Paris

Things to see on my next trip to Paris (see accommodations below):

Found on Facebook, five free excellent museums: Musée Gustav Moreau, Musée de l’Homme, Musée de Cluny, Musée des Arts et Métiers, and Bourse de Commerce. Some non-free museums: Orangerie, Petit Palais, and Musée Carnavalet. And glamorous buildings to visit: Jacquemart-André, Banquet de France, Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, Bibliotèque Richelieu, and La Sorbonne.

See my page of must see sites in Paris that includes cafés, restaurants and historical sites.

Some alternatives to popular touristy locales:

Rather than the Champs Elyses try Rue de Charonne or Rue Montorgueil for shopping.

Rather than St. Germain try Canal Saint Martin for cafés and bistros.

Seen on Western Traditionalist Twitter page is the Palais Garnier theatre. Home of the National Opera, I'd not heard of this and surprised it is not more well known.

To see what is on in Paris during each month of the year visit the Paris Insider Guide.

Visit the largest flea markets in the world (7 hectares or 17.5 acres): Le marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen. Hours year round are Friday 8:00 - 12:00; Saturday & Sunday 10:00 - 18:00; Monday 11:00 - 17:00. Getting there: Subway take line 13 (Garibaldi stop) then line 4 (Porte de Clignancourt stop) and finally line 14 (Saint Ouen stop). Bus: take line 85 (Marché aux Puces stop) or line 95 (Porte de Montmartre stop). Tramway take line T3b (Porte de Clignancourt stop). See the market guide here.

A restaurateur in Belgium that I talked with recommended two eateries to visit in Paris: Harry's New York Bar (now Harry's Bar), 5 rue Daunou, and La Coupole, 102 Bd du Montparnasse.

See the 15 Best Patisseries in Paris article.

The great series, Remarkable Places to Eat, has a good video on Paris.

See this TimeOut article on The 10 Best Food Markets in Paris.

A nice restaurant I visited near the Gare du Nord is Pedzouille l'Table, 66 rue du Faubourg Poissonniere. The Charolais steak was very good and the suggested wine to accompany it was excellent.

The oldest patisserie in Paris is La Maison Stohrer, established in 1730. Located at 51 rue Montorgueil, 75002 Paris. Recommended by Sandrine Voillet in her video Sandrine's Paris.

For pastry and chocolate lovers the Salon du Chocolate is an exhibition and competition for all things chocolate. In 2024 it is being held at the Porte de Versailles, Paris from October 30 to 3 November 3.

ACCOMODATIONS

Recommended on The Join Us in France Travel Podcast (#482) was the hotel 9Confidentiel, 58 Rue du Roi de Sicile, 4th arr., 75004. Nearest metro - Saint-Paul (line 1). $530/night. Located very close to Notre-Dame Cathedral (750m). In the area are the Bastille (1.2km), Les Halle (1.4km), Louvre (1.9km), Jardin des Tuileries at Place de la Concorde (2.6km).

Paris hotel recommended by Rick Steves close to Eiffel Tower, Hôtel du Champs de Mars, 7 rue du Champ de Mars, 75007 Paris.

In 2024, I stayed at Libertel Gare du Nord Suede, near, obviously, the Gare du Nord (and the Gare de l'Est). Small but well appointed rooms with a small balcony about a 10 minute walk from either train station. 106 Blvd. Magenta. +33 1 40 36 10 12.