Districts and historical centresCity of Paris Place de la Bastille (4th, 11th and 12th arrondissements, right bank) is a district of great historical significance, for not just Paris, but also all of France. Because of its symbolic value, the square has often been a site of political demonstrations. Place de la Concorde (8th arrondissement, right bank) is at the foot of the Champs-lyses, built as the "Place Louis XV", site of the infamous guillotine. The Egyptian obelisk is Paris' "oldest monument". On this place, on either side of the Rue Royale, there are two identical stone buildings: The eastern one houses the French Naval Ministry, the western the luxurious Htel de Crillon. Nearby Place Vendme is famous for its fashionable and deluxe hotels (Htel Ritz and Htel de Vendme) and its jewellers. Many famous fashion designers have had their salons located here. Champs-lyses (8th arrondissement, right bank) is a 17th-century garden-promenade-turned-avenue connecting Place de la Concorde andArc de Triomphe. It is one of the many tourist attractions and a major shopping street of Paris. Les Halles (1st arrondissement, right bank) were formerly Paris' central meat and produce market, and, since the late 1970s, are a major shopping centre around an important metro connection station (Chtelet Les Halles, the biggest in the world). The old Halles were destroyed in 1971 and replaced by the Forum des Halles. The central market of Paris, the biggest wholesale food market in the world, was transferred to Rungis, in the southern suburbs. Le Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissements) is a trendy Right Bank district. It is architecturally very well-preserved, and some of the oldest houses and buildings of Paris can be found there. It is a very culturally open place. It is also known for its Chinese, Jewish and gay communities. Avenue Montaigne (8th arrondissement), next to the Champs-lyses, is home to luxury brand labels such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton(LVMH), Dior and Givenchy. Montmartre (18th arrondissement, right bank) is a historic area on the Butte, home to the Basilique du SacrCur. Montmartre has always had a history with artists and has many studios and cafs of many great artists in that area. Montparnasse (14th arrondissement) is a historic Left Bank area famous for artists' studios, music halls, and caf life. The largeMontparnasse Bienvene mtro station and the lone Tour Montparnasse skyscraper are located there. Avenue de l'Opra (9th arrondissement, right bank) is the area around the Opra Garnier and the location of the capital's densest concentration of both department stores and offices. A few examples are the Printemps and Galeries Lafayette grands magasins(department stores), and the Paris headquarters of financial giants such as BNP Paribas and American Express.

Quartier Latin (5th and 6th arrondissements, left bank) is a 12th-century scholastic centre formerly stretching between the Left Bank's Place Maubert and the Sorbonne campus. It is known for its lively atmosphere and many bistros. Various higher-education establishments, such as Sciences Po Paris, the cole Normale Suprieure, Mines ParisTech, and the Jussieu university campus, make it a major educational centre in Paris. Faubourg Saint-Honor (8th arrondissement, right bank) is one of Paris' high-fashion districts, home to labels such as Herms andChristian Lacroix.

In the Paris area La Dfense (straddling the communes of Courbevoie, Puteaux, and Nanterre, 2.5 km (2 mi) west of the city proper) is a key suburb of Paris and one of the largest business centres in the world. Built at the western end of a westward extension of Paris' historical axis from the Champs-lyses, La Dfense consists mainly of business 2 high-rises. Initiated by the French government in 1958, the district hosts 3,500,000 m (37,673,686 sq ft) of offices, making it the largest district in Europe developed specifically for business. The Grande Arche(Great Arch) of la Dfense, housing a part of the French Transports Minister's headquarters, ends at the central Esplanade, around which the district is organised. Plaine Saint-Denis (straddling the communes of Saint-Denis, Aubervilliers, and Saint-Ouen, immediately north of the 18th arrondissement, across the Priphrique ring road) is a former derelict manufacturing area that has undergone large-scale urban renewal in the last 10 years. It now hosts the Stade de France, around which is being built the new business district of LandyFrance, with two RER stations (on RER lines B and D) and possibly some skyscrapers. In the Plaine Saint-Denis are also located most of France's television studios as well as some major movie studios. Val de Seine (straddling the 15th arrondissement and the communes of Issy-les-Moulineaux and BoulogneBillancourt to the southwest of central Paris) is the new media hub of Paris and France, hosting the headquarters of most of France's TV networks (TF1 in Boulogne-Billancourt, France 2 in the 15th arrondissement, Canal+ and the international channels France 24and Eurosport in Issy-les-Moulineaux), as well as several telecommunication and IT companies such as Neuf Cegetel in Boulogne-Billancourt or Microsoft's Europe, Africa & Middle East regional headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux.

Monuments and landmarksThree of the most famous Parisian landmarks are the 12th-century cathedral Notre Dame de Paris on the le de la Cit, the Napoleonic Arc de Triomphe and the 19th-century Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower was a "temporary" construction by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Universal Exposition, but the tower was never dismantled and is now an enduring symbol of Paris. TheHistorical axis is a line of monuments, buildings, and thoroughfares that run in a roughly straight line from the city-centre westwards. The line of monuments begins with the Louvre and continues through the Tuileries Gardens, the Champslyses, and the Arc de Triomphe, centred in the Place de l'toile circus. From the 1960s, the line was prolonged even farther west to the La Dfense business district dominated by a square-shaped triumphal Grande Arche of its own; this district hosts most of thetallest skyscrapers in the Paris urban area. The Invalides museum is the burial place for many great French soldiers, including Napoleon; and the Panthon church is where many of France's illustrious men and women are buried.

The former Conciergerie prison held some prominent Ancien Rgime members before their deaths during the French Revolution. Another symbol of the Revolution are the two Statues of Liberty located on the le aux Cygnes on the Seine and in the Luxembourg Garden. A larger version of the statues was sent as a gift from France to America in 1886 and now stands inNew York City's harbour. The Palais Garnier, built in the later Second Empire period, houses the Paris Opra and the Paris Opera Ballet, while the former palace of the Louvre now houses one of the most renowned museums in the world. The Sorbonne is the most famous part of the University of Paris and is based in the centre of the Latin Quarter. Apart from Notre Dame de Paris, there are several other ecclesiastical masterpieces, including the Gothic 13thcentury Sainte-Chapelle palace chapel and the glise de la Madeleine.

Parks and gardensTwo of Paris' oldest and famous gardens are the Tuileries Garden, created in the 16th century for a palace on the banks of the Seine near theLouvre, and the Left bank Luxembourg Garden, another former private garden belonging to a chteau built for Marie de' Medici in 1612. TheJardin des Plantes, created by Louis XIII's doctor Guy de La Brosse for the cultivation of medicinal plants, was Paris' first public garden. A few of Paris' other large gardens are Second Empire creations: The former suburban parks of Montsouris, Parc des Buttes Chaumont, andParc Monceau (formerly known as the "folie de Chartres") are creations of Napoleon III's engineer Jean-Charles Alphand. Another project executed under the orders of Baron Haussmann was the re-sculpting of Paris' western Bois de Boulogne forest-parklands; the Bois de Vincennes, on the city's opposite eastern end, received a similar treatment in years following. Newer additions to Paris' park landscape are the Parc de la Villette, built by the architect Bernard Tschumi on the location of Paris' formerslaughterhouses; the Parc Andr Citron, and gardens being laid to the periphery along the traces of its former circular "Petite Ceinture" railway line: Promenade Plante.

Entertainment and performing artsThe largest opera houses of Paris are the 19th century Opra Garnier (historical Paris Opra) and modern Opra Bastille; the former tends towards the more classic ballets and operas, and the latter provides a mixed repertoire of classic and modern. In middle of 19th century, there were two other active and competing opera houses: OpraComique (which still exists to this day) and Thtre Lyrique (which in modern times changed its profile and name to Thtre de la Ville). Theatre traditionally has occupied a large place in Parisian culture. This still holds true today, and many of its most popular actors today are also stars of French television. Some of Paris' major theatres include Bobino, Thtre Mogador, and the Thtre de la Gat-Montparnasse. Some Parisian theatres have also doubled as concert halls. Many of France's greatest musical legends, such as dith Piaf, Maurice Chevalier,Georges Brassens, and Charles Aznavour, found their fame in Parisian concert halls: Legendary yet still-showing examples of these are Le Lido, Bobino, l'Olympia and le Splendid. The lyses-Montmartre, much reduced from its original size, is a concert hall today. The New Morning is one of few Parisian clubs still holding jazz concerts, but the same also specialises in "indie" music. In more recent times, the Le Znith hall in Paris, La Villette quarter and a "parc-omnisports" stadium in Bercy serve as large-scale rock concert halls. Several yearly festivals take place in Paris, such as Rock en Seine. Parisians tend to share the same moviegoing trends as many of the world's global cities, that is to say with a dominance of Hollywood-generated film entertainment. French cinema comes a close second, with major directors (ralisateurs) such as Claude Lelouch, Franois Truffaut, Jean-Luc Godard, Claude Chabrol, and Luc Besson, and the more slapstick/popular

genre with director Claude Zidi as an example. European and Asian films are also widely shown and appreciated. A specialty of Paris is its very large network of small movie theatres. In a given week, the movie fan has the choice between around 300 old or new movies from all over the world. Many of Paris' concert/dance halls were transformed into movie theatres when the media became popular beginning in the 1930s. Later, most of the largest cinemas were divided into multiple, smaller rooms: Paris' largest cinema today is by far le Grand Rex theatre with 2,800 seats, whereas other cinemas all have fewer than 1,000 seats. There is now a trend toward modern multiplexes that contain more than 10 or 20 screens.

