Paris and Ile de France

Update: July 25th, 2018 - 25 juillet 2018

7200 people visited this blog.     Thank you! Merci! 

Audience from Argentina, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Latvia, 
Netherlands, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Spain, UK, Ukraine, USA, etc.
w

Please support my work: advertisers / donations / sponsors are welcome!

Contact: afrenchinusa@gmail.com
w
My other blogs about France (in English)
Prepare any Trip to France: advice, addresses, info region by region, etc.
http://knowaboutfrance.blogspot.com
And:  French Expressions & Vocabulary for a Trip ---- Map of France, Regions, Highways, etc.
France in the USA: bakeries, restaurants, doctors, libraries, pharmacies, schools, stores, theaters, etc. 
History of France from 1000 BC to nowadays ---- About French Cuisine & Wines ---- 900 French Websites
http://allmyfrenchblogs.blogspot.com

w

La Compagnie Airline
BUSINESS class at VERY low pricesRound trip
NYC - Paris: $1499 
www.lacompagnie.com

w

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

q

- NEWS - NEWS - NEWS - NEWS - NEWS - NEWS - NEWS -

> Beware of Pickpockets in Paris! 45,000 complaints were made since January 2018, mostly by tourists. Pickpockets are acting either individually or in groups of 2 or 3. They appear like other tourists or kids or people collecting poll opinion, asking for information, etc. Do not let people / kids surrendering you, do not keep your money and ID in a bag, do not leave a wallet or bag on the table even in front of you. And don't show you're tourists with camera and maps. Although violent crimes are rare in France, pickpockets and car thieves are very active. Police units are on site 24 hours but they can't be everywhere. 
>  Visit Paris while eating a fine French meal. The Bustronome is a luxurious double deck bus offering a great Paris tour and serving a fine French meal with all the comfort of a nice restaurant  www.bustronome.com/paris/concept/ 
> Paris from 52 BC to 1900 in video animation www.youtube.com/watch?v=-64kHmCJGMA
> IOC decided on September 13th: Paris will host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Installation budget: 6 Billion Euros. 50% of the equipment are already in place. Click the link to read historic and details: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Summer_Olympics
> High speed through Paris aboard a SAMU ambulance as if you were the driver: only 8 minutes to do 6 miles from south to north www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtiGdXu8O1k  
4 sirens for SAMU emergency ambulances: French drivers were getting used to 2-tone sirens and didn't react anymore www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1F8_Rulyaw
> Taxis: Airport flat rate or "Forfait": 50 euros from CDG and 35 euros from Orly to Paris.
> During July and August, several express ways of the Seine River banks are closed and replaced by sand and / or gardens. Let's enjoy summer on "Paris plages" (Paris beaches).
> Renovated Picasso Museum: it took 4 years to entirely renovate the superb Hotel Salé in the Marais Quarter. The whole 17th century building had its surface doubled and was "re-adapted" to the 5000 works of Pablo Picasso. www.museepicassoparis.fr/en/ 
> Louis Vuitton Fondation for Creation: This new art center is an idea of French Billionaire Bernard Arnault and presents contemporary works from the 20th & 21st centuries. It is sheltered in an astonishing Frank Gehry huge "Structure" located near Porte Maillot in the 16th arrondissement. www.fondationlouisvuitton.fr
> Vertigo? Then don't try the glass floor of the Eiffel Tower 1st floor! You stand 250 feet above the ground without any floor part, just glass!

> The Paris subway network - born in 1900 at the same time than London and NY subways - is progressively automated (no driver) with tire-operating trains, without separation between cars. Check this video of line 1 La Defense - Chateau de Vincennes. Important announcements are made in several languages: listen at 5:28 and 10:39 www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BVOruJjI2A&t=36s

> History of Versailles Palace: magnificent video http://www.versailles3d.comfrench-revolution.html

Great Sites for Organizing your trip

Before any trip to France

http://knowaboutfrance.blogspot.com    mapvisitfrance.com/

http://france.angloinfo.com    www.france-voyage.com/travel-photos/
If you don't know Paris or even if you know the city:
www.lonelyplanet.com/france/paris

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXnW4pD0OrA    www.youtube.com/watch?v=AT5g1a7cBRM

(Rick: The English didn't win the Waterloo battle alone: Austrians and Prussians were there too.
Actually, except once at sea, English never won any battle against the French when they fought 1 against 1) 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfDv5TTJ3Bc     www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYj6Hqdhauo 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8VgHbyTSuc
Learn basic French sentences and Parisians will be more welcoming

 With Audio www.languageguide.org/french/vocabulary 

http://speakfrenchenough.blogspot.com
You can also take some lessons in NYC. Contact: tbidault@fiaf.us

A - Ville de Paris (City of Paris)

B - Ile de France (Greater Paris)

A - Paris

Blogspot doesn't allow linking contents to chapters; you need to scroll. Sorry!

1 - Basic information: Best / Worst periods, Weather, Language, Getting in, Geography, Tourist Offices, Maps, etc.

2 - Getting around: Public Transportation & Private Transportation - Tickets & Passes

3 - Lodging: B&B, Hotels, Inn for low budget, Short / Long Term Renting

4 - Eating: Restaurants, Tea rooms, Mythic Cafés & Bars, local Cuisine, Pastry shops, etc

5 - Visiting: Museum Passes, Tours, Sightseeing, Best views, Monuments & Museums, Romantic walks & locations, Gardens, etc.

6 - Buying & Shopping: Everyday stuff, Food, Beverages, Clothing, Souvenirs, VAT, etc.

7 - Entertainment, Events, Sports, Celebrate birthday, marriage, etc.

8 - Emergencies, Safety, Police, Doctors, Pharmacies, Lost objects

9 - Calling Home, Cells, Post Office, Internet

10 - Studying, Courses, Workshops

Legend:    1e, 6e, 17e = Arrondissements / Arrt (Districts)     [Louvre] = Subway station      [bus 21] = bus line 

     R Reservation necessary     F Formal clothing      *  **  *** Quality / Service     *  **  ***  Readers' favorite

1 - Basic Information

- Best and worst periods for visiting Paris: 

The best period is from June 5th to July 15th with fair temperature and low humidity; Bastille Day or Fête Nationale is on July 14th. There are other good periods: September to mid-October has fair temperatures but with some rain storms and chilly evenings. May* has nice temperatures, with some rain storms and some chilly evenings. If you don't mind cold temperatures and some snow, Paris at the end of the year* is charming with many Christmas decorations (pictures at the bottom of this blog).     

The worst period is August: many restaurants and stores are closed for vacation and there is an overflow of foreign tourists. 

 * Museums & monuments are closed on May 1st, July 14th, Nov. 1st, Dec. 25th, Jan. 1st.   

- Weather in Paris and its region the year long:

France Forecast: http://france.lachainemeteo.com Celsius into Fahrenheit? Multiply by 1.8 then add 32. Vocabulary: Ensoleillé = Sunny; Nuageux = Cloudy; Orage = Storm; Tempete = Tempest; Pluie = Rain; Neige = Snow; Vent = Wind; Gelée = Frost; Verglas = Road ice

Spring: Paris region becomes sunny starting mid-April; temperatures are around 15 C (56 F) degrees with chilly evenings and some rain storms, then they go up to 22 C (74 F) in mid May.
Summer: the capital and its region are sunny, with temperatures around 26 C (78 F) in June, going up to 34 (90 F) degrees in July & August. Humidity is raising to 80% in August, rarely higher. There can be few rain storms.
Fall: Paris stays sunny in September with temperatures around 20 C (70 F) degrees and some rain storms. October becomes a bit colder with some rain and/or fog; evenings can be chilly. A kind of "Indian Summer" occurs sometimes at the end of October. End of November, temperatures fall to around 10 (50 F) degrees, with rain in Paris and fog or rain outside Paris; evenings are cold.
Winter: Paris region is cold in December with 5 C (40 F) degrees to very cold with 2 C (35 F) degrees in January and February. Snow falls are sporadic from mid Dec. to the beginning of March; there could even be a serious snow storm in January or in February. 

- Language: a fair number of Parisians aged 20 to 40 speak basic English. All airport signs are in both French and English, and most of the hotel concierges speak basic English. Waiters of small neighboring café-bars and restaurants speak little English or no English at all. You can learn basic expressions using this great audio site www.languageguide.org/french/vocabulary/ You can also take a few French classes in NYC or by Skype: contact me at afrenchinusa@gmail.com.

- Getting in Paris from abroad / from the airport / from London or Brussels (Belgium)

Airports - Flights to Paris land at either Charles de Gaulle or Orly Sud "Aéroport": Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG Roissy) is located 18 miles north to Paris and accessible by the motorway A1. It is served by RER trains line B3 (shuttle to/from the station). It is also served by Roissybus and by shuttle buses Air France (both have stops in Paris center). Taxis are available; see next paragraph. A high-speed train station is located inside CDG airport: "TGV" trains connect with all regions and neighboring countries. Orly Sud airport (ORY Orly) is located 12 miles south to Paris and accessible by the motorway A6. It is served by RER trains “ROMI” and “MONA”, line C2 (shuttle to/from the station) or by RER trains line B (Orlyval automatic shuttle to/from the station). It is also served by Orlybus and shuttle buses Air France (both have stops in Paris center). Taxis are available; see next paragraph. Le Bourget airport is only for charters flights and private jets. It also shelters the Air Space Museum and is home of the world famous Paris Air & Space Show every 4 years. Le Bourget is located 7 miles north to Paris and accessible by RER line B and the motorway A1.  www.parisaeroport.fr/en/homepage
You can also reach Paris landing in Brussels in Belgium. TGV (High Speed Train) serve the French capital in 70 minutes. By road, the trip takes around 3 hours. From London to Paris, you can connect through a short flight or take the Eurostar train for a 3 hour 20-trip.
Subways, RER, Buses, Tramways, Tickets & Passes: Go to Section 2 "Getting around Paris".

Taxis: Taxis must have a sign on the roof; others are crooks! Cars do not have a specific color such as in Mexico or NYC. http://en.parisinfo.com/how-to-get-to-and-around-paris  www.taxi-paris.net Because of unpaid fares with credit cards, some cab drivers do NOT accept payments with plastic; you can ask "vous prenez les cartes de crédit?". If there is a “TAXI” shelter nearby, wait in that area. Taxis can take up to 3 adult passengers (4 or 5 if it is a Van) with 2 medium-size bags in cabin and 2 suitcases in the trunk. Passengers are generally not allowed in the front seat. Not all drivers speak English: to salute and give the address, just say “Bonjour monsieur / madame, je vais (1 people) / nous allons (for 2 people)” + the address or show a paper with address. You must give the Arrondissement (district of Paris) with any address in Paris (see below Geography section), except if the location is well known such as the Champs Elysées, Notre Dame, Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Madeleine, the Ritz Hotel, etc. Flat rates from CDG airport to Paris center 50€ / from Orly airport to Paris center 35€. From Paris center to the city limit 25€. You pay 1€ per suitcase in the trunk, nothing for bags in the cabin. Tip the driver with 15 % of the fare on meter. If there is a rate adjustment in process, the driver could announce a fare 1 / 2€ higher that what appears on the meter, not more. For a receipt, ask for a reçu s'il vous plait (pronounce: rassehw seel vu plea). Try to speak a few words in French: it can avoid costly detours. Never open a door on the side of traffic: you are responsible in case of an accident! For Cab reservations to/from Paris airports: www.taxi-paris.net  

If you lost / forgot something in a cab, check at the "Objets trouvés" (Found objects), 36 rue des Morillons, 15e arrondissement.

National Railways - Paris has 6 gares (train stations) for National & Suburban trains (trains de Banlieue or Transilien) operated by national railways SNCF www.sncf.com/. "TGV" = Trains Grande Vitesse - High-Speed Train.

- Gare du Nord, 10e: northern regions by TGV; Belgium & Netherlands by TGV; UK by Eurostar TGV

- Gare de l’Est, 10e: eastern regions, Strasbourg, Luxembourg & Germany by TGV or ICE (German TGV)

- Gare de Lyon, 12e: Burgundy, Alps, Rhône, Provence, Riviera, and Switzerland by TGV; Italy by TGV (2016)

- Gare d’Austerlitz, 13e: center; southwest, Loire valley, Orleans, Tours, Bordeaux by TGV; Spain by TGV (2015) 

- Gare Montparnasse, 14e: center west; western regions, Nantes, Brittany by TGV

- Gare Saint Lazare, 9e: Normandy by fast trains (not TGV) & southern Picardy 
Subways, RER, Buses, Tramways, Tickets & Passes: Go to Section 2 "Getting around Paris".

- History of Paris: from 500 BC to nowadays    History of France: frenchhist.blogspot.com/

