Hi all, finalizing our trip plans and making a few restaurant reservations. We want to go to Tour Montparnasse for sunset and night views of Paris in October. We would then make our way to Boucherie Roulière for dinner around 8:00. If the weather is good, would this area of Paris make for good walking or should we take the metro instead? We've never been that far south in Paris before and have no idea what it's like.
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
4922 posts
Google maps says it's only 1.6 km walking. Mostly down Rue de Rennes, which looks like a fairly wide street. Have a look at it on Street view.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3733 posts
It could be a nice walk. I would walk east on Blvd Montparnasse to Le Relais d'Entrecote and turn on Rue Vavin and take it to Jardin Luxembourg and walk along the west side of the park to Rue de Vaugirard and turn there and make the quick turn on to Rue Bonaparte. That would take about 25 minutes. Another choice would to just walk up Rue de Rennes if you like to window shop to Rue du Vieux Colombier and take that to Rue Bonaparte. It's perfectly safe and I usually walk if the walk is less than 30 minutes. Either walk will be fine. It's Paris and some very nice parts of Paris at that so I am wondering what your concern is. Is it safety or is it seeing sights or something else? You can look at it all on Google street view to see the areas.
Posted by
OP
KS, USA
676 posts
Thanks, I will take a look on Google. Just never have been in that part of Paris. I've only heard good things about Paris being safe but I don't like to assume an area is safe, especially at night, when I've never seen it by day. JHK, I'll look at your particular street suggestions in Google street view.
Posted by
Florida (previously California)
3733 posts
It should be a good walk. I wasn't sure from your question if you were concerned about safety or the possibility of seeing a lot of sights on the walk. Major sights wise, neither route that I suggested is a winner other than going by Jardin Luxembourg but this is not an especially sight heavy part of Paris. It's just a safe area with cute buildings and stores and people going about their business. When are you traveling? If it is soon, the sun sets at around 8 PM so it will be light while you are out and about.
Posted by
OP
KS, USA
676 posts
We will be there the first weekend in October. Sunset is supposed to be at 7:15. We'd like to have enough time to see Paris by night from the tower as well. Wondering if I should make reservations for 8 or a bit later. I'd be happy with pleasant streets with cute shops to walk past. :)
Posted by
Paris
2466 posts
I'd make reservations for 8 or 8:30.
Some restaurants only take reservations on the hour.
It does get dark around 7:30, though.
No worries about safety. You're in a good location.
If you want to take a taxi back to where you're staying, go to the first busy intersection and hail one with the green light.
Posted by
OP
KS, USA
676 posts
Thank you!!