CuisineParis' culinary reputation has its base in the diverse origins of its inhabitants. In its beginnings, it owed much to the 19th-century organisation of a railway system that had Paris as a centre, making the capital a focal point for immigration from France's many different regions and gastronomical cultures. This reputation continues through today in a cultural diversity that has since spread to a worldwide level thanks to Paris' continued reputation for culinary finesse and further immigration from increasingly distant climes. Hotels were another result of widespread travel and tourism, especially Paris' late-19th-century Expositions Universelles (World's Fairs). Of the most luxurious of these, the Htel Ritz appeared in the Place Vendme in 1898, and the Htel de Crillon opened its doors on the north side of the Place de la Concorde, starting in 1909. Xxx

Within the City of Paris Arc de Triomphe - Monument at the center of the Place de l'toile, commemorating the victories of France and honoring those who died in battle. Belleville, Paris - A working class neighborhood that is home to one of two Chinatowns in Paris. French singer Edith Piaf grew up here and, according to legend, was born under a lamppost on the steps of Rue de Belleville. Home to the Reformed Church of France and Parc de Belleville. Cathdrale Saint-Maclou de Pontoise - Roman Catholic cathedral located in the town of Pontoise, on the outskirts of Paris. The Conciergerie - Located on the le de la Cit, it is a medieval building which was formerly used as a prison where some prominent members of the ancien rgime stayed before their death during the French Revolution. The Eiffel Tower - A "temporary" construction of Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Universal Exposition. The Paris Mosque - Located in the Latin Quarter, the Grande Mosque de Paris (The Great Mosque of Paris) is the largest mosque in France. The Goutte d'Or - African and North African district in the 18th arrondissement of Paris known as "Little Africa." It is famous for its market, March Barbs, where one can find various products from Africa. Les Invalides - Complex containing museums and monuments relating to the military history of France The Louvre - Extensive art gallery. Musee d'Orsay- Housed in a rail station, this museum is smaller than the Louvre but it houses one of the largest Impressionist exhibits. Cit des Sciences et de l'Industrie - A hands-on science museum that attracts over 2 million visitors yearly. Musum national d'histoire naturelle - National Museum of Natural History. Montmartre - An old district of Paris on a hill containing the Basilica of the Sacr Cur and the Place du Tertre.

Notre Dame de Paris (Cathedral of Notre Dame) on the le de la Cit - Paris's 12th-century ecclesiastical centrepiece. Palais Garnier - Paris's central opera house, built in the later Second Empire period. The Grand Palais - A large glass exhibition hall built for the 1900 Paris Exhibition. Sainte-Chapelle - Also located on the le de la Cit, it is a 13th century Gothic palace chapel. The Panthon - Church and tomb of a number of France's most famed men and women. The Sorbonne - One of the universities of Paris (Paris IV), the centre of Paris's Latin Quarter. Statue of Liberty replica - A smaller version of the New York City harbor statue which France gave to the United States in 1886, located on the le aux Cygnes on the Seine. Another version is in the Luxembourg Garden. Place des Vosges - Square in the Marais district laid out by Henry IV. Pre Lachaise Cemetery The Wallace Fountains, throughout the city. Flame of Liberty Replica of the flame held by the Statue of Liberty. Centre Georges-Pompidou - Hosting the Paris Museum of Modern Art. Parc de la Villette - Hosting the Cit des Sciences et de l'Industrie, a science museum, and the Cit de la Musique which houses various musical institutes, a museum, and a concert hall.

In the Paris metropolitan area Palace of Versailles - The famous former palace of French kings. Parc Asterix - One of many of Paris' theme parks. Chteau de Vincennes (Vincennes Castle) - A large medieval castle nearby the Bois de Vincennes (Vincennes Wood). La Dfense - The largest business district in Europe. Stade de France - The 80,000 seater stadium in which France won the 1998 edition of the FIFA World Cup. Disneyland Resort Paris - the largest theme park in Europe. Saint Denis Basilica - the burial site of the French monarchs. Chteau de Fontainebleau - Built by Francis I of France, it is one of the largest of the French royal chteaux. Chteau de Rambouillet - The summer residence of French presidents. Chateau de Chambord - castle located in Loire Valley. Parc de Sceaux - A Park located nearby the 17th century Chteau de Sceaux (Sceaux Castle). Barbizon - a French village where the Barbizon School of Painting is located. Chteau Villette- a chteau built in the 18th century.

xxx The city's most prized museum, the Louvre, welcomes over 8 million visitors a year, being by far the world's mostvisited art museum. The city's cathedrals are another main attraction: Notre Dame de Paris and the Basilique du Sacr-Coeur receive 12 million and eight million visitors, respectively. The Eiffel Tower, by far Paris' most famous monument, averages over six million visitors per year and more than 200 million since its construction. Disneyland Paris is a major tourist attraction for visitors to not only Paris but also the rest of Europe, with 14.5 million visitors in 2007. The Louvre is one of the world's largest and most famous museums, housing many works of art, including the Mona Lisa (La Joconde) and the Venus de Milo statue. Works by Pablo Picasso and Auguste Rodin are found in Muse

Picasso and Muse Rodin, respectively, while the artistic community of Montparnasse is chronicled at the Muse du Montparnasse. Starkly apparent with its service-pipe exterior, the Centre Georges Pompidou, also known as Beaubourg, houses the Muse National d'Art Moderne. Art and artifacts from the Middle Ages and Impressionist eras are kept in Muse Cluny and Muse d'Orsay, respectively, the former with the prized tapestry cycle The Lady and the Unicorn. Paris' newest (and third-largest) museum, the Muse du quai Branly, opened its doors in June 2006 and houses art from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. Many of Paris' once-popular local establishments have come to cater to the tastes and expectations of tourists, rather than local patrons.Le Lido, the Moulin Rouge cabaret-dancehall, for example, is a staged dinner theatre spectacle, a dance display that was once but one aspect of the cabaret's former atmosphere. All of the establishment's former social or cultural elements, such as its ballrooms and gardens, are gone today. Much of Paris' hotel, restaurant and night entertainment trades have become heavily dependent on tourism. xxxx

Top Paris Sights and Attractions1. The Louvre 2. Notre Dame Cathedral 3. Eiffel Tower 4. Muse d'Orsay-Walk over the bridge from the Louvre to the Muse d'Orsay-- and see the bridge between classical and modern art. Housing the world's most important collection of impressionist and post-impressionist painting, the Muse d'Orsay's light, airy rooms whir you through three floors of modern wonders, from Degas' ethereal dancers to Monet's water lilies, all the way to Gaugin's leafy jungles. Major works by Van Gogh, Delacroix, Manet, and others await you, too. 5. The Sorbonne and the Latin Quarter-The Sorbonne University is the historic soul of the Latin Quarter, where higher learning has flourished for centuries. Founded in 1257 for a small group of theology students, the Sorbonne is one of Europe's oldest universities. It has hosted countless great thinkers, including philosophers Ren Descartes, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir. Enjoy a drink on the caf terrace in front of the college before exploring the winding little streets of the Latin Quarter behind it. 6. Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elyses 7. Centre Georges Pompidou and the "Beaubourg" Neighborhood-Parisians consider the Centre Georges Pompidou to be the cultural pulse of the city. This modern art museum and cultural center, located in the neighborhood affectionately dubbed Beaubourg by locals, opened in 1977 to honor president Georges Pompidou. The Center's signature skeletal design, which evokes bones and blood vessels, is either loved or reviled-- no inbetweens. If wacky design isn't your cup of tea, the permanent collection at the National Museum of Modern Art is a must and features works by Modigliani and Matisse. Rooftop views of the city are also in order. 8. Sacre Coeur and Montmartre-With its unmistakeable white dome, the Sacre Coeur sits at the highest point of Paris on the Montmartre knoll, or butte. This basilica, which was consecrated in 1909, is best-known for its garish gold mosaic interiors and for its dramatic terrace, from which you can expect sweeping views of Paris on a clear day. Take the funicular up with a metro ticket and stop off at Sacre Coeur before exploring the winding, village-like streets of Montmartre. And after expending all your energy climbing Montmartre's formidable hills and stairs, consider a traditional Parisian cabaret at the legendary Moulin Rouge. 9. Pre Lachaise Cemetery-Paris counts within its walls many of the world's most poetic cemeteries-- but Pre Lachaise outdoes them all. Countless famous figures are buried here: the most popular being The Doors lead singer Jim Morrison, whose tomb is kept constant vigil by fans. The French playwright Molire, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf,

and Richard Wright are a few others. On a sunny day, climbing to the cemetery's summit and looking down on the lavishly designed crypts can be surprisingly joyful. 10. Boat Tour of the Seine River-Seeing some of Paris' most beautiful sites glide past as you drift down the Seine river is an unforgettable and essential experience. Companies such as Bateaux Parisiens offer 1-hour tours of the Seine year-round for about 10 Euros. You can hop on near Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower. Go at night to enjoy the shimmering play of light on the water, and dress warmly-- the wind from off the Seine can be chilly. You can also take tours of some of Paris' canals and waterways, which will allow you to see a semi-hidden side of the city of light.Xxx

