Questions tagged [paris]
The capital and largest city of France
400
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114
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What's the deal with the "string people" in central Paris?
I've taken my fiancée to Paris twice - first for our 1st anniversary, and again for our 4th - and both times we had troubles with guys bothering us around the Sacré Coeur in Montmartre. They hang ...
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98
votes
20
answers
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Is there a way to prevent "looking like a tourist" in order to not be harassed?
Disclaimer - the title of this post is probably not the best
On my way to visit family in Belarus and Poland, I had a long layover in Paris, so I decided to spend the day in the city. My luggage was ...
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75
votes
10
answers
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Can I eat only a crème brûlée in Paris?
I'd like to have a crème brûlée in Paris, but without having to eat a whole meal at a restaurant.
However, this seems quite hard to get:
Bakeries and patisseries do not sell crème brûlée (at least ...
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63
votes
6
answers
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Why does Paris have two large train stations next to each other? (Gare du Nord, Gare de l'Est)
In Paris, there are two large train stations close to each other, but still separate and at a walking distance: "The (train) station of the North" - Gare du Nord, and "The (train) station of the East" ...
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47
votes
6
answers
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"5 = 1€" for souvenirs in Paris, why do they write the price this way?
In Paris, many street souvenir vendors have thier stuff laid on the ground and a piece of paper says "5 = 1€". Well, 1€ for 5 souvenirs would be a pretty good price but no, the price is 5€ for 1 piece....
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43
votes
4
answers
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On landing in Paris, from India, which side of the plane to sit to see Eiffel tower?
I am traveling to Canada via Paris (CDG) from Mumbai in December. Which side of the plane to be seated on to get a view of the Eiffel Tower from up high?
Also, on my connecting flight from Paris (CDG)...
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7
answers
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Saving leftovers from restaurants in Paris
Doggy bags for saving leftovers in restaurants are extremely common in the USA, especially as portions sizes are usually too large to consume in one meal.
But I have read in various forums that it ...
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36
votes
1
answer
5k
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What is this design/advert featuring cupcakes on French railway trying to say?
I saw this on a platform at Gare de Lyon in Paris.
There was a similar design, but featuring doughnuts further down.
I’m an uncultured tourist.
What are these trying to sell / say / do? I’m ...
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34
votes
7
answers
97k
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If I travel to Paris, can I get by with just English?
If I plan on visiting Paris, but not really the rest of France, is it still important for me to learn at least enough French to get by? Are people in Paris going to be willing to speak English if they ...
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34
votes
3
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Pack of 10 tickets in Metro, Paris, can you share?
I am reading about Paris and I saw that you can buy a pack of 10 tickets.
Are these only usable by one person, or they actually sell 10 separate tickets that you can share with others?
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28
votes
4
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What is the most dangerous area of Paris (or its suburbs) according to police statistics?
When I travel I like to visit areas which are deemed 'dangerous' by tourist guides. Often they turn out to be a little rough but not at all dangerous and interesting to see.
So the question is: what ...
- 82k
28
votes
7
answers
3k
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How can I get people to speak the local language to me?
I went to Paris 2 years ago. When I was there, I was learning the language by talking and listening to the local people. But, while I was trying to speak French with them, they would speak English to ...
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26
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3
answers
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Which TGV routes travel at 500+ km/hr?
I want to take a TGV for the experience of traveling very fast on the ground. The Lyria trains are advertised to travel at 524+ km/hr. The TGV I took only went 300 km/hr. Does anyone know which routes ...
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26
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2
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What is the cheapest way of travelling between London and Paris by public transportation?
I am looking for the cheapest way to travel between London and Paris, by public transportation.
I'm planning a 2-month trip to Paris for this summer. I wonder how to get from London to Paris spending ...
user79790
26
votes
4
answers
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Are there any drinking water fountains/taps in Paris Charles de Gaulle airport?
I'm not a big fan of spending 3EUR for a 250ml bottle of water, hence the question: are there any drinking water fountains/taps in Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, be it airside or at departures/...
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26
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2
answers
3k
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Where to practice violin 5 hours every day in Paris?
I'll travel to Paris, France in June. For my musical studies, I need to practice violin 5 hours every day (~ 84-103 dB), alone. Is there any place I could use in Paris for such purpose, if possible at ...
