Paris first timers

[emmetgirl]

Me and DH are going to Paris in November for 5 days, neither of us has been before.
We're going to do a few of the obvious tourist things but does anyone have any suggestions for places there that aren't in the Paris "top 10" things that you loved?

Have lunch at Chartier, one of the grand old fashioned brasseries, not expensive but a real Paris experience. Others have beaten me to suggest the Musee Rodin, my favourite Paris museum. Have a picnic on the banks of the Seine with all the students.

Placemarking as really want to take dh. I LOVED Versailles - the gardens are amazing. It was years ago when I went with my ex & had a bottle of wine sitting on the point neuf which was nice

Just to say I'm not sure what this Fragonard museum is, but it sounds like there may be two?!

I went to a very small, free Fragonard museum which was run by the Fragonard perfume company! So there may be two different museums with the same or similar names to differentiate between.

Wander around Le Marais and the Canal St Martin.

all the amazing food markets. My fave is la Bastille.

I also adore the Rodin museum. One of my favourite places in the world!

Lots of good museums here, and other ideas, so can I chip in with practicalities? It will be cold - definitely take gloves and a decent coat. Pre book the museums - I would do one a day (first thing if possible to beat the crowds), book two or three lunches or dinners go with the flow for others, then have the afternoons to potter and explore.

Yes, when I went to the Musée d'Orsay, I got there first thing (though I didn't pre-book as I wanted a joint waterlilies and that museum ticket and couldn't work out how to buy them online). I made a beeline for the impressionist art and did all that while it was still quiet. Then once the museum was getting busier I went round the other parts because they were still quiet in comparison to those galleries.

Coffee and cakes for breakfast at Angelina's, Musee de Cluny, sailing boats in Jardin du Luxembourg, catacombs at the Pantheon, bistro on Rue Mouffetard

Best day ever!

Book tickets for Montparnasse tower at dusk snd see the Eiffel Tower when it lights up.

My tips for Paris which haven't been mentioned yet:

L'opera Garnier - the most beautiful building ever.
Musée Jacquemart-André - a house showing how the fabulously wealthy lived in Paris 200 years ago.
Hôtel de la Marine - has a great terrace overlooking Place de la Concorde.

And if you want a little slice of luxury have a cocktail at the Crillon hotel.

Depending on what you enjoy doing.
Maison Proust, for posh cocktails, a really nice place to sit, and they have a library room with old editions, really beautiful.
Petit Palais, fantastic art collection
Musee Carnavalet, excellent museum of Paris.
Musee d'Orsay, brilliant art collection, and the building itself is a marvel of architecture.
L'ecole des Mines, an old-fashioned museum of minerals, another fab place
Hotel Intercontinental, if you fancy some oysters and fancy cocktails
There's currently an exhibition on Surrealism at Centre Pompidou, and I believe the place is going to be closed for repairs for many years soon, if you want to see it.
Have fun!

Another vote for wandering around the marais and place des Vosges Stop in at the Picasso museum as well.

Boat trip on the Seine onthe first day - you get to see loads, get your bearings and the commentary is interesting.

Used to live in Paris and do miss it!

Go for a hot chocolate at one of the Angelina places.

Another vote for the Rodin museum and also Place de La Vosages (sp??).

@Ineffable23 oh it's definitely not the perfume one!

It's in the Veterinary School at Maisons-Alfort.

That sounds very interesting but as though anyone who went to one while expecting the other might be disappointed...

I love the Pompidou centre. It has a great view from the top. You aren't travelling with children but I have visited twice with mine and the activities for children really impressed me. The French are definitely better at getting their children into culture than we are.