Free Paris Museums-In French, the word "culture" has a broader sense that refers to the universal right for all to be exposed to the arts, sciences, and humanities, and to that end, the government funnels lots of funds into making "la culture" accessible to all. Many Paris museums offer entirely free admission at all times, while others, including the Louvre and theMuse d'Orsay, are free for all every first Sunday of the month. Louvre Museum On the 1st Sunday of every month and all day on Bastille Day (July 14), theres no admission fee. And if youre under 26, Friday nights from 6pm-9:45pm you can get in free. Musee dOrsay On the 1st Sunday of every month, theres no admission fee. Kids under the age of 18 always get in for free. Centre Pompidou On the 1st Sunday of every month, theres no admission fee. Kids under the age of 18 always get in for free, and the lively square outside the museum is always free no matter how old you are. Oh, and for a nice view, theres no charge to ride the Pompidou escalators to the top. Muse Rodin On the 1st Sunday of every month, theres no admission fee. Muse National du Moyen ge On the 1st Sunday of every month, theres no admission fee. Kids under the age of 18 always get in for free. Notre Dame Tower On the 1st Sunday of the month from October-March, theres no admission fee to climb the North Tower at Notre Dame. Sainte-Chapelle On the 1st Sunday of the month from November-March, theres no admission fee. Kids under the age of 18 always get in for free. Panthon On the 1st Sunday of the month from October-March.

Paris Cathedrals and Churches-Paris houses many of history's more stunning spiritual relics-- cathedrals and chuches that stand today as breathtaking testimonials to a complex heritage of Christianity that dominated in Paris from the fall of the Roman Empire to the French Revolution. Many of these majestic cathedrals and churches fell into nearruin in the wake of the Revolution, but revived interest in the 19th century brought about their restoration. Many of these are must-see sites no matter your budget-- but the fact that entry is free doesn't hurt. Xxxx

Paris Flea MarketsPuces de Saint OuenThe daddy of French flea markets, with 2000-3000 vendors, this market is housed in a strange mixture of ramshackle structures and more modern buildings above the Porte de Clignancourt to the north of the city. Hours: Saturday: 8-9am until 5-6 pm Sunday: 10 am until 5-6 pm Monday: 11 am until 5-6 pm How to get there: Metro: Porte de Clignancourt, Line 4

Puces de Porte de MontreuilThis market of about 50 vendors on the eastern edge of the city should be reserved mostly for the more intrepid flea market shoppers who dont mind sorting through a lot of junk in hopes of finding a treasure. Hours: Saturday, Sunday and Monday 8 am-6 pm How to get there: Metro: Porte de Montreuil, Line 9

Porte de VanvesOne of the best markets in all of France, Porte de Vanves may not be as big as the markets at Saint Ouen, there are several hundred vendors here who sell everything from ceramics, to glassware to paintings and prints to Art Deco items to clocks, lamps and books to second hand clothing and even some furniture. Hours: Saturday and Sunday mornings until 1 p.m. (get there early!) How to get there: Metro: Porte Vanves, Line 13

Xxxx

Take the local commuter train, the RER

The RER from Charles de Gaulle Airport to the city is only 12 Euros. The RER connects to the Metro subway that can take you anywhere in Paris. This will save you about 40 Euros compared to taking a taxi.

Buy a weekly Metro pass for 16.80 Euros

Weekly passes are available for unlimited travel in zones 1-2 (the most you will likely need that covers all quarters of Paris) beginning on Mondays through Sundays. You will need to get a pass called Carte Orange in order to buy a weekly subway ticket. Bring an extra passport sized photo of yourself, or use one of the many photo booths available at Metro stations, and then ask for a Carte Orange at the kiosk. Also don't forget that bicycles are available for rent throughout Paris now.

Eat light breakfasts, take-out lunches and enjoy a set-course meal at dinnertime

Also consider shopping at local markets to prepare your own picnic along the Seine or at one of Paris' many parks and gardens. As cliche as this might sound, this is one of the biggest pastimes of Parisians during nice weather.

Buy a museum pass

If you want to visit as many world-class museums as you can in 2, 4 or 6 days, get the convenience of a museum pass. Ticket are available may be bought online at the website of the Paris Tourism Office. If you prefer to visit galleries at a more leisurely pace, admission is in fact very affordable anywhere from 9-20 Euros per ticket. (PS If youre in Paris the first Sunday of the month, many museums have free admission.) Xxx

Paris Pass gives you free access to about 60 Paris attractions. It's doubtful you'd visit every one of them. However, among that larger number are some top attractions: The Eiffel Tower (9 EUR); Versailles (12 EUR); Paris Exhibition (10 EUR); Bateaux Parisiens River Cruise (11 EUR); The Louvre (9 EUR). Those five together are 51 EUR ($79 USD), which is more than half the price of the pass. Adults pay 85 EUR for two days ($132 USD). The pass also allows free transit for two days on the Metro.

Take a look at their list of attractions and decide how many you would visit anyway. Consider something else, too: you bypass admission lines at attractions. In effect, you've already got your ticket for each place. Time is money on vacation, too! Some art lovers block out days rather than hours to visit the Louvre Museum and it's entirely possible to do so and still not see everything. No matter. This is a great value at 9 EUR ($14 USD) for admission. There are few places on earth like it. If you're not necessarily an art lover, you still need to invest a few hours to have the Louvre experience. Arrive later in the day on Wednesdays and Fridays and you'll receive a discount of up to 3 EUR. If your itinerary takes you there on the first Sunday of the month, you'll pay no admission. The same is true every July 14.Xxx

Bastille and Latin Quarter are chock full of restaurants, as are food streets like Montorguiel, Rue Mouffetard, or Faubourg-St.Denis. In addition, here are some specific suggestions: North African/Couscous Restaurant 3FC No frills to this place, but for a complete meal at 7, it cant be beat. 16 rue dAligre Metro: Ledru-Rollin Les 4 Frres Attention to detail and bargain prices make this a great bet for lunch or dinner, with a vegetarian couscous costing just 5.50. 37 Boulevard de la Villette Mtro : Belleville Japanese In the Japanese quarter of Paris (to the southeast of Opra) you will find some small sit down restaurants serving up large portions for little cash, like this one; Naniwa-ya A big bowl of ramen topped with your choice of meat or vegetables starts at 6. 11 rue Sainte-Anne Mtro: Quatre Septembre Indian Theres a concentration of, cheap authentic Indian restaurants a block south of La Chapelle (Metro 2). For vegetarians: Krishna Bhavan Strictly vegetarian thali (big tray of food with several different items, curries, and rice) for 8. 24 rue Cail Open daily, 11 23h French Cuisine Chartier

Established in 1896, this high-ceiling Belle-Epoque restaurant has surprisingly modest prices: Frise bacon salad, 3.50; Steak & Frites, 8.50. 7 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre Mtro: Grands Boulevards. La Feste Bretagne A full meal consisting of a savory galette, dessert crpe, and a drink will only set you back 10. 16 rue dOdessa Metro: Montparnasse Open 7 days/week 11h to 23h Caf Hugo This beautifully decorated restaurant is located in a very posh area of town, but a croque-monsieur here is a steal at only 4.50. 22 Place des Vosges Metro: Saint PaulXxx