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25
votes
3
answers
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Is a picnic at the Chateau de Versailles possible?
I will be visiting the Versailles Chateau on a Tuesday. I was wondering if it would be useful to take a picnic with me since I doubt the fare offered inside the palace walls (if there is any) is not ...
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22
votes
1
answer
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How can I know (without going to the station) if RATP is offering the Anti Pollution tickets?
The Paris public transit system (RATP) offers a reduced fare on days of high pollution, as described here: https://www.ratp.fr/forfait-antipollution (Google Translated).
This fare is a very good deal,...
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21
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5
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58k
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How can I get around Paris both cheaply and efficiently?
I will be visiting Paris in a couple of days.
I was wondering what is the cheapest way to visit all the major tourist attractions in Paris?
Do they have 3-day passes for all the public ...
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20
votes
8
answers
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What times of the year are best for visiting France? [closed]
When I visited Rome, Italy, I ended up visiting during August which seems to be a time when most Italians have fled the city to cooler areas. This was nice because there was less traffic so we were ...
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19
votes
2
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Are the Paris Catacombs currently open for visiting?
I'm heading to Paris in a week's time (24th May) and the catacombs are at the top of my "places to visit list". However the official site says that the catacombs are closed for technical reasons until ...
- 1,080
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5
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Can you exit and re-enter with the same ticket in Paris Metro?
I am reading about Paris, and how to travel around. I read in a book that the standard subway ticket is valid for 2 hours.
Is the ticket re-usable (exit and re-enter again) or you have 2 hours while ...
- 31.7k
18
votes
3
answers
12k
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The website says the Eiffel Tower is sold out for two months. Is there anything I can do?
I went to the Eiffel Tower web site looking to buy tickets for an upcoming visit, and found that, except for a few days, it is sold out for basically two months. I am guessing that it is not truly ...
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2
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Visiting the Eiffel Tower -- going early to avoid queue
My girlfriend and I will be in Paris for a weekend in late June. We have been unable to buy an online ticket for the Eiffel Tower, so we would like to go there early in the morning to avoid having to ...
- 1,572
17
votes
5
answers
7k
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Travelling in/out France after the attacks of November 2015
Can someone with a non-European nationality and a French 'carte de séjour' freely enter and travel (particularly by air) from France after the unfortunate events?
I have been checking the news, some ...
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17
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5
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Paris Gare du Nord to Gare Montparnasse, by public transport but without lots of walking?
In a couple of weeks time, I'm off to the Loire by Eurostar + TGV, which means a cross Paris change. The Eurostar uses Gare du Nord, while the TGVs down to the Loire are at Gare Montparnasse.
One ...
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17
votes
4
answers
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What are the exact restrictions on night time Eiffel Tower photos?
I know that there are some restrictions on night time Eiffel Tower photos, but what exactly is allowed and what is not? Does it make a difference if some persons are on the photo and the tower is only ...
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16
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4
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Boiling tap water in Paris
I am visiting Paris.
In the accommodation given to me, I was told I can drink tap water. I was drinking from sometime. Few days back I boiled the water. A layer formed on surface of the water, when I ...
16
votes
3
answers
3k
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What are the options for traveling to the airports in Paris?
Paris has 3 airports (Orly, Roissy, Beauvais), what are the options to go to or to come from there?
(There is also Vatry (XCR) but there is very few flights and i see the shuttle system is currently ...
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16
votes
2
answers
4k
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What proof of disability is accepted in France?
I am planning a visit to Paris and see that entry to various landmarks is free or considerably cheaper for disabled visitors.
One member of our group holds a German handicapped card ("...
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16
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2
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1k
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Are the model trains underneath Gare de l'Est in Paris open to the public?
Some years ago I read the memoires of a Dutch newsreader on his experiences in Paris. In his book, called Gare du nord, the model trains in the basement of gare de l'est were mentioned. Here pensioned ...
user141
15
votes
6
answers
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Botanical gardens in or close to Paris, France
I do love visiting botanical gardens. Given that inclination, where should I head for on a multi-day visit to Paris, France in late September?
