subject: Walking In Paris: Planning The Best Day Trips [print this page] There are plenty of day trips around Paris, but if you are not fond of going with other groups of travelers and prefer to discover Paris by yourself, planning your own day trip that consists solely of walking in Paris would be a good idea. There are so many things you can see around Paris: from museums, to monuments, parks, and restaurants which you might have even missed had you joined a group tour. In fact, you Paris Apartment Rentals should give you access to many aspects of Parisian life that would be difficult to discover from a perch in a hotel room. As large as the city is, Paris is about local and the best way to live local is to do it the way Parisians do on foot.
Before anything else, bear in mind that Paris has 20 districts and your day trip consisting of 4-6 hours is not enough to cover the entire city. Furthermore, if all you want to do is to go on a walking tour around Paris, getting to the next arrondissement will be time consuming and tiresome. The best alternative then, is to stay in a vacation rental in paris located in districts where the most tourist landmarks are found, like Les Halles (1st eme), Marais (3rd eme), Place de la Republique (4th eme), Notre Dame (5th eme) Saint Germain des Pres (6th district), Tour Eiffel (7th district), Champs-Elysees (8th district), and Foch Avenue (16th eme).
If you opt for a Paris apartment rental in the heart of Paris, it will be easy to walk to museums like the Louvre, Arts dcoratifs, and Muse en Herbe. You can also get your shopping fix from Forum Les Halles (farmer's market), W.H. Smith, for books, and Colette, for gadgets and other interesting finds. Always keep in mind that there are endless local shops that cater to the interests and needs of a specific neighborhood, and youll even come across impromptu markets and stands selling and unimaginably wonderful selection of foods, wines, and crafts.
If you prefer staying in a fashionable district, you have three places to choose from: Saint Germain des Pres, Marais, and Champs Elysees. These districts are located near shopping centers and high-end restaurants, but not a lot of museums or monuments are within walking distance, save for Arc de Triomphe, in the 8th. However, these areas offer a taste of pristine streets, elegant shops, and in many cases a glimpse into the Paris of a century ago. For many, one of the great joys of walking Paris is simply turning and following the route of some ancient cobblestone path. Without being sure where it will take you, it is certainly going to be a rewarding and satisfying destination.
Finally, if you consider yourself a budget traveler, choose a Paris apartment anywhere along Notre Dame and Place de la Republique, near rue Monge. Museums and old churches are scattered sporadically along these areas, so while you may not be within walking distance to the more popular landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, you will have a lot of restaurants and shops to visit, in its place.
