Paris by Night

Paris Transit Tickets: How to Choose the Right One

Central Paris is compact enough to cover many sights on foot, but pacing yourself matters on a trip, so you'll probably…

Pickpockets and Scams: What to Know Before Your Night Walk

Pickpockets are probably the thing visitors worry about most in Paris. We'd love to say there aren't many, but there are…

Hôtel de Ville: Paris's Stage of Power and Protest

Your first stop is Paris City Hall. If you came by metro, you got off at Hôtel de Ville on Line 1 or 11. Read the way an…

Shopping Near City Hall

Around the Hôtel de Ville you'll find a shopping district anchored by BHV Marais, a department store popular with Parisi…

Notre-Dame: The Cathedral Victor Hugo Saved

"Notre" is French for "our," and "dame" means "lady," so Notre-Dame is "Our Lady," meaning the Virgin Mary. Every church…

Restroom Tips for Paris

Restrooms can be a surprising challenge when traveling. In France, a restroom isn't somewhere you go when you need to; i…

A Story for the Walk: Looking Back at Notre-Dame

On the way to Shakespeare and Company, glance back from the bridge before you reach the crosswalk, and you'll see Notre-…

Shakespeare and Company: Where Film and Literature Meet

Many films are set in Paris, but your guide's favorite is Before Sunset, mentioned earlier. It's part of a trilogy with…

Souvenir Guide: From Tote Bags to Fridge Magnets

No trip is complete without souvenirs. Shakespeare and Company has a famous one of its own: the tote bag. For 10 euros y…

Fontaine Saint-Michel and the Archangel Michael

Place Saint-Michel sits in the Latin Quarter, the university district, and has served as a center of student protest. Th…

Eating Cheaply in the Latin Quarter

The area around the Saint-Michel fountain is the Latin Quarter, a university district with plenty of relatively inexpens…

The Seine at Night, Under Van Gogh's Starry Sky

The song you just heard was Don McLean's "Starry Starry Night," and the name is also the title of tonight's tour. The Se…

Bateaux-Mouches vs. Bateaux Parisiens: Which Seine Cruise to Pick

Two big names dominate sightseeing cruises on the Seine: Bateaux-Mouches and Bateaux Parisiens. Both start with "bateau,…

Pont Neuf: Paris's Oldest "New Bridge"

The Pont Neuf is one of my favorite night-view spots in Paris. It was the first place I really saw the Seine after dark,…

Square du Vert-Galant: A Hidden Gem at the Tip of the Island

Halfway across the Pont Neuf you'll come to an equestrian statue. It portrays Henri IV, who was king when the bridge was…

Les Bouquinistes: The Green Bookstalls of the Seine

Walk along the Seine from the Pont Neuf and you'll notice big green boxes lining the riverbank, blocking the view. Peopl…

Pont des Arts: The Bridge of the Arts

Before you step into the Louvre, take a look at the bridge in front of it: the Pont des Arts. As we learned at the Pont…

The Louvre at Night: From the Cour Carrée to the Glass Pyramid

You're standing in the Louvre's Cour Carrée, the square courtyard. Even people who have visited Paris several times ofte…

How to Get the Most Out of the Paris Museum Pass

France has so many museums that art lovers could fill an entire trip with nothing else. Seeing the works properly takes…

The Arc de Triomphe: Napoleon and the Square of the Star

First-time visitors to the Arc de Triomphe may be struck by its size, or they may think, "Is that it?" That's because tr…

Bir-Hakeim Bridge: Inception and the Songs of Édith Piaf

Before anything else, let's listen to a song on this bridge: "Non, je ne regrette rien" by Édith Piaf, France's national…

Monge Pharmacy's Second Shop Near Bir-Hakeim, and French Drugstore Beauty Picks

In Paris, you can't just walk past a pharmacy. The point isn't to buy medicine; French drugstore cosmetics are famous. T…

The Eiffel Tower: From Public Outcry to Symbol of France

At last, our final stop and the highlight: the Eiffel Tower. The moment it comes into view, you probably won't hear a wo…

Eiffel Tower Keychains and Beer: Bargaining Tips

There are plenty of street vendors around the Eiffel Tower. They sell without a license, but in my view they're hardwork…