Fast food, bakeries, supermarkets and fast foodSidewalk Vendors Your best budget bet is to choose from the multitude of street vendors and shop fronts that sell sandwiches, crpes, and other specialties. Good food, low prices. Saigon Sandwich Banh-mi filled with meat, cheese, lettuce, fresh mint and carrot. At 3, this definitely qualifies as one of the cheapest lunches in Paris. 8 Rue de la Prsentation Metro: Belleville LAs du Fallafel Each sandwich is stuffed with the golden fried falafel, caramelized eggplant, slaw, and a slathering of hummus, for only 4. They also have kebabs. 34 rue de Rosiers Metro: St Paul Closed Saturdays Crperie Oroyona Crpes are the budget travelers best friend in Paris: cheap, portable, and versatile. At Oroyona the lunch deal comes with a savory crpe, dessert crpe, and a drink for 5.50. 34 Rue Mouffetard Metro: Place Monge Fast Food If you are interested in something quick and easy like fast food, you will find all the usual suspects in Paris. To name a few: McDonalds (called MacDo by the French),KFC, Subway, and Starbucks. In addition, the French have some chain fast food restaurants you may want to try:

Pomme de Pain, Brioche Dore, and PAUL are all chain bakery/cafs that serve sandwiches and pastries to eat in or take away. Quick is chain of hamburger restaurants, McDonalds biggest competitor in the market, and their menus are nearly identical, save the name changes (i.e., a Happy Meal is a Magic Box). These can all be found in most major areas around Paris. There is an especially large concentration of these inexpensive eateries in the bustling Forum Des Halles shopping center, around Bastille, and Place dItaly. Supermarch (Supermarkets) A cheap, easy way to eat in Paris is to hit the grocery stores. The big Monoprix stores (and their smaller verion Monop) and Franprix are the most common, though there are a number of other grocery store chains found around the city. Boulangeries (Bakeries) With a bakery located every couple of blocks, its easy to rustle up a cheap breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You will find quiche, sandwiches, and other savory delights. Xxx

EatingIt can be expensive to eat out in Paris, so your best bet is to take advantage of the market foods, especially if you have use of a hostel kitchen . Youll have to get up early though, as most of the markets in the city open at 07:00. The market at Boulevard de Belleville is excellent and open Tuesdays and Fridays. There is another good market at Rue de la Convention every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday too. If you are opting to eat out however, look for the bistro style restaurants throughout the city that can offer you authentic food at around 15 for a main dish. xxx SHOPPINGForum des Halles This large subterranean shopping center with more than 180 stores connected by a labyrinthine network of escalators and hallways guaranteed to get you lost at least once. If you can keep your bearings, it is possible to find some low-budget copies of high Paris fashions. Metro: Les Halles Rue de Rivoli A block south of Forum des Halles you have your choice between standard stores like H&M and the very budget friendly C&A. Metro: Chatelet Les Magasins Sympa Grandes Marques Griffes Sympa, features designer seconds from last seaons clothing, lingerie, and coats, from previous collections at a deep reduction of their original cost. 62 Blvd de Rochechouart // 1 bis Rue de Steinkerque // 18 Rue dOrsel Metro: Anvers Monday to Saturday, 10am 7pm Tati Full of amazing bargain finds from souvenirs to clothes. 4 Blvd de Rochechouart Metro: Barbes Rochechouart Monday to Saturday, 10am to 7pm

www.tati.fr Les Bouquinistes One of the most charming, old-world fixtures in Paris is the row of green bookstalls perched against the parapet of the Seines Left Bank. Bookworms will delight in looking through these bargain tomes, discovering something new, or perhaps reencountering an old favorite. Metro: Saint Michel Outlet Mall: La Valle Village This outlet village is located 30 minutes from Paris. Over 70 stores including clothing, tableware, and other luxury labels offer items from previous seasons collections with a 33% to 60% reduction off the original price. Monday-Saturday, 10am-8pm (7pm winter), and Sunday 11am-7pm Getting there: RER A: Station Serris-Montvrain-Val dEurope. Shuttle bus available from the RER upon request. Cityrama shuttle runs from the centre of Paris to La Valle Village 3 times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday).Departure from the Cityrama agency, place des Pyramides, at 10:15 am and return to Paris at approximately 5:00pm. Fares: 15 round trip. Reservation required by 5:00pm the day before departure, at the hotel conciergeries or Cityrama agency.

Flea Markets Paris has three main Marche aux Puces (flea markets). The term flea market was thought to have originated in Paris, most likely a reference to the infestation that would have been a commonplace occurrence in secondhand items of centuries past. Saint Ouen Flea Market The best known of the three markets, with over 2500 vendors sprawling over 17 acres. There are twelve sections within the massive market. The Vernaison section is most popular with local bargain hunters; the Malik section specializes in clothing. There is a map at www.parispuces.com, which details the layout. Saturday to Monday Metro: Porte Clignancourt Puces de Vanves Located along Avenues Georges Lafanestre and Marc Sangnier, the 350 vendors here offer furniture, paintings, jewelry, and books at reasonable prices. Saturday & Sunday morning Metro: Porte de Vanves March aux Puces de Montreuil The sellers here offer a vast variety of mostly post-1900 merchandise. A bit downscale from the other two flea markets, but still a fun place to find interesting bargains. Saturday to Monday Metro: Porte de Montreuil *A word of warning: Watch your belongings. Some of the citys most talented pickpockets come out to play around the crowded markets. So girls, keep your purses zipped up, and boys, careful where you put your wallet.

Open-air Food Markets Though the frequency of open-air markets has been reduced in most cities, the tradition is still going strong in Paris. According to the weekly Pariscope you can visit some 58 different markets in Paris in any given week. Discover

France has put together a nice comprehensive list of these outdoor markets by arrondissement:www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris/Shopping/Paris_markets.shtml January/July Sales Those fortunate enough to be visiting Paris during Les Soldes will be able to take advantage of these famous sales, profiting from discounts of 30 50% on clothing, shoes, and accessories. Each sale season lasts 6 weeks. The winter sale season starts at the end of January and the summer one in late June. Xxxx

Shopping malls

#1 Le Carrousel du LouvreIn keeping with its proximity to the Musee de Louvre, this mall is a little more upscale. Primarily comprised of highend boutiques and restaurants, the mall is smaller than most, and has a distinctly cosmopolitan air. Le Carrousel also presents a rotating series of cultural events, including theatrical productions and art exhibitions. Address: 99, rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris, France 01 43 16 47 10 http://www.carrouseldulouvre.com/W/do/centre/accueil

#2 Les Quatre TempsThis large shopping complex is in the business district of La Defense. Notable for its hypermarket, a large discount shopping market, this is the mall to visit for those on a budget. 250 boutiques, multiple food choices, and a large selection of entertainment options have made this mall popular with Parisians and tourists alike. Address: 15, Parvis de la Defense Paris, France 01 47 73 54 44 lesquatretemps.direction@unibail.fr http://www.les4temps.com/W/do/centre/accueil

#3 Val dEuropeArguably the best shopping mall in Paris in terms of range, Val dEurope is a short walk from Disneyland Paris, and houses a massive hypermarket perfect for hours of discount shopping. 150 shops and 16 restaurants spread out over two floors, the mall carries a wide selection of fashion, sports, music, and technological items. Address: 4, cours du Danube 77711 Marne-la-Valle Cedex 4

Paris, France Xxx TRANSPORT- The kind folks at RATP have made the public transport system increasingly easy to use. There are plenty of route maps posted at every metro station. The metro lines are numbered 1 through 14, and your direction is based on the lines terminus . The RER follows the same concept, except it is called by its letter (A, B,C, D, or E). RER is integrated in the metro system so that your tickets are interchangeable, as long as you are staying within the city limits. The bus is quite straightforward. There is a map at each bus stop clearly depicting the route, the direction you are traveling, and the stops you will make along the way. What is the preferred way of travel?-People have their own personal preferences, of course, but for the majority travelers, the metro is the preferred way of travel Do I purchase a Metro travel card in advance?-You can purchase un billet (a single ticket) for 1.70, or un carnet (a stack of ten tickets) for 12 which can be used on buses, metro, RER, and are valid for one transfer so long as you make it within 1 hours from when it was stamped. *If you plan to use public transportation extensively (more than 7 times in one a day to make the purchase worthwhile), you can also buy an unlimited pass* Xxx

.ATTRACTIONS-FREE

1. Notre Dame CathedralThe Notre Dame Cathedral cost nothing to go to all year round although it costs 7.50 if you want to climb the tower. The Cathedral took 200 years to complete building and was finally finished in 1345. It has some beautiful gothic architecture including many gargoyles to inspire the artist in you. There are free tours available in several languages including English and German. It is on the Ile de la Cite right in the center of the Seine River, but you can get to the island by bridge from either side of the river.

2. Explore the Centre Georges PompidouIf you time your visit to coincide with the first Sunday of the month, you can visit the Pompidou Centre for free. The design of this art complex, with its garish external tubes, was considered outlandish and controversial when it was completed in 1977, but over the years it has become a familiar landmark in the citys urban landscape. Inside you can look around the Muse National dArt Moderne, while outside in Place Georges Pompidou you can often enjoy some free street entertainment. Where: Place Georges Pompidou, 4th arrondissement. Nearest Metro: Rambuteau or Les Halles.

