Insider Tips for Paris, 2 night break only

[jenkel]

Just found out that my lovely DH has booked a 2 night break in Paris for our anniversary in a couple of weeks. I have been to Paris before but ages ago and we want to maximise the time we have in Paris. I dont really know where we are staying, just that it is central to everything. I would like to go to the Louvre, last time I went I was too young and just didnt appreciate it. But thats the only must do thing that I have at the moment. Any tips on nice places to eat, nice places to go, anything really. We arrive about 10 in the morning and leave about 10 at night so we have 2 nights and more or less 4 days.

Is this your last chance to "do" Europe before you head to Oz? Go to Chartier for lunch (7 Rue de Faubourg Montmartre - Grand Boulevards area) - it's a real experience. It's the kind of huge Parisian brasserie that no longer exists, it's been in existence sine 1898 apparantly. Amazing room, real Parisian waiters and a great lively buzz. Food is typical brasserie fare - what they do they do well but it's nothing amazing - and pretty reasonable. Have you been to the Musee Rodin? I love the sculpture garden. Musee d'Orsey is also interesting and you can wander along the river to get there. We took the kids to Paris last Summer and bought passes for the river boat one day so we could hop on and off - much more pleasant than doing the metro with three kids and you can cover quite a distance. As I said on the other Paris thread here at the moment Rue Mouffetard is interesting for a really colourful food market at the North End. Les Halles is great for shopping. Regular trips to Paris is one of the things we will really miss if we do make it to Sydney!

Meant Musee D'Orsee of course (can't find the accent on my keyboard!)

The Tour de Montparnasse is great, views over the whole of Paris with the added bonus of being able to see the Eiffel Tower because you're not standing on it! (Also a lot cheaper and less queuing, well worth it for a tourist moment).

I found the \link{http://www.ratp.info/informer/anglais/paris_visite.php\Paris Visite} great value and easy to use if you want to get around quickly.

Agree Mount parnasse is great you get right out on the roof weather permitting and I went at about 10 am and got straight into the lift. No queue at all, it is basicly an office building and I even doubted I was in the right place.

It is nice to wander about but it is also so simple to use the metro and get where you want to be quickly.

oooh, sunnydelight, was going to recommend Chartier too! Have got a highly prized, stolen (paper) menu on the wall in our kitchen. Love it, you must go!

The catacombs are good, as is the church of St Sulpice, but it´s been Dan Browned, so maybe not....

Boulevard St Germain for a lovely wander, coffee and people watch at Les Deux Magots if you feel rich!

Rough guide to Paris is good.

Just walk walk walk.....

very jealous!

x