Around 500 BC, the Celt tribe Parisii resided on what is called today Ile de la Cité, the largest of 2 islands on the Seine River. In 51 BC, Roman occupants gave the village the name of Lutum (Mud in Latin), later becoming Lutetia (Lutèce in French); they also created a motto that survives today: Fluctuat Nec Mergitur (It floats, never sinks). During the 1st century, Romans built a via (main road) and a town on the Left Bank, as well as a forum, public baths and an arena (still visible today). A first Catholic church was built on Ile de la Cité around 250. In 402 AD, the expanding town took the name of Paris, just 50 years before the Huns attempted to invade the city; the young nun "Geneviève" called all Parisians to fight Attila who, in front of such a will, gave up on his plans. The first king of the Franks, Clovis, declared Paris capital of his kingdom in 503. Starting around 680, first defense walls were built on the Right Bank along the Seine River to defend the island. In 885, the Parisians regrouped on Ile de la Cité to defend their city against the Normans; unable to take the island, the invaders eventually left few months later after destroying most of the Left Bank. The first real quartier on the Right Bank (north) was built around 1030, including a first street with pavement. A small fortress, the Châtelet, was also constructed to defend the northern access to Ile de la Cité. The Palais de la Cité, built on the island during the 10th century, was then the 1st official residence of the French kings. In 1160, the Companions started the construction of Notre Dame Cathedral on Ile de la Cité. The Sainte Chapelle was added in 1240 by King Saint Louis before he left for the crusade. During the 13th century, Philippe Auguste was the first king to design a modern Paris, with the Ile de la Cité as an administrative and religious center, the Left Bank as the area for education and entertainment and the Right Bank for commerce and residence. He also built a fortress called the Louvre. Progressively transformed in a palace after 1350, the Louvre became the residence of the kings (until Louis XIV moved to Versailles 3 centuries later). In 1370, King Charles V ordered the construction of the fortified castle of Vincennes and of the huge Bastille fortress, both to defend the east side of Paris. More walls were erected further north on the Right Bank during the 14th century; today, a large door and a part of the wall remain Porte Saint Martin, 3e. In 1564, Queen Catherine de Medicis ordered the large Palais (Palace) des Tuileries that was added to the Louvre and became the residence of several Kings (It was burned by the Commune revolutionary people in 1871 and replaced by a garden). In 1616, the grand daughter of Catherine, Queen Marie de Medicis decided to create a large alley on the western side of the city along a swamp area; she called it "Cours de la Reine" (Alley of the Queen). Then, Lenotre, landscaper for Louis XIV, went on with the work making the alley an avenue. Around 1690, the name changed into "Avenue des Champs-Elysées" or Elysium Fields, inspired from "πεδίον Ἠλύσιον" or "Paradise for souls" in Greek Mythology. The former royal palace on Ile de la Cité was then transformed in a law court and the Conciergerie (house of the palace concierge) became a jail. So many intellectuals were living in Paris at that time that it received the nickname Ville des Lumières or City of Lights (Lights = spirits). The architect Soufflot presented the blue print of the Pantheon church in 1758; added to the Louvre structure, it later inspired the design for the Capitol in Washington, DC. Paris expanded quickly but the wealth did not follow the growth of population: poverty increased, even at the doors of the Tuileries and Louvre Palaces. In July 1789, Paris "exploded" with the revolution: the monstrous 14th century Bastille fortress was stormed and burned. King Louis the XVI was "guillotiné" in January 1793 on Place de la Révolution, today Place de la Concorde. Queen Marie-Antoinette waited 4 months for a trial in the horrible and humid Conciergerie jail on Ile de la Cité, before to be also "guillotinée". Few years later, the first "Salon des Arts" (Arts Exhibit) was organized at the Louvre. The world first street lighting by gaz was installed on the Avenue des Champs-Elysées in 1804, then 2 years later, Napoléon Bonaparte ordered the building of a giant arch to honor his Grande Armée. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Baron Haussmann redesigned many areas and created large avenues and boulevards (a design copied worldwide). In 1871, a Parisian revolt "La Commune" led to the destruction of the Palace of Tuileries.  In 1889, a giant metallic tower was built in a park on the Left Bank to celebrate the Revolution centenary anniversary, open to public during the Paris World Fair. It was supposed to be dismantled a year later: the Eiffel Tower is still there. In 1900, as the first subway line opened, Paris got another more popular nickname "Paname". The French capital then became the cultural and fashion center of the world - everyone wanted to create, paint, or write in Paris. Coco Chanel opened her first boutique in 1913 while Black Americans singers and Jazz players were feeling free in the Saint Germain quarter. The African American Josephine Baker was adored and was singing "J'ai 2 amours: Paris et mon pays" (I have 2 loves: Paris and my country); she became French citizen and died in France. Montparnasse quarter was then a "nest" for many young artists such as Appolinaire, Braque, Gauguin, Matisse, Picasso, etc. World War I and the death of 1.5 million French soldiers (out of France 39 million inhabitants) slowed down Paris enthusiasm but in only a few years the city got back with all its energy: as soon as 1930, more artists met at the Brasserie La Coupole in Montparnasse while the Eiffel Tower sent the first television signals. Then came 1941 and the occupation: Paris fell in lethargy for 3 years. Half of its population left to move in the countryside. In June 1944, General D. Von Choltitz, German Governor of Paris, received Hitler's orders to burn Paris because of a Parisian revolt against the occupants. But, as a lover of Paris, he didn't follow the orders (this man should have a statue in the city!). French Free Forces of General Leclerc were first to liberate Paris on August 24, 1944. General De Gaulle, chief of the Free French Government in exil, arrived in Paris one day later. The awakening of Paris was fast and Saint Germain des Prés quarter became the intellectual center of the world during the 50's: Sartre, de Beauvoir, Camus, Vian, Beckett, Ionesco, etc, had their daily glass of wine at the 2 Magots Café while the Jazz was still alive in bars around, with African American artists such as Sidney Bechet, Miles Davis, and Duke Ellington. During this period also, Italian escaping from poverty in Italy and Spanish running away from Franco's regime came to establish in Paris. The Nouvelle Vague movie directors appeared later in the 60's, including Chabrol, Goddard, Truffaut, Varda, etc, making Paris the major scene of their movies. As Algeria became independent, a large community of French Algerian moved in the suburbs. In 1963, André Malreaux, minister of culture of Charles de Gaulle, proclaimed a new law: every monument and building must be entirely cleaned at least every 20 years and each year, one of the large monuments is entirely restored. Since then, each French President are suggesting a new "big" monument for Paris. The result is stunning: century-old monuments in perfect shape are standing beside modern ones; you travel back and forth in time, as in a dream. A first wave of terrorist attacks surprised the capital in 1995, resulting with 8 deaths and 200 wounded. In 2015, other terrorist attacks left 150 people dead and 230 wounded. But the 1800-year "Paris sera toujours Paris" .. "Paris will always be Paris": Paris is standing since the 1st century while all its aggressors are disappearing soon or later!

Ça, c'est Paris! - That’s Paris, a beautiful, classy, exhilarating, and romantic city. "She" (Paris is a Lady of course) is conservative and anti-conformist at the same time: the Louvre museum is next to Pey glass pyramid, the 17th century Palais Royal courtyard shelters the modern Columns of Buren (based on the Mayan Calendar), the Centre Beaubourg G. Pompidou seems like a giant machine installed in the old Chatelet area, the ancient Marais quarter welcomes the oddest young people with hip night clubs such as Le Rex or Les Bains. Even the 300 years old underground giant cemetery Catacombs, shelters secret parties in summer. You need a lifetime to discover all quarters, bridges, plazas, streets, monuments, museums, parks, etc. However, even in 5 days, you can very much enjoy a trip to Paris and find out why it's the world most visited city. As Ernest Hemingway said: "You like Paris? Then you like the French: they made it the way it is". As I often say to my students: Paris is marvelous for visiting but for working it can be as insane as New York or Tokyo!

- Geography, Population, Arrondissements and Quartiers 
Map of Paris mapvisitfrance.com/ > Numbers correspond to listing in Section 5 below
Map Interactive www.parispass.com/paris-tourist-map

La Ville de Paris - the city of Paris is located in the north central part of France, in the Ile de France region or Greater Paris. Belgium is 120 miles to the north; the Manche (British Channel) and Normandy coasts are 110 miles to the west; Strasbourg and Germany are 250 miles to the east; the Alps and Switzerland are 250 miles to the southeast; the Riviera (Côte d'Azur) & Italy are 420 miles to the south; the  Pyrenees mountains, the Basque Country, and Spain are 450 miles to the southwest. 
Paris population is not large: about 2.2 million Parisians live inside the city limits. But the metropolitan area with its suburban towns has 11 million inhabitants. Each day, 6 million people commute by subway & RER and 2 million vehicles drive through the city. With transformations going non-stop, Paris is becoming a "megalopolis". Fortunately, you don't feel it too much as a tourist.

Paris is cut in 2 parts by the Seine River: the Rive Droite or Right Bank is the northern part, the Rive Gauche or Left Bank is the southern part. Caught in the middle, there are 2 islands: the Ile de la Cité and the smaller Ile Saint Louis (itself created by uniting 2 small islands in 1540).    

The capitale has almost a circular shape and is delimited by the beltway "Périphérique", surrounded by small cities of the "banlieue" (suburb). It is divided in 20 Arrondissements or Arrt, which are administrative districts with a mayor. Arrondissements are set as a snail shell: the 1er Arrt (1st) is located in the center, the 20e (20th) on the east side. You need to know the Arrondissement to find or give an address: it's the 2 last digits in the zip code such as 75001, 75005, 75016, etc. (75 stands for Paris). People mention the Arrt just saying "dans le premier" - in the 1st, "dans le cinquième" - in the 5th, "dans le huitième" - in the 8th, "dans le dix-septième" - in the 17th, etc. There are blue / beige signs indicating the street name and the Arrt number at each corner of street or building. 

Paris also includes more than 90 Quartiers (quarters). Quartiers are areas, each one with a specific identity and/or history, not related to the Arrondissements: 2 quartiers can lay inside 1 Arrondissement,  1 quartier can span  2 Arrondissements. There are no sign in the streets indicating the quartiers. The most known / interesting are: caught in the center of Paris, 2 islands on the Seine River make La Cité, first born quarter (1st and 4th Arrt) and cradle of the capital. The largest island Ile de la Cité shelters Notre Dame, the Conciergerie (remains of the 1st Royal Palace), the Sainte Chapelle and the charming Place Dauphine near the most ancient bridge of Paris: the Pont Neuf. The other island, mostly residential, includes superb ancient buildings and mansions ---------  On the Right Bank (North): facing the Ile de la Cité, the central Châtelet - Les Halles quarter (1st & 4th Arrt)  had only few houses and mansions built during the 5th century. Then a rampart and the small fortress "Chatelet" (both dismantled today) were raised along the river during the 7th century to protect the entrance of the first royal palace of France built on the island (the Conciergerie is what remains of the palace). From 1800 to 1960, this quarter included a giant open market "Les Halles", replaced today by a park, a large subway station and an underground mall. On its west side, the Louvre quartier (1st Arrt) became a residential area for the bourgeoisie during the 8th century. Then a fortress was built during the 14th century and was progressively transformed into a palace by 3 Kings; it is now a famous museum. Next to the Louvre, Palais-Royal quartier (1st Arrt) is the site of another palace built in 1622 by the Cardinal de Richelieu (French First Councilor who founded La Sorbonne University), along with a sumptuous garden. It also includes the Maison de Molière (house of the play writer Molière) or Comédie Française, a theater offered by Louis XIV to classic play writers.  Located to the east of Châtelet, the ancient Beaubourg quartier  is now home of the Modern Art Center "Beaubourg" or George Pompidou Center. Nearby, the Marais (3rd & 4th Arrt) was developped during the 5th century after religious  congragations moved there near a swamp or marais. Then the Bourgeoisie arrived in the area during the 18th century, building mansions and houses. Today, it is still made of narrow streets with small buildings and superb mansions; an important Jewish community settled there during the 20th century to establish commerce. Starting in the 90's, a vibrant Gay community also adopted le Marais, neighboring the Picasso and Carnavalet Museums, and the marvelous Place des Vosges with Victor Hugo's apartment and superb gardens. Bastille (4th & 10th Arrt) wears the name of a fortress built during the 14th century and destroyed by revolutionary people in 1789; it is now the home of a new Opera House. An underground canal begins under the Bastille plaza: the "Canal Saint Martin" expands to the north. If you head toward the 10th arrondissement and pass the Republique plaza, you discover a long open air section of the canal: "Quai de Valmy" is bordered by small gardens, a charming area for a break or a picnic (crowded during the weekends). On the opposite direction, beginning behind the Bastille opera, there is the "Coulée Verte", an elevated and fabulous planted 4-mile promenade, created on a former railway line. It ends near the Bois de Vincennes, on the east side of Paris. Still on the right bank, further to the south east, Bercy (12th Arrt) is a newly renovated quarter, formerly the harbor of Paris until the 80's; it shelters an indoor stadium, the French Movie Industry conservatory and a beautiful park with a lake. To the east, Nation quarter (12th Arrt) is bordered by the large Bois de Vincennes Park with a zoo and an imposing 14th century fortified castle open to visitors. Above (on a map), the Pere Lachaise quartier (20th Arrt) includes an astonishing cemetery filled with sculpted tombs of numerous famous French and foreign people. Nearby, Menilmontant was an independent village until the end of the 18th century and the Buttes Chaumont (19th Arrt) is still alike a village on a hill. It includes a charming park and small town houses built during the 17th and 18th centuries. One of the northern quarters, La Villette (19th Arrt) sheltered large slaughterhouses until the 60's and now has gardens along the Saint Martin canal, a surprising Sciences and Technology museum, a giant 360 degree movie theater, and a music conservatory. Clignancourt (18th Arrt) is the northern quartier of Paris where a large African community established a surprising market in the 80's; there you can even find Senegal fishes, Congo snails, etc. Just below, Montmartre (18th Arrt south) was and still is a village on a hill with small vineyards nearby the Sacré Coeur Basilica. At the foot of the hill, the Moulin Rouge cabaret, loved by Toulouse Lautrec, is the heart of Pigalle, an area where you should not stroll at dark.  To the lower center, République (10th arrt) is not really interesting for tourists, besides a plaza with a column that commemorates the 1st French Republic. The nearby Grands Boulevards quartier (10th and 9th Arrt) was the center for many Vaudeville theaters around 1900. Below (on a map) Bourse Richelieu (2nd Arrt) was constructed during the 11th century and became a financial center in 1810 as Napoléon Bonaparte ordered the building of La Bourse, the stock market. Still on the Rive droite and closer to the center, Opéra (9th Arrt) is the quartier of the first Opera house built in 1863; It inspired Gaston Leroux for his "Phantom of the Opera". Saint Lazare includes one of the 6 Paris train stations and the small Batignolles garden. To the west, Monceau (17th Arrt) is a residential quarter born during the 17th century; it shelters the superb Parc Monceau. The rich Quartier des Champs (8th Arrt), along the Champs Elysées Avenue was born during the 17th century; it includes the Arc de Triomphe and the Palace of Elysée, residence of the President of France since 1848. South to "Les "Champs" Trocadéro, Passy, and Auteuil (16th Arrt), born during the 17th and 18th centuries, are very "Bourgeois" and "Nouveaux riches". The Place du Trocadéro, also called Place des Droits de l'Homme or Human Rights plaza, is a large terrace allowing a direct view to the Eiffel Tower and the center city. The Bois de Boulogne park expands all along Passy and Auteuil.  -------  On the Left Bank (south), the Quartier Latin (5th Arrt) is considered as the first built quarter of Paris since the Romans created built residences, public baths (still visible in part), and an amphitheater during the 1st century; it was not populated before the 10th century. It is called Latin Quarter because the Latin language was used there in schools and universities during the medieval time. It still shelters many faculties and universities including the 13th century Sorbonne, near the beautiful and vast garden Jardin du Luxembourg with its palace and the Panthéon church, "last home" of great men and women of France. Some streets of the Latin Quarter (such as Rue Tournefort) stay as they were during the 14th and 15th centuries. The neighboring quartier Mouffetard or La Mouffe (5th Arrt) is a small ancient area with little bars and markets, and where the 1st century Roman Arena of Lutetia was standing (still visible in part). Saint Germain des Prés (6th Arrt) had already an Abbey built in 540; it is an "intellectual" and rich area where philosophers, writers, jazz players and movie directors met in the 50's and 60's at the Café de Flore and Café 2 Magots. It also shelters the Orsay Museum, the ancient School of Art "Art Deco" and several art galleries. Facing the marvelous Pont Alexandre III bridge, the Invalides  quartier (7th Arrt) was developed around a military hospital created by Louis XIV. It shelters the Tomb of Napoléon Bonaparte in the Invalides church, the Rodin Museum, and a small military base. On its west side, along the river, the Tour Eiffel quarter is home of a worldwide famous tower nicknamed "The Iron Lady" by the Parisians. To the south, Grenelle, Javel and André Citroen quarters (15th Arrt) along the River, were renovated in the 80's and 90's. A Statue of Liberty replica stands on a small island facing Grenelle, while Javel and André Citroen are now an all-medias territory and for International fairs. More to the center, Montparnasse quarter (6th & 14th Arrt) was the "nest" for many famous young artists including Chagall, Léger, Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso, etc, before a modern large train station and a tower changed the face of the charming quarter in the 70's. Gobelin (13th & 14th Arrt) appeared during the 14th century; its name comes from a famous 17th century Tapestry manufacture transformed in storage for National furniture during the 20th century; it is now open to visitors. This area is also home of the modern School of Imagery & Graphic Design. Located to the very south, Montsouris (14th Arrt) is a quiet area for foreign students and artist residences since the 18th century; its large and beautiful park with a waterfall and lake is not as crowded as other Parisian parks. On its eastern side, near the enormous new National Library in 4 buildings shaped as books, there is "Chinatown" (13th Arrt) but the name is not official and it is mostly Vietnamese (Vietnam was a French colony). There are several other quartiers with some interesting sites, secret locations, and enjoyable "Jardins" to discover. For you to find them out if you stay in Paris long enough!

By the way, Paris is alike a bowl and the names of several quarters indicate their elevation: Buttes Chaumont (Buttes = hills), Montmartre, Montparnasse, Montsouris (Mont = Mount) or Menilmontant (montant = climbing).  

- Tourist Office, Maps & Guides, Museum Passes   

Paris main Tourist Office 
The main Office du Tourisme is located at the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) 29 rue de Rivoli, 4th Arrondissement on the Right Bank, near the Ile de la cite (Main island). The subway station is Hotel de Ville. It is open daily from 9 am to 7 pm. There are branches at the Louvre Museum and in the train stations Gare du Nord  http://en.parisinfo.com/ 

Maps and Pocket Guides: 
The green Michelin Region Guide is great for preparing the trip. In Paris, you can get a free plan de ville - city map at the Office du Tourisme. 
I also strongly recommend the pocket guide “Paris Plan Eclair” by Leconte: it includes arrondissement maps, bus and subway lines, etc.; it is sold in large newsstands and in bookstores (Librairies). 
Here is an interactive map of Paris www.parispass.com/paris-tourist-map You can also find a large map of Paris here: mapvisitfrance.com/ Numbers on maps match the listing Section 5 below

Subway & Bus Passes / Tickets: see next section

Museum Passes: 
There are Museum Passes with unlimited number of visits for museums and monuments in Paris and region: starting from 48€ Note: days are consecutive and passes are not suspended during holidays. You can buy those passes at the airports and train stations Tourist Offices, in main museums, and at the FNAC Department stores (7 in paris). For more info, visit http://en.parismuseumpass.com/. A "National Pass" is not a good deal: you need to visit  many museums around France.

