Vacationing to Paris!
What to do and what not to do...
I spent a long weekend in Paris last week, and I wanted to use this blog post to give you some tips for vacationing in Paris! It was my second time visiting, and it is such a big city that you can have a completely different experience every time you go. Hopefully, this blog helps you plan your next trip to a big European city, maybe even Paris!
First things first, even though the early AM and late PM flights tend to be the “cheapest”, I would not recommend booking them. The reason I say this is because to get from any of the Paris airports, you either have to take the RER train/metro system, take the bus, or take an Uber. The RER is between 11 and 13 euros each way but only runs from 5:30 am to 10:30 pm on any given day. If you have a super early or super late flight, your fastest, and best option is automatically eliminated. Busses are cheap, and there are multiple routes available, but most buses are on a 60-90 minute route to get to the city and only run every 30 minutes, with MANY MANY stops. It can be a very rough, and very long ride. Lastly, Uber and taxis get very expensive very fast. When I was SOL at 4:00 am, for one of the first flights out of Charles du Gaulle, I ended up charging 50 euros to the emergency credit card to make my early flight. Thanks, Uber. Paris does use the G7 Taxi app, and occasionally, that offers a cheaper alternative. All that to say, even if you can take the train, or are willing to spend up to two hours on the bus, you have to factor in your time and additional transport costs and see if the midnight flight is even worth it. If I could do it again, I would have spent a few extra dollars on a flight during business hours to reduce Uber costs and overall stress.
One note here, Paris’ Navigo (transport) cards are for personal use only. Even if you purchase a 20-trip card, you can only use that. You cannot share trips between people on one card if you are planning on taking buses or metros at the same time. The physical cards are 2 euros but there are also virtual options.
See below how busy the transit stations are when you get off an RER line.
Next thing, DO NOT STAY IN THE GARE DU NORD AREA. DO NOT DO IT. The area surrounding Gare du Nord is your stereotypical dump near a major train station, unsafe, dirty, and not the spot for someone vacationing alone. More specifically, do not stay at the St. Christopher’s Hostel, it is AWFUL. Dirty, stinky, unsafe, poorly managed, you name it. I wish I would have had a refundable reservation... feel free to look up the hostel if you want to read my one-star review….once again, EW. Because of where I was staying, I had to use transit instead of walking after it got dark, not safe. In terms of where to stay, I recommend either staying near an RER/metro line on the outskirts or staying in the 3rd, 7th, or 11th arrondissements, which, in my opinion, are well-connected and beautiful areas. If you want to spend a bit less, the area near the Universities in the 13th and 14th arrondissements is a good choice too. There is no need to spend an arm and a leg on super bougie lodging, but something clean, well-connected, and safe is a great choice. You will not find anything like this near the Gare du Nord or Gare de I’est stations in the 10th arrondissement.
So what is worth doing in the city?…
Well, Paris is a huge tourist hub, and it is extremely busy, loud, and overwhelming. The hub of it all, and the place I hate most is the Champs-Élysées. It is ridiculous, just like Times Square, or Gran Vía, but worse.
Because of the nonstop sensory overload in Paris, I recommend choosing something to do for a few hours in the AM and a PM activity.
Make time for meals out because the food is great!! But, don’t eat street-cart food because some vendors store their food in questionable places!
I recommend using the Tiquets website/app to book events and excursions for better deals than other booking sites. If you want to do the Catacombs or the Eiffel Tower, try to book ahead and book on a weekday, it is sometimes 1/5 of the price if you do this! The Moulin Rouge is much cheaper if you are willing to do a late PM show. Book ahead for Moulin Rouge by at least a month, more if you can.
Some recommendations I have for excursions are:
-Seine River Cruise
-Visiting the Eiffel Tower, namely going to the top!
-The Louvre (It is like 4 million square feet, this is a good PM activity, choose what you want to see beforehand and get an information packet when you get there. The first Friday of the month it is free after 6 pm, show up at 5 to get in line though!)
-The Moulin Rouge
-Climbing the Arc de Triomphe
-Flea and Street Markets (Easy Google search to find them!)
-Thrifting in the 3rd Arrondissement
-Bike tours and Food tours
**I plan on going back to do the Catacombs and Versaille, but recommend these as well! Oftentimes, you can get discounts if you are a student or EU resident so look for discounted ticket options as well.**
Some restaurant recommendations I have:
-French Bastards Bakery, great products, and great coffee with a few locations.
- Maison Louvard for Brioche and the “Crookie” (IYKYK)
-Pierre Hermé for amazing macarons
-Aux Merveilleux de Fred for THE BEST meringue and THE BEST brioche.
-The crepe stand attached to the G-20 in the Latin Quarter, very close to Notre Dame… (The fluffiest crepe I have ever had and CHEAP!)
-Pocha! for Korean Street Food (my favorite meal of the weekend)
-Chez Alain Miam Miam for a solid sandwich (the lines here get craaaaazy)
-Sürpriz for AMAZING AMAZING Berlin-style Döner Kebap, great for a late night eat before or after the Moulin Rouge.
-Les Cocottes for a traditional French bistro, good wine, and GREAT service. Less flashy than tourist traps but great quality.
**I do not recommend eating at the tourist traps with the tacky flowers or seating outside, it won’t be as good and it will be more expensive. It is not worth it**
All in all, I recommend getting a 10-trip metro card for a long weekend, you will use it. I recommend taking mid-day breaks to avoid the masses of people that congregate in tourist destinations after 1 pm. Stay in a safe, and nice area…not near the Gare du Nord station! Book tickets and make dinner reservations in advance! Bring a water bottle and use restrooms when you stop for coffee, pastries, or food as public restrooms are a hot commodity in Europe!
Oh, and seriously, feel free to read my Google review for my hostel stay.