Two days in Paris. Advice?
Oct 5, 2018, 2:45 am
#1
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Two days in Paris. Advice?
So I'll be in Paris for two days later this month. I would prefer to do sightseeing in the day time and shopping at night. What are the must see sights besides Louvre and Eiffel Tower? Any Parisian malls worth visiting? Good places to get cheap food? Does Paris' subway system have an Oyster card like system now or it uses tokens? Any other passes I should consider buying? Which prepaid carrier for roaming? Are there any simcards that allows me to top up online and keep the card active and maybe roam around the world?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Oct 7, 2018, 4:11 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Paris, France
Programs: United, TAP Victoria, AVIOS
Posts: 480
Typically the must see sights of Paris take 3 to 4 full days. Availability of only 2 partial days means compromise and only you really know what you want to see and what you will be willing to overlook. I recommend a good guide book.
I don´t really think that there is a mall worth visiting anywhere on the globe but maybe the best Paris has to offer is the Forum des Halls in the 1st arrondissement. There are cheap places to eat all over Paris, none of which I might specifically recommend.
Paris has no Oyster card such as what one finds in London. The travel solutions are varied and depend greatly upon when you arrive and depart and how. You might consider a booklet of 10 tickets t+ which are valid on the bus, métro, tramway, or funicular. Cost is 14.90€ vs. the t+ individual cost of 1.90€. Tickets are sold at any train or métro station kiosk.
There are a number of SIM cards sold. More expensive cards are available by Orange, Bouygues, SFR, and FREE at their respective retail boutiques. Inexpensive options are Lebara or Lycamobile which sell cards at tabacs and magazine stores for as little as 10€. Recharging any of these on line with a non-French credit card will be highly problematic.
I don´t really think that there is a mall worth visiting anywhere on the globe but maybe the best Paris has to offer is the Forum des Halls in the 1st arrondissement. There are cheap places to eat all over Paris, none of which I might specifically recommend.
Paris has no Oyster card such as what one finds in London. The travel solutions are varied and depend greatly upon when you arrive and depart and how. You might consider a booklet of 10 tickets t+ which are valid on the bus, métro, tramway, or funicular. Cost is 14.90€ vs. the t+ individual cost of 1.90€. Tickets are sold at any train or métro station kiosk.
There are a number of SIM cards sold. More expensive cards are available by Orange, Bouygues, SFR, and FREE at their respective retail boutiques. Inexpensive options are Lebara or Lycamobile which sell cards at tabacs and magazine stores for as little as 10€. Recharging any of these on line with a non-French credit card will be highly problematic.
Oct 7, 2018, 6:16 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
There are a number of SIM cards sold. More expensive cards are available by Orange, Bouygues, SFR, and FREE at their respective retail boutiques. Inexpensive options are Lebara or Lycamobile which sell cards at tabacs and magazine stores for as little as 10€. Recharging any of these on line with a non-French credit card will be highly problematic.
Oct 7, 2018, 6:52 am
#4
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
So I'll be in Paris for two days later this month. I would prefer to do sightseeing in the day time and shopping at night. What are the must see sights besides Louvre and Eiffel Tower? Any Parisian malls worth visiting? Good places to get cheap food? Does Paris' subway system have an Oyster card like system now or it uses tokens? Any other passes I should consider buying? Which prepaid carrier for roaming? Are there any simcards that allows me to top up online and keep the card active and maybe roam around the world?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Oct 7, 2018, 7:16 am
#5
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DAY/CMH
Programs: UA MileagePlus
Posts: 2,474
If you really want to spend some time shopping, you'd be better off admiring the high-end stores on the Champs-Élysées or visiting the Galéries Lafayette, the original department store.
If you visit the Louvre, you can leave the museum via the underground shopping mall attached to it. It looks like any upscale mall anywhere in the world, though, so you might as well visit one at home.
If you visit the Louvre, you can leave the museum via the underground shopping mall attached to it. It looks like any upscale mall anywhere in the world, though, so you might as well visit one at home.
Last edited by ajGoes; Oct 7, 2018 at 8:01 am
Oct 7, 2018, 7:59 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Programs: UA
Posts: 444
What are your interests (ie sightseeing) and what type of shopping are you looking for? Champs Elysee itself is filled with multinational chain stores — like the Disney Store, Levi’s, etc. Avenue Montaigne, r. Faubourg St. Honore, r. St. Anne for high end designers — Gucci Chanel.
department stores may be good as time is so limited— Bon March, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps
department stores may be good as time is so limited— Bon March, Galeries Lafayette and Printemps
Oct 14, 2018, 4:24 pm
#8
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This. Stroll through Luxemburg Gardens. Stroll along the Seine. Eat at outdoor bistros.
Oct 17, 2018, 10:03 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
Steves says “You could spend a lifetime in Paris but you only have 3 days. I’ll show you how to make the most of your time and money”.
Steves’ books are the best I’ve seen for rating what is ok, good and great, then outlining how to do whatever activity you choose. Hours, days closed, how to avoid long lines, how much time people generally plan to spend there, etc.
His hotel recommendations are usually ok since hotels get a lot of business by being in his book. Frankly, I don’t use them much since you wind up in a hotel full of Rick Steves readers. Same for restaurants.
His books don’t try to drill deep into any subject. If you’re thinking of 2-3 hours in the Louvre, his Paris book has all you need. If you want to spend a day studying the sculptures, you’ll want a book with emphasis on that.
Steves’ books are the best I’ve seen for rating what is ok, good and great, then outlining how to do whatever activity you choose. Hours, days closed, how to avoid long lines, how much time people generally plan to spend there, etc.
His hotel recommendations are usually ok since hotels get a lot of business by being in his book. Frankly, I don’t use them much since you wind up in a hotel full of Rick Steves readers. Same for restaurants.
His books don’t try to drill deep into any subject. If you’re thinking of 2-3 hours in the Louvre, his Paris book has all you need. If you want to spend a day studying the sculptures, you’ll want a book with emphasis on that.