2 - Getting around Paris and its region: 

- Public Transportation Systems  http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-map/getting-around/

For the specific French vocabulary > //speakfrenchenough.com/ 

Paris RATP transportation company operates 350 bus lines, 7 tramway lines, 1 boatbus line, 1 funicular and 3 types of subway networks including 31 lines, 665 stations and 400 miles of tracks in the whole Paris region.

Besides, the SNCF national railways company operates several dozens of suburban trains called Transiliens or Trains de Banlieue from the 6 Gares (Train stations) of Paris.

Tickets & Passes for Paris transportation systems

How to ride the metro (in English) > www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6ACxAAzizY (2007)
Ticket unite: If you are staying 1 or 2 days or will only do few trips by bus or subway in the city, buy tickets (Ticket also in French but pronounce: teekay). Tickets are sold at subway stations machines and by book of 10 in "Café Bar-Tabac" (Coffee-shop bars with a dark red diamond sign outside). Ask for a "Karnay de Teekay". Do NOT buy any ticket or pass to people in the street! Tickets are for any RATP network inside Paris limits; there is NO free transfer. Buses and trams only sell tickets per unite; they only accept coins and there is no free transfer. 
"Paris Visite" passes work for unlimited trips inside Paris limits with buses, trams, subway, Méteor (automated high-speed subway), RER (Regional network) as well as Balabus and the Montmartre funicular. The pass is a card with a mobile coupon valid for 1, 2, 3 or 5 consecutive days (Counting starts as you use the coupon the first time). For unlimited trips inside Paris, buy a "1-3 zones" pass for 1 day or 3 days. CAUTION: the 1-3 zone pass does NOT allow riding the RER (regional network) outside Paris limits. Passes are sold at subway stations and at the tourist offices (including at the airports and trains stations). Discounts for accessing several museums and for shopping at Galeries Lafayette department store come with the pass. Besides, there is the weekly or monthly pass called Navigo sold in subway stations (picture ID required for monthly pass). Check their site www.ratp.fr/en  scroll down to "Travel passes & tickets"

Mobilis is a pass valid for the whole Paris region RATP network, with a range of 1 to 5 zones. It is convenient if you go out of the city for a visit. CAUTION: It doesn't work with National Railways trains  www.ratp.fr/en/titres-et-tarifs/mobilis 
How to use tickets and Passes? You must introduce a ticket or pass coupon at subway turnstiles. Aboard buses and trams, you validate your ticket unite in a small box with green opening or show your pass to the driver. If you use ticket unites, remember that the PC Buses, Tram circular lines (along the beltway) and night lines can require up to 3 tickets; check the Fare directory at the stop. Keep your ticket until you're off the bus / out of station: controls are frequent, fines are big! 

Paris Subway Networks www.ratp.fr/en    Map www.castprod.com/bddimages/metro.gif

You would be surprised to know that the first métro line opened in Paris in July 1900, at the same time as in London and New York. But an experimental short line started running as soon as 1895, near the Eiffel tower. Anyway, le réseau métropolitain is the fastest and most convenient public transportation system in Paris and probably in the world.

- Le Métro (Subway):   www.ratp.fr/en    

14 lines operate inside Paris with over 150 miles of tracks and 300 stations, from 5:20 am to 1 am, 2 am on Friday and Saturday night. Except for a couple of areas, there is no station farther than 500 yards wherever you are in Paris. A "M" or "Métro" or "Métropolitain" sign indicates a station. You can buy tickets or passes at the stations; see "Ticket and Passes" section above. Each line has a number as well as a name taken from the 2 ending stations: Pont de Neuilly - Chateau de Vincennes, ligne 1 or Balard - République, ligne 8, etc. All stations have a map at the entrance and on the platforms. To find your line, look for the station you want to reach and find the Direction to take. You could have to transfer at a Correspondance on the way: it is on an orange sign on the platform allowing you to reach another line or the RER or the Méteor. Once you found out your line on the map, look for its Direction sign in the walkways. Sortie means Exit. Platform entrances often display the names of served stations. A large bleu or white sign indicating the line direction and time for the next train is located at mid platform. Be aware that the lines 7 and 13 have 2 directions at one end of the line: check the board on platform and on front / sides of the cars. Avoid walking alone in corridors and do not ride in empty cars. Several lines have been modernized and equipped with automated tire-operating trains (no drivers), without door between cars. This operation will be extended to the whole network in the next 5 years. Here is a video of the Ligne 1 (Line 1) www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BVOruJjI2A Check at 5:28 the announcements in 4 languages and the tires on an incoming train.

- Le Météor

Météor is an automated high-speed subway which line operates between Madeleine 9e and Bercy 13e. It will be extended in the next few years to cross over Paris. The fare is the same than for the subway. For rates, check "Tickets & Passes" above.

- Le R. E. R. or Réseau Express Régional (Suburban Express Network) www.ratp.fr/en

RER passes through Paris and serves the Greater Paris with 110 miles of lines. All stations have a "RER" sign outside. The fare is the same as for the Metro (ticket or pass) inside Paris limits. CAUTION: RER ticket unites zone 1 - 3 do NOT include Grande Arche at La Defense; outside the city limit you must pay a higher rate (fines are huge!). There are 5 main RER lines indicated by letters A, B, C, D, and E, but all lines are divided into sub-line for 5 or 6 different directions: for instance, the line C is divided in C1, C2, C3, C5, C6 and C7; C2 goes to Orly Airport but not C4 or C6 on the same track. Always check the RER board at the platform to ascertain that the next train will stop at the station you want to reach: be careful about express trains! Keep your ticket until you are out of the station, controls are frequent! Avoid walking alone in corridors or riding alone in empty train cars.

City buses RATP - Les bus  www.ratp.fr/ 

Convenient only for short trips, the bus generally operates from 6 am to 9 or 11 pm. All buses, satellite guided, have the line number at the front (e g: 20, 21, 22, etc). Each (greenish) stop has a name, the line number & a fare / stops directory. Many stops transmit the waiting time for the next bus to cell phones. Some lines do not run during weekends & holidays; their numbers are in black on the stop signs. You sometimes have to push one of the small red buttons Arret aboard the bus to get off at a next stop (if nobody is waiting at the stop). Keep your ticket until you got off the bus. You may have to stamp unite tickets in a box but DO NOT stamp a pass coupon.

PC lines follow outer boulevards; the fare is up to 3 tickets. They are progressively replaced by tramways.

The Noctilien night lines signaled by an owl head + letters on stops and by letters on the buses (eg: NA, NB, NC, ND, etc) run from midnight to 5 am, every hour, from Chatelet to several Portes (gates) around Paris; fare is up to 3 tickets. 

For bus rates, check the "Tickets & Passes" section above & the fare directory on stops. 

Tramways RATP www.ratp.fr/en

They operate all along the southern Paris limits and in several suburban cities. The rate inside Paris is the same as for buses; they have the same schedule than the subway. For the rates, check the section "Tickets & Passes" above & the fare directory at the stops.

Bateaubus (Seine River Bus boats): Operating from the Eiffel Tower to the Hotel de Ville, they have 8 stops. Boats leave every 30 mn, from 10:30 am to 7 pm (4:30 pm in Winter). Tickets are available on the deck: 16€. www.batobus.com/

Transiliens or Trains de Banlieue SNCF (Suburban Trains)  www.sncf.com/

Operated by the national railways company SNCF (not RATP), Transiliens trains run from 5am to 2am or 3am through Ile de France region. You take them at one of the 6 Gares - train stations: a board Départ Banlieue (not Grandes Lignes) indicates the destination and the Voie (track) for each train. The fare varies according to the trip but an Aller-Retour (Round trip) is always cheaper. Billets (beeyea = tickets) are sold at windows / machines Billets. Daily, weekly, and monthly passes are available, sometimes also valid for the RATP network: check this site  www.transilien.com/. In some cases, you have to punch your ticket at a pillar machine Validez votre billet at the entrance of the platform before boarding. Keep your ticket until you are off the train or until the end of validity (round-trip ticket). Do NOT ride alone in empty train car and avoid riding after 8 pm.

- Private transportation  http://en.parisinfo.com/paris-map/getting-around/

For the Specific French vocabulary > //speakfrenchenough.com/

Taxis: see "Getting In" Section 1 above.

Bicycles: Riding in Paris busy streets is dangerous! But you can enjoy riding in some areas such as Le Marais, along the Canal Saint Martin, or in the Bois de Boulogne (west side) and Bois de Vincennes parks (east side); avoid both of them at dark. The "Velib" is a bike self service in Paris (and other large cities): cards cost from 1.80€ per day and are available in Bars-Tabac (red diamond sign) or at vending machines; you take a bike from one of the 450 lots and return it at any lot www.velib.paris.fr/  A helmet is highly recommended but is "legally mandatory" only for mopeds, vespas and motorbikes.

Driving & Car Rental: Avoid driving in Paris! If you do anyway, the US & European Driver licences are valid in France; if you plan a long trip / driving around France, you better get an International Driver Licence (10 days to obtain it. In US, Check AAA). Although road rules are the same than in Europe and US, there is 1 different crucial rule: Priorité a droite or give way to any vehicle coming from the right when there is no stop sign, no traffic lights or cop, even in parking lots and on beltways. You must give way to Emergency vehicles but do not stop driving (as they do in LA), just move away.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR_5DoPGySE
There is more info about driving in France at: knowaboutfrance.blogspot.com/ section 10

If you rent a car, ask for a diesel engine: you cut gas expense by a third! It is recommended to subscribe to a "Tous risques assurance" (all risks insurance)! Before leaving the office, ask to see the spare tire: it is sometimes hidden or missing.

Parking

In the street, you must take a ticket at the parking meter and make it visible on the right side inside your windshield. On Sunday, check on the meters: "sauf dimanche" means you don't have to pay.
Don't even think to double park, to park on a "livraison" (delivery spot), in a bus line, or in front of garage access: your car would be towed in the next minutes. Police Tow services www.paris.fr/fourrieres
A red rounded sign with a red diagonal on blue background means you can't park in this area. 
Underground parking lots are numerous in Paris: "Parcs de Stationnement" are expensive (but less than in New York). 
To pay a parking ticket, see "Where to buy what?" section below, Bar -Tabac.

Beltway "Périphérique"

The "Périphérique" encircles Paris and connects to several regional highways and motorways (see Paris map). All accesses / exits are called "Porte". The beltway is often jammed during rush hours. Caution: vehicles entering the beltway have priority! www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NCiZHXR9K4 

Limousines & Moto-taxis: You can rent a car with driver, une voiture avec chauffeur but it's bit more expensive than in the US: www.1st-limousine-services.com/ - www.amrlimousines.com/   

A fast way to go around, particularly from / to airports, is the « Moto-Taxi », a big and comfortable motorcycle with experienced driver (November to April - Not for light-hearted people or with large suitcase) www.goldpalacebike.com/  

3 - Lodging  

Specific French vocabulary > //speakfrenchenough.com/

All about life in France: http://france.angloinfo.com 

- Students should look at my blog "visit France", section 16 "Students and Au Pair".  http://knowaboutfrance.com
- Low budget: check the "Auberge Paris Yves Robert" at the end of the hotel list below. 

- Make your B&B / Hotel reservation at least 3 months in advance for June and July. 
- Avoid the following areas: Arrondissements 10, 12, 13 south, 18 and 19 north, 20 as well as any suburb located in the north or north east. 
- Make sure that your room / apartment is not along a highway or above a night club. 
- Always ask for a confirmation email (or a fax) including days, description, and prices with all fees and taxes. Students should look at my blog "visit France".
- AirBnB: be cautious with offers: some locations are misery!

- B & B: there is a fair number of B&B in Paris region, generally clean and comfy; the pricing is affordable. Check this site:  www.bedandbreakfast.com/paris-france.html. 

- If you plan to stay a week or more, before reserving an hotel room check these sites for a short term rental of a furnished apartment www.milleetunparis.com/en/  www.paristay.com/ www.housetrip.com/en/  Check also "Renting" section below. 
- Hotels:

The Red Michelin Guide is quite accurate (from my own experience) and it is updated every year by "incognito" inspectors www.michelintravel.com/michelin-guides The guide is also available in the US large bookstores or at www.amazon.com

- You can also check these sites:

Good selection of hotels and a reservation section: www.pariswelcome.net/

Worldwide known site for getting info and comparing hotel rates: www.tripadvisor.com

"Relais & Chateaux" are mostly castles and mansions with some great deals. They have offices in several main US cities. www.relaischateaux.com. 

The French company "Accor" is world's number one hotel operator. They are serious about their business and manage various categories of hotels such as Adagio, All Seasons, Sofitel, Ibis, Novotel, Pullman, Motel6 in the US, etc.: www.accorhotels.com

For 1 night or on the go, look for a Campanile hotel in suburbs: this chain provides clean and affordable rooms: www.campanile.com.

- Once at the hotel:

Concierges in Paris generally speak a basic English while in suburban areas, they speak few English, sometimes no English at all. If you have a reservation, just say: "Bonjour, j'ai une reservation au nom de .... "  (Hello, I have a reservation under the name of ....  "). Write your name on a paper if you can't spell ("Epeler") it in French. Room service "service en chambre" is available in top and medium size hotels of large cities, not elsewhere. For the morning wake-up, ask "Réveillez-moi a (+ time)". The breakfast is "Petit déjeuner"; it is "Continental": an orange juice + Coffee (Café) or Tea (Thé) + croissants and/or bread/toasts with butter and jam; you can order eggs and bacon as a side order. The day of departure, you must leave the room before noon. To get the check, ask for "La Note". For more specific vocabulary: //speakfrenchenough.com/

- Hotels suggestions

 * ok   ** fine   *** great   **** wow!    Red stars = Readers' favorite 

**** Hotel de Crillon - 10 place de la Concorde, 8e - Ranked as 1 of the top 5 hotels in France. From 890€  www.crillon.com  

**** Hotel Ritz - 15 Place Vendome, 1er - No need to introduce this fabulous hotel on a fabulous plaza, near the Tuileries Gardens. From 1200€ http://www.ritzparis.com/en-GB

**** Hotel Meurice - 228 rue de Rivoli, 1er - This is an exceptional location with view to the Tuileries Garden and the River, near the Louvre - From 790€ www.lemeurice.com

*** Hotel Fouquet's Barriere - 46 Avenue George V, 8e - The famous bar Fouquet's loved by stars is also a fine hotel on the Champs-Elysées Avenue, near the Arc de Triomphe - From 600€  www.hotelsbarriere.com/en.html#
*** Hotel Lutetia - 45 Boulevard Raspail, 6e - This grand hotel wearing the ancient name of Paris was closed during 4 years for renovation. The work is a success and Saint Germain des Pres quarter celebrates its return. From 850€  www.hotellutetia.com  

*** Hotel du Louvre - Place André Malraux, 1er - Really classy although a bit outdated, this hotel is near the Louvre Museum - From 390€  www.hoteldulouvre.com

*** L'Hotel - 13 rue des Beaux-arts, 6e - Located in the heart of Paris near the Seine river, this classy hotel includes superb rooms (but some of them are small and too heavily decorated). From 390€ www.l-hotel.com

*** Hotel de Suède - 31 rue Vaneau, 6e - Comfy & nice hotel located few blocks away from the Gardens of Luxembourg and Saint Germain des Près - From 230€ www.hoteldesuede.com

"Classic" rooms of the following hotels are SMALL; check for "deluxe" or "superior" rooms

