Recommendations for first time stay in Paris

I also suggest a guide book. The Rick Steves book is good for practical advice for first time visitors. For such a short visit his Pocket Paris would be fine.

The 4th arrondissement is a good, central area to stay in. You will be staying in the Marais so you will see that neighborhood. Another good neighborhood to wander is the Latin Quarter. Luxembourg Gardens is a very nice park. You will need to take the metro or RER to reach the Eiffel Tower. You can buy metro tickets on the Eurostar. That way you can avoid standing in line at Gare du Nord. A carnet of 10 tickets will cost less per ticket than buying them individually. You can share the carnet between the two of you. Depending on where you are staying in the 4th you should be able to walk to Notre Dame, the Louvre and maybe even the Arc. If you want to go up the Eiffel Tower and don't already have tickets you will have to wait in a long line.

The 4th arrondissement is a great choice. You will probably be able to walk to the Louvre and Notre Dame. Get a carnet of metro tickets if you plan to use mass transit. You can get transit directions at www.ratp.fr/en. If you look at the site from the US, dont forget to adjust for the time difference so you see the transit options for times when you will actually be traveling. Laduree for the best macarons, IMO but I have never had a bad one in France even at McCafe. Do you have tickets for the Eiffel Tower already? If not, be prepared to wait in line. Tickets to the ET sell out months in advance but you can wait in line for access. If you want to climb up the towers at Notre Dame, arrive one hour prior to opening time to wait online. The line is on the left side as you face the front of the cathedral.

I think Dick means Rue Cler instead of Run Cler and I'm sure he's talking about macaroons instead of macaroni. That being said, the 7th is not a very central location unless you just want to be very near the Eiffel Tower. There are patisseries and boulangeries on every street corner in ALL of Paris...not just the 7th. But if you want to be with all of the other American Tourists toting around a Rick Steves book then you'll feel right at home in the 7th.

We just returned after a month in France and over two weeks in Paris. One thing that should guide your planning is the fact that it will be high season when you are there so plan accordingly. We encountered heavy crowds in late May through June. You must pass thru security at the Louvre so plan on getting there early...or go in the evenings as they are open late a couple of nights a week. An option that you might think about is the D'Orsay which didn't have anywhere near the crowds and houses an amazing collection of Impressionist paintings or L'Orangerie which houses Monet's Waterlilies and is located iat the end of the Tuilleries, a park that you should not miss walking through!There are two lines to get into Notre Dame, one slow one for those wanting a tour, or a fairly fast line that is located directly in front if you just want to go in to look. St Chapelle is amazing, but there are lines for security too, and they close for two hours for lunch and close the line down during that time.

Just got back from 24 days in France. 2 1/2 days in Paris is not a lot as there is so much to see and there will probably be long lines at some places as it is top season. We were fortunate that in May the crowds were sparse. The best suggestion I can give you is to buy the 2 day hop on hop off bus pass. Do the Eiffel Tower first thing to try and beat the long lines and then buy your ticket as you board the bus. They go to all the locations you mentioned plus many more in a double decker bus. We did that and it was great. It takes you to all the top sights and areas in any order you want and eliminates the time and expense of figuring out the metro and buses in a short stay. They run continuously and we never waited more than 5 minutes for a bus. It is a great way to get the lay of the land and schedule your activities. There are a couple companies to choose from. Look into. Also take a Seine cruise at night. The city is spectacular lit up at night. The one we took left right from the Seine next to the Eiffel Tower. Don't bother with the dinner cruise.

Welcome to your first trip to Paris - hopefully you will become addicted to this beautiful city, as many of us already are! You've been given lots of good advice already (the HOHO buses are great to get first-timers around quickly and give you a good overview of the city). Don't just stay on the bus, though, get off and visit the places you're interested in. A few details:

- The Metro is easy to understand once you know the rules - pull up an online map and get familiar with the numbers and colors of the stops around your hotel/sites to visit. Get a large copy of the Metro map at the Metro ticket counter (free). Inside the Metro, there are lists of stops and maps which will direct you. Always know the endpoint of the line you're looking for so you'll be headed in the right direction.
- Get to the Tour Eiffel BEFORE it opens if you don't have reservations. Or go later in the day when lines are less. And do try to at least see it at least once (even from a distance) after dark when it "twinkles" on the hour for 5 minutes.
- I've eaten a LOT of macarons in Paris and my faves are at Carette (on the Trocadero and in the Plc des Vosges). Second favorite are at Laduree. Another place - McDonalds that have a coffee bar in front!! (they're actually quite good!)
- Notre Dame - if the line to the right isn't too long, go inside (free) and enjoy the peace and quiet, walk up front to see the beautiful rose windows.
- Louvre - enter thru the underground shopping center, don't stand in that long line by the pyramid.
Bon Voyage!

Look for something in the 4th or 5th -- maybe the 6th. Rue Cler is an out of the way spot and dull in the evening. You are better off near the river and central.

Lots of good advice above.

Thanks, everyone, for all your wonderful tips and advice! Can't wait to experience it all in person!