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An American's Guide to Paris

Verified guide

Paris guide

Profile picture for Oliver Manheim
Jan 21st, 2020
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I've visited Paris many times and love to spend time there. I’ve also studied in France and traveled around the rest of the country!

General tips

Take the Metro. Paris has a great subway system and it’s pretty easy to use, just get a bunch of tickets when you arrive and be prepared to open subway doors yourself when the train stops.
Eat a lot! Many restaurants will have inexpensive breakfast combinations (likely croissant, coffee, juice), or get a baguette at a nearby boulangerie and keep some cheese and juice at your hotel or Airbnb. The French take long lunches and late dinners, so be prepared to shift your schedule a bit.
Learn some French before you go. At the very least, throwing around the occasional “merci” (thank you) won’t hurt.

Restaurants

1

Chez Janou

affordable
Bistro
Homey restaurant in the Marais that features classic provincial dishes but is most notable (in my mind) for its chocolate mousse. It can get crowded at a busy time (e.g. weekend night) but it is worth a bit of a wait for the food and mainly the mousse.
2

Derrière

expensive
French restaurant
Trendy, almost hidden restaurant off a small alley near the Marais with a cozy patio and eclectic decor. On the pricey side but a cool place to take a friend or partner. After dinner, take a walk upstairs to the bathrooms and take a look inside (and beyond) the armoire in the hallway.
3

Café de l'Industrie

affordable
Restaurant
French restaurant
From the web: Updated bistro dishes & cocktails in a banquette-lined space with vintage art or at sidewalk tables.
4

Le Potager de Charlotte

affordable
Vegan restaurant
Great vegan restaurant, very cute and homey
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Bars

1

Experimental Cocktail Club

expensive
Cocktail bar
Dark, speakeasy vibes with terrific cocktails.
2

Prescription Cocktail Club

expensive
Cocktail bar
Similar to the Experimental Cocktail Club.
3

Les Séminaires (très) Particuliers

Event planner
Cozy bar near Montmartre, less uber-trendy than the cocktail bars but less crowded, filled with character, and has a nice garden.

Museums

1

Louvre Museum

Art museum
Museums
The most well known in Paris of course, probably worth a visit at some point but probably not the best museum in Paris. If you’re on a short trip, you can skip it.
2

Musée d'Orsay

Art museum
Museums
Modern art museum
Known for its impressionist paintings, maybe the most well-known and appreciated era for many non-aficionados, this is a good alternative to the Louvre if you want to hit a big art museum.
3

Rodin Museum

Sculpture museum
Museums
A personal favorite, this museum features the sculptures of Rodin. The art is amazing and the indoor/outdoor layout make it a very pleasant and accessible museum for all levels of art enthusiast.
4

Maison Européenne de la Photographie

Museum
Specialty Museums
A bit of a deeper cut but a very good museum specializing in photography. Check it out if you’re in the area, the exhibits are always interesting and you won’t have to fight the crowds of the more famous art museums.

The Tourist Loop

1

Luxembourg Gardens

Garden
Nature & Parks
Park
From the web: 17th-century park with formally laid-out gardens, trees planted in patterns & statues on pedestals.
2

Shakespeare & Company

Book store
From the web: Iconic, English-language bookstore stocking new & used titles in bohemian surrounds since 1951.
3

Notre Dame

From the web: Set on 2 islands in the Seine River, Notre Dame is home to its striking namesake Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, with its gargoyles and distinct flying buttresses. Île de la Cité also features historic bridges, a fountain square, and an archaeological crypt, while Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île on Île Saint-Louis is bustling with specialty shops set alongside cozy sidewalk cafes, quaint bistros, and upscale restaurants.
4

Pont Neuf

Bridge
Sights & Landmarks
Historic Sites
From the web: Arched stone bridge, opened in 1607, with 2 spans & a bronze, equine statue of King Henri IV.
5

Louvre Museum

Art museum
Museums
From the web: Former historic palace housing huge art collection, from Roman sculptures to da Vinci's "Mona Lisa."
6

Tuileries Garden

Garden
Nature & Parks
From the web: Expansive, 17th-century formal garden dotted with statues, including 18 bronzes by Maillol.
7

Place de la Concorde

Plaza
Sights & Landmarks
From the web: Major public square, scene of executions, decorated with fountains, statues & an Egyptian obelisk.
8

Champs-Élysées

Notable street
From the web: Famed route of landmarks such as the Louvre, Tuileries & Arc de Triomphe plus shops & restaurants.
9

Arc de Triomphe

Monument
Sights & Landmarks
From the web: Iconic triumphal arch built to commemorate Napoleon's victories, with an observation deck.
10

Place du Trocadero

Historical landmark
From the web: Paved open space anchored by a military monument & known for its dramatic views of the Eiffel Tower.
11

Eiffel Tower

From the web: The posh Eiffel Tower area, named for the iconic 1889 structure, is home to the Champs de Mars park, which extends from the tower past the Wall of Peace to École Militaire, a grand military complex. Musée du Quai Branly is an indigenous arts museum in a Jean Nouvel-designed riverfront building, while the UNESCO headquarters is famed for its 1950s architecture. Rue Cler is a quaint market street lined with cafes.
12

Quai Branly Museum

Art museum
Museums
Specialty Museums
From the web: Engaging, indigenous art and global tribal exhibits in contemporary museum created by Jean Nouvel.
13

Musée d'Orsay

Art museum
Museums
Modern art museum
From the web: Major 19th- & 20th-century European art collections housed in a monumental, former railway station.
14

Sorbonne Université

University
College

The Slightly More Adventurous Tour

1

Parc de Belleville

City park
Nature & Parks
Park
One of my favorite spots in Paris, a beautiful and quiet park with an incredible view of the city from above. You will feel like a local lounging around here.
2

Ménilmontant

Subway station
3

Père Lachaise Cemetery

Cemetery
Sights & Landmarks
From the web: Vast tree-lined burial site with famous names including Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison & Maria Callas.
4

Passage Brady

From the web: Covered arcade packed with South Asian restaurants, plus shops selling spices, jewelry & silks.
5

Rue Denoyez

Notable street
From the web: Vibrant graffiti murals adorn the buildings lining this short cobblestone thoroughfare.
6

Le Monte en l'Air

Book store
One of my favorite little shops in Paris, this bookshop has a great selection of books, magazines, photography books, posters, and general odds and ends that are both fun to peruse and perfect for souvenirs and gifts.
7

Marché de Belleville

Farmers' market
Only on Tuesday and Friday mornings but if you’re in Paris during the week then don’t miss it!
8

rue de la Villette

Vintage shops, concept stores, and heath food shops.
9

Love me cru

Permanently closed
cheap
Raw food restaurant
Fully vegetarian restaurant in Belleville.
10

Café Chéri

cheap
Bar
Popular spot to grab a coffee and do some people watching.
11

Aux Folies

cheap
Bar
Popular old bar, younger crowd.
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