3. Climb up to Basilique du Sacr-CoeurIt costs nothing to visit the gleaming, white-domed Basilique du Sacr-Coeur, a famous Parisian landmark perched on a hill at the highest point in the city above the bohemian district of Montmartre. The impressive interior of this Catholic basilica contains neo-Byzantine mosaics, while the dome itself offers fantastic views over the city. Outside, a park leads you downhill past seats from which you can enjoy the Paris skyline, and in charming Montmartre you can watch artists at work. Where: Parvis du Sacr-Coeur, 18th arrondissement. Nearest Metro: Abbesses.

4. Take some time out in Parc Monceau

To escape the city crowds, Paris offers a wide choice of parks, but Parc Monceau with its beautiful flower gardens, grotto and waterfall is one of its most beautiful of all. Dating back to 1769, it has been the subject of several famous Monet paintings. Where: Boulevard de Courcelles, 8th arrondissement . Nearest Metro: Monceau.

5. Sunbathe on Paris-PlagesIf you visit Paris in late July or early August, a string of palm tree-lined artificial beaches springs up along the river Seine, hosting a range of outdoor activities. While many Parisians flee the city during these hottest months of the year, for those that must stay behind the beaches offer some respite. Although you cant swim in the Seine, recently a floating swimming pool was created, and every year new features are added to the scene. The beaches are usually open on or around 20 July for four months each year. Where: various locations each year.

6. Pay your respects at the citys most famous cemeterySaid to be the worlds most visited cemetery, the Pre-Lachaise soon became the most prestigious burial ground in Paris thanks to its royal connections, and today it contains the graves of many interesting characters. Take a stroll through the grounds spotting the graves of singers Edith Piaf, Maria Callas, and Jim Morrison or The Doors; writers such as Oscar Wilde, Molire, La Fontaine and Balzac; impressionist painter Camille Pissarro; and composer Frdric Chopin amongst many other famous figures. Where: Boulevard de Mnilmontant, 20th arrondissement. Nearest Metro: Philippe Auguste. Other top free attractions in Paris include the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Curie Museum; and Friday fashion shows at Galeries Lafayette (although you need to reserve a free place by emailing welcome@galerieslafayette.com).mar-dec-OVER!Xxx

What to Eat in Paris for BreakfastThe French dont eat big breakfasts, and this is especially true in Paris. The typical Parisian breakfast consists of a croissant and a cup of coffee and not only will this smaller breakfast help save you a little money each morning, it will also give you a chance to eat something very French every single day. Im talking, of course, about the croissant. The name itself is French, meaning crescent, and refers to the shape of the pastry but dont feel limited to just sampling the actual croissants your chosen cafe is serving. Pastries in Paris are an art form, and, at their best, are light, flaky, crisp on the outside, and chewy on the inside. Besides the traditional croissant, other breakfast pastry options include: Pain au Raisin A pastry with a sweet custard-like filling and raising, usually rolled in a spiral Pain au Chocolat A pastry with a filling of pieces of chocolate (not a chocolate pudding)

Chausson aux Pommes A pastry folded in half and baked with a filling akin to apple sauce There are other pastries in Paris that are more appropriate for dessert like eclairs and profiteroles but youre on vacation. If you want an eclair for breakfast, go for it. If all of these options are too sweet for your tastes first thing in the morning, another option is to enjoy some of that famous French bread pretty much any bread shape will do, although a portion of a traditional baguette with some butter and jam makes a lovely breakfast. Theres also the puffy brioche, which has a touch of sweetness but not nearly as much as the pastries listed above. >> Read more about French pastries

What to Eat in Paris for Lunch or Dinner

Im lumping these two meals together here because you will sometimes find smaller versions of the dinner menu available for lunch, which helps travelers on a budget sample some famous Parisian fare at a lower cost. Its also a good idea to look for prix fixe menus for whatever meal youre making the largest of the day, since youre more likely to get a better deal (not to mention food thats actually in season and fresh) if you go with the chefs choice for the day but youre still going to get quite a bit of food! Some of the things youll see on menus in Paris that you can consider for lunch or dinner, depending on your dining style when youre traveling, are: Croque Monsieur/Madame The French version of the grilled cheese sandwich, a croque monsieur is a grilled sandwich with cheese (usually on the outsie) and ham (on the inside). The madame adds a sunny-side-up egg to the top. These are often available from crepe stands, so can be eaten as a snack or (for larger ones) as a more complete meal with a salad. Quiche The most famous quiche is a quiche Lorraine, made with egg, cream, cheese, and bits of ham; but there are many other quiche varieties. Escargots Snails arent to everyones liking, but if youre trying to be adventurous this is a good place to start. Proper escargots are served with the little critters still in their shells, cooked in a sumptuous buttery sauce (perfect for soaking up with bread after!). Theres a special utensil youll be given to hold onto the shells while you pull the snails out, and if youre confused (and being nice about it) your waiter will likely give you a lesson. Steak Tartare Another way to eat adventurously is by ordering steak tartare, which is very finely chopped raw beef thats been marinated and seasoned. The only cooking its been through is being marinated in alcohol, but its still mostly raw. (Fun fact? The original name for this dish was steak a lAmericaine.) Omelet You may recognize the word, but an omelet in Paris isnt breakfast food. In fact, paired with a salad its a lovely light lunch. Onion Soup Outside France, this will usually be on menus as French onion soup; in Paris, they dont need to designate the country. This is a rich beef-based broth full of onions cooked until theyre soft and sweet, then covered with cheese and baked in the oven. Its delicious, but dont make the mistake of assuming its light

because its soup. Boeuf Bourguignon A favorite dish in the winter months, this is a slow-cooked beef stew with an enormous quantity of Burgundy wine poured into the sauce. Coq au Vin This is a chicken dish where the bird has been cooked in wine (yes, Parisians like to cook with wine), and is another cold-weather favorite. Confit de Canard In English, this is duck confit, and its an incredibly popular dish among the French. If youve never tried duck, this is a great introduction. Prepared right, a confit de canard is tender, flavorful, and could serve as a stand-in for just about any comfort food you can imagine.

Moules When theyre in season, youll see signs for moules (mussels) on sidewalk chalkboards in front of restaurants all over Paris. Theyre a Parisian must-have, and worth trying even if youve had mussels in other places. Theyre different in Paris. (For a variation, try mouclade, which is a dish of mussels baked in a cream &

white wine sauce.) Huitres Mussels arent the only shellfish popular in Paris. Huitres, or oysters, are a nice splurge meal at one of the many oyster bars in Paris (if oysters are your thing). Steak Frites This is one of those dishes people have heard of before visiting Paris, but may think is something

more complicated than it actually is. Its a steak and fries and thats essentially it. If you have to try it to say you did, thats fine, but its not as exotic as it might sound. Luckily, waiters in Paris will no longer look down their nose at you if youd like just a salad for your meal especially since so many salads in Paris restaurants these days are quite large enough to be lunch (or even dinner) all by themselves. Here are some different kinds of salads in Paris, most of which are meal-sized.

Not all of the popular food in Paris is French, however. This city has a sizable immigrant population, and two dishes in particular that have made their way into the Parisian consciousness to the degree that the locals probably dont even think of them as ethnic anymore are couscous and falafel. Couscous comes to France by way of North Africa, and its particularly common in certain neighborhoods of Paris. Its an excellent budget-friendly meal (for locals and travelers alike). Read more about couscous in Paris. Falafel is another import from North Africa and the Middle East, and its good as a snack or a light lunch especially when its served in a pita as a quasi-sandwich, meaning it can be eaten with the hands and without sitting down at a restaurant table.

What to Eat in Paris for SnacksParisians dont snack the way people do in some other countries, but if theyre looking for something quick between meals or and this is especially Parisian to sustain them through a night of clubbing, the most popular things are cheap, quick, and eaten with the hands. In other words, between-meal foods that are still very Parisian include: Falafel Mentioned above, falafel itself is a dough made from ground chickpeas, formed into golf ball-sized

balls, and fried. Most often served in a pita and dressed with condiments, eaten sandwich-style. Crepes Ultra-thin pancakes filled with just about anything you could imagine, then folded up. Can be sweet or savory. (Read more about finding the best crepes in Paris.) Galettes Also ultra-thin pancakes served with fillings and folded up, but these are more often eaten with a

knife and fork. Galettes are often made from buckwheat flour, and are predominantly savory. But maybe youre not Parisian. Maybe youre running around all day from one museum to the next, burning through your breakfast croissant or lunchtime croque monsieur too quickly. What then? Is snacking midday just too gauche? The truth is, youre on vacation and since eating in Paris is such a delight, theres no reason you shouldnt indulge in more than three meals a day. But if youre looking for a typically Parisian snack that isnt a full-fledged meal, you really cant go wrong with a crusty baguette from a good boulangerie, a selection of fine French cheeses, and maybe somepate for good measure. Take all of these things (plus a bottle of water or wine, depending on your preference) to a nearby park and enjoy a perfectly Parisian picnic.

