Heading to Paris on Thurs

ali1972

I went in early February 2 years ago and didn't really have to queue for anything as far as I can remember. We easily got into The Louvre and The Musee d'Orsay. Although we couldn't get to the top of the Eiffel Tower for love or money - it was only open to the first viewing platform every time we turned up, day or night - and we couldn't climb up to the top of Notre Dame because of "industrial action" (go figure...) Notre Dame was quite busy itself and we were "herded" through but we got a reasonable look at it.

If you get a chance do have a look at Le Palais Garnier (The old Opera House). It's cheap to go in and wander about if you're not opting for the guided tour and it really is magnificient - very Phantom of the Opera. Not open on matinee days, by the way, so check.

I can't remember where we ate, but I do remember that we just wandered off the tourist track and found countless restaurants down side streets which offered very good menus and were very reasonably priced.

We found the DK Eyewitness Travel Guide to Paris very useful as it includes guides and floor plans to a lot of attractions which saves you buying guides to each one as you go. It also recommends loads of reasonably priced restaurants etc and I've often found in their other guides that these are good choices. To be honest I look for their guides whenever I can but they don't do enough Cities!

Willspireite

Has anyone been on one of the Bateaux Parisiens Dinner Tours? Worth it?

donnie_darko_3

Willspireite wrote: »

Has anyone been on one of the Bateaux Parisiens Dinner Tours? Worth it?

If you want to go up the eiffel tower and have something to eat (you do not queue if you are eating you go up a seperate lift) check out the eiffel tower website for its restaurants http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/pratique/resto/index.html. They are not cheap but the experience is unforgettable though we did eat there on Christmas day. Just have the bare minimum and then wonder around at leisure. The first level is cheaper then the silver service second level. Then afterwards wander over and take a boat down the seine and enjoy the sights without having to eat and glance at the sights. There is so much to see that dining is a hinderance in my opinion. Its only a few pounds and with a full commnentary included

pinkpong

I wouldn`t bother with eifel tower, not that special, huge ques. We went on the roof tour of one of the churches,sorry can`t remember the name not far from Notre dame ch. The vue was fantastic, better then eifel. The vue from Noter Dame was great too. Went on a bout ride was lovely.

balsingh

An alternative to the Eiffel Tower is the Tour Montparnase. It gives similar views of the city but is indoors so its not as cold as the Eiffel Tower. Its also much cheaper too.