*** Hotel Spendid Etoile - 1 avenue Carnot, 17e - Elegant and comfy, it is located 2 blocks away from the Champs-Elysées and Arc de Triomphe - From 210€   www.hsplendid.com

*** Hotel Saint Germain des Près - 36 rue Bonaparte, 6e - Nice little hotel with beautiful ancient furniture & patio, located in the heart of Saint Germain des Près - From 180€ www.hotel-paris-saint-germain.com

*** Hotel de Bourgogne & Montana - 7 rue de Bourgogne, 7e - Nice little hotel on a quiet plaza, few blocks away from the Invalides and Le Louvre. The 1930 elevator is a "protected monument" - From 190€ www.bourgogne-montana.com

** Hotel Bonaparte - 61 rue Bonaparte, 6e - Small comfy hotel 3 blocks away from Jardin du Luxembourg - From 160€  www.hotelbonaparte.fr

** Hotel de Saint Germain - 50 rue du Four, 6e - Charming hotel with patio, in St Germain des P. - From 150€   www.hotel-de-saint-germain.fr

** Hotel Verneuil - 8 rue de Verneuil, 7e (near Orsay museum) - Charming & comfy but not luxurious, near Saint Germain des Pres - From 180€   www.hotel-verneuil-saint-germain.com

** Hotel Villa d’Estrée - 17 rue Git le Coeur, 6e (Latin Quarter) - Simple but elegant, in one of the oldest Paris areas, near Notre Dame - From 190€  www.villadestrees.com

** Hotel La Parizienne - 33 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 6e - Clean and comfortable, a bit noisy; 5 blocks from Saint Germain des Pres - From 150€   www.hotel-laparizienne.com

* Hotel Champerret-Elysées - 129 avenue de Villiers, 17e (Porte Maillot) - Not made for luxurious nights but it is affordable and clean, located near the Champs Elysées - From 150€  www.champerret-elysees.fr

* Hotel de la Sorbonne - 6 rue Victor Cousin, 5e (Latin Quarter) - Simple but affordable and clean - From 130€ www.hotelsorbonne.com
* Auberge Paris Yves Robert for young people or very small budget. Rate per night: 30€. It is located in the northern part of Paris, 20, esplanade Nathalie Sarraute in the 18e, an area not really for evening / night promenade nor for young ladies walking alone! There are few individual bedrooms otherwise you share the room and the bathroom. There is laundry room and breakfast is available. At least, you are in the city, 2 block away from Marx Dormoy subway station. www.hifrance.org/auberge-de-jeunesse/paris--yves-robert.html  in French
- Renting an studio or appartment: 

Unless you stay for at least 1 year, you need a furnished apartment. Finding a good deal in furnished apartment even for a week or a month is not an easy task. Don't get discouraged, just begin your search 6 months in advance. The 3 ways to find a nice "appartement" in Paris are: through a recommendation from a friend, a relative or serious association; a connection through your company if you are going there for business; through patient researches and a bit of luck. In any cases, you should avoid the following areas: Arrondissements  (districts) 12, 13 south, 17 north, 18 north & east, 19, 20 and any suburb located in the north or north east.  The 6, 7 and 8 are great but  can be expensive. Make sure the location is not along a highway, above a night-club, and below a third floor, the bedroom should not be side of a main street. If you are not over there to check the location, ask a friend / colleague to do it for you or ask for recent pictures (which doesn't give total guarantee anyway) before to sign; the landlord must send you a copy of rental agreement in advance (contact me for translation). More details on my blog http://knowaboutfrance.blogspot.com/ Section 9. Here are a couple of sites that could help you for a short term rental (1 or 2 weeks): www.milleetunparis.com/en/  www.paristay.com/  www.housetrip.com/en/ 

4 - Restaurants, Tea rooms, Mythic Cafés & Bars, Cuisine, Pastry shops.

For the Specific French vocabulary and menu > //speakfrenchenough.com/

- As for hotels, you can trust the Red Michelin Guide: Data are accurate and updated every year; inspectors are incognito. Many people around the world trust their guidance!

- French people eat at regular hours, therefore restaurants serve from Noon to 2 pm and from 7 to 11 pm / 12 pm; some are closed on Sunday or on Saturday and Sunday, many are closed during French Holidays. 
- Café-Brasserie or Bar-restaurant or Bistro at the corner of streets are NOT real restaurants: they only serve beverages, coffees, teas, sandwiches, salads, snacks and a daily dish "Plat du jour" for lunch; they are open non-stop from 6 am to 7 pm and are generally closed on Sunday, sometimes Saturday. 
- Real restaurants are everywhere. You can recognize them because they post at their door a menu including several "Entrées" (Appetizers), "Plats" (dishes / entrées) and "Desserts". They serve at specific hours, rarely after 11 pm and are closed 1 day of the week, generally on Sunday. Which ones are open on Sunday? Check my selection of restaurants; those open on Sunday have a sign O
- Real Brasserie restaurants are large, colorful, with an abundant menu shown outside; they serve non stop from 11:30 am to midnight or 1 am , 7 days a week; there are about 12 real Brasseries in Paris. Some of them have an outside sea fruits stand.

- Organic food? Look for the mention "Bio" - Vegetarian is "Végétarien". You find various vegetable dishes in any brasserie or restaurant, even when they are not specifically vegetarian. The "Marché Bio de Raspail", Boulevard Raspail 6e (near Rue du Cherche-Midi) proposes any kind of Bio / Organic food and ingredients, Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm.

- Do they speak English? Most Paris waiters speak a basic English. But even if they don't, you can order anyway by pointing  on the menu. Check my blog //speakfrenchenough.com/ > expressions: see section "what do they say?"

- In France, you need to ask for the check L'addition. The tip is already included in the check amount; just leave some change on the table before leaving, like 5% or around 1 euro per 15 euros billed, a bit more in top / exclusive restaurants. In some Café-bars you need to pay in cash for any amount under 10 Euros. Otherwise, you can pay with MasterCard or Visa, sometimes Amex. Always check for the mention "Nous n'acceptons pas les cartes de crédit" on menu or door: it means they don't take plastic. One more detail: never call the waiters "Garcon"; address them as Monsieur or Madame. You could notice that some French waiters are not very kind: nothing personal! For those who speak (basic) French, I always recommend to use "J'aimerais" instead of "Je voudrais" for I would like: it worked better! And don't forget "S'il vous plait" (please) ...

AVOID BUYING GYRO, FISH OR HOT DOGS FROM SMALL STREET VENDORS IN SUMMER

- Restaurants, Tea rooms by arrondissement (district)

         20€ Average price per person without wine    * ok  ** fine  *** great   **** wow   ** Readers' favorite    

                CL ... Closed ...    O Open on Sunday    R Reservation necessary    F formal clothes     T Terrace

    ► Around 14€ lunch only (1 dish + 1 dessert + 1 non alcoh. beverage) - Simple location & services

* Bistrot Victoires, 6 rue la Vrillière, 1er - From 12€ CL Aug. No website

* Les 2 Palais, 3 boulevard du Palais, 1er (Ile de la Cite) - From 15€   No website

* Café Ginger [vegetarian] 9 rue Jacques Coeur, 4e - From 15€  www.cafe-ginger.fr/

* L'Escale, 1 rue des 2 ponts, 4e - From 14€   No website 

* La Citrouille, 10 rue Grégoire de Tours, 6e - From 15€  No website 

* Bistrot du 7e, 54 Boulevard Latour Maubourg, 7e - From 14€ - CL Aug. No website 

* Le Cézanne, 13 Avenue Myron T. Herrick, 8e - From 15€ - CL Aug.  No website  
* Le Code Bar, 99 rue de la Boétie, 8e - From 15€ - CL Aug. No website 

* Charles, 12 rue de Longchamp, 16e - From 16€  No website 

* Vieux Logis, 66 rue des Dames, 17e - From 14€ - CL Aug. No website 

* Le Pain Quotidien  5 restaurants in Paris www.lepainquotidien.fr - From 14€

    ► Nice and affordable for lunch or dinner           (prices without wine)

*** Le Soufflé  R 36 rue du Mont Thabor 1e - Great Soufflés & Foie gras. 35€ www.lesouffle.fr

** O Caveau du Palais, Place Dauphine, 1er - Charming area, underground room (nice by hot weather), good cuisine.  T  CL Aug  www.caveaudupalais.fr/?lang=en

** O Rose de France, 24 place Dauphine, 1er - Charming area, simple but great cuisine, friendly service. T  CL Monday  http://larosedefrance.com

**  Gallopin, 40 rue Notre Dame des Victoires, 2e - Good cuisine, simple decor; for business lunch.  CL Aug  www.brasseriegallopin.com

** O Bofinger, 7 rue de la Bastille, 4e - Old real brasserie style, dishes from Alsace and other regions, good cuisine, good service.  CL Aug   www.bofingerparis.com

*   Chez Marianne - Kosher 2 Rue des Hospitalières St Gervais, 4e - Family like cuisine, simple location.   CL Aug.  https://parisbymouth.com/chez-marianne/

** O Le Coupe Chou, 11 rue Lanneau, 5e - In one of the oldest streets; very charming family like resto, good cuisine, simple service. www.lecoupechou.com

*** La Truffière, R 4 rue blainville, 5e - Excellent, lot of truffles, great service, but expensive  www.la-truffiere.fr   See also Maison de la Truffe below

** O Lipp, 151 Bd Saint Germain, 6e - Celebrities' brasserie, good cuisine, service hectic; famous people and good clients pass first! Try their Choucroute or Brandade. T  CL Aug  www.brasserielipp.fr/en/

**  L'Epi Dupin, 11 rue Dupin 6e - St Germain des P. bistro, modern decor in old location, great cuisine.  CL Aug  www.epidupin.com

**  Bistrot de la Grille, 1 rue Guisarde, 6e - Typical St Germain des P. bistro, simple, good.   No website  Phone: 1 43 54 16 87

** O La Rotonde, 105 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 6e - Real Brasserie with good food and service T  https://menuonline.fr/en/la-rotonde-montparnasse
*** Semilla, R 54 rue de Seine, 6e - New comer and already known in Paris, it is simple but serves very good food!  No website  Phone: 01 43 54 34 50

**  58 Tour Eiffel, R 1st floor Eiffel tower, 7e - It is less expensive and a bit less classy than the Jules Verne restaurant (below). The food is good, not incredible but you still have the view. www.restaurants-toureiffel.com

*** La Maison de la Truffe, R 14 rue Marbeuf, 8e - Specialized in Truffles, great cuisine. 35€  www.maison-de-la-truffe.com

* O L’Alsace, 39 Ave des Champs Elysées, 8e - Alsatian and mythic Brasserie, good cuisine, service a bit hectic, a bit noisy. www.restaurantalsace.com/en/

** O Café de la Paix, 5 Pl. de l'Opéra, 9e - Superb real brasserie near Opera house - Great cuisine & Onion soup, open late / all year long. T   www.cafedelapaix.fr

*** O L'Opéra restaurant R - Place Jacques Rouché, in the Opéra Garnier, 9e - Terrace in front of the opéra from June to Sept - Superb decor and great cuisine - Waiting line around 12 pm and after 7 pm. T  www.opera-restaurant.fr

** O Train Bleu, at Gare de Lyon, 12e - Real brasserie, beautiful decor (ceiling), good cuisine, a bit noisy, open late / all year long. www.le-train-bleu.com

** O  Domaine de Lintillac, 7 Ave de Versailles, 16e - Great Southwest cuisine: foie gras, magrets, etc.  CL Aug  www.lintillac-paris.com

** Brasserie Kléber, 80 avenue Kléber, 16e - Brasserie style, nouveau rich customers, cuisine ok  T   www.lekleber.com

** Sebillon, 20 Ave Charles De Gaulle, in Neuilly (near Porte Maillot, 17e) - Nice classy restaurant with fine cuisine (try the "Gigot" - Lamb leg)  www.sebillon.com

** O Le Congrès, 80 av. Grande Armée, 17e - Real brasserie, big menu, good seafood, open late / all year long.  www.congres-maillot.com

* Zèbre à Montmartre, 38 rue Lepic, 18e - Montmartre typical bistrot, generally good, often crowded, service a bit hectic.  no site
If you are American home sick, instead of MacDonald, try this French Steak house chain: * Hippopotamus https://restaurant.hippopotamus.fr/  5 restaurants in Paris

  ► Creme de la Creme $$$$   Prices are generally lower at lunch on weekdays - Wine non included

           Reservation: book 2 months in advance    Clothing: NO short, T-shirt, Sport shoes; Formal for evenings

**** Ambroisie of Bernard Pacaud - 9 place des Vosges, 4e - Astonishing! www.ambroisie-paris.com/contact.php

**** Astrange of Pascal Barbot - 4 rue Beethoven, 16e - Magnificent!  www.astrancerestaurant.com

**** Arpège of Alain Passard - 84 rue de Varennes, 7e - Impressive!  www.alain-passard.com

**** O L'Atelier of Joël Robuchon - 133 Ave des Champs Elysées, 8e - Surprising!  www.joel-robuchon.net

*** Les Bouquinistes of Guy Savoy - 53 Quai des Grands Augustins, 6e - Amazing!  www.lesbouquinistes.com

**** O Le Cinq of Christian Le Squer - George V Hotel, 31 Ave George V, 8e - Exceptional!  www.fourseasons.com/paris/dining/restaurants/le_cinq/

**** O L'Epicure of Eric Frechon - Bristol Hotel, 112 rue du Faubourg St Honoré, 8e - Exquisite!  www.lebristolparis.com/eng/restaurants-bars/epicure/

**** Pierre Gagnaire -  4 rue Balzac, 8e - Fabulous! www.pierre-gagnaire.com

**** O Jules Vernes at  Eiffel Tower, 2nd floor south pillar - Awesome view, cuisine "ok".   www.lejulesverne-paris.com  The 58 Tour Eiffel in the tower is less expensive (see above) 
  ► Fabulous Wine Restaurant: "Les 100 de Taillevent" is a new formula: tasting by the glass Top Vintage wines including Margaux, Chambertin, etc, while eating nice French cuisine, in a lovely décor and with a fine service, all that at affordable prices. Address: 195 Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, 8e www.les-110-taillevent-paris.com/en/wine-list

   ► Tea Rooms (Salons de Thé - Pastry shops - 5 o'clock Tea in Hotels)

**** O La Durée - 3 "salons" in Paris - Superb tea room & pastry shop, known their so famous Macarons - All over the world including in New York City! - www.laduree.fr/   

**** Dalloyau, 2 place Edmond Rostand, 5e - Fine pastries & savories - 7 locations in Paris - www.dalloyau.fr/ 

** O  Angelina, 226 rue de Rivoli, 1er - The best hot cocoa and fine pastries, some savories - www.angelina-paris.fr/

**** O Ritz Hotel, Place Vendome, 1er - Five o'clock tea with savory & sweet - Affordable!

*** L'Hotel, 13 rue des Beaux-arts, 6e - Five o'clock tea with savory & sweet - www.l-hotel.com

***  Carette, 4 place du Trocadéro, 16e - Bourgeois tea room with pastry & savory - No site  

  ► Mythic café-bars & restaurants

** O Les 2 Magots, 6 place Saint Germain, 6e - Writers' fav in the 60's  [St Germain]  T 

** O Café de Flore, 172 blvd Saint Germain, 6e - Writers' fav in the 60's  [St Germain]  T

** Caveau du Palais, Place Dauphine, 1er on Ile de la Cité - Such a charming plaza! [Cité] T 

** O Le Coupe Chou, 11 rue Lanneau, 5e - One of the oldest streets in Paris; charming bistro. The floor of the restaurant is 1000 year old! [Maubert-Mutualité]

* O Brasserie Balzar, 49 rue des Ecoles, 5e - Latin Quarter style & students' fav [Cluny]  T 

* O La Coupole, 102 blvd du Montparnasse, 14e - Painters' fav in the years 1900 [Rennes]

* Petit Journal, 71 blvd St Michel, 5e - One of the last Jazz bars [Luxembourg]

* Le Père Louis, 38 rue Monsieur Le Prince, 6e - Latin Quarter style wine bar [Luxembourg]

** O Closerie des Lilas, 171 blvd du Montparnasse, 6e - Artists' fav in the 60's [Notre Dame des Champs]   T 

*** O  Grande Cascade, Bois de Boulogne, Allée de Longchamp, 16e - www.grandecascade.com/  [Bus 43]  T 

 ►"Pastry shops & Petits plaisirs" (Little pleasures for your sweet tooth)
*** La Durée: Famous, famous Macarons, Mille-feuilles, etc. 60 shops around the world, 10 in Paris www.laduree.fr  The first born store is still 16 rue Royale, near Concorde Plaza. 
** Patisserie Cyril Lignac: forget your diet, your sweet tooth is going crazy! 5 shops in Paris www.gourmand-croquant.com

*** Patisserie Christophe Michalak For fun and goodies, a great imagination and fine taste. 5 shops in Paris  www.christophemichalak.com
*** L'Eclair de génie: Eclairs, Eclairs, and more Eclairs! 4 shops in Paris http://leclairdegenie.com
** Le Notre: Savory or sweet, you will not be able to quit tasting www.lenotre.com 
*** Berthillon: Best ice creams and sorbets in Paris! 31 rue St Louis en l'Ile, on Saint Louis island, near Ile de la Cité. Cross the bridge behind Notre Dame. www.berthillon.fr

* "Crèpes" with various flavors are sold at the corner of main streets (mostly in winter).

