To ask what's good about Paris?

[oldlaundbooth]

Off for a mini break in a couple of week's time.

After reading the heart-breaking thread about why everyone hates Paris AIBU to ask if there's ANYTHING good there?

Last time I went it was just me and DH and we were in lurve so maybe I have rose-tinted specs on but I remember it was fabulous.

Restaurants? Cafes? Parks? Markets? Places to stroll? Museums?

Our closet metro is Chateau d'Eau.

there's an old railway line that's been converted to a park - does anyone know what I mean?

I think this is what you mean: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coul%C3%A9e_verte_Ren%C3%A9-Dumont

My favourite off-the-beaten-track museum is this one: www.hallesaintpierre.org/ which is right next to the mahoosive fabric shop mentioned above, pretty much at the foot of Sacré Coeur. Well worth an hour's wandering around.

What I do in Paris

• galleries Lafayette food hall and rooftop terrace
• the rooftop bar at the institute of Islamic culture (lovely views of the city)
• the café at the mosque (beautiful garden serving baklava and sweet mint tea)
• wandering round the marais and st germain du pres
• art: the musee d'orsay, the louvre , the palais de Tokyo
• if time and nice day - Versailles palace and gardens (no need to queue for the gardens which are a lovely day out in themselves)
• Marche aux Oiseaux - if at all possible you should go to this!
• la perle du marais (bar) for aperos and French hipster spotting
• buy some tea from marriage freres
• ice cream from Berthillon
• patisserie from any of the yummy places you'll pass by constantly

Observe the differences in etiquette - I think that people have a bad experience in Paris because they are not prepared for the cultural differences. Make sure you dress well (smartly) - proper shoes, not trainers, no sportswear etc. Be haughtily polite to all - don't expect all smiles from the shop assistants/waiters and don't act all English and casual and smiley with them. French people will be just as offended if you act super casual to them as Englsh people are when French people act super reserved. Don't take offence if people are abrupt and rude, and don't rise to the bait. Sometimes French people can like to "test" you - if you hold your nerve and act calm and polite then they'll start being friendlier. If you get chatting with people, don't ask personal questions. Don't eat too early in the evening and don't eat or drink on the street. Basically, you will be better received if you act formal and reserved.

I love Paris. Not a huge fan of London though. Maybe I'm weird. Just love the architecture and vibe

The Rodin Museum is lovely

i've been to Paris 4 times and it has always been great.

I love Paris. Just pottering around, having great coffee, great wine and great food, it's a lovely city. That's before you get to the art and architecture.

I'd highly recommend Le Procope restaurant, great food, history (the supposedly have Napoleon's hat following a bet!) and a lovely atmosphere.

Cultural activities, nightlife, architecture, leisurely boat rides along the Seine hopping off to chill on the riverbank I love it all and go twice a year every year

Yes, it's the Promenade Plantée, definitely nice for a stroll if the weather is good. Featured in the film Before Sunset!

Oops, that was responding to the last post on the previous page.

Yes yes to Sainte Chapelle. It's stunning, seriously. And even if it's busy, it's never crowded. My favourite place in Paris - but everything above is lovely too. Near the Pompidou is the museum of arts and history of Judaism - amazing contemporary records from the Dreyfus affair and loads more. It's incredibly interesting (and the current level of security - like an airport - to get in is sobering).

It's lovely. If you're there for a Sunday, go to the morning market on Ile de la Cite. Lots of beautiful coloured birds, flowers etc. lovely for a stroll.

Agree about doing a bateaux mouches river boat trip, great for seeing Paris from a different perspective and with the commentary you learn lots too.

We prefer to stay a bit out of the main centre, in the 10th arrondissement. A little gritty maybe, but we always felt safe as the metro station was v close to the hotel. It was close to the Canal St Martin which is nice for a wander, also walking distance of Parc de buttes Chaumont which is nice.

On a mild evening at dusk, bypass the overpriced, formal restaurants and instead grab yourselves a portion of frites and Mayo from a vendor by the river near the Eiffel Tower. Then sit enjoying them while you watch the lights come on the tower as the hour strikes.

Montmartre, worth the climb up the steps for the view.

It's worth walking to the arc de triomphe and sitting on a bench facing it for a few minutes for the sheer amusement value of watching vehicles speeding wildly from about 7 different entry points from that roundabout. Utter chaos!

Go with an open mind and you'll have a great time.

The Sorbonne area is lovely for a wander, we usually stay near there. Its close to Notre Dame and Luxembourg jardins and has a studenty feel with plenty of cafes and bars and nice streets to wander round. Agree about the Baton mouches river trip we timed it so when we were coming back up the Seine it was dark and the twinkling lights come on the Eiffel tower , its magical , people wave at you from all the bridges its a great trip at night.

I can't understand the other thread, it really is a beautiful, fantastic city and I fall in love with it each time I go.

I've only been once, but quite liked it.

Visit the business district at La Défense - the architecture is stunning, and on Sundays there's a market there; well worth a wander