Guidebook for Paris
Essentials
Open until 10pm, Sundays included. A 30 second walk from the apartment.
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Franprix
19 Bd Henri IVOpen until 10pm, Sundays included. A 30 second walk from the apartment.
Food, basic things and great children's clothes!
Open from 9am-10pm Mon-Saturday
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MONOPRIX
20 Bd de CharonneFood, basic things and great children's clothes!
Open from 9am-10pm Mon-Saturday
Getting Around
This is the closest metro station and on the line 1 & line 7.
Buy a carnet of 10 tickets for 14€ or a children's 'carnet' for 7€ for ages 4-10. Children under 4 ride for free.
Only buy tickets from metro stations, not from people who want to sell you a 'special ticket'. It's usually special because of its uselessness!
1 metro ticket = 1 ride, valid for 1h30 (you can really get lost in that amount of time!)
1 metro ticket = 2 bus rides, (if you need to change bus)
When you get on the bus validate your ticket in the machine near the driver.
If you want to buy a metro/RER ticket to get to Versailles/Eurodisney etc... you can buy it from the metro ticket office.
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Palais Royal Musée du Louvre
This is the closest metro station and on the line 1 & line 7.
Buy a carnet of 10 tickets for 14€ or a children's 'carnet' for 7€ for ages 4-10. Children under 4 ride for free.
Only buy tickets from metro stations, not from people who want to sell you a 'special ticket'. It's usually special because of its uselessness!
1 metro ticket = 1 ride, valid for 1h30 (you can really get lost in that amount of time!)
1 metro ticket = 2 bus rides, (if you need to change bus)
When you get on the bus validate your ticket in the machine near the driver.
If you want to buy a metro/RER ticket to get to Versailles/Eurodisney etc... you can buy it from the metro ticket office.
Arts & Culture
The Louvre is just across the road. Take your time and choose an area you would like to visit, or just wander and enjoy getting lost. Enjoy the emptiness during the late night openings on Wednesday and Friday
Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Friday: 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.
Closed on Tuesdays
Rooms begin closing 30 minutes before museum closing time.
Access to the permanent collections is free for all visitors on the first Sunday of each month from October to March.
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I-Louvre Museum
Rue de RivoliThe Louvre is just across the road. Take your time and choose an area you would like to visit, or just wander and enjoy getting lost. Enjoy the emptiness during the late night openings on Wednesday and Friday
Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Friday: 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m.
Closed on Tuesdays
Rooms begin closing 30 minutes before museum closing time.
Access to the permanent collections is free for all visitors on the first Sunday of each month from October to March.
One of the best photography galleries in Paris. Go out their back door and visit their 2nd gallery in the courtyard.
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Polka Galerie
12 Rue Saint-GillesOne of the best photography galleries in Paris. Go out their back door and visit their 2nd gallery in the courtyard.
In this newly-developed part of the 13th arrondissement, you will find the newest site of the national library, with its four book towers on each corner. It was designed with a newly planted forest in the middle, now 20 years old. Wander around and visit the two giant Coronelli Globes, made for King Louis XIV, that show you how the world looked in the 17th century. Free entry. If you want to research in the library, you can buy a day ticket. At lunch time an eclectic bunch of food trucks arrive just outside, next to the MK2 cinema.
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I-François-Mitterrand Library
Quai François MauriacIn this newly-developed part of the 13th arrondissement, you will find the newest site of the national library, with its four book towers on each corner. It was designed with a newly planted forest in the middle, now 20 years old. Wander around and visit the two giant Coronelli Globes, made for King Louis XIV, that show you how the world looked in the 17th century. Free entry. If you want to research in the library, you can buy a day ticket. At lunch time an eclectic bunch of food trucks arrive just outside, next to the MK2 cinema.
If you like beautiful libraries, have a look at the newly reopened original National Library on the rue de Richelieu, 5 minutes from the apartment. To have a card you need to be doing some type of research, however you can go into the reading room entrances and have a look around, and it won't cost you a centime.
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BNF Richelieu Site
5 Rue de RichelieuIf you like beautiful libraries, have a look at the newly reopened original National Library on the rue de Richelieu, 5 minutes from the apartment. To have a card you need to be doing some type of research, however you can go into the reading room entrances and have a look around, and it won't cost you a centime.
