France

Two tour guides based in Paris suggest ways to best explore the city on foot — including how to avoid the crush of rush hour on the Métro. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.

Walking Across Paris - Audio Europe: Paris

In this excerpt from Rick's travel memoir, he shops for food with a lively restaurateur on a market street, visits Mona at the Louvre, and experiences a musical Mass from the organist's loft. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.

Postcards from Europe: Paris - Audio Europe: Paris

Parisian Arnaud Servignat talks about the art of the daily meal, the ritual of shopping for quality and freshness, and how to eat escargot and steak tartare like the French. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.

Paris Cuisine - Audio Europe: Paris

Tour guide Patrick Vidal walks us through Paris, explaining the differences between Paris and the rest of France, and how to have a truly Parisian experience. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.

Paris City Guide II - Audio Europe: Paris

Paris City Guide I - Audio Europe: Paris

Arnaud Servignat and Kristen Michel, two guides from Paris, explain how cafés work as a part of daily life for Parisians, and how visitors can enjoy them, too. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.

Paris Cafes - Audio Europe: Paris

Paris-based guide Elisabeth Van Hest explains how to move beyond the Louvre to experience the art treasures of Paris. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.

Paris Art Scene - Audio Europe: Paris

Arnaud Servignat, tour guide based in Paris, joins Rick for a virtual late-night stroll and dinner, after dark in the City of Light. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.

Midnight in Paris - Audio Europe: Paris

With more than a hundred museums, Paris is home to much more than the Louvre. A Paris-based guide joins Rick to explore Paris' smaller museums, where you can experience great art without standing in a long line. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.

Lesser-Known Paris Museums - Audio Europe: Paris

Rick talks with Elaine Sciolino, a New York Times journalist based in Paris, about some of her favorite hideaways among the many quiet, hidden gardens scattered around the city. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.

Hidden Gardens of Paris - Audio Europe: Paris

Jill Jonnes, author of "Eiffel's Tower," discusses the iconic structure, which debuted at the Paris World's Fair of 1889. At 1,000 feet tall, the tower was the tallest in the world — and the French despised it. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.

Eiffel's Tower - Audio Europe: Paris

Author Sedaris, who has lived in Europe and Japan, talks about irritating tourists in Paris, staying in hotels, and reveals a dirty little secret about some flight attendants. Related travel information at www.ricksteves.com.

David Sedaris in Paris - Audio Europe: Paris

Ornate palaces and gardens.
     If you've ever wondered why your American passport has French writing in it, you'll find the answer at the Château de Versailles, Europe's greatest palace. Around 1700, Versailles was the cultural heartbeat of Europe, and French culture was at its zenith. Throughout Europe, every king wanted to be like Louis XIV, and everyone learned French. French taste in clothes, hairstyles, table manners, theater, music, art, and kissing spread across the Continent. That cultural dominance continued, to some extent, right up to the 20th century. On this tour, we'll explore the historic heart of the palace, now decorated with period furniture and the magnificent Hall of Mirrors. Then we'll stroll the immense landscaped gardens, dotted with fountains and sprinkled with smaller palaces, each an architectural gem. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion maps.
     Sightseeing nitty-gritty: I recommend buying either a Paris Museum Pass (2 days/€32, 4 days/€48, or 6 days/€64) or Versailles' "Le Passeport" Pass (€20 Mon–Fri, €25 Sat–Sun; from Nov to March it's €16 Tue–Sun; buy at Versailles' TI or at www.chateauversailles.fr). Both passes let you skip major lines, and cover admission to the three most important parts of the complex — the Chateaux, Gardens, and Domaine de Marie-Antoinette. Versailles' fine website is www.chateauversailles.fr. 
     The Château, the main palace, costs €13.50 (for an individual ticket), and is open Tue–Sun April–Oct 9:00–18:30 (perhaps later some summer Saturdays), Nov–March 9:00–17:30, closed Mon. The Domaine de Marie-Antoinette, the estate of the queen, gives you access to the far corner of the Gardens and entry into several small palaces. An individual ticket costs €10 April–Oct (€6 after 16:00 and Nov–March), and it's open daily April–Oct 12:00–18:30, Nov–March 12:00–17:30. The Gardens are free (except on weekends April–Sept, when the fountains blast and the price is €8), and are generally open daily 9:00 to sunset (17:30–21:30), but close at 18:00 on Sat in summer to prepare for evening events. Last entry to all of these areas is one hour before closing.
     Versailles is very crowded May–Sept 10:00–13:00, with especially big crowds all day Tue and Sun. Try arriving by 9:00, see the Chateau first, and then the Gardens. Or arrive later, tour the Gardens first, then the Château after 13:00 when crowds dissipate. TIs are near the train station (by the Pullman Hôtel, tel. 01 39 24 88 88) and the Château (left side of courtyard, tel. 08 10 81 16 14, often crowded). Photos are allowed indoors without a flash. Beware pickpockets. WCs are scarce: try the WC just before the palace gates, the one inside the Château, or several tucked away throughout the Gardens. For food, there are small cafes at the Chateau, near the Apollo Basin, or restaurants along pleasant rue de Satory between the station and the palace.
     Getting There: The town of Versailles is 30 minutes southwest of Paris. For most the best option is to take the RER-C train (4/hr, 30–40 min one-way, €6 round-trip) from any of these Paris RER stops: Gare d'Austerlitz, St. Michel, Musée d'Orsay, Invalides, Pont de l'Alma, and Champ de Mars. Any train whose name starts with a V (e.g., "Vick") goes to Versailles; don't board other trains. The Chateau is a 10-minute walk from the Versailles R.G. train station. All in all, with transportation, lines, and sightseeing, Versailles is an eight hour day-trip from Paris.
     [This audio tour was updated in 2023]
     For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Paris 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.