- Cuisine specialties of Paris and its region

The "Jambon beurre" is the Parisian sandwich: baguette bread, ham and butter; it's simple but so good when the baguette is really crusty; not always easy to find! - Gratinée (Onion soup topped with melted cheese) - Tournedos au Poivre (tenderloin in a pepper & cream sauce) - Hachi Parmentier (grounded beef & pork layers covered with mashed potatoes, oven cooked) - Champignon de Paris sautés (sauteed baby mushrooms & garlic) - Boeuf mode / à la Parisienne (beef boiled with leeks & carrots) - Blanquette (veal stew in cream, white wine & yoke sauce) - Brandade (sauteed codfish blended with potatoes & garlic) - Sole Meunière ("floured" lightly sauteed Sole with boiled potatoes) - Ris de veau (Sautéed veal sweetbreads) - Soufflés (you know) - Pommes Dauphine (Mashed potato balls flash fried in oil) - Moutarde of Meaux (old Grain mustard) - Brie cheese - Parfait (Coffee mocha ice cream) - Sorbets - Batard (large baguette bread) - Paris Brest cake (alike a rounded Eclair with almond custard) - Madeleine cookies - Mille-Feuilles (Napoléon in the US) - Cointreau Liquor.

5 - Visiting Paris - Several ways to discover Museums, Monuments. etc.

- Passes for Museums, Closing days, Best hours for visiting

Passes: All gardens are access free; they close at dawn. You pay to access most of the monuments and all museums. It is a good idea to get a pass is you want to visit at least 3 or 4 museums / monuments: there are passes with unlimited number of visits for 60 museums and monuments in Paris and its region; 2 day pass = 35€;   4 days = 50€; 6 days = 65€. Careful: passes are not suspended during holidays. Passes are sold in main museums, at FNAC Department stores (7 in Paris) www.fnac.com/, and at the Tourist Offices. For more info, visit: http://en.parismuseumpass.com/ - www.paris.fr/english  I do not recommend the National  Pass: you need to visit a lot of museums around France.

Closing days: Museums are generally closed on Tuesday, some on Monday such as Orsay in Paris. Many of them are closed on May 1st, Nov. 1st, Dec. 25th and Jan. 1st, but you also need to check for few other holidays museum by museum: http://en.parismuseumpass.com/. Most monuments stay opened all week long; some are closed on May 1st, Nov. 1st, Dec. 25th and Jan. 1st.

Best hours: if you plan visiting locations such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Versailles, be there as early as possible the morning; if you can, avoid weekend afternoons and holidays.

- Sightseeing tours or on your own

Paris cruise boats: a cruise on the Seine River should be the first thing you do in Paris, except if it is raining. This is a good way to find out about Paris geography and monuments. There are the Bateaux-Mouches Pont de l’Alma at Alma bridge, 16e Arrt [Pont de l'Alma] www.bateaux-mouches.com or the Bateaux Parisiens near the Eiffel Tower, at Pont d'Iena, 7e www.bateauxparisiens.com . Dinner cruises are available with both companies. 

Guided Tours with Cityrama or ParisVision: Both Cityrama (since 1956) and ParisVision (since 1929) proposes bus, boat, and walking tours, as well as 1 to 2 day excursions out of Paris. They have a fine reputation and their vehicles / boats are comfortable and secure, with multi language translation.  They organize tours of Paris, Versailles, Fontainebleau, Giverny, Loire Valley, Mont Saint Michel, Burgundy, etc. Find details at  www.pariscityrama.com/ -- http://en.parisvision.com  

Guided tours with a 2 Chevaux car (since 2004): this is a fun tour aboard the legendary Citroen 2 Chevaux (50's two horse power car; not a carriage). They have great specials for young people http://en.parisauthentic.com/

France Tourisme: It is one of the leading excursion agencies in Paris. They propose plenty of tours including monuments, quartiers, cabarets, musical dinners, day trips in several regions, etc. www.francetourisme.fr/france-tourisme-en.html

Bus line 72 RATP - These buses are the cheapest way to discover / see many Paris's monuments on your own. The line 72 follows a route along the Seine River from Hotel de Ville 4e (near Ile de la Cité) to Saint Cloud Park (west side). Take a guide book with you. Avoid rush hours: the best hours are from 10 am to 12 am & from 2 pm to 4 pm. Trip: around 90 min. Avoid when it's raining. www.ratp.fr/

Balabus RATP: These coach buses provide a sightseeing tour of the city, primarily along the Seine River, from Bastille to La Défense. They operate on Sunday afternoon and Holidays, from April 15 to September 15. The sign “B b” is recognizable on bus stops all along their itinerary. Some of the most beautiful sites can be seen on this trip. Take a guide book with you. You can use your Paris Visite pass or pay 1 to 3 tickets according to the trip (1.70€ each). www.ratp.fr/  

- Best views of the whole city (by fair weather)

Eiffel Tower, 7e - Tower of Notre Dame, Cathedral 5e (many stairs to climb) - Roof of the Tour Montparnasse, 13e - Montmartre Sacré Coeur, 18e

- Main Monuments, Museums, and Parks (NOT by order of interest)

For Palace of Versailles, Giverny, Fontainebleau, Chartres Cathedral, etc, go to "Ile de France" section.

www.monuments-nationaux.fr/en     www.paris.fr/english      www.pariswelcome.net/  http://en.parisinfo.com          www.picturalissime.com/musee_paris_france.htm

The red numbers below correspond to locations on the Paris map at mapvisitfrance.com/   

[Alma] = Subway station     [bus 41] = Bus line

1A / 1B Cruises on the Seine River: from Pont de l'Alma, 8e [Alma] or from Quai Branly, 9e [Tour Eiffel]: a "must do" to begin visiting Paris. Dinner cruises are available 
2 Eiffel Tower, 7e [Tour Eiffel]: avoid rainy days 
3 Notre Dame Cathedral, on Ile de la Cité, 4e [Cité]: superb view from the south tower 
4 Louvre Museum, 1er [Louvre]: free on Sundays; huge exhibits (Orsay Museum has a less intimitading size for a shorter trip: see 10)  
5 Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysées Avenue, and Palace of Elysée, residence of the President of France, 8e [Ch.de Gaulle] 
6 Napoléon's tomb and Military Museum in the Invalides, a former hospital ordered by Louis the XIV, 7e [Ecole Militaire]; facing the Invalides: superb Pont Alexandre III bridge  
7 Montmartre & Sacré Coeur Basilica, 18e: sumptuous view of Paris; access by funicular [Anvers]; near by, in Jardin des Abesses, the "Mur des Je t'aime" (Wall of I love you) is covered by thousand of "I love you's" in any language  
8 North part of a former Royal Palace on Ile de la Cité, the Conciergerie was the jail of Marie Antoinette, 4e [Cité]
9 13th century Sainte Chapelle on Ile de la Cité, 4e; entrance by the Law Court [Cité] 
10 Orsay Museum, 7e [Musée d'Orsay]; in a former train station with glass ceiling 
11 Grande Arche of La Défense: superb view. Access by subway line 1 to west suburb with towers [La Défense] 
12 Centre Pompidou Modern Art, in Les Halles area, 4e [Rambuteau] 
13 Rodin Museum and garden, 7e [Varenne]  
14 Madeleine National Church, 8e [Madeleine] 
15 Picasso Museum (renovated) and garden, 4e [Saint Paul]
16 Superb Place des Vosges garden and Victor Hugo Museum, 4e [Saint Paul]  
17 Marmottan Impressionist Museum, mostly about Monet, 16e [Muette]  
18 Tuilerie garden and Concorde Plaza with Luxior Obelisk and statues; the ensemble is set as a giant sundial.
18 B Orangerie (Impressionist) & Jeu de Paume (various arts exhibits) museums are on this plaza, 8e [Concorde]; facing the plaza from the other bank, the 17th century Bourbon Palace is home of the Assemblée Nationale (Representatives Assembly)
19 Panthéon Church, 5e & tombs of Great French Men & Women such as Braille, Dumas, Hugo, Marie Curie, Voltaire, etc. [Luxembourg]; the US Capitol was inspired from its design. 
20 Saint Denis Cathedral, housing the tombs of several French Kings [northern suburb Saint Denis, subway line 13]; NOT after 4 pm 
21 Opéra Garnier, built in 1863, is for ballets & classic opera, 9e [Opera]. Thare are guided tours during the day. There was born the Phantom of the Opera story.
22  Père Lachaise cemetery, 20e [Pere Lachaise]: sculptured tombs of famous people such as Chopin, I. Duncan, M. Ernst, Molière, J. Morisson, E. Piaf, O. Wild, etc.
23 New Branly Museum: Ancient Art from all civilizations, 7e [Tour Eiffel]   
24 La Villette Cité des Sciences museum + Geode 360 degrees movie theater + Music center, 19e [Porte de la Villette] 
25 Catacombs underground cemetery (south part) with thousands of skeletons, 14e [Denfert] 
26 Palais Royal & sumptuous gardens + Comédie Française House of Molière (Classic plays), 1er [Palais royal] 
27 Carnavalet Museum in a 14th century large mansion: fine 17th and 18th century art, including the History of Paris; 3e [Saint Paul]   
28 Grand Palais, for art exhibits such as the FIAC (International Modern Art Fair) in October; Petit Palais for "Beaux-arts" exhibits; Palais de la Découverte for Sciences & Astronomy, 8e [Franklin-D.-Roosevelt]
29 Statue of Liberty replica offered by American Association to thank France for the original in NY; on small island Ile aux Cygnes, 16e [Tour Eiffel] 
30 1st century Roman Amphitheater of Lutetia (small part), 5e [Maubert Mutualite]
31 Jardin des Plantes with botanic and paleontology exhibits, and zoo, 5e [Jussieu]  
32 Bois de Boulogne park with lakes and on the western side Bagatelle garden with flower exhibit from May to Aug. [bus line 43] 
33 Buttes Chaumont garden and lake, 19e [Buttes Chaumont] 
34 Monceau park with Roman ruins replica, 8e [Monceau] 
35 New National Library (10 million volumes) inside 4 giant book shaped buildings, 13e [Tolbiac] NOTE: the National Library was originally located in a mansion, 58 rue de Richelieu: it's now the Museum of French History Archives 
36 Jardin d’Acclimation Entertainment Park (world first open E. Park); take the mini train at Porte Maillot, 16e [Porte Maillot] 
37 Large Garden Jardin du Luxembourg with lake, a 17th century palace home of the Senate and of a small painting museum, 6e [Luxembourg or Odeon]
38 1st century Roman Baths and the marvelous Middle Age museum in the 15th century Cluny mansion, 5e [Saint Michel] 
39 Bois de Vincennes Park with lake, zoo, and a 14th century fortress  and chapel [Chateau de Vincennes] NOT after 5 pm
40 Beautiful and quiet Montsouris parc with water fall, lake, etc, near the International University, 14e [RER line B: Cité Universitaire] 
41 Bastille plaza and Opéra Bastille, 10e [Bastille] 
42 Trocadéro Human Rights plaza, with Human Kind Museum & Navy Museum, 16e [Trocadéro]; superb view of Paris center and Eiffel Tower 
43 Art et Métiers Museum: 1st auto-mobile, 1st bicycle, 1st plane, etc, 2e [Arts et Metiers] 
44 Grévin Wax Museum (few scenes of the Revolution could be shocking), 9e [Grands Boulevards] 
45 Maison de la Radio & TV in Cognac Jay museum, 16e [Ave du Pt Kennedy]  -
46 Jewish Museum, 3e [Rambuteau]; the Memorial for the Shoah is in the 4th Arrt [Saint Paul]  
47 Delacroix Museum; Saint Sulpice Church, 6e [Saint Sulpice]: Saint Sulpice church shelters the obelisk of the ancient Meridian (see Da Vinci Code movie); some copper medallions indicating the path of the ancient Meridian are still visible in Paris streets. The Organ of Saint Sulpice is considered as one of the best. Another organ is reputed at Saint Eustache Church (Les Halles).
48 13th century Sorbonne University with Tomb of its founder Cardinal de Richelieu, 5e [Cluny] 
49 Superb Jacquemart Andre Museum: 18th century Paintings, Statues & Porcelain, 8e [Miromesnil]
50 Modern Art Museum of Paris, 16e [Alma Marceau] 
51 Galliera Fashion and Costumes Museum, 16e [Alma Marceau] 
52 Nissim de Camendo Museum for Modern Art and Art Deco, 8e [Monceau] 
53 Pasteur Institute & tomb of Pasteur, 15e [Pasteur] 
54 Montparnasse Tower with restaurant, 14e [Montparnasse] 
55 Le Bon Marché Department store, 6e [Solferino] 
56 Department stores Galeries Lafayettes, Printemps, and Brumel, 9e [Havre Caumartin]  57 Decorative Art and Fahion Museum, 1e [Palais Royal]   
58 Vanves Flee market on Sat & Sun; Beware of pickpockets! 14e [Portes de Vanves]
59 Cartier Foundation of Contemporary Art, 14e [Raspail]
60 Dali Museum, 18e [Anvers] 
61 Gustave Moreau Museum, 9e [Trinité]

And also: Fondation Louis Vuitton for Contemporary Art, 16e [Porte maillot] - European Photography House, 4e - Maillol Museum of Modern & Fun Art, 7e - Archives de France Museum (History), 3e - Medicine Museum, 5e - Guimet Museum of Asian Arts, 17e - Cernuschi Museum of Asian Art, 8e - Jean Moulin et General Leclerc Resistance Museum, 15e - African & Oceanian Primitive Arts Museum, 12e - Arab World Museum, 5e - Photography and Art Plastic Museum, 8e - Cinéma & Movie Industry Museum, 12e - Pompiers (Firefighters) Museum of Champerret, 17e - Police Museum, 5e - Serrures (Locks) Museum, 9e - Vie romantique Museum, 9e - Post & Mail Museum, 15e - Sport Museum, 13e - Nature & Hunting Museum, 4e - Coins & Money Museum, 6e - Dapper Museum for African Art private collections, 16e - Poupée (Doll) Museum, 3e - Baccarat Crystal Museum, 10e - Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson (Photography), 14e - Zadkine Museum Russian artist, 6e - Musee du Chocolat, 10e.

