Sightseeing in Paris: Budget Travel Guide

With six major train stations including two of the busiest in Europe, it’s time to take a look at all of Paris’ historic “gares” that may – or may not – play a vital role in your French escapes.  Airplanes can sometimes be cheaper, but nothing beats the experience and convenience of taking a train » Read more

Paris will again transform into a winter wonderland as the holiday season kicks into high gear. This is possibly Paris as its best, with a cup of hot wine at one of the many outdoor markets or a stroll through the lights in the various shopping districts. It’s enchanting, it’s whimsical, and, above all, it’s » Read more

By Theadora Brack in Paris— Rumor has it you’re planning a trip to Paris! So bless your soul and grab my hand. I have a few recommendations for a dreamy Parisian bucket list, big or tall. Here is where I find my inspiration! 1. Book it! While kicking down the cobblestones, why not pick up » Read more

Visiting Paris soon? If so, don’t forget to stop and smell the roses! Throughout the city, you’ll find parks, squares and gardens. While on holiday, time is precious. I hear you! So to help out, I’ve created a list of favorite parks, along with the monuments, museums and shopping districts that surround them. Day tripping just » Read more

I’ve decided to kick-off the grand New Year with another shot of what’s red-hot and what’s not in Paris. I’ll also include a few cool tips. So grab a chair and a spiked cuppa because it’s about to get real in the City of Light! 1. Je ne regrette rien—NOT. Dear Musée Edith Piaf, You » Read more

Golden leaves are falling in Paris, making it the perfect time to roll out another batch of iconic French backdrops for photo ops, perfect for your social media portraits and status updates, too. Celebrating my favorite street photographers—Brassaï, Robert Doisneau, and Eugène Atget—I’ve meshed the old with the new, fully appreciating the dynamic, overlapping, ever-changing » Read more

Snuggle tight, because it’s high time to throw a few ghost tales your way. It is, after all, Halloween today in the United States. So I thought we’d spend a minute discussing some of the women and men who haunt the most famous sights in Paris. Grab the flashlights, marshmallows and sleeping bags while I » Read more

Got 24 hours to spend in Paris? Grab the cameras and bucket lists, and let’s shoot the city like there’s no tomorrow. Here are six of my favorite iconic backdrops for photo ops, perfect for your social media portraits and status updates, too. There’s no sin in boasting. Besides, it’s free. Channeling photographers Robert Doisneau » Read more

Few experiences in Paris will leave you as spellbound and awestruck as the massive monarchical monolith that is the Palace of Versailles. Louis XIV’s palatial compound and spectacular gardens still wow visitors today just as they did during a period when nobles and mistresses filled the halls, hoping for a glimpse of the king himself. » Read more

By Theadora Brack in Paris— Toots, I did it again. I fell head over heels in love with Paris all over de nouveau. Setting the scene, I had just finished inspecting a slew of hotels in the Latin Quarter, and was headed to meet friends at the wine bar 5ème CRU. This Cheapo haven is » Read more

Visitors to Paris quickly realize that, even before hitting their last centime, time is the city’s most precious commodity. Tourists want to do and see it all in… but have limited time. From the top of the Eiffel Tower to the bottom of the Catacombs the options are vast. So while you’re budgeting your euros, » Read more

When it comes to discovering Paris, walking is the only surefire way to really get to know the city. Boats and buses are wonderful ways to explore, but they limit you and prevent you from going at your own pace. Bikes are great, but zipping through traffic means that you should, perhaps, pay attention to » Read more

Like king crooner Morrissey, whenever I’m having a challenging day, “I throw my arms around Paris,” and hotfoot it over the Pont du Carrousel to the Louvre where the stone and steel not only accept my love but transport me to dizzying new heights. Here I find peace and tranquility while hobnobbing it with all » Read more

With long looks and fiery chitchat, let’s kick off the chilly New Year in Paree with a smoldering nod to the late, great Eric Rohmer (1920-2010) and his movie Les Rendezvous de Paris! Cheapos, it is cold outside, but our love of Paris, vin chaud and French Cinema will keep us warm. Here are a » Read more

The Marais, one of Paris’ most adorable neighborhoods, is home to chic boutiques, hip restaurants, and royal scenery. The trendy area also boasts rents that rival Manhattan’s Chelsea and West Village (with a gay culture to match!). However, there is plenty for Cheapos to enjoy as they walk through the city’s historical Jewish quarter and » Read more

Cheapos, let’s talk monuments. While the bird’s-eye view on top of one is certainly spectacular and all, often it’s the mere sight of the monument from afar that takes my breath away. For instance, my favorite spots in Paris for gazing up at the Arc de Triomphe are located on two popular promenading stretches: Avenue » Read more

Apparently a postcard just wouldn’t do. Last week (May 20, 2010) in Paris, a thief swathed in black picked a padlock, smashed a window and stole five masterpieces from the Musée d’Art Moderne. Taken were “Dove with Green Peas” by Picasso (1911), “La Pastorale” by Matisse (1906), “Olive Tree Near l’Estaque” by Georges Braque (1906), » Read more

Spring has finally sprung in Paris, so with arms tangled and hair highly mussed, let’s stroll like real Parisians to my favorite centuries-old romantic hot spot, le Square du Vert-Galant at the tip of the Île de la Cité. Created by passionate King Henri IV, its spectacular view of la Seine and currents crashing into its » Read more

Reflecting recently on the grace and beauty of the Eiffel Tower on her 120th birthday, I stopped to consider how she still looks so smart. After all, sight-seeing during the rainy winter months in Paris can wreak havoc on the complexion! So how has she managed to look so good after standing around for 120 years? But » Read more

Paris was made for picnics and long walks. A picnic here on the Champs de Mars or even a sunset stroll through the Jardin du Luxembourg is lovely in warm weather. If you want to leave the tourists behind for a more tranquille commune with nature, check out these hidden parks of Paris. Parc Monceau » Read more

Text and photos One of my favorite places to visit early on a Sunday morning (besides the flea market!) is Paris’ Cimetière de Montmartre. Spanning 110 acres (in 33 divisions), it’s nearly impossible to pay homage to everyone buried there, but with a little planning, you can narrow the field to suit your own passions. » Read more

Thanks in part to the cult of the Virgin Mary that spread throughout France in the Middle Ages, there are some 40-odd churches, chapels and basilicas named “Notre Dame” in Paris. Everyone knows about the famous cathedral, but what about the other 41 églises? We present you with five of the largest and most interesting » Read more

When the French “faire le pont,” they’re not talking about building bridges. Rather, they’re taking an extra day off work to make a long weekend when there’s a bank holiday midweek. Regardless, there’s quite a bit to be said for the real bridges (“ponts“) in Paris. Join us, as we stroll from the Ile St. » Read more

At some point while visiting Paris, you’ll probably want to take in a sweeping view of the city. Sure, going to the top of the Eiffel Tower is great, but there’s one flaw – you can’t actually see the Eiffel Tower, the most iconic feature of the Paris skyline. There are plenty of other places » Read more

In the list of Paris museums, one sweet-smelling attraction is sometimes overlooked. The Musee du Parfum, run by the famous perfume manufacturer Fragonard, has been offering a “behind the scents” tour of the perfume business for 25 years. And happily for us, the visit is free! The museum is housed in a gorgeous 19th-century townhouse that drips with romantic ornamentation. » Read more