hot suit wearing french men on vespas

go to the louvre late afternoon to avoid the queues, it's pretty in the evening as the pyramid thingys are lit up

the catacombs are worth seeing as is the pere la chaise cemetery

hope u have a nice time! x

jone70 said:

The Musée d'Orsay.

This.

Also, Berthillon on the Ile Saint Louis. Best.Ice cream.Ever. They are closed for the entire month of August, but you should be fine in July. Combine this with your trip to Notre Dame - they're in the same area.

Go to the top of the Montparnasse Tower. Best view in Paris, because the Eiffel Tower is in it, but the Montparnasse Tower is not.

Wherever you go, be prepared to stand in line. July is the height of tourist season, meaning everything will be crowded.

Genesia said:

jone70 said:

The Musée d'Orsay.

This.

Also, Berthillon on the Ile Saint Louis. Best.Ice cream.Ever. They are closed for the entire month of August, but you should be fine in July. Combine this with your trip to Notre Dame - they're in the same area.

Go to the top of the Montparnasse Tower. Best view in Paris, because the Eiffel Tower is in it, but the Montparnasse Tower is not.

Wherever you go, be prepared to stand in line. July is the height of tourist season, meaning everything will be crowded.

...And that no French will be left in Paris.

My favorite musem experience was the Pompidou where they have all the mindblowing modern stuff. I could spend days in there. But the Louvre & Musee d'Orsay were also incredible.

I agree with the advice to just walk around and get a feel for the place. Just head in any direction, get something to eat at the first place that looks good - it probably is. Allow yourself to get a little bit lost.