What to Eat in Paris for DessertThankfully for anyone with a sweet tooth, Paris will not disappoint in the dessert category. If youve enjoyed a good meal at a restaurant, chances are the desserts there will be tasty as well. Some French desserts you might find on offer are: Iles Flottantes This translates to floating islands, and its essentially dollops of meringue floating in a pool of creme anglaise, a vanilla-cream sauce. Clafoutis This is a sponge cake that usually has baked right into it whatever fruits are in season. Also keep in mind that to many French people, a selection of fine cheeses is the perfect way to end a meal. So if youre looking for a dessert alternative thats less about sugar, you could try a cheese plate (many places will bring out all the cheese they have and you point to the ones you want pieces of; these are sometimes served with honey or jam for drizzling on certain cheeses). But if youre looking for a more portable option to satisfy your sugar craving, here are a few things you can hunt for while in Paris:

Macarons Dont confuse a French macaron with that little mountain of shaved coconut. These are a completely different animal. French macarons are light cookies (made with egg whites) that sandwich a layer of icing. In addition being dainty and delicious, theyre usually extremely brightly colored. The most famous macarons come from the shop that started it all, Laduree in Paris.

Ice Cream Ice cream is a nearly universal phenomenon, thank goodness, but in Paris theres a particular ice cream shop thats not to be missed. There are a few branches of the Berthillon ice cream shops in Paris, but the best one is on the tiny Ile Saint-Louis near Notre Dame. Berthillons sorbets are especially noteworthy (they taste so real, youd swear you were eating the actual fruit), but Ive never tasted anything there that wasnt top-notch and well worth writing home about. (Read more about Berthillon in Paris.) Madeleines These famous French sweets are halfway between a cookie and a cake, and although youll more often see them served with coffee or tea as opposed to being listed on a dessert menu, theres nothing stopping you from saving a few from your afternoon stop at the patisserie and letting them melt in your mouth on the Metro ride back from your dinner that evening. Chocolate Paris didnt invent chocolate, but that doesnt mean there isnt a long list of chocolatiers in Paris who are busy perfecting the art. There are entire books dedicated to the chocolate shops in Paris, so even if youre notthat into chocolate it cant hurt to stop into one if youre passing by. Hot Chocolate If the weathers the least bit chilly, you owe it to yourself to indulge in a cup of hot chocolate in Paris at some point. European hot chocolate is nothing like the watery microwaveable stuff you may be used to; in fact, its more akin to pudding than something you might drink. And yes, thats why I think it qualifies as dessert and not a beverage.

* The best ice cream in Paris is on Ile Saint-Louis, a few steps from Notre Dame.* Xxx

Paris Shopping NeighborhoodsThis is Paris were talking about, so youll find shopping opportunities just about everywhere. But there are parts of the city that are better-known for their shopping theyre listed below, along with a few favorite spots worth sharing and theMetro stops youll need for each. Shopping on the Right Bank

For luxury & designer clothing Champs Elysees, Avenue Montaigne, Faubourg St. Honore, Rue St. Honore (Metro: Charles de Gaulle Etoile, George V, Franklin Roosevelt, Champs Elysees) For designer discounted womens wear Miss Griffes at 15 rue Penthievre (Metro: Miromesnil) For great window shopping Place Vendome, Rue de Rivoli arcade, Rue Cambon (Metro: Concorde) For boutiques the locals love Place Victor Hugo, Boulevard Victor Hugo (Metro: Victor Hugo, Boissier) For department stores Galleries Lafayette, Printemps, Grands Boulevards, north of the Garnier Opera House (Metro: Havre-Caumartin) For trendy boutiques, jewelry, & bead shops Marais neighborhood (Metro: St. Paul) For Daum glassware BHV Bazaar Hotel de Ville (Metro: Hotel de Ville)

For more upscale shopping Rue Etienne-Marcel, Place des Victoires, Passage Vivienne (Metro: Bourse) Shopping on the Left Bank For designer shops Boulevard Saint-Germain, Rue de Grenelle, Rue du Cherche Midi, Rue du Four (Metro: St. Germain des Pres) For department stores Au Bon Marche (Rue du Bac, Rue du Cherche Midi), Galeries Lafayette (Centre Commerciale Gare Montparnasse) (Metro: Montparnasse) For chain shops like H&M, Mango, & inexpensive shoe stores Rue de Rennes (Metro: Montparnasse, Rennes, St. Germain des Pres, St. Sulpice) For discount shops like Stock & Degriffe Rue Alesia (Metro: Alesia) For childrens clothing Rue Vavin (near Luxembourg Gardens) (Metro: Vavin) More information on cool French kids clothes

Paris Shopping on a BudgetNot all shopping in Paris has to be the kind youd need a trust fund for. After all, Parisians like a bargain as much as anyone. So if youre on a limited budget and you still want to be able to smugly say, Oh, this? I picked it up the last time I was in Paris, when someone asks where you got that fetching bag, then this is the part to pay attention to.

For true shoppers, theres no shopping in Paris without the Paris Pas Cher, or Inexpensive Paris guidebook. Monoprix is roughly the equivalent of Target in the US its an inexpensive chain. But its still French. You can buy more than a subway ticket in the subway you can also pick up scarves, handbags, and T-shirts in Metro stations at typically very low prices. Just be aware that youre usually buying knock-offs, not the real thing. Flea markets in Paris (see the point above) are great places to scope out those real finds every shopper dreams about. They may take more dedication, but it can be so worth it. There are consignment shops (AKA second-hand shops) in Paris, and if you find one in a particularly chic neighborhood youre more likely to find the cast-offs there are designer labels. Theyre not new, but you can sometimes find excellent deals. More information on Parisgirls favorite consignment shops in Paris Theres a great deal of information on this article about cheap clothing stores in Paris, from what parts of the city to look in to specific store names to seek out.

Xxx

Survival Tips for Paris Sale Seasons Survival tips for a sale? Dont scoff, because unless youre a seasoned pro, the Paris sales will be like nothing youve seen before. Think of it like this youre not acclimated to the sale periods in Paris the way the locals are. Youll need to dip your toe in and approach slowly, lest you get overwhelmed and drown. Consider these tips your slow approach. Know the lingo. The word soldes means sale in French, and youll see it all over the city during the sale seasons. Dont make the same mistake I did when I was a young pup who didnt speak the language, thinking, Wow, all these stores are selling the same thing something called soldes and theyve all got it marked down. It must be really bad, for them all to be getting rid of it at the same time Oh, how I sometimes miss that

silly and naive little girl Do your reconnaissance work. While this may make shopping seem like a job, its a good idea to visit the stores youre hoping to score bargains in a day or two (or more) before the sales actually start especially if youre not as familiar with them. Youll be able to learn where things are in the store, and perhaps find a few things youll want to come back to once theyre marked down. Slowly browsing through the racks isnt the way things are done during the sale, when its a take-no-prisoners rush to grab the best stuff, so knowing whats where and what size is yours beforehand helps immensely. (This is also when people begin hiding things in the store, like squirrels storing nuts for winter.) Plan to shop when the locals arent. This sounds like it would be easy, because youre on vacation and can therefore shop during the day when Parisians are working, but its not that simple. Many people take days off to shop during the sale periods, so even at midday on a weekday you may find stores as crowded as they are on weekends. Your best bet is to check the stores on a few different days, and at different times. As long as youre not intent on picking up any one specific item, then this method will let you enjoy the shopping a bit more when the stores are less busy. Also on this note, if youll be in Paris for awhile during the sale, its a good idea to check back with a store you like at different points during the sale period. This way, if theres something you were on the fence about, you can see whether the additional discounts make it worth picking up or whether someone

else has bought it first, thereby making your decision for you! Dress for the occasion. Okay, so youre madly hunting for the perfect little black dress or that to-die-for pair of designer stilettos, and youre shopping in Paris, where all the women seem to be impossibly beautiful, thin, and stylish. Despite all of this, however, you need to resist the urge to try to blend in by dressing up. As mentioned, all that shopping can be tiring, so dont make it worse by trying to navigate the crowds in heels or skin-tight jeans. Wear comfortable shoes that you wont mind standing and walking in all day long, and comfortable

clothing that breathes. And if you havent had a chance to scout the sale racks beforehand and try things on,

wear clothes that are easy to get on and off in the changing rooms. Dont assume the lowest price is the best deal. Shopaholics will certainly agree with me when I say that sometimes you really do get what you pay for. In other words, while you can probably pick up a designer knockoff for what feels like pennies during the sale seasons in Paris, if its as poorly made as most knock-offs are itll fall apart within a year and youll be out both the money you paid for it and the item itself. If theres something thats normally quite expensive on your shopping list something youve really been wanting, or something that youve been putting off buying but you actually need this is the time to get it. Itll cost more than the knock-off, but itll still be a bargain compared to the normal prices, and anything thats well-made will have the added bonus

of lasting a long time. Remember to take breaks. A day of single-minded bargain-hunting can be exhausting, not to mention six straight weeks of it. Not that youre going to spend six full weeks in the pursuit of the best deal, but when youre surrounded by people who are equally single-minded its hard to not get (and stay) caught up in it. Even if youve set aside a whole day for shopping, youve still got to eat. If youre lucky enough to be close to your hotel or hostel in Paris, you can drop off your purchases before heading out to fill your stomach and dive back into the shops.

