I lived near Paris for a year, but that was 45 years ago so some things have surely changed. Among the things that may not have changed: * Don't miss the great museums Jeu de Paume and l'Orangerie, fairly near each other; * Analogous to U.S. pizza, Parisians go out for couscous, a kind of pasta that looks like fat rice on which is served a delicious savory North African (chicken and/or beef) stew. The very best couscous imho is Algerian. And though it can be gotten in the Left Bank, the best I found is in the Right Bank (see this article: https://www.timeout.com/paris/en/restaurants/where-to-find-the-best-couscous...). * I used to like to hang out in an interesting area in the Left Bank called Place Contrescarpe. * Beneath much of Paris are underground passageways known as Les Caves. There are many food, music, and dance locations built in Les Caves (as well as many semi-abandoned miles of passages). * It's fun to hang out at a Paris café drinking beer or Pernod and have a paté sandwich while people watching. Some of the most venerable cafés include Le Procope, La Coupole and Le Select. (see https://www.tripsavvy.com/best-traditional-paris-cafes-and-brasseries-161839...). * If there's any chance you might like French cheese and wine, make sure to buy some bread, cheese, and wine and have some kind of picnic. There's nowhere else on earth that you can buy such a selection of great bread, cheese, and wine so cheaply! * Don't miss the English-language bookstore Shakespeare & Co., which has hosted many literary lights during the past century. A short walk away is the Notre-Dame cathedral, and a short walk from there are the "quais", the sidewalks along the Seine that have stalls selling books, pictures and other ephemera. * If you love good food, look up one-star restaurants in a Michelin guide — it can goe all the way up to three stars, but a one-star restaurant is already superb food. * If you rent a car (the French don't drive very safely, but at least they do it on the right side of the road) or otherwise, you might want to visit sights in the surrounding areas. I found this list at TripAdvisor (quoted in full with minor annotations: (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g187147-c4886/Paris:France:Trips.Outside....). It begins: ----- During longer stays in France (7 days or more), it's a good idea to arrive in Paris, stay for 2 or 3 days, take a day trip or a 3-4 day road trip, and end up departing from Paris. Generally, hotels and B&B’s outside of Paris are inexpensive. A resource for places to stay is Relais & Chateaux guide. ----- * Finally, I don't know what your French skills are, but I highly recommend making the effort to speak to French people in French (even if it means learning some French between now and your trip). Some French people might criticize your pronunciation (like the stereotype of Parisians), but many people will appreciate your trying to speak their language. Dan David Wilson wrote: -----
I would like to visit Paris in April or June, probably for a week or so. We'll want to see the famous landmarks, e.g. the Eiffel Tower, L'arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame, &c.
We are in our late 50's, so I don't think we'll be hanging out at nightclubs, though I would like to see the Moulin Rouge. Fine dining is a must (secret gems, anyone?), and I want to hit a bistro. Sharon will be interested in shopping (at least window shopping), I'm thinking Montmarte is worth a day. Perhaps I'll can drag her to the Louvre if it looks promising.
My biggest concern is finding an economical to stay, and getting around. I assume we want to see Paris on foot, and use the Metro to get around?
I'm in the early planning stages. I'll sift through your responses and start solidifying my plans. Many thanks.