Suggestions for a 5-day visit (on your own)

Take a guide book with you. Avoid the Louvre & Eiffel Tower on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

1st DAY: Start around 9 am, with a cruise on the Seine River (Pont de l’Alma, 16e or Pont d'Iena, 7e). If it’s raining, go to the Louvre Museum (Richelieu Wing) instead - Go to the Eiffel Tower, 8e. If it’s cloudy or raining, visit the Orsay Museum, 6e, instead - Have a walk and/or have a dinner in Saint Germain des Pres quarter, 6e, or attend a show at the Moulin Rouge Cabaret, 18e or at Lido Cabaret, 8e (reservation required for both).

2nd DAY: Around 9 am, visit the Louvre Museum (Richelieu Wing) or take a cruise if you already visited the museum the 1st day - Go to Montmartre, 18e, using the funicular and enjoy the view from the Sacré Coeur - Go atop the Arc de Triomphe, [Ch. de Gaulle Etoile] on the Champs Elysées Avenue then have a dinner in this area.

3rd DAY: Around 9 am, go to Versailles (by train: 35 mn) and spend most of the day there. Switch with 4th Day program if it is raining. Go back to Paris before 5 pm - You can enjoy a classic ballet at the Opera Garnier, 9e (reservation + formal clothing required) then enjoy an onion soup at the Café de la Paix (beside the Opera). Or you can have a dinner at the real brasserie Pied de Cochon [Les Halles], 1er, or the Congrès [Porte Maillot], 17e.

4th DAY: Start with the Orsay Museum at 9:30. If you have already been to this museum, go to the Eiffel Tower - Visit the Invalides & Napoléon’s tomb, 8e - Finish by Notre Dame, on Ile de la Cité and stroll on the charming Island. Enjoy a dinner on the romantic Place Dauphine (also located on this island).

5th DAY: Visit the Modern Art Pompidou Center, 4e. In the afternoon go to the Picasso Museum, 4e (closed until 2012) or at the Carnavalet Museum near by. You can walk to the Place des Vosges (10 minutes)  and/or do some shopping in The Marais (stores closed at 7 or 8 pm) and have a nice dinner there or in the Latin Quarter.

- 2 Romantic walks (by fair weather - Daylight until 5:30 pm in winter, 9:30 pm in summer)

1 - From Place du Carrousel, near the Pyramid of Le Louvre, walk through the arches side of the Seine River then take left on Quai du Louvre toward Notre Dame. Cross the river using the Passerelle des Arts (pedestrian bridge) then walk left on Quai de Comti. Enter the first part of the Pont-Neuf bridge (don't cross it); as you reach the Henry IV on Horse statue on your left (Place du Pont Neuf on the bridge), cross the street to enter the very small Rue Robert, between 2 old buildings and you are on the beautiful and romantic Place Dauphine. You can have a drink or a meal there (See restaurants page 9). Notre Dame is 4 blocks away.

2 - From the Panthéon Church in the Latin Quarter, 5e [Luxembourg], go down rue Soufflot and enter the Jardin du Luxembourg (closed at 5 pm in winter). Walk straight to the pond. Then head toward the Senat Palace and exit passing along its right side. Take a left onto rue de Vaugirard and walk about 400 yards along the park. Then take a right onto rue Bonaparte and go straight for 800 yards. You reach the Saint Sulpice Church and its plaza. Follow rue Bonaparte few more blocks and you reach Boulevard St Germain. You can have a beverage or meal at the famous “Les 2 Magots” café (headquarter of philosophers and writers in the 60’s), near the oldest Parisian church, Saint Germain des Près. Nearby, rue de l’Université shelters art galleries and antics stores.

- Beautiful & Romantic Locations (River Banks, Gardens, Plazas, etc) 

***  River Seine Embankment - Southwestern part, from Saint Michel to Pont de Sully (NOT after 9 pm) [St Michel] 

***  Place Dauphine on Ile de la Cité, 1er (behind the Law Court, by Pont Neuf bridge) [Cité]
***  Jardins du Palais Royal Garden, 1er [Louvre]

***  Place des Vosges, 4e - Sumptuous plaza with garden in Marais Quarter [Saint Paul]

***  Jardin du Luxembourg, 6e - Large garden with little orchestra, a pound, a palace, etc [Luxembourg]

***  Place du Trocadéro and garden, 16e - Great view of the Eiffel Tower [Trocadero]

***  Parc Montsouris, 14e - Beautiful park, with water fall, lake, wild birds, etc. [Gentilly by RER] 

***  Bagatelle Botanic Park in Bois de Boulogne (Summer only - NOT after 5pm) [Bus 43]

***  Banks of Canal Saint Martin, from Place de la République (Not after 9 pm)  [Republique]

6 - Buying basic stuff, Clothing, Food, Pastries, Shopping, Souvenirs, VAT

For the Specific French vocabulary > //speakfrenchenough.com/
- Opening hours / days: Boutiques, department stores, supermarkets and grocery stores are generally open non-stop from 8 or 9 am to 7 or 8 pm. Most of them are closed on Sunday and for Holidays. Some bakeries, butchers, delis and vegetable stores ("Primeurs") stay opened on Sunday morning and closed on Monday. Some grocery stores called "Alimentation Générale" stay opened every day until 9 or 10 pm, including on Sunday and Holidays; there is at least 1 or 2 of this shops per quarter.

Banks are open from 9 am to 4 pm; most of them are closed on Sat., Sun., and Holidays. 

Administration offices are closed during the weekend. Post offices are closed on Sunday.

- All prices are tax included. You can pay in cash or with Mastercard or Visa, sometimes Amex; look for stickers on the door. Avoid big bills and Credit Cards for small amounts under 10€; some vendors do not even accept them. The VAT is 19.6 % on items (7% for restaurants, 5.5% on food)
- Services: You often have to put your items in bags in supermarkets. For a bag, ask "un sac s'il vous plait". For wrapping, ask "enveloppez s'il vous plait". For a gift, ask for "un paquet cadeau s'il vous plait". The Customer Department is called Service Apres Vente or Service clients. There are NO refunds in France except for obvious defaults (within 5 days); the receipt is required.

- VAT refund? Visit www.parisescapes.com/paris_department_vat_refund.html

Where to buy what?  

Basic / Everyday stuff / Food and Beverages / Organic food / Vegetarian:
- For basic stuff such as food, water, batteries, shampoo, tampons, etc, go to a local "superette" (mini supermarket) such as Franprix, G20, 8 a Huit, Proxi, etc, present in every arrondissement. "Supermarchés" or "Hypermarchés" (large supermarkets) such as Auchan, Carrefour, Cora, Géant, Intermarché, Leclerc, etc, can be sometimes found inside Paris but they are mostly located in suburban areas. The chain Monoprix is a kind of luxurious dime store chain in Paris, sometimes including a department "traiteur" (alike an exclusive Deli). 
If these stores are closed (Sunday / Holidays), look for a grocery store "Alimentation Generale"; there is always one per area open until 9 pm and Sunday.
- For salads, dishes to take out, etc, go to Charcuteries (delicatessen) or Traiteurs.
- Bakeries: Many Boulangeries and/or Boulangerie-Patisseries (Bakery pastry shop) sell bread, croissants, snacks, quiches, salads, sandwiches, cookies and pastries; the best bakery chain is "Banette" (indicated on the sign). 
- Organic is "Bio"

- Frozen food is "Congelés".

- Non fat is "0 % Matiere Grasse" or "Allegé 100%"   Calories = Calories   

- Kosher is Cacher; check www.kosherinfrance.com There are many Kosher stores in the Marais quarter, 4e.
- Vegetable stores are called "Primeurs" or "Légumes".
- For Vegetarians (Végétariens), Vegans (Végétaliens), and Organic (Bio) lovers: You find Bio (organic) food & products almost everywhere. For organic dishes to take out, I recommend the restaurant  "5 saveurs d’Anada" 72, Rue du Cardinal Lemoine, 5e. The "Marché Bio de Raspail", Boulevard Raspail 6e (near Rue du Cherche-Midi) proposes any kind of Bio / Organic food, vegetables, and ingredients, Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm.
- Farmer / Open Markets: There are 1 or 2 "Marchés" per arrondissement often on Sunday morning. Here are some of them: Rue Montorgueil 2e; Place Monge / Rue Mouffetard 5e; Rue Mabillon 6e (indoor); "Marché Bio de Raspail", Boulevard Raspail 6e (near Rue du Cherche-Midi); Rue Cler 7e; Boulevard Richard Lenoir 11e; Place Jeanne d'Arc 13e; Place Constantin Brancusi (organic) 14e; Place de Passy / Rue de l’Annonciation 16e; Rue Levis 17e. http://marches.equipements.paris.fr/  There are Sunday markets as well in suburban cities such as Asnieres, Boulogne B., Issy les Moulineaux, Gentilly, Levallois, St Mandé, etc.

- Butchers are Bouchers; Fish stores are Poissonnerie; Delicatessen stores are Charcuterie.

- For fine dishes and specialties look for: Le Bon Marché Department store; Lenotre, traiteur chain www.lenotre.fr/; Fauchon traiteur chain www.fauchon.fr; Hediard traiteur chain www.hediard.com ; La Maison de la Truffe traiteur www.maison-de-la-truffe.com/

- Stores called "Drugstores" are actually a blend of restaurant, gadget store, pharmacy, and movie theater. There are not real drugstores and prices are generally high. 

Antics & Arts

- Antic stores "Antiquités" are often located in the 7e, Rue Bonaparte & Rue de l'Université.

- The "Salle Drouot" in the 2e has auctions (in French) all year long www.drouot.com.

- The Louvre des Antiquaires has 15 galleries stores, 1 Pl. du Palais Royal, 1er (it's not cheap!). 

- Art Galleries: most of them are located in the 7e, 8e and 16e.

NOTE: don't buy any antics at flea markets!

Bar-Tabacs

Café-Bar-Tabacs have a dark red diamond shaped sign outside. These Café-bars includes a small stand that sells bus / subway tickets and passes, chocolate bars, chewing-gums, cigarettes, cigars, phone cards, stamps, lottery tickets, and even "legal stamps" (Timbre fiscal) to pay parking tickets.

Books   (Bookstore = Librairie  -  Library = Bibliothèque)  

- Gibert Jeune: used books for students & others people - Place Saint Michel, 5e [St Michel] www.gibertjeune.fr/  

- FNAC - 7 Department stores in Paris www.fnac.com/  

- Bouquinistes vendors along Quai St Michel, 5e [St Michel]   CL in winter

- Brentano’s - Books and Magazines in English - 37 Ave de l’Opéra, 2e [Opera]  

- Shakespeare & Company, secondhand books in English - 37 rue de la Bucherie, 5e [St Michel]

Camera, Music & Video, TV  (French DVD's do not work in the US)

- Any Department stores: Bon Marché in the 6th, Printemps and Galeries Lafayettes in the 9th
- Darty chain (CD, DVD players, etc): 5 stores in Paris

- Monoprix (Camera & DVD): all over Paris

- Fnac chain (CD, DVD, Cameras, Books): 7 stores in Paris www.fnac.com/  

- Virgin Megastore (CD, DVD) 60 Ave des Champs Élysées, 8e and 99 rue de Rivoli, 1er

- Supermarkets Auchan, Leclerc, Carrefour (Music & TV): around Paris and at La Defense

NOTE: Avoid the "Drugstores" where prices are higher

Chocolate's

- Maison du Chocolat, Place de la Madeleine, 8e  [Madeleine]

- Patrick Roger, 108 Blvd Saint Germain, 6e [Solferino]

- Constant, 26 r. du Bac, 7e [Rue du Bac] 

- Godiva; everywhere in Paris

- Look for “Chocolatier” or “Confiserie” Stores.  

- Many Pastry shops sell fine chocolates.

Clothing, Accessories, Shoes, Luggage, etc, + Kids Clothing, Toys, and Shoes 
  Men 

- Brummel Department store, Bd Hausmann, 9e [Havre Caumartin]

- Bon Marché Department store, rue Velpeau (Bd Raspail), 7e [Sèvres Babylone]  

- Charvet, (exclusive tailor) 28 Pl. Vendome, 8e [Opera] 

- Christian Dior, 32 Ave Montaigne, 8e [Franklin Roosevelt] 

- Galeries Lafayette Department store, Bd Hausmann, 9e [Havre Caumartin] 

- Monoprix "luxurious dime store", all over Paris www.monoprix.fr/ 

- Réciproque (one-worn top designer clothes) 123 r de la Pompe, 16e [Pompe]  CL Sun

  Women

- Bon Marché Department store, rue Velpeau (Bd Raspail) 7e [Sèvres Babylone] 

- Cartier www.cartier.fr/

- Chanel, 31 r. Cambon 1e [Tuileries]   CL Sunday    

- Christian Dior, 32 Ave Montaigne, 8e [Franklin Roosevelt]    

- Christian Louboutin shoes http://eu.christianlouboutin.com

- Galeries Lafayette Department store, Bd Hausmann, 9e [Havre Caumartin]    

- Galerie Vivienne / Gallerie Colbert, r. Vivienne, 2e, Exclusive stores [Bourse]       

- Guerlain perfumes (SPA services), 78 Ave des Champs Elysées 8e [George V]   CL Mon      

- Louis Vuitton www.louisvuitton.fr/

- Monoprix "luxurious dime store", all over Paris www.monoprix.fr/    

- Printemps Department store, Bd Hausmann, 9e [Havre Caumartin]  

- Réciproque (one-worn top designer clothes) 123 r de la Pompe 16e [Pompe]  CL Sun 

- Stores Rue du Faubourg St Honoré, 8e, and Several fashion stores [Saint Philippe du Roule] 

- Stores Rue de la Chaussée d’antin, 9e [Chaussee d’Antin]  Avoid around noon & Sat. afternoon 

- Affordable Jewelry? Look for a Bijoutier. The Louvre museum sells copies of antique jewelry at fair prices. Galeries Lafayette & Monoprix have good deals for basic accessories. 

- French Designers: Balanciaga - Cartier - Chanel - Dior - Hermes - Gaultier - Lagarfeld - Mugler - Louis Vuitton - YSL, etc, have their headquarters stores in Paris, often in the 8e. You can also find their collections in Department stores, sometimes with discounts.   

  Young (14 to 22 y. old)

- Quartier Latin area [St Michel] [Odéon]  CL Sunday or Monday

- Bon Marché Department store, Rue Velpeau / Bd Raspail, 7e [Sevres Babylone]   

- Forum des halles [Les Halles]   Avoid after 5 pm and Saturday

- Marché aux Puces - Flea market, Pte de Vanves, 14e [Pte de Vanves]. Open Sat. to Mon. 

- Monoprix "luxurious dime store", all over Paris  www.monoprix.fr/

- Réciproque (used designer clothes) 123 r de la Pompe 16e [Pompe]

  Kids (under 14)     T = Toys   Cl = Clothing   S = Shoes

- Au Nain bleu, 406 r. Saint Honoré, 8e [Madeleine]   T

- Bon Point, 15 r. Royale 8e [Concorde]    Cl   S

- Bon Marché Department store, Rue Velpeau / Bd Raspail, 7e [Sèvres Babylone]  Cl  S  T

- Christian Dior enfants, 32 Ave Montaigne, 8e [Franklin Roosevelt]  Cl  S

- Galeries Lafayette Department store, Bd Hausmann, 9e [Havre Caumartin]   T  Cl  S

- Du Pareil au même, 168 bd Saint Germain, 6e [Saint Germain]   Cl  S

- Tartine et Chocolat, 266 Bd St germain, 6e [Saint Germain]   Cl  S    23 stores worldwide

Flea Markets
- Marché aux Puces Pte de Vanves, 14e [Pte de Vanves]. Open Sat to Mon. noon.  
- Marché aux Puces Clignancourt (not recommended) - Pte de Clignancourt [Pte de Clignancourt ].  
Flowers & Plants: look for a Fleuriste or Fleurs, generally on plazas or main streets.

