Trying to decide what to do on a Sunday. For me the major sites/museums are toooooo crowded. I know that most folks go to the Marais on Sunday, so that too will be crowded- but what about Montmarte? Will most things be available- Sacre Couer, Musee Romantique etc? What about the crowds and places to eat? Your recommendations?
Thanks
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Hi RPL,
Both are crowded on any Sunday, jammed really.........but so are the parks, St. Michel area, mostly any place which is opened. I personally think the Marias is great but it is very crowded on Sundays. At Montmarte if you dont hang around the hordes of people at place Tertre or in front of Sacre Couer, too long you can probably find some less crowded little rues to wander around, maybe. Restaurants in both areas will be crowded....Of course if it should be a lousy day, it could be different.
You might like to go over to Rodin%26#39;s gardens. Generally not very crowded in the gardens in rear of the museum, only a euro or so to go into them alone, some of his greatest works there and usually very nice and quiet. You skip the line for tickets, go inside the entrance gate and buy a ticket just for the gardens from a machine there........usually not much, if any, line for just them. Nice little cafeteria along side the gardens. One of my favorite places in Paris....
Enjoy,
Bea
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The NY Times recommended a stroll along the Rue des Martyrs in Montmartre on a Sunday. You can find the article at www.nytimes.com at their on-line travel section. You must register to read the article but registration is free.
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Both will be packed with people on Sunday. I prefer the Marais simply because, if you find the streets too crowded, you can walk out of the area and easily find yourself in another. Montmartre is more isolated and it is more of a walk to get elsewhere unless you hop on the metro or bus. Most tourists seem to enjoy Montrmartre the most-they have the fondest memories from there with the artists, windmills, etc. The area around the Odeon metro stop is fun, St Germain des Pres. Just head off in either direction, across the street from the stop or behind it, and you will find many great streets to explore, the Luxembourg Gardens, St Sulpice, the Rue du Buci area. You can even walk from that area across the Pont des Arts to the Louvre, through the courtyard, cross Rue du Rivoli and walk into Palais Royal which is also fun to visit.
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Hi all - can someone please advise if the artists are in Monmartre on days other than Sundays? I was there on a Sunday recently, but I am already planning a return visit.....thanks
Sandra
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Sandra-
What did you do on Sunday in Monmartre? What time of year did you go? Did you find it too crowded or was is manageable?
Thanks
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Hi all - We%26#39;ve been to Paris at all times of the year, and have never found Montmartre to be %26#39;unmanageable%26#39;. And the artists are ALWAYS there...ALWAYS. They will bug you to death, even interrupting a meal if you%26#39;re sitting at an outside table where they are set up. The quickest way to get rid of them (unless you want the portrait - we did it once - and if we showed it to anyone they wouldn%26#39;t even know it was us!) is to tell them you had your portrait done yesterday. If you merely say, %26quot;I already had it done.%26quot;, they are forward enough to ask why they don%26#39;t see it with you! I am not an advocate of untruths and maybe someone else can offer better advice, but enough is enough already! Montmartre IS a lot of fun, though. We go each trip to Paris.
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Thanks VickiSFloyd!
When is your next trip?
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HI RPL - we were there on Sunday afternoon, 6th March, our very first day in Paris - in fact it was the first place I headed. It was freezing cold, had snowed that morning and there weren%26#39;t many people around. No doubt it%26#39;s very different now.
I loved the atmosphere - in fact it was my best memory of Paris, as it was my first time there and I%26#39;ve got a few paintings/prints of the typical scene with the artists in the foreground, crowds milling around, the red canvas verandahs of the cafes and the dome of the Sacre Coeur in the background. I asked my daughter to photograph me in that scene - it worked out well except that the dome is so white it%26#39;s a bit hard to distinguish it from the clouds.
Yes, the artists are very bold - but I really enjoyed the exchanges we had, got our portraits done by the %26quot;silhouette men%26quot;, just remember you can negotiate a rate YOU are prepared to pay - or just say %26quot;non, je regret c%26#39;est trop cher%26quot; and they%26#39;ll keep dropping the price....I was accompanied by my beautiful, blonde 22 yo daughter and she came in for a lot of attention, which further added to our merriment!
Some of the portraits are very good - others just so so. I did notice that the artists maade the subjects look much younger - things like wrinkles %26amp; double chins sort of faded away. I wish I%26#39;d bought one of the classis french paintings of a window for about E100- you%26#39;ll see the work. Interestingly, the artists don%26#39;t mind if you photograph their work, so I have that memory captured.
Great shops for buying souveniers, very good prices, as cheap as anywhere else I%26#39;ve seen. Didn%26#39;t get to sit and have a glass of wine or un cafe creme, unfortunately. That was a big priority for me, but all the outside seats were already taken - perhaps I should have asked....next time I will definitely get there early and %26quot;book a seat%26quot;.
There was the sound of music coming from somewhere, so I tracked it down, and just around the corner was a man playing a bass (strings) accompanied by a CD that was playing through a small speaker. Truly beautiful - his music just sort of floated on the air and made the whole experience incredible.
The streets around Montmartre are delightful with the added aspect of height and views - we caught out first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower and it was a moment to remember..the walk down the hill through windy, cobbled streets, seeing little shops, cafes and bars is delightful.
Whatever you decide, it%26#39;ll be fantastic because Paris is pure magic!
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RPL67,
The previous posts have given you excellent ideas.
My second favorite place (after the D%26#39;Orsay) is the
Rodin. On Sunday you will find it less crowded than
the Marais or Montmartre. I agree with Bea and
the cafe there on the side of the garden has good
food.
My experiences at Montmartre have been that the
crowds are generally from tourist buses. They
come up the hill, walk around the square slowly
and leave. There is a cafe just outside the square.
A small oil painting that I purchased at Montmartre
hangs in the dining room.
For me, the Marais was a great exploration. I can%26#39;t
wait too do it again.
Best Wishes
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Also if you near the marais and head into the bastille circle area i believe there are sunday food markets which are always fun, all those tasty goodies
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