Hostelworld PDF Guide Paris
Hostelworld PDF Guide Paris
Hostelworld PDF Guide Paris
Climate
January and February are the coldest months when the average temperature is 4C, although it is known to drop below 0C. In March temperatures begin to steadily rise, going from an average of around 8C in March to a peak of 22C in July and August. While this is the average temperature, summer days can get far hotter, sometimes reaching the 30C mark. By September the days and evenings become cooler, and temperatures drop each month until December, with an average temperature of 5C.
One of the first things you notice when you walk around Paris is this: the French capital is just as you imagine it. Parisians lounge outside cafs drinking coffee, budding artists sketch whatever passes them into their sketch pads, and everywhere you look is another building which causes an immediate reaction to grab for your camera. Some of the world's best museums can be found here, the list of instantly recognisable landmarks is a lengthy one, and the nightlife is electric to say the least. But one of the French capital's best attributes is that when you want to do nothing but sit back and relax, it's hard to think of a better city in the world to people watch.
Getting Around
On foot: Paris is an extremely flat city but also extremely big. If you don't like walking it is definitely an idea to rent a bike. By metro/RER: The French capital has one of the most efficient underground rail systems in the world. The Metro and RER networks are integrated. It is said that you are never more than four hundred yards away from a metro stop. By bus: A good bus service also operates around Paris but as the underground system covers the entire city, you might not need to use them.
Useful Information
Language: French Currency: Euro Electricity: 220 Volts AC/50Hz. 2-pin plug. Area Code: +33 (FR) 01 (Paris). Local numbers are 8 digits. Emergency Codes: Ambulance 15, Fire 18, Police 17 Time Zone: Central European Time (GMT + 1) Central Post Office: 52 Rue du Louvre, 1st Arrondissement Main Tourist Office: 12 Avenue des Champs Elyses, 8th Arrondissement.
In this Guide...
Useful Information After Dark Places to Eat Top Attractions Budget Tips Where to Shop
Useful phrases
Hello: Bonjour Goodbye: Au revoir Please: S'il vous plait Thank you: Merci You're welcome: De rien Yes: Oui No: Non Of course: Bien sur Excuse me: Excusez moi How are you?: Ca va? Open: Ouvrir Closed: Ferm What is your name?: Comment tu t'appelles? My name is...: Je m'appelle... How much?: Combien? May I have the bill?: L'addition s'il vous plait.
Embassies
US: +33 (0)1 4312 2222 UK: +33 (0)1 4451 3100 Canada: +33 (0)1 4443 2900 Australia: +33 (0)1 4059 3300 South Africa: +33 (0)1 5359 2323 Ireland: +33 (0)1 4417 6700 Germany: +33 (0)1 5383 4500 Spain: +33 (0)1 4443 1800 Italy: +33 (0)1 4954 0300 New Zealand: +33 (0)1 4501 4343 www.hostelworld.com
Cheap Eats
Creperie Beaubourg, 2 rue Brisemiche, 4th Arr. If you're looking to try a traditional French crepe in pleasant surroundings try this cosy caf by the Pompidou Centre. They have a huge selection and prices are extremely affordable. Open daily from 12noon-11pm Cafe Panis, Quai Saint Michel, 5th Arr. This busy caf just across from the Notre Dame Cathedral is full, basically 24 hours a day. Serving delightful crepes, it is frequented by locals along with tourists visiting the French capital's famed cathedral.Open daily 24 hours; average crepe 5. Rue de la Huchette, 5th Arr. Eating out in Paris can be a tad expensive sometimes. When you don't have an awful lot of Euro to your name, and are looking for something fast and efficient, this street just behind Quai Saint Michel is littered with fast food joints, most of which serve Persian cuisine.
After Dark
Lush Bar, 16 Rue des Dames, 17th Arr. This small bar just around the corner from Place de Clichy is one of Paris' coolest bars. Plant yourself on to a stool during the week and you're guaranteed to meet a local, while enter it on the weekend for a far livelier night. The English speaking staff are also extremely friendly. Open daily from 4pm-2.30am. Citha, 112-114 Rue Oberkampf, 11th Arr. Citha is one of those clubs which can cater for every type of reveller - it has a bar area perfect for a few drinks, an area which is used as a club and, on occasions, there are live gigs here too. Open 7 nights a week, it is free most nights but can impose a cover charge at the weekend. Open daily from 9.30am-5.30am.
Don't Miss
Muse du Louvre, Cour Napolon, 1st Arr. The Louvre is arguably the world's most famous art museum which is mainly because it houses the world's most famous painting - Leonardo da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa'. Divided into three wings over four floors, make sure to leave enough time to see as much as possible. Open Mon, Thurs, Sat, Sun 9am-6pm, Wed, Fri 9am-10pm, closed Tue; admission 10. Cathdrale de Notre-Dame, 6 Place du Parvis-Notre-Dame, 4th Arr. Recognised as one of the world's most beautiful cathedrals, Notre Dame is stunning. Completed at the beginning of the 14th Century after over 100 years of work, it is adorned with sculptures and stained glass windows. You can also visit the top of the towers for amazing views of the city centre. Open from 10am daily; admission free, 7.50 for the towers. The Eiffel Tower, Champ de Mars, 7th Arr. Both Paris' and France's most instantly recognisable landmark, this was the world's tallest building when it was built in 1889. The views from the different observation decks are breathtaking. Open Jan 1-Jun 18 + Aug 30-Dec 31 9:30am-8:30pm (11pm via lift), Jun 19-Aug 29 9am-midnight. Admission 4.50 (1st floor), 8.10 (2nd floor), 13.10 (top).
