Paris - Will I like it?

[RebelSoldier]

I'm off next week (no kids!).

I'm worried for some reason.

Can anyone please give any advice?

I am happy to potter and loiter and people watch.

I'm not too bothered about the Notre Dame etc apart from a cursory glance.

I'm happy to see some of the museums.

Oh, I'm not sure why I'm worried

I love Paris - yes, you might get hassled a bit but that happens where I live anyway so I am used to it!

It used to be one of the most beautiful cities in Western Europe, but now it's probably one of the worst.

My partner works there every few months, and he's been mugged three times in the past year!

I was in Paris in June. We just spent 4 days wandering and eating and shopping. We did a couple of the touristy things because there were a few things we didn't want to go to Paris and not see but we loved the shops and restaurants. Visited little markets. It really was great. It's different to visiting somewhere like London where all the tourist sites are within easy distance of each other. Everything is in a different quarter and each a bit different from the others so it's really easy not to feel you've been and just done the usual sights.
Metro was great to get around as well.

Watching with interest as I'm going tomorrow! Taking my DDs (16 and 14) for the first time.
Hoping to get a little bit of culture into them as well as the shopping they have planned!
What we really need is restaurant/cafe recommendations (Thankyou for the one upthread for Bouillion Chartier, have heard it mentioned before but wouldn't have remembered without your post!)
I get that it's Paris so won't be hard to find great food, but travelling with

Oops posted too soon!
Travelling with 2 teens (one of which is vegetarian!) any suggestions of relaxed, less formal cafes/restaurants?

I'm no opera fiend either, just obsessed with the Phantom

I remember going as a teenager and being really scared of all the beggars. That was 20 odd years ago though!!

Lobster honestly you won't struggle. You will be tripping over places to eat. I'm a bit anxious about food and worried I may struggle but nope not a problem. There were hundreds of informal relaxed places and the food was great. I actually realised how little we settle for over here food wise when eating out. Even for dishes we'd eat in a restaurant here. Everything was much tastier.
Everywhere has menus outside so have a browse. There are literally places to eat on every street corner. The one thing is prices for the same type of food can vary so if something looks a bit steep have a look at the place a few doors down menu. Especially places like the Champs Elysse. There are some really reasonably priced places there but some eye wateringly expensive ones selling the same sort of food but no more formal or fancy.

Ooh one odd tourist attraction talking of the Champs Elysse. Car showrooms, there are loads and they aren't big glass warehouses like we have they are big shop fronts mixed in beside H&M and McDonanlds. But pop in to some of them. They aren't full of cars. The Toyota garage had things like car of the future, old cars, interactive things and a driving simulator. The Mercedes shop had a whole big exhibition thing as well. Was a bit of a change during the only rain shower we had. The Renault shop had a bar and restaurant as well.

And whatever your be heard about drivers in Paris don't believe a word of it...they are worse. The only time I felt frightened was the taxi from the airport into town. We got the train back out on he home journey. If you do go up the Eiffel Tower hate to say this but the top is a bit overrated. It's a bit like looking down on a google image. The second floor view is fab though and lovely at night. The lights every hour at night are worth a look and great from a distance.

I loved Paris. I'm not a City-break person, more a beach person, but thought I really should see Paris.
Went for a long weekend a few years ago with DD3 in a very cold February.
We had no plans and just wandered around. As we got our bearings we looked at the map and chose where to go. We went to the Louvre and stayed just long enough to get a glimpse of the Mona Lisa and left.
Food is extremely expensive but we found a Starbucks ( I know) which sold a big takeaway salad box for a few £ so we had salad for lunch each day. Lots of walking, lots of coffee stops in little cheap cafes