Paris - The City of Love & Lights



Page:« 1 2  All on one page»

Parisian Cuisine:
Parisians love wining and dining…meals are not only about the experience but about great food. It is one of Europe’s culinary centers with hundreds of traditional bistros and sidewalk cafes among premium restaurants that have a waiting list of over two months! It is best to eat at places that are not too near tourist attractions if you are travelling on a budget, since these places would be reasonably expensive. Try to eat where the locals eat.

Start your day with some croissants, coffee, and maybe a piece of fruit. It is not rude to eat while you walk on the street here, so you can pick up a panini, crepe, or a falafel pita and eat it while you look at the city sights. If you love seafood try moules frites (steamed mussels and French fries), oysters (supposed to be an aphrodisiac), sea snails, and other delicacies like meats and frog legs! French salads are a healthier and lighter option, but no less tasty. Do not forget to sample the wide variety of cheese (the smellier the better) and wine.

If you really don’t care for fine cuisine and are on a tight travel budget, there are plenty of corner stores to buy sandwiches from for about 2-3 Euros. If you like falafels, be sure to keep an eye out for roadside falafel eateries. There are several in Paris.

Getting In:
By Air:
Paris is served by three international airports—Charles de Gaulle International Airport, Orly International Airport (used mainly for national airlines), and Beauvais (regional airport).

By Train:
Paris is well connected to the rest of Europe by train offering high speed and normal trains such as the TER Regional trains, TGV (high-speed trains), Thalys, Intercity trains, and the Eurostar service.

By Bus:
The Eurolines company offers routes to other European cities.

Getting Around:

Bus: The city has several Hop-on Hop-off bus tours specially run for tourists. This is probably the best way to see the whole city on a budget.

By Car: with dense traffic conditions, it is not a great idea to rent a car but driving may be an option if you are planning trips outside the city. Taxis are plentiful.

On Foot: Walking in Paris is the best way to get around and explore the city in combination with the “Hop-on, Hop-off” bus.

Metro: Paris has an excellent subway train system with detailed maps of the surrounding area at each station. For example if you were to go to Versaille, use the train system.

By Boat: you can cruise along the Seine taking a circular route from the Eiffel Tower, down past the Louvre, Notre Dame, botanical gardens then back up the other bank past Orsay museum.

Bicycle: Rent a bike to explore the city. Cycling is quite convenient with the Vélib’ Bike Rentals. You can find rows of bikes near stations and services points around the city.

Climate:
Paris has a temperate climate but is known to have had extreme temperatures like the heat wave of 2003 and the cold wave of 2006. The city is notorious for its sudden showers. Snowfall is rare.

Converting Money/Foreign Exchange
Do not convert your money at any of the money changers at the Paris International Airport. Their fees are quite high. Use either your ATM card, or buy Euros from wherever you are coming in from. For example if you are flying in from New York, it would be cheaper for you to convert your money at the JFK International Airport rather than at Paris CDG.

Page:« 1 2  All on one page»