A Fresh Perspective on Travel Every Day
Paris may be known for its high fashion and world-renowned art museums, but it’s also a place where you can stumble on the wonderfully weird and eccentric in any number of unassuming side streets. Sometimes, odd emporiums even stand in plain sight on major streets, but too many pass by without noticing.
Every July 14th, Paris celebrates Bastille Day (referred to asLa Fête de la BastilleorLa Fête Nationalein French). This historic event commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, marking a pivotal moment in the French Revolution.
The French capital, renowned for its cultural heritage and artistic trends, offers a plethora of free and imaginative yearly events. From artistic celebrations to lively street festivities, there’s something for everyone. Plan your visit for summer or early autumn to make the most of these events.
Gallopin is a traditional Parisian brasserie renowned for its classic French cuisine and stunning Belle Époque ambiance. This mid-range restaurant offers a delightful experience without straining your budget.
Paris may be one of the world’s esteemed gastronomic capitals, but visitors with kids may cringe at the idea of finding something for their little ones to eat. They might summon up visions of their youngest picking at a too-rare steak or fussing over unfamiliar vegetables and “fancy” ingredients. Furthermore, even teenagers may display unadventurous eating habits and may prefer something simple and uncomplicated. They might find traditional French cuisine a bit too outside their comfort zone.
Whether you’ve never been to Paris, are visiting for the first time, or have lived here for a decade, there’s no denying the allure of a well-made French crepe. This extra-thin Gallic-style pancake can be topped with sweet ingredients like Nutella, sugar, or fresh jam. Alternatively, the savory variety, usually made with buckwheat following a traditional Breton recipe, can feature ham, cheese, or egg. The crepe is incredibly versatile; it can be enjoyed in a posh restaurant or eaten casually while strolling down the street.
Paris might be most readily associated with espressos orcafe cremes, but a vibrant tea culture has been gaining ground in recent years. Classy, quirky, and traditional tea houses have sprung up across the city, making tea a more popular option for the sacred French afternoonpause cafe. Despite many people’s association of tea with British culture, there are genuine French tea traditions to explore. Discover these exquisite tea purveyors in Paris for a refreshing morning start, an elegant afternoon tea, or a soothing after-dinner drink.
Need to get online fast? Since international roaming 3G and 4G can be quite costly, numerous travelers opt out of using their phone data while abroad. Visit Paris to enjoy hundreds of free WiFi hotspots. Cafes, restaurants, and bars increasingly offer WiFi services, while the Paris municipal government has established free WiFi zones in parks, squares, public libraries, city-run museums, and various other locations. This provides an opportunity for visitors to connect, whether for a few minutes or a more extended period.
Many travelers often wonder whether it’s worthwhile to pay for a taxi ride to and from the airport in Paris. While it may not be the most cost-effective option, many find that taking a taxi can be the simplest and least stressful mode of transport. So, how much should you expect to pay for a typical taxi fare between the city center and the airports?
Many people feel comfortable navigating a new city using only their wits (and maybe their smartphones). However, for other visitors, finding a good tourist information center and seeking advice from local experts is key to feeling informed and relaxed.
Paris may be renowned for its haute cuisine, dazzling fashion, and iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower. However, it is equally rich in literary history, waiting to be explored on your next visit to the French capital. Some of the greatest writers, such as Simone de Beauvoir,James Baldwin, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Ernest Hemingway, crafted their masterpieces in Paris, leaving a lasting literary legacy throughout the city.
Everyone knows that Parisians are rude, right? It’s admittedly a stereotype that even French people outside the big capital tend to fiercely cling onto. If you ask residents of Toulouse, Nantes, or Lyon, they may likely respond with a little knowing smile and a dramatic sigh if you ask them what they think of the capital city, even going so far as to comment: “I can’t stand it there! People are so snobby, stressed, andrude!”
This article discusses the recent nocturnal regulations impacting nightlife in Paris, highlighting the pros and cons for both local residents and visitors.
Ah, the traditional Paris cabaret. A show that has little to do with contemporary Parisian culture and everything to do with nostalgia, a good heaping of kitschy fun, and a love for longstanding erotic codes. You won’t, admittedly, find many Parisians lined up to catch a show at one of these places. However, if you’re hankering for French cancans, Vegas-style glitz, and lots of skin, these top traditional Paris cabarets will provide delicious clichés up to your elbows– for a hefty price, of course. There are plenty of more subdued, serious, or arty cabaret-theatres in Paris, too, but the following are all cabaret classics.
Paris boasts some of the world’s largest, most glamorous, and historically rich department stores. These locations provide visitors the opportunity to browse the latest trends in designer fashion and new collections, enjoy meals on dramatic outdoor terraces, explore tempting aisles in gourmet food shops, and even attend free fashion shows. Known as “grands magasins” in French, these cherished institutions attract both locals and tourists and should undoubtedly feature on your itinerary if shopping in Paris is on your agenda.
With its first store opened on the Place de la Madeleine in Paris in 1886, the flagship shop still stands there today. Maison Fauchon is one of Paris’s premier gourmet food shops. It offers gourmet grocery items, including chocolates, signature tea and coffee, biscuits, jams, mustards, confits, oils,foie gras, and pâtés. This iconic Parisianépiceriefeatures a separate bakery andtraiteur(gourmet delicatessen) at its Madeleine location, along with a restaurant-tea house and a wine cellar. Consequently, Fauchon becomes especially busy during the Christmas and holiday season as it is a favored spot for stocking up on holiday meal items and gifts for foodies.
One of the oldest streets in Paris, with roots extending to pre-Christian Paris, the mostly pedestrian Rue Mouffetard houses a bustling, permanent street market at its southern end. Some of the city’s finer fruit and vegetable vendors, fish and meat markets,fromageries, and other specialty shops are clustered on Rue Mouffetard and the Square Saint-Médard.
Are you a food enthusiast eager to sample all the myriad culinary specialties France has to offer (and beyond)? If so, a whirl at the Grande Epicerie, coveted by many as the “creme de la creme” of gourmet Paris food markets, is in order during your next trip to the French capital.
Many tourists aspiring to explore the prestigious Sorbonne University in Paris often face disappointment as they are swiftly turned away by the guards stationed at the entrance. The rationale behind this restriction is clear: the institution aims to limit disturbances to its students and faculty. Consequently, to ensure a more tranquil environment, access is primarily reserved for the members of the university.
For those interested in the long and complex history of scent-making, the Fragonard Museum in Paris is a true gem. Situated in a rather unassuming but nevertheless regal nineteenth-century building right near the Palais Garnier (old Opera house), this museum only opened in 1983 but takes visitors on an old-world sensory voyage back to the origins of perfumery. It’s one of the