Versailles Palace Audio Tour - Audio Europe: Paris

World's best Impressionism.
     The Orsay Museum, or Musée d'Orsay, houses French art of the 1800s, starring the Impressionists — the art of sun-dappled fields, bright colors, and crowded Parisian cafés. It's the best general collection anywhere of Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, van Gogh, Cézanne, and Gauguin. If you like Impressionism, visit this museum. If you don't like Impressionism, visit this museum. I personally find it a more enjoyable and rewarding place than the Louvre. Sure, ya gotta see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, but after you get your gottas out of the way, enjoy the Orsay. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion maps.
     Sightseeing nitty-gritty: The Orsay costs €8, €5.50 Fri–Wed after 16:15 and Thu after 18:00, free first Sun of month. It's open Tue–Sun 9:30–18:00, Thu until 21:45 year-round, last entry one hour before closing (45 min before on Thu), closed Mon. Contact the Orsay at tel 01 40 49 48 14 or www.musee-orsay.fr.
     Admission is covered by the Paris Museum Pass, which also lets you skip the long ticket-buying line — passholders enter on the right side of the museum (Entrance C). The Impressionist galleries begin closing 45 minutes early. Tuesdays are particularly crowded, because the Louvre is closed.
     The museum is at 1 rue de la Légion d'Honneur, at the RER-C stop called Musée d'Orsay. The nearest Métro stop is Solférino, three blocks southeast. From the Louvre, it's a lovely 15-minute walk through the Tuileries Garden. Also handy are bus #69 from the Marais or rue Cler, taxis, and the Batobus boat.
     A pricey but très elegant restaurant is on the second floor, with affordable tea and coffee served 15:00–17:30 (daily except Thu). A simple fifth-floor café is sandwiched between the Impressionists. Bag check is free. Photography without a flash is allowed. 
     [This audio tour was updated in 2023]
     For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This was excerpted from Rick Steves' Paris 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.

Orsay Museum Audio Tour - Audio Europe: Paris

Iconic statues and paintings.
     Paris, the City of Light, is a beacon of civilization, and the Louvre Museum presents a full inventory of Western culture. To cover the entire museum — the world's largest — in a single visit is impossible, so let's focus on the Louvre s specialties — Greek sculpture, Italian painting, and French painting. We'll see "Venuses" through history, from scrawny Stone Age fertility goddesses to the curvy Venus de Milo; from the wind-blown Winged Victory to placid medieval Madonnas; from Mona Lisa to Lady Liberty, the symbol of modern democracy. We'll see how each generation defines beauty differently, getting to know the people of the past by admiring the things they found beautiful. Along the way, are masterpieces by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Michelangelo, the French painters, and many of the most iconic images of Western civilization. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion maps.
     Sightseeing nitty-gritty: The Louvre costs €9 (€6 after 18:00 on Wed and Fri, free on first Sun of month) and is covered by the Paris Museum Pass. It's open Wed–Mon 9:00–18:00, closed Tue. Most wings stay open Wed and Fri until 21:45 (except on holidays). The last entry is 45 minutes before closing. 
     It's located at Métro Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre or Louvre-Rivoli. Tel. 01 40 20 53 17, recorded info tel. 01 40 20 51 51, www.louvre.fr. Bus #69 serves the Marais and rue Cler, and taxis stop on rue de Rivoli.
     Lines to enter through the glass pyramid can be very long. Crowds are worst on Sun, Mon, Wed, and mornings. Museum Pass-holders can use the never-crowded group entrance in the pedestrian passageway (labeled Pavilion Richelieu) between the pyramid and rue de Rivoli. (It's under the arches, a few steps north of the pyramid; find the uniformed guard at the security checkpoint entrance, at the down escalator.) Or, enter through the underground shopping mall called the Carrousel du Louvre (at 99 rue de Rivoli or directly from the Palais Royale-Musee du Louvre Metro stop.) Once under the pyramid, buy tickets faster by using the automated machines. Baggage storage and WCs are located under the pyramid (WCs are scarce once you're in the galleries). For food, the Louvre has several cafés, but your best bet is the food court of the underground shopping mall. Photography without a flash is allowed. Consider an evening visit — it's peaceful, and the glass pyramid glows after dark.
     [This audio tour was updated in 2023]
     For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Paris 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.