Xxxx Food-You'll find dailies called Monop' (small version of the Monoprix supermarkets) where you can buy

sandwiches, drinks, salads, etc... and even eat on site. Also some "healthy fast foods such as Bert's and Cojean can, be found almost everywhere now. Same concept as a McDonalds, but with healthy salads, sandwiches, soups rather than fat hamburgers.

1. L'As du Felafel This felafel shop in the Marais is legendary and once you have had a felafel there you will understand why. Each felafel is stuffed with golden balls of fried chickpea along with pickled red cabbage, salted cucumbers, eggplant and slathered with hummus along with a dash of harissa. Order from the window at the door and get even better value by ordering your felafel to take away.

Price: 4. Details: 34 rue de Rosiers, Paris (Ph 01 48 87 63 60) Metro: St Paul. Closed Saturdays.2. Le Comptoir du Relais Admittedly not everything on the menu is at Yve Camdeborde's bistro is a cheap eat but order wisely and you can feast on the most decadent Croque Monsieur that you are likely to ever eat. The toasted triangles of bread are filled with smoked salmon, comte and a dash of caviar. Read my full review here. Price: 9 Details: 9 Carrefour de l'Odeon, Paris (Ph +331 4427 07 97) Metro: Odeon. 3. Saigon Sandwich Banh-Mi from Saigon Sandwich must be the cheapest lunch in Paris. This tiny little shopfront makes only one thing: banh-mi. Order the special and you get a half crusty, light baguette filled with pork, salami, meatballs and cheese along with lettuce, fresh mint and carrot. The taste is fresh and zesty although there was quite a bit of gristle on the banh-mi that I tried. Still, it is hard to complain at this price. Price: 3

Details: 8 rue de la Prsentation, Paris 75011 (Metro: Belleville) 4. Rose Bakery For a piece of Le Anglais in Paris head to Rose Bakery run by English/French couple Rose and Jean-Claude. You can get freshly made salads and quiches for a reasonable price. It's not the best lunch in Paris but when you factor in the bottles of water on each table and good quality brown bread and butter it is a good value option. Read my full review here. Price: 10 Details: 46 rue des Martyrs, 75009 Paris (Ph 01 42 82 12 80) 5. Le Bambou You can get brilliant Vietnamese food at this no frills eatery for bargain prices. It is hard to go past the pho however my favourite dish is the spicy beef served sizzling hot in a terracotta dish. Read my full review here. Price:7 to 8.50 Details: 70 Rue de Baudricot, 75013 Paris (Ph 01 45 70 91 75) Metro: Maison Blanche 6. Creperie Oroyona There are a few creperies in action along the tiny Rue Mouffetard however Creperie Oroyona attracted me with its bright aqua exterior and window showcasing two large hotplates for frying the crepes. Your crepe will be cooked to order in front of your eyes by pouring on the creamy batter and deftly swirling it into a thin paste. Try the lunch deal where you can get a savoury crepe such as the fromage one I devoured, sweet crepe and drink for 5.50. Price: 5.50 Details: 34 Rue Mouffetard, Paris 75005 (Ph 01 43 366 046) Metro: Place Monge 7. Au Rochere de Cancale There are lots of inexpensive cafes in the streets around Les Halles, however Au Rochere de Cancale is one of the picks of the bunch. The age of the cafe is evident from the solid timber beams supporting the roof and the prices seem to be stuck in time as well. Don't worry though the feel is modern and the food is great. The salads here are fantastic and packed full of goodies or order the menu of the day. Desserts such as the tarte tartin start at 4. Price: 4 - 10 Details: 78 rue Montorgueil, Paris (Ph 01 42 33 50 29) Metro: Les Halles 8. Patisseries and boulangieres Finally, the best place in Paris for a cheap eat is of course a patisserie or boulangiere. Look out for artisian boulangiere which indicates that all products are made on the premises. Two of my favourites are Frederic Comynand A La Flute Gana.Xxxx

Eating in Paris for under 10Paris has a well-deserved reputation as an expensive food city: probably nowhere else, except perhaps Tokyo, can you spend such huge sums on such tiny quantities of food. Yet one of the great joys of this city lies in discovering its

more accessible culinary treasures. Gone are the days when 10 would buy you a hearty three-course lunch, but its enough for a sensational croque-monsieur, the best buckwheat galette this side of Brittany, or an exquisite box of multicoloured macarons flavoured with violet and blackcurrant or cherry and pistachio. Eating on a budget in Paris often means foregoing the traditional three-course meal, but thats no bad thing when you also want to leave time for sightseeing. Thanks to the credit crunch, an increasing number of bistros are growing more flexible, allowing diners to order just one or two courses (particularly at lunch) and serving reasonably priced wines by the glass. Soup, sandwich and juice bars have popped up all over Paris and office workers armed with meal vouchers worth 7.80 are more likely to tuck into takeaway fare in a nearby park than to wash back a steak-frites with a carafe of wine in a caf. Bistro chef Yves Camdeborde saw the trend coming more than a year ago, opening a crpe and panini shop next door to the bistro where food-lovers from around the world queue for one of the coveted seats. Though street food has its charms, a limited budget can also buy you access to a sumptuous 19th-century dining room, a 1930s bistro or a ptisserie done up to look like the inside of a jewellery box. Our selection of classic French eats for less than 10 shows that there are still some surprising bargains to be found, and in many cafes the enjoyment factor outweighs a Michelin-star experience. All thats missing are the bells and whistles, which most of us dont want all the time, anyway. Best croque-monsieur Le Comptoir du Relais St-Germain The 20 seats at Yves Camdebordes Art Deco bistro are some of the most coveted in Paris: his no-choice, prix-fixe dinner fills up months in advance. Lunch is a more casual, no-reservations affair, and if you time it right show up early or very late you wont have to queue for the best croque-monsieur in town (9). Made with smoked salmon and Comt cheese and served with a Caesar-like salad of sucrine lettuce, it makes the standard ham-and-cheese version seem positively banal. Camdebordes crpe and sandwich stand next to his bistro is also popular. 9 carrefour de lOdon, 6th arrondissement, +33 1 44 27 07 50. Mtro: Odon. Best poulet-frites Chartier The roast chicken with French fries at Chartier might not be the very best in town, but its impossible not be dazzled by the lofty painted glass ceilings and low prices (8.70 for this dish). Dating from 1896, Chartier was one of the original Paris bouillons, serving meat and vegetables in nourishing broth to blue-collar workers, and it retains the same democratic approach today. Waiters snappily dressed in black and white dash about tallying bills on paper tablecloths while a mix of Parisians and tourists dive into simple and satisfying French fare. 7 rue du Faubourg Montmartre, 9th arrondissement, +33 47 70 86 29. Mtro: Grands Boulevards. Best meal-in-a-bowl salad Bistrot Victoires The French see nothing contradictory in topping a salad with mounds of meat, seafood or cheese. This vintage Art Deco bistro near the Palais Royal gardens with original parquet floors, black banquettes and a zinc bar has perfected the art with its selection of salades gantes costing 8.50-9. Most rib-sticking is the salade Landaise with foie gras, duck wing, gizzards and cured ham, while the salade ocane, heaped with poached salmon, squid and prawns in mayonnaise, seems light in comparison. Hot dishes are great value too: the entrecte with chunky French fries costs 11. The dining room gets crowded and noisy, but its all part of the fun. 6 rue de la Vrillire, 1st arrondissement, +33 1 42 61 43 78. Mtro: Bourse. Best eggs Le Voltaire It looks like a misprint: 90 cents, not 9, for a first course in a chic bistro favoured by French politicians and celebrities. Le Voltaire so named because the philosopher once lived in this building has never changed the price of its oeuf mayonnaise, an emblematic French dish that is poetic in its simplicity. The egg turns out to be a model of the genre, draped with silky, mustard-enriched mayonnaise and accompanied by green beans, slivered mushrooms, crisp lettuce leaves and tomato wedges. Nothing else on the menu is cheap, but at least this dish will ease your

