Ways To Be A Local

• Stand on the place Charles-de-Gaulle during the rush hour to get the feel of the Parisian pace of life.
• Go into a crowded café at lunchtime and rub shoulders with hard-working Parisians.
• Go to 'Les Champs' (Champs-Elysées) on Saturday night and meet Parisians enjoying themselves.
• Soak in the atmosphere of old Paris along the Canal St-Martin.
• Buy a baguette and some cheese in the rue Mouffetard for an outdoor lunch in the nearby square des Arènes de Lutèce.
• Sample the village atmosphere in Le Marais on Sunday afternoon, together with thousands of Parisians.
• Talk to the bouquinistes along the Seine, usually only too willing to comment on local news and people.
• Mingle with Parisian youth along boulevard St-Germain.
• Learn how to bargain at the Marché aux Puces, Porte de Clignancourt.
• Don't talk to a Parisian about local driving.

Good Places To Have Lunch

• Le Caveau du Palais (Moderately priced) ADDRESS: 17 place Dauphine, 1st, PHONE: 01 43 26 04 28; view of the lovely place Dauphine.
• Brasserie de l'Ile Saint-Louis (Moderately priced) ADDRESS: 55 quai de Bourbon, 4th, PHONE: 01 43 54 02 59; choucroute garnie.
• Le Polidor (Inexpensive) ADDRESS: 41 rue Monsieur-le-Prince, 6th, PHONE: 01 43 26 95 34; French cuisine in the heart of the Latin Quarter.
• La Victoire Suprême du Coeur (Moderately priced) ADDRESS: 41 rue des Bourdonnais, 1st, PHONE: 01 40 41 93 95; international vegetarian cuisine.
• Georges (Moderately priced-Expensive) ADDRESS: Centre Pompidou (6th floor), 4th PHONE: 01 44 78 47 99; fabulous views of Paris.
• Le Toupary (Moderately priced) ADDRESS: Samaritaine, 5th floor, 2 quai du Louvre, 1st, PHONE: 01 40 41 29 29; panoramic view.
• Bofinger (Moderately priced) ADDRESS: 5 rue de la Bastille, 4th, PHONE: 01 42 72 87 82; belle époque setting.
• Restaurant du Palais-Royal (Moderately priced) ADDRESS: 43 rue de Valois, 1st, PHONE: 01 40 20 00 27; overlooking the Jardin du Palais-Royal.
• A Priori Thé (Inexpensive) ADDRESS: 35-7 Galerie Vivienne, 2nd, PHONE: 01 42 97 48 75; old-world surroundings.
• Altitude 95 (Inexpensive-Moderately priced) ADDRESS: Tour Eiffel 1st floor, Champs de Mars, 7th, PHONE: 01 45 55 20 04; brasserie with original airship décor.

Top Activities

• Walking (pedestrian areas): footpath along the river; quartier Montorgueil north of Les Halles.
• Cycle tours: Paris à Vélo, c'est Sympa! ADDRESS: 22 rue Alphonse Baudin, 11th, PHONE: 01 48 87 60 01.
• Rowing on the lake in Bois de Boulogne.
• Horse riding: Société d'Equitation de Paris, PHONE: 01 45 01 20 06.
• Theme parks: Disneyland Paris, Parc Astérix.
• Parc Floral de Paris ADDRESS: Bois de Vincennes, 12th; flowers, medicinal plants etc.
• Aquaboulevard ADDRESS: 4-6 rue Louis-Armand, 15th, PHONE: 01 40 60 10 00; fun with water.
• Hot-air ballooning: Montgolfières Aventures, PHONE: 01 40 47 61 04.
• Roller skating rallies: PHONE: 01 44 54 07 44; held every Sun.
• Leisure park: Base de Plein Air, ADDRESS: St-Quentin-en-Yvelines, PHONE: 01 30 62 20 12, METRO: RER C.

Bird's-Eye Views

• Tour Eiffel
• Sacré-Coeur
• Tour Montparnasse
• Grande Arche de la Défense
• Towers of Notre-Dame
• Arc de Triomphe
• Dôme of Les Invalides
• Centre Georges Pompidou (6th floor)
• Palais de Chaillot
• Institut du Monde Arabe

Famous and Picturesque Cafés

• Café de la Paix, 12 boulevard des Capucines, METRO: Opéra
• Fouquet's, 99 Champs-Elysées, METRO: George V
• Café Marly, Le Louvre, METRO: Palais-Royal
• Café de Flore, 172 boulevard St-Germain, METRO: St-Germain-des-Prés
• Les Deux Magots, 6 place St-Germain-des-Prés, METRO: St-Germain-des-Prés
• Le Procope, 13 rue de l'Ancienne-Comédie, METRO: Odéon
• Café de la Mairie, 8 place St-Sulpice, METRO: St-Sulpice
• Café Martini, 11 rue du Pas de la Mule, METRO: Chemin-Vert
• La Closerie des Lilas, 171 boulevard du Montparnasse, METRO: Vavin
• Le Sancerre, 35 rue des Abbesses, METRO: Abbesses