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Top 10 Things to do in Paris
- Wheel Deals
The Segway was meant to revolutionise the way we lived, reduce the need for walking and reclaim the streets for car-less citizens. These emission-less transporters didn't quite take the world by storm but they have become quite popular among tourists on the streets of Paris. It'll take you a little while to get your centre of balance accustomed to this pressure sensitive propulsion, but when you get going there's nothing like it. The tours kick off from rue Edgar Faure and a major Segway selling point is the elevated, celebrity spotting, vantage point that these clever little devices offer. I managed to pick Groundhog Day's Andie MacDowell out from the crowd on the bridge between the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay!
- Bike Tours
If you've seen the infamous online video of Paris Hilton falling off a Segway and you don't fancy doing the same in her namesake city, then fear not because there are bike tours on offer too. The Fat Bike Tours set off from the same location and take in the sites at a slightly more leisurely and less technologically advanced pace. The bikes also have that unbeatable Amelie –esk quality with wicker baskets and silver bells, and they're also a cheaper alternative to the flash-packing Segway. Add to that an eternally cheerful and enthusiastic head office and you're laughing.
- The Louvre
The Louvre is possibly the world's most well known museum and definitely the most visited historical repository on the planet. It is impressive but like most internationally infamous exhibits, it's crowded, over-protected by over-eager security staff and ruined by the erratic and unpredictable walking patterns of pedestrian tourists. The top attraction is the eyebrow-less beauty – Mona Lisa, but it's hard to appreciate this masterpiece when you have to stand in line for ten minutes, squint through the glass screen and compensate for the never-ending flash photography.
- Musee d'Orsay
A far superior option is the Musee d'Orsay. The architecture of this former train station is equally grand to that of the Louvre and the collection includes an eye opening line up of Impressionist masterpieces. Degas is a favourite front runner and if you're a fan of the Belle Époque then this is a true treat. Monet and Manet go head to head with Toulouse Lautrec in the visually impressive leagues and Ferdinand Hodler holds his own in a slightly more adult and disturbing insight, into turn of the century art. On top of that the clock tower café upstairs serves up delicious, affordable, fresh and filling soups. This is good stuff.
- The Rest For Less
If you're a museum junkie and want to enjoy the Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay and then some – then it's certainly worth investing in a Paris Museum Pass. These two, four and six day passes were put together by the Paris Tourism Office and they get you into more than sixty museums and monuments in the French capital. I'd recommend a two day pass for €30. In context you can visit and appreciate approximately ten attractions in two days. The average price of these attractions works out at about €9 each - so ten multiplied by nine gives you the travel budget draining total of €90. The two day, €30 Museum Pass therefore saves you two thirds of this and in certain situations, you get to queue jump too!
- Skate Paris
If you're a - cram it all into a couple of hours - kind of backpacker then you might want to check out The French equivalent to the popular Wednesday night skates around London. Every week you have a great skating tour which traverses the avenues of Paris. I accidentally encountered several thousand skaters on their Sunday jaunt – complete with a police escort. Being a pedestrian spectator in this city centre closing situation wasn't much fun, so it's best to be a part of it or avoid the skates completely - on Fridays and Sundays.
- Bateaux Mouche
Boat trips along city centre rivers are usually accompanied by a sky high price tag but refreshingly - that's not the case in Paris. Yes it's an automated commentary in several million languages and yes, this cuts down the historical narrative to the bare minimum, but for €9 (€6 with concessions) you can't really complain. The big boats of the Bateaux-Mouches company depart and drop off at the Port de la Conference – not far from the Eiffel Tower. The tour takes you up stream as far as Quai D'Austerlitz , circles back around Notre Dame, down to the mini Statue of Liberty on the Pont de Grenelle and then back to base – past the Eiffel Tower. If you're on a super tight budget then skip it, but if you're after some Sex and the City-esk nostalgia, then give it a go.
- The Eiffel Tower
It's an icon, it was never meant to be a permanent feature and the hourly evening light shows are a very pretty sight to behold, but this aside, the Eiffel Tower is a complete waste of money and the views aren't that great. On a good day you're looking at a one and a half hour queue, a fifteen minute ascent and a crowded viewing platform - which gets a bit steamed up in the winter months. A cheaper alternative with a better view is the Tour Montparnasse. This is the only sky scraper in Paris and photos taken from its viewing deck include the tower. The nearest Metro station for this sky high wonder is Montparnasse Bienvenue and it's generally open between 10.30am and 11pm - all year round.
- Public Transport in Paris
The underground rail network in Paris is cheap, safe and covers the entire city without forking into an unmanageable mess. It's not as clean as the London Underground but at €1.60 for a single ticket to anywhere in the city, who wouldn't get a little bit dirty? You also save even more money when you buy a book of tickets from the electronic vending machines. Conveniently these dish out instructions in a variety of languages! The wisest thing to do is fill your pockets with cheap, single fare tickets when you arrive at the Eurostar terminus or the airport, and also grab a map of the colourful underground lines.
- Pere Lachaise
Going out of your way to make a cemetery part of your tourist trip might seem a little morose but the Pere Lachaise is worth breaking the mould for. This peaceful plot in the east of the city is the final resting place of Mr Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Delacroix and a stunning mix of historically significant figures. It's a big place and therefore easy to get lost in. Add to that the army of Citroens driven by the legions of cemetery attendants and you have a recipe for stress. To avoid this, buy a €2 map from the newspaper stall when you exit the Pere Lachaise Metro station. Not only does this allow you to cut through the pedestrianised tomb divisions, but it's also a nice little memento of something a little bit different in Paris.
- Rob Savage
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