conscience as you sip one of the vintage wines. 27 quai Voltaire, 7th arrondissement, +33 1 42 61 17 49. Mtro: Rue du Bac. Best French onion soup Au Pied de Cochon A late-night bowl of onion soup is said to soothe the effects of over-indulgence, a theory that has been tested for several decades at this brasserie near Les Halles shopping centre. Once the haunt of vendors from the wholesale food market which moved outside Paris in the late 1960s, it now attracts revellers from the areas increasingly hip bars. The onion soup (7.80) is just what it should be: plenty of slowly caramelised onions in a meaty broth, topped with thick slices of baguette and a crusty coating of emmental. Those with heartier appetites might follow this with one of the house specials involving pigs ears, tails or trotters. 6 rue Coquillire, 1st arrondissement, +33 1 40 13 77 00. Mtro: Chtelet les Halles. Best tart Rose Bakery Creating the perfect quiche is no mean feat: the crust should be crisp and flaky, not soggy, and the filling should contain just the right balance of eggs and cream so as to be rich but not too rich. At the fashionable Franco-British caf Rose Bakery, the individual square tarts are made fresh every day, filled with mostly organic ingredients. Ricotta, tomato and thyme or artichoke and pea (5 to take away, 13 in the dining room with two salads) are among the fillings that change with the seasons. Rose Bakerys sweet tarts are exemplary, too: the lemon tart is filled with baked lemon custard topped with a layer of lemon curd (4 to take away, 6 on the spot). 46 rue des Martyrs, 9th arrondissement, + 33 1 42 8212 80. Mtro: Notre-Dame-de-Lorette. Also 30 rue Debelleyme, 3rd arrondissement, +33 1 44 78 08 97. Metro: Filles du Calvaire. Best souffl Le Troquet Not many Paris bistros go to the trouble of serving souffls nowadays, but the vanilla souffl with Basque cherry jam has become a classic on the ever-changing menu of Le Troquet. Jovial Basque native Christian Etchebest runs this boisterous bistro with a zinc bar, wooden tables and Basque table runners between the Eiffel Tower and St-Germain, and his set menu 26 at lunch or 32 for three courses at dinner is great value considering the quality of the food. The secret to his sky-high souffl (9)? A thick coating of butter around the edge of the ramekin, which ensures that the airy mixture rises evenly. 21 rue Franois Bonvin, 15th arrondissement, +33 1 45 66 89 00. Mtro: Svres-Lecourbe or Volontaires. Best crpe Breizh Caf This offshoot of a crperie in Cancale, Brittany, with another branch in Tokyo, serves buckwheat galettes and crpes made with nothing but the finest quality ingredients organic flour, Breton butter and Valrhona chocolate. The more elaborate savoury galettes cost slightly more than our 10 limit the Cancalaise, with smoked herring, crme frache and herring roe, is a winner but 7.50 brings you a galette complte containing egg, ham, cheese and an extra ingredient such as cider-laced onion jam, mushrooms or Breton artichoke hearts. For dessert, the salted caramel and vanilla ice-cream crpe (6.50) is a must. 109 rue Vieille du Temple, 3rd arrondissement, +33 1 42 72 13 77. Mtro: St-Sbastien-Froissart. Best half-dozen macarons Pierre Herm The macaron, two dainty rounds of almond meringue sandwiched together with a ganache filling, has become the sweet by which all Paris pastry chefs must be judged. No one can outclass Pierre Herm, who flavours his with anything from black truffle to candied chestnut depending on the season. A classic is his passionfruit macaron with milk chocolate ganache, a perfect balance of tart and sweet, crunchy and smooth. Though 1-2 a macaron is not exactly cheap (prices vary depending on the ingredients), it seems a small price to pay for one of the greatest luxuries Paris has to offer. Be prepared to queue for the privilege. 72 rue Bonaparte, 6th arrondissement, +33 1 43 54 47 77, and two other branches in Paris. Mtro: St-Sulpice. Best chocolate mousse LAmbassade dAuvergne

What makes the perfect ending to a meal of sausage with aligot, potatoes whipped to stringy perfection with fresh mountain cheese? Why, a help-yourself bowl of chocolate mousse (8), of course. Thats the logic behind this friendly country-style auberge dedicated to the cuisine of the volcanic Auvergne region in central France. With a dense, almost chewy texture and the unmistakeable smoothness of fine-quality chocolate, this house classic served in an earthenware bowl big enough to feed a family will ensure you waddle out in a haze of contentment. Set threecourse menus start at 30. 22 rue du Grenier Saint-Lazare, 3rd arrondissement, +33 1 42 72 31 22. Mtro: Rambuteau. Xxx SYMPA CHEAP CLOTH-There are multiple SYMPA shops at the base of Montmartre on rue

Steinkerque nearMtro: Anvers. Brace yourself: the street and area are urban gritty, but better than the photo at the Google map suggests. Do not let that discourage you, you wont be in danger but, yes, there are pickpockets lurking and watching for the flashy tourists. City dwellers with street smarts engaged will have no problems. Look for the big red SYMPA signs above the shop doors. Arrive early enough and you might see the delivery truck dump boxes of inventory. College interns sent to snap some of the photos seen here had a good time watching the shoppers attack those boxes, but they took their photos after the crowds vanished. -SYMPA (no website)( Montmartre) 1 bis, rue Steinkerque, Paris 18th Mtro: Anvers Hours: 10am-7pm Monday-Saturday Other SYMPA shops in the area & in other parts of Paris.Steinquerke)You

(Montmartre)( Boulevard de Rochechouart and rue de

will notice throngs of people in the little Rue de Steinkerque. Follow them. The street has recently been infected by T-shirt shops and trinket peddlers, but the two Sympa stores with big red signs are an excellent place to find cheap clothing, sometimes brand names that are either irregular or just fell off the back of some truck. Arrive early on Saturday morning and you will be amazed to see trucks pull up and dump enormous cardboard boxes onto the sidewalk. Then the workers run out with boxcutters, split the tape seals, and literally dump piles of jeans or sweaters made by Naff Naff or Bennetton or Esprit onto huge wooden sidewalk bins. Now the ladies lined up on the opposite sidewalk like Olympic sprinters jump the gun and swarm the piles. The sight alone is remarkable. Elbows fly, hands spin through sweaters, banknotes appear and disappear, clothes sail over shoulders, arms grow heavy under mountains of cloth--- it's like watching seagulls on a shrimp boat. It's western civilization at its finest! On this street you will also find interesting fabric stores. How to get there? Take metro line no. 2 and get off station Anvers. Two are in rue Steinkerque,two by Blvd. Rochechouart (from station Anvers,turn right down the boulevard) one by rue dOrsel (same street where McDonalds is).-There are various cheap shops on rue d'Alesia/Avenue du General Leclerc (metros Alesia, Mouton-Duvernet,

Porte d'Orleans) and in the pedestrian streets near the Forum des Halles.-Zara

at the Flix Potin building (an Art Nouveau masterpiece)-Secondhand

(la vie en) rose at Les Puces

Fashionistas, Ive recently noticed more vintage clothing booths popping up at the Porte de Vanves flea market. The flea market opens at 7 a.m., and the dealers start packing up to leave around noon, so dont sleep in! Throughout the flea market, youll find tables, racks and boxes of vintage clothes, along with accessories like costume jewelry, bags, belts, hats, sunglasses, and shoes. Look for the bargain tables. These are usually marked with handwritten signs. Also, keep your eyes peeled for haute couture labelsDior, Lanvin, and Schiaparelli turn up from time to time! My latest Porte de Vanves finds include a faux leather vest by Printemps for 5 and two pairs of Ted Lapidus hexagonal sunglasses for even less! Back in the day, Lapidus (Brigitte Bardots favorite designer) introduced unisex dressing, coolly meshing military and safari-inspired outfits with jazzin blue jeans. Ooh, la la. -Cheapos, heres the scoop: The 80 bus line connects two of my favorite shopping districts in the city: rue des Abbesses in the 18th arrondissement and rue du Commerce in the 15th arrondissement. Nestled in cobblestoned hoods with views to boot, both boast a cool blend of bargain bins, indy designer boutiques, funky shops, and trendy chains. For the mere price of a metro ticket (the same tickets work for both buses and Metros), youll not only cruise between the shopping havens with the greatest of ease, but also boast about your first scores of the day while the panorama of Paris rolls by en route to the next shipping district. The 80 is one of the most scenic bus lines in the city, so keep your camera handy and eyes open! - Rue des Abbesses-Bargain bin shopping Sympa is located nearby at the foot of Sacr-Coeur*Winter 2012 sales begin Wednesday, January 11th and end Tuesday February 14th.