Louvre Museum Audio Tour - Audio Europe: Paris

Notre-Dame and Left Bank. 
     Paris has been continuously inhabited for over 2,000 years, and this three-mile walk through the center of this cultural capital shows its rich history. We'll start where Paris did, on Ile de la Cité, dominated by the towers of cathedral Notre-Dame. Next, a foray onto the Left Bank, home to scholars, artists, and bohemians. We'll marvel at the colorful stained glass of Ste-Chapelle, and see the prison where Marie Antoinette pondered the guillotine. Allow four hours to lace together 80 generations of history: from Celtic fishing village to Roman city, bustling medieval capital, birthplace of the Revolution, and the bohemian haunt of the 1920s café scene. Best of all, for the entire walk, you're immersed in the fully-modern, globally-connected world of today's Paris. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion maps.
     Sightseeing nitty-gritty: Many sights in this walk charge admission that is covered by the Paris Museum Pass, a great time- and money-saver, as it allows you to skip ticket-buying lines  (2 days/€32, 4 days/€48, or 6 days/€64). Notre-Dame Cathedral is free, open daily 7:45–19:00, modest dress encouraged, tel. 01 42 34 56 10, www.cathedraledeparis.com. Metro stops Cité, Hôtel de Ville, or St. Michel. To climb the Notre-Dame Tower costs €8 (covered by Museum Pass, but no bypass line for pass-holders) and is open daily April–Sept 10:00–18:30, also June–Aug Sat–Sun until 23:00, Oct–March 10:00–17:30, last entry 45 min before closing; to avoid crowds in peak season, arrive before 10:00 or after 17:00. The Deportation Memorial is free, open daily April–Sept 10:00–12:00 and 14:00–19:00, Oct–March 10:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00, tel. 01 49 74 34 00. Shakespeare and Company Bookstore is open daily 12:00–24:00, 37 rue de la Bûcherie, tel. 01 43 26 96 50.
     Sainte-Chapelle costs €8, covered by Museum Pass, and is open daily March–Oct 9:30–18:00, Nov–Feb 9:00–17:00, last entry 30 min before closing. It's at 4 boulevard du Palais, Mo: Cité, tel. 01 53 40 60 80, www.monum.fr. Expect a line to pass through security. The Conciergerie costs €7, covered by Museum Pass, and is open daily April–Oct 9:30–18:00, Nov–March 9:00–17:00, last entry 30 min before closing, 4 boulevard du Palais, Mo: Cité, tel. 01 53 40 60 80, www.monum.fr. Find WC's in front of Notre-Dame, at Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, and cafés.
     [This audio tour was updated in 2023]
     For more specifics, consult my guidebook. This is excerpted from Rick Steves' Paris 2010. Copyright 2009 Avalon Travel. Related information at www.ricksteves.com.

Historic Paris Walk Audio Tour - Audio Europe: Paris

American Mary Bouron, who married a Frenchman and now lives in Paris, shares her tips and tricks for walking, talking, and eating like a real Parisian. For more info on traveling in Europe, see www.ricksteves.com.

Walk Like a Parisian - Audio Europe: Paris

A wine expert and TV personality from Paris gives Rick a humorous and wickedly honest portrait of the quirks of his fellow Parisians. For more info on traveling in Europe, see www.ricksteves.com.

Stuff Parisians Like - Audio Europe: Paris

Marjorie R. Williams, co-author of "Markets of Paris," gives tips on enjoying Paris through its specialty street markets. For more info on traveling in Europe, see www.ricksteves.com.

Street Markets of Paris - Audio Europe: Paris

Rick provides a brief introduction to his Paris playlist, a collection of audio files designed to help you plan and enjoy your best possible trip. For more info on traveling in Europe, see www.ricksteves.com.

France

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