Shopping
Housed in an ex-paint shop, (make sure you have a look around) one-of-a-kind brand Astier de Villatte handcrafts its signature ceramics, glassware, and candles in an antique Bastille workshop, historically home to Napoleon Bonaparte's own silversmith. Best known for their 18th-and 19th-century inspired pottery, their team of twenty ceramicists (perhaps the biggest in Paris) makes each piece in a traditional style passed down through a family of generations. Starting with black terracotta, each piece is finished with a milky glaze that amplifies the unique character of the clay, celebrating its imperfections and ensuring that no two pieces are exactly alike.
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Astier de Villatte
173 Rue St HonoréHoused in an ex-paint shop, (make sure you have a look around) one-of-a-kind brand Astier de Villatte handcrafts its signature ceramics, glassware, and candles in an antique Bastille workshop, historically home to Napoleon Bonaparte's own silversmith. Best known for their 18th-and 19th-century inspired pottery, their team of twenty ceramicists (perhaps the biggest in Paris) makes each piece in a traditional style passed down through a family of generations. Starting with black terracotta, each piece is finished with a milky glaze that amplifies the unique character of the clay, celebrating its imperfections and ensuring that no two pieces are exactly alike.
For design inspiration and the cute Fiat 500 in the entrance, visit Merci. Housed in an ex-upholstery or wallpaper factory, it is always changing. There are three excellent cafés, the one downstairs overlooks the vegetable garden, and the one on the ground floor houses used books - English ones too. Clothes, furniture, homeware, Merci notebooks, jewellery, great small gifts - there's always someone we can say Merci to. In this case, the store's profits go to a charity in Madagascar.
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Merci
111 Bd BeaumarchaisFor design inspiration and the cute Fiat 500 in the entrance, visit Merci. Housed in an ex-upholstery or wallpaper factory, it is always changing. There are three excellent cafés, the one downstairs overlooks the vegetable garden, and the one on the ground floor houses used books - English ones too. Clothes, furniture, homeware, Merci notebooks, jewellery, great small gifts - there's always someone we can say Merci to. In this case, the store's profits go to a charity in Madagascar.
If you're looking for fabric, this 4-level store as well as the streets of surrounding fabric stores, is the place for you. Take the lift and enjoy the lift-operator's commentary. In the heart of Montmartre.
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St. Peter's Market - Dreyfus
2 Rue Charles NodierIf you're looking for fabric, this 4-level store as well as the streets of surrounding fabric stores, is the place for you. Take the lift and enjoy the lift-operator's commentary. In the heart of Montmartre.
You never know what you will find in this 'fallen off the back of a truck' small store. Fun surprises, unusual gifts, inspiration for your next project? http://www.tombeesducamion.com
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Tombees du Camion
99 Rue des RosiersYou never know what you will find in this 'fallen off the back of a truck' small store. Fun surprises, unusual gifts, inspiration for your next project? http://www.tombeesducamion.com
Food Scene
One of my favourite food markets. Three streets of stalls as well as a covered market surround a flea market, with old photos to table cloths to whoever turns up with their wares. And best of all if you have children, buy things for a picnic and let them lose in the climbing playground next door in the square with the bandstand. A 5 minute walk away is the Coulée Verte, a long tree-lined walk along the transformed railway line.
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Imarike ye-Aligre
Place d'AligreOne of my favourite food markets. Three streets of stalls as well as a covered market surround a flea market, with old photos to table cloths to whoever turns up with their wares. And best of all if you have children, buy things for a picnic and let them lose in the climbing playground next door in the square with the bandstand. A 5 minute walk away is the Coulée Verte, a long tree-lined walk along the transformed railway line.
Fresh food at great prices. One of the liveliest and friendliest markets in Paris.
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Marché Barbès
60 Bd de la ChapelleFresh food at great prices. One of the liveliest and friendliest markets in Paris.
Nowhere makes a better baguette.
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Eric Kayser - Louvre Palais Royal
4 Rue de l'ÉchelleNowhere makes a better baguette.
Drinks & Nightlife
Bar, restaurant, barber, clothes, food trucks, music, Sunday cinema. 11 am till late. This is a totally unique and fun place on the Canal St Martin. You'll need to go through a gate and walk through the back. If there's a queue, then wait your turn. Entrance is a donated coin. http://www.lecomptoirgeneral.com/en/
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Le Comptoir General
84 Quai de JemmapesBar, restaurant, barber, clothes, food trucks, music, Sunday cinema. 11 am till late. This is a totally unique and fun place on the Canal St Martin. You'll need to go through a gate and walk through the back. If there's a queue, then wait your turn. Entrance is a donated coin. http://www.lecomptoirgeneral.com/en/