Home, Furniture, Kitchen appliances, TV, etc    (French DVD's do not work in US)

- Au Bain Marie. All over France & Europe. www.aubainmarie.fr/

- Castorama: home improvement. All over France. www.castorama.fr/

- Monsieur Bricolage: home improvement. All over France. www.mr-bricolage.fr/

- BHV (Bazar de l’Hotel de Ville): Furniture, Kitchen appliances, TV, Stereos, etc [Hotel de Ville] 

- Darty: Kitchen appliances, TV, Stereos, etc, + home repair. All over France  www.darty.com

- Ikea: Furniture, etc. All over France & worldwide

- Habitat: Furniture, etc. All over France. 

- Monsieur Meuble. All over France. www.monsieur-meuble.fr/

- Mise en Demeure. Several stores worldwide. www.miseendemeure.com  

- Lafayette Maison, 35 Boulevard Haussmann, 9e

Medication and Medical items

- For medications or medical related stuff, see Section 8 "Emergencies" below. There is no CVS pharmacies style: all medications are sold by a specialized store (Pharmacy). Pharmacy have green cross sign outside. For 24/7 pharmacies, see Emergency section above.

- Some "Drugstores" have a Pharmacy department

Luxury goods (not accessories, jewerely or fashion)

- Au Bain Marie. All over France & Europe. www.aubainmarie.fr

- Baccarat crystal. www.baccarat.fr/   Museum: 32 r. de Paradis 10e.

- Bernardaud. All over France & worldwide  www.bernardaud.fr/

- Cartier www.cartier.fr/

- Christofle. All over France & worldwide www.christofle.com

- Lafayette Maison, 35 boulevard Haussmann, 9e

- Lalique crystal. All over France and worldwide  www.lalique.com/  

- Mise en Demeure. Several stores in Paris. www.miseendemeure.fr

Pastry shops   "Patisserie" stores are everywhere but here are some very nice ones:

- Bon Marché Department store, Traiteur department. Rue Velpeau / Bd Raspail, 7e

- Lenotre, traiteur chain www.lenotre.fr/    $$$

- Fauchon; traiteur chain www.fauchon.fr     $$$

- Hediard, traiteur chain www.hediard.com     $$$

- La Durée, 16 rue Royale, 8e - Try their Macaron Pastries www.laduree.fr/

- Dalloyau, 2 place Edmond Rostand, 5e - Pastry & savory - www.dalloyau.fr/

- Angelina, 226 rue de Rivoli, 1e - www.angelina-paris.fr/

- Bon, 159 rue Saint Jacques, 5e   no site

- Carette, 4 place du Trocadéro, 16e  no site

- Éclair de Genie - 5 pastry shops in Paris, 1 in Tokyo http://leclairdegenie.com

SPA (selections)

- Guerlain Perfumes, 78 Ave des Champs Elysées 8e [George V]  www.guerlain.com

- Villa Thalgo, 8 rue Raymond Poincarré, 16 e [Trocadéro] www.villathalgo.com/

- Hotel Fouquet's Barriere, 46 Ave George V, 8e [George V]  www.lucienbarriere.com

- Hotel Meurisse, 228 rue de Rivoli, 1e [Tuileries]  www.lemeurice.com/spa-fitness

- In Versailles: Hotel Trianon Palace www.trianonpalace.com

Souvenirs & Gifts 

NOTE: Malls are called Galerie commerciale / Centre commercial:

- Carrousel du Louvre, 99 r. de Rivoli 1e [Palais Royal]   Avoid Sunday

- Galerie Vivienne, Rue vivienne 9e [Palais Royal]. Oldest mall in the world: open in 1815

- Forum des Halles [Les Halles]. Not after 7pm.

- Galerie du Lido, Ave des Champs Élysées 8e [Georges V] 

- Galeries Lafayette and Printemps Department stores, near the Opera, 9e.

- The Louvre and Orsay Museums stores have nice items, including jewelry, books, reproduction, etc. 

- The Bouquinistes (Books vendors along the Seine River, 1er [Chatelet]) have nice, cool and funny stuff, not only books.

- You also find cool stuff & souvenirs in the Latin Quarter and Marais Quarter and on Rue de Rivoli near the Louvre.  

- Fauchon, Hediard, Maison de la Truffe have fine French food products, on Madeleine plaza.

Stamps: sold at the Post offices (see below) and in Bar-Tabac.

Wine: Nicolas (chain) & Bacchus (chain) have several stores in Paris. Supermarkets sell wine.

7 - Events, Entertainment, Sports, Celebrating, etc.

Events, Addresses, Schedules, Tickets? Check those sites:

www.paris.fr/english    www.parisvoice.com/     www.cuturespaces.com  http://eventful.com/paris/events      www.nouveau-paris-ile-de-france.fr 

In French: http://spectacles.premiere.fr   Tickets for events / opera: www.fnac.com 

- Public Events

Agriculture show in Feb. - Fashion shows at the Louvre, Feb. - Foire du Trone (amusement park), Pelouse de Reuilly, 12e, April to May - Grand Marathon de Paris, April - Sacred art festival, April - Fête de l'Europe, 1 day in May - 3 heures de Paris boat race, Ile St Louis, May -Tennis French Open  at Roland Garros, end of May - Air Show at Le Bourget, May every 2 years - Festival Chopin at Bagatelle park, June - Steeplechase horse race at Auteuil; June - Waiters race, June - Fête du Pont Neuf, late June - Gay parade, June - Fête/Faites de la Musique (everybody plays music), 1 day in June - Festival du Marais, July - Festival du cinéma (outdoor) La Villette, mid-July to mid-August - "Bastille Day" on July 14th is called by the French "La Fête Nationale": fireworks, dancing bals, military parade on the Champs Elysées, etc. Fireworks: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI67l9IhHwI&feature=related  Foreign Legion on July 14th: www.youtube.com/watch?v=32kmJWqlkCg&feature=related European Union Armies on July 14th: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnUpeMlySks&feature=related  - Musique en l'Ile (classical music in churches) mid July to mid September - Tour de France finish on the Champs Elysees, July - Night of the stars (open observatories), mid Aug - Biennale des Antiquaires (Antiques show), late Sept - Fête à Neu-Neu (temporary amusement park at Bois de Boulogne), Sept - Journée du Patrimoine: free admission to all official buildings such as the Senat, National Assembly, French President residence, etc, be ready to wait on line for 2 hours; September - Festival of Music in Autumn; late Sept - Salon de l'Auto Car show, end of September - Montmartre Harvests, 1st Sat in Oct. - Science Festival, 2nd week of Oct - FIAC international modern art fair with 100 galeries, Oct - Tennis Open at Paris Bercy, late Oct - Ready-to-wear fashion show, Oct - Auto show / Moto show, every 2 years, Oct - Prix Arc de Triomphe horse race, late Oct. at Longchamp - Armistice WW1, Nov 11 - Salon de la Moto Motorbike show, end of November - Boat & yacht show, Dec. - Christmas fairs - Fireworks at Trocadero 16e, New Y. Eve - Parade internationale de Montmartre 18e, New Year's Day - Circus Festival for families (Cirque d’Hiver, 11e), late January. 

- Entertainment for Adults     (Family & Kids: see next paragraph)

                 R  Reservation necessary           F Formal clothing mandatory

Cabarets: (Any person under 18 years old must be with an adult)

- Le Lido, 116 bis Ave des Champs Élysées, 8e  [George V]  R  F

- Moulin Rouge, Place Blanche, 18e  [Blanche] R

- Crazy Horse, 12 Ave George V, 8e (classy nude show)  [Alma-Marceau]  R

Concerts, Plays, Ballets, Opera   http://en.parisinfo.com/ - www.paris.fr/english

- Cathédrale Notre Dame, Ile de la Cité, 4e - Organ concerts [Cité]  R

- Cité de la Musique, 221 Ave Jean Jaurès, 19e - Jazz, Variety  [Porte de Pantin]  (not at dark)

- Comédie Française, Palais Royal. 1er - Classic plays in French  [Palais Royal]  

- Église Saint Eustache, 2 r. de Turbigo, 1e - Organ concerts (Chopin’s favorite)  [Les Halles]

- Opéra Bastille, Pl. de la Bastille, 12e - Modern opera, Ballets, Dance  [Bastille] R

- Opéra Garnier, Pl. de l'Opéra, 2e - Classic opera’s, classic ballets  [Opéra] R   F

- Salle Pleyel, 252 rue du Fg St Honoré, 8e - Concerts  [ternes]  www.sallepleyel.fr/   R  F

- Sainte Chapelle church, Ile de la Cité, 4e - Organ concerts [Cité]  R 

- Théatre des Champs Elysées, 5 Ave Montaigne, 8e - French plays  [Alma-Marceau]  R

- Théatre National Chatelet, Pl. du Chatelet, 4e - Modern plays, Dance Creation  [Chatelet]  R

- Théatre de Chaillot, Pl. du Trocadéro, 16e - Plays, Creation  [Trocadéro]  R

Gay clubs:

- Piano Zinc, 49 r. des Blancs Manteaux 4e   [Rambuteau]

- Madame Arthur (impersonators), 75 r. des Martyrs, 18e  [Pigalle]

Jazz clubs.

- Caveau de la Huchette, 13 rue du Commandant Mouchotte, 14e [Montparnasse] 

- Petit Journal, 71 Bd St Michel, 5e   [Luxembourg]

- New Morning, 7 r. des Petites Écuries, 10e   [Chateau d'eau]

Movie theaters - Cinémas:

  From 2 to 10 pm - Often dubbed in French; “V O”  = original language.

Night clubs (selection) from 12 pm to 3 pm. You better go with a French who knows the place!

- Batofar, Quai Francois Mauriac (Techno on a boat)  [Alma]

- Balajo, 9 r. de Lappe, 11e  [Bastille]

- Les Bains, 7 rue du Bourg l'Abbé, 3e (hard to get in)  [Etienne Marcel]

- Le Cabaret, 2 place du Palais Royal, 1e  [Palais Royal]

- Queen, 102 Ave Champs Élysée, 8e   (hard to get in)   [George V]

- Le Rex club, 5 Bd Poissonnière, 2e  [Bonne Nouvelle]

- Wagg, 62 rue Mazarine, 6e  [Odéon]

- Entertainement, Parks, & Museums for kids / Family http://en.parisinfo.com/ 

Cruises on the Seine River, Pont de l'Alma, 8e - Entertainment Park Jardin d'Acclimatation, Bois de Boulogne by mini train at Porte Maillot, 16e - Luxembourg Garden, 5e (April to Oct: Puppet Show, Pound with mini boat rental, Poney riding, Tennis) - Eiffel Tower, 8e - La Villette Cité des Sciences and Technology Museum + 360 degrees Géode Movie Theater, 19e - Palais de la Découverte, Sciences, Space and Astronomy Museum, 8e - Montmartre Funicular, 18e - Wax Museum Musée Grévin, 9e (Caution: some Revolution scenes can be shocking) - Human Kind Museum Musée de l'Homme (close until 2013) & Navy Museum Musée de la Marine, both at Trocadéro, 16e - Natural History and Zoo Jardin des Plantes, 5e - Invalides Museum of the Ancient Military, 7e - Doll Museum (Musée de la Poupée), 3e

- Sports in Paris

If you need to keep in shape, there are plenty of opportunities: check this site for tennis and swimming in Paris www.paris.fr/english You can also ride a bicycle in the Bois de Boulogne and Bagatelle or Bois de Vincennes or along the Canal Saint Martin (NOT at dark); to rent a bike, check for one of the 450 "velib" stations www.velib.paris.fr/. If you like to do jogging or running, go to  Jardin du Luxembourg or Parc Montsouris or Parc Monceau or at the Bois de Boulogne Bagatelle park or Bois de Vincennes (NOT at dark for the last 2 locations). You can also become a member of the PUC (Paris Universite Club) or of the Racing Club de France. There are 20 stadiums along Paris beltway and several Bowlings and many Martial Arts Centers. There is a Golf Practice in the Bois de boulogne www.golfduboisdeboulogne.fr and real golfs all around Paris, mostly in the western suburban areas. For horse riding, visit this site (in French) www.equitation-paris.com/

- Celebrate an anniversary, a birthday, of for a Honey moon.  

For Kids

1 day at Jardin d'Acclimatation Entertainment Park in Bois de Boulogne (up to 12 years old); by the little train Porte Maillot, 16e www.jardindacclimatation.fr

1 day at EuroDisney, Marne la Vallée (any age); by RER A (35 mn.) / by Car (1 hour)

1 day at Asterix Entertainment Park (older than 8); By train / Shuttle / Car (45 mn.) www.parcasterix.fr

For Adults  (Reservation mandatory -- NO T-shirt, sport shoes, short, NO men sandals)

An evening at the Lido Cabaret Music Hall: dinner and show www.lido.fr  

Dinner cruise on the Seine River (also for a group)  www.bateaux-mouches.com

Dinner at the Eiffel Tower restaurant Jules Verne  www.lejulesverne-paris.com/ 

A dinner and a night (or 2) at the Crillon Hotel; ask for a room with view on Place de la Concorde www.crillon.com/  

A dinner, a night (or 2) + SPA at Versailles, Hotel Trianon Palace www.trianonpalace.com 

8 - Emergency, Safety, Doctors, Pharmacies, Police, Lost Objects     911 = 17  

For the Specific French vocabulary > //speakfrenchenough.com/

- There is an American Hospital located in Neuilly-Sur-Seine, Paris west suburb.

- Emergencies are called "Urgences" in all public hospitals of French cities. Interns often speak basic English.  

- Physicians have a sign "Docteur" on their door; you can walk in. Paris physicians often speak basic English; you can get a list of English speaking physicians from the US embassy > //france.usembassy.gov/

- In Paris and other main French cities, there is "SOS Medecin", an organization providing doctor emergency visits at home / house calls. Rates are a bit higher but it's convenient: www.sosmedecins-france.fr

- Pharmacies are called "Pharmacie"; they only sell medications (no CVS or Duane Reade style stores) and have a green cross sign; if a pharmacy is closed, the address of the closest open one is posted on the door. In Paris, several pharmacies are open 24/7: 84 Avenue des Champs Elysees (8e Arrt), 6 Place Clichy (17e Arrt), 360 rue Lecourbe (15e Arrt), 125 rue de Charonne (11e Arrt). Some of their vendors speak basic English.

- Police is Police in cities, Gendarmerie in the countryside or CRS everywhere. Address them all as "Monsieur" or "Madame". Police stations are called Commissariat in cities, Gendarmerie in the countryside and villages. There is always a main police station open 24 hours in each arrondissement and there is often a police assistant who speaks basic English. Officers in the street have a badge with flag indicating which foreign language they speak. Police officers in uniform can ask your ID ("Papiers" or "Piece d'identité") or the car documents anytime without any reason. Detectives (no uniform) must first show their Police ID first, with picture & number, the word Police and a French flag. If you are arrested, ask to call your embassy; Police cannot deny you this right and cannot keep you more than 48 hours at the station without a DA (magistrat) authorization. You have the right to a free attorney.

Safety

- Crime rate (includes assault, murder, rape) is low in Western Europe but there are many expert pickpockets and thieves! Close your bags in public places; don't leave your bag or suitcase unattended even 10 seconds; don't leave your wallet on a counter or a table even in front of you (thieves run faster than you); don't show maps and camera or that you carry 30 € or more in your wallet: you become a target; avoid begging Gypsy kids who often are organized pickpockets; always lock your car doors even for 1 minute; don't leave bags (even empty), cameras, or luggage visible in the car: thieves like to check them and break in the car. 

- Never ride alone in subway or train car and don't walk alone in corridors; wait for at least a couple of people (men and women) to be around. Don't stand near the track.  

- As a pedestrian, be careful about the speeding bikes and small cars in bus lanes or between buses or along trucks. Don't trust others people: always check by yourself before crossing a street even when it's your turn. Pedestrians don't always have priority at crossing areas even with the right of pass. Many traffic lights have a green arrow allowing drivers to turn on the right while the red is on and they sometimes force the way between pedestrians. Be aware that some bus lanes go against the traffic in cities. Never open a car door side of the traffic, particularly with Taxis: you are 100% responsible in case of accident. 

- Do NOT ride a bicycle in Paris busy streets: it's too dangerous!

