TOIP

Paris, the city of lights and city of fashion, has the reputation of being the most beautiful and romantic city in the world. History, art, culture, food or fashion, one can have a variety of attraction to see in this city.

Language: French

Currency: Euro

Time Difference: 41/2 hrs behind IST

Best time is April – June (spring) and Sep – Nov (Summer & Autumn)

Avoid – July and August. July is generally packed with tourist and during August, Partisan desert the city for their tours

For discounted airfares and hotels, End of March is ideal.

Paris Fashion Week – Feb and March

Sports – Six Nation Rugby Tournament (Feb), French Tennis Open (two weeks starting on the last Sunday in May), le Tour de France (Cycling Race - July)

Festivals:

Rendez-vous au Jardin (Garden Festival) – June

Fête de la Musique (Lively street music festival) – 21^st June

Gay Parade – 26^th June

Bastille Day (French National Holiday for storming of the infamous Bastille during French revolution) – July 14^th [Beautiful Parades and fireworks]

Rock en Seine (a world-class music Festival) – last weekend in August

Jazz à la Villette (Jazz Festival) – mid- September

Le Beaujolais Nouveau (marking the beginning of the Christmas season) – third Thursday in November

Christmas and New Year in Paris is well known for its lights and celebration.

 Get-in:

Schengen Visa allows entry into the schengen zone (which includes France) for 90 days with a validity of 6 months.

Airport:

If arriving from any other parts of Europe, train is a good option. There any various kinds of high speed and normal trains. The train fare various according to class and journey time. If you are on budget, the slower trains and overnight trains cost about half the fare of high-speed trains

If arriving from nearby Paris, buses, Euroline, is a good option.

Trains/Buses/Car/Taxi/Boats can be used to get around the city. For independent travelers, bicycle + foot + train/boats are the best option. Avoid car or Taxi, since traffic is too heavy.

The Velib (Freedom bike) rental allows you to subscribe for 1 day or 7 days by paying a security for the bike. It’s a pick & drop service, you can pick up the bike anywhere and drop it off at the next bike station. For first 30 minutes, it’s free and the every following 30 min, it will cost you 1 Euro in addition to the per day rental of 1 Euro.

Trains: There is a 16 line metro and RER trains (suburb trains). Metro ply within the central part whereas RER trains goes further outside.

There is a never ending list of attraction in Paris. It’s best to prepare in advance. Paris has 20 Arrondissement/district and every arrondissement has some attraction. Visiting arrondissement 1 by 1 and covering the attractions there is an option, but it would take a long time. If you are short of time use the many itineraries available online, this would help you cover the best of Paris depending on the duration of stay.

Frommer’s Paris Itinerary – Has 1, 2 and 3 day’s itinerary with map.

1 week itinerary - http://www.parisvacationshotels.com/one-week-itinerary-in-paris.html

There is a long list of passes available in Paris for travel and sight-seeing. For the complete list: http://paris.conciergerie.com/all_paris_passes.php

Paris Museum pass + Carte Orange are the best bet.

Paris pass adds up much costlier than buying separate museum pass and Carte Orange, but provides few extra things like boat cruise, opera tour, wine tasting etc.

 Get out:

1. Versailles