There are food markets scattered all over Paris. Montorgueil Market (Rue Montorgueil and Rue Montmartre, 1st) is good for both fresh fruit and pastries also. On Saturday mornings the market on Boulevard des Batignolles is also good for fresh fruits, and in particular organic produce. The Mouffetard Market (Rue Mouffetard, 5th) is where some of the city's bakeries are found, while the Port Royal Market (Bd Port-Royal, 5th) has not only food produce, but cheap clothing also. Pomme de Pain, 71 Champs Elyses, 8th Arr. Eating on the Champs Elyses can be expensive. Very expensive. But you can't leave without sitting down to a bite to eat on one of the most famous boulevards in the world, and this fast-food restaurant has a good selection of combo-meals, most involving baguettes.
Pre Lachaise Cemetery, 16 rue du Repos, 9th Arr Best known as the resting place of Doors frontman Jim Morrison, other icons buried in this huge burial place include Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf and Sandra Bernhardt. open daily from approximately 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Free admission. Muse d'Orsay, 1 rue de Bellechasse, 7th Arr Paris' second most famous art gallery is many people's favourite. Most of its pieces of art are works by Monet Open Tues-Sun from 9.30am-6pm (to 9.45pm Thurs); admission 10..
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Get Connected
Le jardin de l'Internet, 79 Boulevard Saint-Michel, 5th Arr. Enjoying pleasant surroundings close to Jardin du Luxembourg, this internet caf is just as bright inside as it is out. Along with access to the web you can get yourself a quick sandwich too. Open Mon-Sat 9am-11pm, Sun 10am-10pm; 2.50 per hour. Cyber Cube, 12 Rue Daval, 11th Arr. Just two minutes walk from Place de la Bastille, Cyber Cube is a bright internet caf that spreads its terminals over two floors. Open daily from 10am-10pm; 15c per minute. They also have branches on Rue Mignon (6th) & Rue d'Odessa (14th).
Retail Therapy
Galeries Lafayette, 40 Boulevard Haussmann Galeries Lafayette is home to a few things: the world's largest perfumery, over 75,000 different brand names, free fashion shows - this place has it all. Open Mon-Sat from 9.30am to 7.30pm. Rue St. Martin This small street between Quai de Gesvres and the Pompidou Centre is lined with shops selling cheap but chic clothing. Take the time out to sift through the endless rails of clothing in various shops and you could pick up a leather jacket for under 50 or a retro top for under 20. Le Forum des Halles, 1/7, Rue Pierre Lescot, 1st This underground shopping centre in the heart of Paris is Paris' largest and has the broadest range of shops, catering for all budgets and tastes. It is huge so if you want to find something new give yourself a few hours to ensure you cover the whole complex. Open Mon-Sat 10am-7.30pm.
Budget Tips
People watch outside a caf The French are a very passionate race and watching them go about their daily lives is one of the most enjoyable things you can do. Get yourself comfy outside one of the city's omnipresent cafs, sit back and watch the world go by.
A Day in Paris...
Visit the Eiffel Tower, Paris most instantly recognisable landmark. Get down early to avoid the queues and go up to the top. Stroll up the banks of the River Seine to Place de la Concorde. Enjoy views of the Champs Elyses and L Arc de Triomphe. After a leisurely stroll through Jardin du Carrousel, visit one of the world's most famous museums, Muse du Louvre. After exploring the Louvre, exit and stroll down Rue de Rivoli. Turn left onto Rue St. Martin and search for bargains in its shops! Further up is the Pompidou Centre/Museum of Modern Art which is worth a visit. Even if you don't go in, go and see the building itself.
Village Web, 6 Rue Ravignan, 18th Arr. This bright internet caf in Paris' trendy Montmartre district is one of the city's airiest thanks to bright walls and wooden floors. Terminals are well spaced throughout the cybercaf so you are never on top of the next person. Open daily from 9.30am-10pm; minimum purchase of 10 is 1.50. Cybercaf de Paris, 15 Rue des Halles, 1st Arr. Cybercaf de Paris opened in 1986 and is well-known. It is also extremely popular due to its location and size. Open Mon-Sat 9am-midnight; 8 per hour. Pacifica, 10 Rue Taine, 12th Arr. Not far from Gare de Lyon and Gare de Paris Bercy, Pacifica, has helpful staff and you will never find it hard to find a terminal.Open Mon-Fri 11am-8pm, Sat & Sun 3pm-9pm; 2.50 for 30 mins/4 per hour. Paris is teaming with flea markets. Some are specialist markets catering for antique dealers but there are bargains to be found if you don't mind sifting through endless clothing rails. The St-Ouen Flea Market (Porte de Clignacourt, 18th Arr.) is the largest of its kind in the world and while it markets itself as an antique market, you will find new/second hand clothes after a quick rummage. Porte de Vanves Flea Market (Blvd. Lefebvre, 14th Arr.) is also good for clothes. Tati, 76, Av. de Clichy, 17th Paris is famed for its department stores, and if you leave Galeries Lafayette somewhat disheartened because you don't have 40 for a pair of socks which took your fancy, Tati should suit you better - this is the cheapest department store in the city. Open Mon-Sat 10am-7pm; other branches around the city.
Just across the Seine on Ile de la Cit is where the Notre Dame Cathedral stands proud and this is a must-see. There is a nice park to relax behind the cathedral. Walk back up to Place de la Concorde and stroll down the neverending Champs Elyses, full of cafs, places to eat, and, eh, car showhouses. At 10pm the Eiffel tower sparkles for 10 minutes and every hour after until 1am. Get back down to it as this is not to be missed. Get yourself to Place de la Bastille and finish the night off dancing away!
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www.tour-eiffel.fr www.parispubs.com www.louvre.fr www.discoverfrance.net
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