- French authorities never joke with public safety and it started many years before 9/11. Don't even think to leave your luggage or bag unattended even 1 minute in an airport or station: that would immediately start a mini war situation. An article in the New York Times told the story of an American family that forgot a small suitcase at Paris Montparnasse station. In the next minutes, the station was evacuated and the luggage perforated with a mini explosive charge. Curiously, only the laptop inside was a bit damaged since it was identified by X-rays as the threat. A Special Force officer later said to the family that this was a "normal way to react" in France: "We never take any risk". The penalty was 250 euros (+ the damages).

Lost Objects

If you lost / forgot something in the street, a taxi, a station or a park, you can check at the nearest police station Commissariat or at the "Objets trouvés". 36, rue des Morillons, 15e. Wait 48 hours for any quest.

9 - Calling Home, Cells, Post Office, Stamps, Internet.

Calling home

If you don't have access to an international cell network, you still can call home from any place in France. Just know that according to the location, prices vary and it can be expensive. To call abroad from France, dial 00 + Country code + number. if you don't know your country code, look in the phone book. Phone booths don't take coins: you can buy a phone card in Post offices or Bar-Tabac or use a credit card

Cell phone

Bic company proposes a disposable cell phone for 50€ called "Bic Phone". No contract, ready to use for calls and SMS, 60 minutes, and you can add minutes with a "mobicarte". It is sold in Bars-Tabacs (with dark red lozenge sign) and Supermarkets.

Post Offices, Stamps, Sending a package abroad

Each arrondissement has at least 3 post offices, La Poste (yellow sign), open weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm + Saturday from 8 am to noon. The central office, 52 rue du Louvre 1er, is open 7 days, from 8 am to 8 pm. You can also buy stamps in any Bar-Tabacs (Post office rates).

To send a package / letter in 24 hours in the EU or the US, you have the choice: Chronopost (French Post), DHL (German company) or Fedex.

Internet & Minitel

In 1979, France Telecom launched the "Minitel", a kind of French free Internet system in mini computer, used for reservations, online orders and even chats. The "real" Internet came later in 1985; it is available everywhere in France and replaced the Minitel network. There are 46 millions of Internautes (internet users) in France, making France the world 4th country for the number of users, in proportion of population. Internet is found in hotels, cyber cafes, post offices and in all homes! 

10 - Studying, French Classes, Workshops, etc.  

- You could perhaps get a grant to study in France www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france/studying-in-france/finance-your-studies/   
- If you live in NYC and want to take some French classes, contact me: tbinyc@aol.com

- For studying and lodging as a student in France, visit my main blog:  aboutfrance.com/ section 16 and my blog http://frenchwebsites.blogspot.com/ section 37

Schools, Courses, Workshops:

- The French Institute NY has suggestions: www.fiaf.org/frenchclasses/study-abroad.shtml

- The American College offers various graduate / undergraduate courses including summer terms www.aup.edu/    

- For French language and culture: Alliance Française, boulevard Raspail, 6e  www.alliancefr.org/

- For Art History, Museology, etc at Le Louvre www.ecoledulouvre.fr/ 

- For cinema: National School of Cinema ESEC www.esec.edu

- Literature and Language at La Sorbonne University Paris www.english.paris-sorbonne.fr/   

- The honorable Sciences-Po university is open to foreign students www.sciencespo.fr/ 

- For painting, sculpture: Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris www.ensba.fr/international/international.htm   

- Paris City Halls in each arrondissement offer all type of courses in French: Foreign languages (Italian, German, Japanese, Spanish, etc), French language, Computering, Management, Photography, etc. It's open to everyone even foreigners but priority is given to Parisians. Rates varie from 45 to 250 euros. They only accept checks or cash. www.cours-municipal-d-adultes-cma.cma-paris.org/axes_cours

- Cooking classes. The 2 most famous schools are Atelier Culinaire www.atelier-des-sens.com and

Cordon Bleu www.lcbparis.com - The Musée des Sciences de la Villette, 19e, proposes many worshops in different fields. You need to speak French www.villette.com/fr/agenda/ateliers/

NOTE:

- If you are (officially) a student in Paris, you can get the RATP transportation pass "Imagine R": it is valid for most RATP networks and cost about 45€ / month. It comes with discounts at different restaurants and stores. The only inconvenience / mandatory process is to get a "dossier" at the subway stations, to fill it and to get a stamp from your school or university.
- If you are officially registered in a French university or faculty, you can access the "Resto U" (University Restaurants) in Paris. The food is far to be the best but prices are very low.  

REMINDER: To prepare your trip, you should first visit my blog: aboutfrance.com/    

B - Ile de France or "IDF" (Paris Region)  

e

Introduction: About Ile de France region + Where to reside

1 - Getting around the region

2 - You should not miss

3 - Lodging

4 - Restaurants

Useful Websites for IDF:

www.visitparisregion.com/en/
 www.francephotostourisme.fr/photos-ile-de-france.html 

Map of the region (2nd window) > mapvisitfrance.com/
For the Specific French vocabulary > //speakfrenchenough.com/  

Introduction

About Ile de France Region

If you already know Paris or want to see more of France without long trips, you should visit the "Ile de France" region: the 90-mile diameter area surrounding Paris includes a dozen of treasures!

The name "Ile de France" doesn't come from the concentration of inhabitants or cities as it is often said. It is actually from the fact that 3 large rivers are surrounding the region, creating a kind of island in France. Despite a "Delocalisation" (unconcentring) policy started by the President Pompidou in the 70's, as of today the region still counts for 35% of the French economy. Its population is also quite large: 14 million people live in Ile de France, out of 65,5 million.   

Where to reside?

You can reside in Paris, rent a car or use public transportation (with lot of back and forth) or take a tour with Cityrama or ParisVision. The other (better) way is to skip Paris, to rent a car at the aiport and drive around the region staying in hotels or B & B's of Ile de France region (see below Lodging). Just remember that the roads are crowded on Friday and Sunday evening, and early the mornings. Make sure to check the "Worst Periods for Moving Around", Section 5 of my main blog aboutfrance.com/

3

1- Getting Around

From Paris using public transportation

- Le R. E. R. or Réseau Express Régional - Suburban Express Network operated by RATP:

The RER serves the Greater Paris with over 110 miles of lines, from 5:30 am to 1:30 am. www.ratp.fr/en/ratp/c_20562/rer/  It does not reach all cities / sites of Ile de France therefore you need sometimes to take the SNCF Transiliens / Trains de banlieue instead (see next section). There are 5 main RER lines in Paris region, indicated by letters A, B, C, D, and E. Each line is divided into sub-lines for 5 or 6 different directions: for instance the line C is divided in C1, C2, C3, C5, C6 and C7 (C2 goes to Orly airport but not the C4 or C6 at the same platform). Always check the board on the platform to ascertain that the next train stops at the station you want to reach: there are express trains. The RER outside Paris limits require the 1 - 6 zone Paris Visite pass, sold at the airports tourist offices and in main train stations; you can chose a 1, 2, 3 or 5 day validity. Tickets per unite are sold in stations machines. Note that some machines do not accept US credit cards because they don't have a memory microchip; you have to go to the window "Billets". Keep your ticket until you are out of the station, controls are frequent! Avoid walking alone in corridors or riding alone in empty train cars and avoid riding after 8 pm and Sunday evening.

- Transiliens (Suburban Trains) operated by the National Railways SNCF: 

Trains run from 5 am to 2 am through Ile de France region www.transilien.com/web/site. You take them at the Gares (train stations). There is a Paris Visite pass sold at the airports tourist offices and in main train stations: it is also valid for Paris buses, subway, and the RER; you can choose a 1, 2, 3 or 5 day validity. Otherwise, ticket prices vary according to the trip; an Aller-Retour (Round trip) is cheaper. You buy your suburban train ticket or Billet at a machine. Note that some machines do not accept US credit cards because they don't have a memory microchip; you have to go to the window "Billets". In large stations, a board Départ Banlieue (NOT Grandes Lignes) indicates the destination and the Voie (track) for each train. In some suburban stations, you  may have to stamp the ticket yourself at a "pillar" Validez votre billet located at the entrance of each platform. Keep your ticket until you are off the train or until the end of validity (round-trip ticket): controls are frequent. Do NOT ride alone in empty train cars and avoid riding after 8 pm and Saturday morning and Sunday evening. 

From Paris with guided tours Cityrama or ParisVision: 

Both Cityrama (since 1956) and ParisVision (since 1929) proposes bus, boat, and walking tours, as well as 1 to 2 day excursions out of Paris. They have a fine reputation and their vehicles / boats are comfortable and secure, with multi language translation.  They organize tours of Versailles, Fontainebleau, Giverny, Loire Valley, Mont Saint Michel, Burgundy, etc. Find details and pricing at  www.pariscityrama.com/ --  http://en.parisvision.com 

By yourself with a rental car from Paris or the airport

- You can rent a car in Paris (Avoid driving inside Paris if possible) or rent a car at the airport. www.europcar.com US & European Driver licenses are valid in France. But if you plan a long trip, you better get an International Driver Licence (10 days to obtain it. In US, Check with AAA). If you use your car more than a day, ask for a diesel engine: you cut gas expense by a third! Take a "Tous risques assurance" - all risks insurance and always check for the spare tire before leaving the office: it could be hidden or missing or flat. 

French road rules are the same than in Europe and in US, however there is 1 different and crucial in France: Priorité a droite or give the way to any vehicle coming from the right when there is no stop sign, no traffic lights or cop, even in parking lots and on beltways (not highways). Do not pass cars by the right on highways, it's forbidden. No "one way" sign and no "All Stop" sign in France. For more info, check my main blog aboutfrance.com/ section "Once in France - Driving, Renting a car, Road rules". 

If you drive from Paris, go to the beltway "Péripherique" that connects to several regional motorways. If you skip Paris, the Ile de France highway network allows to go around large cities, avoiding them. The road network is dense and confusing therefore I recommend to buy the Michelin carte / map Ile de France 514, sold in French bookstores (Librairies), in main gas stations and at Amazon.com .

2 - Sites you should not miss in IDF

French National Monuments website www.monuments-nationaux.fr/en

The locations / letters are on the Ile de France map: mapvisitfrance.com/  (2nd window)

Corresponding Pictures of locations are on the right side  >>

A - Napoléon Museum and Malmaison Mansion (De Beauharnais) www.chateau-malmaison.fr/

B - Palace of Versailles http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage

C - Castle of Fontainebleau www.musee-chateau-fontainebleau.fr

D - Castle of Vaux le Vicomte www.vaux-le-vicomte.com/

E - Castle of Chantilly and Grand Stables www.chateaudechantilly.com 

F - Compiègne: 14th century Castle; Rethondes 1918 train car where German commanders signed the WW1 armistice www.oisetourism.co.uk/culture-and-heritage

G - 12th century Pierrefonds Fortress (near Compiegne) www.oisetourism.co.uk/culture-and-heritage

H - Senlis: 13th century Cathedral, Saint Maurice Priory, 10th century Royal castle (ruins), 1st century Roman arena and 3 museums www.oisetourism.co.uk/culture-and-heritage

 I - Beauvais Cathedral: the world highest Gothic cathedral www.oisetourism.co.uk/culture-and-heritage

J - Marne River Banks & famous dancing restaurants Guiguette (that inspired painter Renoir). "Guinguette" on Ile du Martin Pecheur at Champigny sur Marne is one of the last www.guinguette.fr  - On Sat and Sun (reservation mandatory)

K - 18th century Castle of Ferrières en Brie  www.chateaudeferrieres.sorbonne.fr/

L - Giverny & House of Monet - As the time of the painter (crowded w. e). www.fondation-monet.fr

M - Saint Germain en Laye www.ot-saintgermainenlaye.fr/ The royal city in a royal forest includes a 14th century castle and chapel, a 17th century castle, a 18th century plaza with arcades, a royal horse rink, a monumental church, etc.

N - Rambouillet www.rambouillet-tourism.com/ The largest & most beautiful forest near Paris.

O - Thoiry Zoo and castle: you drive in the zoo and meet with elephants, lions, zebras, etc www.thoiry.net

P - Chartres Cathedral: the most beautiful Gothic cathedral http://cathedrale.chartres.free.fr/

3 - Lodging in IDF

Bread & Breakfast:

B&B are not favorite to the French but there is still a fair number of them, generally clean and comfy; check this site to find a B&B: www.bedandbreakfast.com/paris-france.html.

Hotels:

- You can trust the Red Michelin Guide: it is accurate, their inspectors are incognito, and data are updated every year; it's a good reference! Order at www.amazon.com  type "Michelin Guides".

- Worldwide known site for getting info and comparing hotel rates www.tripadvisor.com

- For 1 night or on the go, Ibis and Campanile hotel chains have simple but affordable and clean rooms: www.ibishotel.com - www.campanile.com

- French company Accor is the world number one hotel operator and is very serious about its business. They manages different hotel categories such as Adagio, All Seasons, Sofitel, Novotel, Pullman, and Motel6 in the US. You could find the right one at www.accorhotels.com
- "Relais & Chateaux" are mostly castles and mansions but you can find good deals not too expensive www.relaischateaux.com.   

Suggestions of hotels as of January 2016:  

For details: www.google.fr  (not google.com) and type Hotel + its name + city + France

Versailles: **** Trianon, 1 Boulevard de la Reine - Exceptional - SPA - From 280€

Fontainebleau: *** Aigle Noir, Pl. Napoléon Bonaparte - Exclusive - From 170€

Fontainebleau: ** Hotel de la Chancellerie, 1 rue de la Chancellerie - Simple but comfy - From 90€

Senlis: *** Porte Bellon, 51 rue Bellon - Classy - From 100€

Compiègne: ** Hotel de Flandre, 16 quai de la République - Simple and fair- From 85€

Beauvais ** Le Chenal, 66 Boulevard Général de Gaulle - Simple and comfy - From 100€

St Germain en Laye: *** Pavillon Henry IV, 21 rue Thiers - Classy with view - From 190€

Chartres: ** Jehan de Beauce, Ave Jehan de Beauce - Simple and comfy - From 95€

Chartres: ** Hotellerie St Yves, 1 rue Saint Eman - Simple: former monastery - From 70€

4 - Restaurants by areas / cities
As for hotels, you can trust the Red Michelin Guide for restaurants: Data are accurate and updated every year; inspectors are incognito. Many French trust their guidance! Order at www.amazon.com  type "Michelin Guides". I also listed some suggestions below.

Suggestions of restaurants as of June 2016

For details: www.google.fr  (not  google.com) and type Restaurant + its name + city + France

      Legend: 20€ = average price without wine    R  Reservation needed    F Formal clothing     CL = closed ..

On the road: ** Grill Courte-Paille chain (20 in IDF) - www.courtepaille.com - From 14€

On the road: ** Campanile chain - www.campanile.fr/ - From 16€

Versailles: ** Au Chien qui Fume, 72 rue de la Paroisse - Good, fun decor - From 20€  CL Wint.
Versailles: **** Trianon, 1 Boulevard de la Reine - Exceptional! - From 80€   R   F Eve

Fontainebleau: **  Caveau des Ducs, 24 rue Ferrare - Great cuisine, nice decor - From 24€

Vaux le Vicomte: ** (at Mée sur Seine) Hotel du Mée, Ave de la Liberation - Simple - From 20€

Chantilly: ** Ferme de Condé, 42 Ave Maréchal Joffre - Good cuisine, cool decor - From 25€

Compiègne: ** Palais Gourmand, 8 rue du Dahomey - Good, simple decor - From 20€ 

Senlis: ** Scaramouche, 4 place Notre Dame - Good, superb area, great decor - From 29€

St Germain en Laye: *** Pavillon Henry IV, 21 rue Thiers - Great cuisine & view - From 40€  R  F Eve

Ferrières en Brie: ** Chez Jean, Ave James de Rothschild - Good but poor area - From 38€

                                 

To prepare any trip to France, visit first aboutfrance.com/

BON VOYAGE!