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5
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Least stressful method of travelling around Paris
In London I can get one day travel card for the underground train, - it might not always be the absolute cheapest but I nearly always end up getting one. And if I were a tourist I would definitely ...
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2
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What do these train codes on Paris RER B (airports subway line) mean?
While standing on the platform waiting for the RER B train to Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, I noticed codes like ELOT or EPEX besides arrival time, platform number, destination, etc.
What do ...
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3
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Doing laundry as a tourist in Paris
I'm looking to carry not more than 15kg of clothes with me from Brazil to Paris, I would like to know how the public laundry works (how should I proceed) and how much (approximately) I'll spend to ...
- 1,987
15
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3
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Is there a Paris equivalent of London's Oyster Pay-As-You-Go?
When travelling around London, I usually follow the
standing advice
and use an Oyster pay-as-you-go card for my tube/bus/train/dlr journeys. It works well, as I can load some cash on every so often, ...
- 62.5k
14
votes
4
answers
7k
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What are the peak hours for public transportation in Paris?
I plan to visit Paris from July 6 to July 9. I want to know what are the peak hours for public transportation in that time frame. When to avoid taking bus or trains, and when to take profit of low ...
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14
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5
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Is it safe to stay outside the Boulevard Périphérique in Paris?
I'm planning on staying in Paris with my wife for a few days in April. I've found a number of hotels for a reasonable price and with overall good reviews on TripAdvisor. But all of them are located in ...
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1
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Is there a hotel in Paris with a grand piano "en suite"?
Does anybody know a hotel in Paris with a grand piano in the room/suite ?
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2
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Paying Respects to Holocaust Victims in Paris: Are the Vélodrome d'Hiver & Drancy Camp respectable museums to visit? Are they even museums?
I am going to Paris for approximately 4 days at the end of June. I have been there before and have been to Versailles, Louvre, catacombs, Eiffel Tour, Arc de Triumph, etc. (and I hope to revisit some ...
- 1,143
14
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1
answer
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Open gates on the Paris Metro
I took the Paris Metro today, and the gates were open at my entry station, with the ticket validator not accepting tickets. I walked through the gate with my ticket, and assumed that that would be ...
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7
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Can we cover both Disneyland parks in Paris in one day?
We are in doubt of which ticket to buy for Disneyland.
Is it worth to buy the ticket for 1day/2parks or 1day/1park?
We just have one day, if we buy 1day/2parks ticket, would it be possible to cover ...
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13
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6
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What is the cheapest / fastest way to get from Brussels to Paris?
There are several ways of getting from Brussels to Paris. The fastest is probably the train, but it gets more expensive when you buy the ticket on the last minute.
My question can be really split ...
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13
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3
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4k
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What are my options for long term parking at Paris Charles de Gaulle?
I am flying from Paris on a two week holiday. The parking fees at the airport are quite expensive. Does anyone know alternatives?
user141
13
votes
1
answer
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Current state of Smoking in Paris
I've been unable to find an accurate explanation of French law regarding smoking.
I last visited Paris over 10 years ago, and remember it being fairly normal to be able to smoke both in bars, and on ...
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2
answers
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Do Paris Metro tickets expire?
If I purchase a 10 pack and use 4, can I expect to use the remaining tickets anytime next year?
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1
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Is it allowed to enter in Disneyland Paris with food?
Last time that I've visited Paris I was able to go for Eurodisney and I saw some people with natural sandwiches on their bags, is it allowed to enter on Disneyland parks with some food? It's very ...
- 1,987
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7
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Going to France and Italy - what payment forms are preferred?
Can I get by In Paris and Rome by carrying very little cash and using the credit card for every little souvenir, tour and food purchase? Or should I prefer paying in cash for both Paris and Rome? How ...
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5
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French bookshops in Paris
I'm going to be visiting Paris this September, and I'm looking for bookshops. Specifically, I'm interested in the French classics (Rostand, Hugo, Proust...), in nice hardback editions, and bookshops ...
12
votes
1
answer
606
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Are there days/times/dates when most Paris museums are free?
While Paris does have some great free museums and art galleries, such as
Le Petit Palais and
Musée d'Art Moderne de la ville de Paris
many of the museums have an entrance fee. Since most of my museum ...
- 62.5k