What should I not miss on my first trip to Paris?

[Marcel Gonsalves]

Are you there between June 13 and 18?

I'll be there then. What's happening?

[yesno]

That is when I will be there.  We should meet up.

[Christina]

As long as you don't go in August. 

I imagine it's as fetid there as it is here.

[Sarah]

Also sans Parisiens and remplie de touristes.

[crumbum]

If you're interested in modern architecture, check out the new Musee du Quai Branly:



http://www.quaibranly.fr/en/accueil.html

It's one of the wildest and weirdest buildings to go up anywhere in the world in the past decade or so; it houses indigenous art from all over the world.

[Martin]

Don't bother going to the Musée national d'art moderne:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/05/20/world/europe/AP-EU-France-Museum-Theft.html?_r=2&hp

[Marcel Gonsalves]

That is when I will be there.  We should meet up.

You know what? Sure. I'm game if you want to.

[tenni]

Walking really is the best way to see the city. I covered nearly everything I wanted to see in one day, and it was well worth it. Completely gorgeous.

Don't miss having their macaroons! Laduree's is a favourite of mine, though some prefer macaroons from Pierre Herme's. Laduree's have a few locations around the city: http://www.laduree.fr/public_en/maisons/maisons_accueil.htm

Mmmm:

[not that clay]

Oh, you should also go to the Ile St-Louis and have some sorbet at Berthillon. 

Seconded. OMFG. Good. Go!

I didn't spend a lot of time in museums, however the Musee D'Orsay and the Natural History Museum are two I enjoyed a great deal.

I really liked Musee D'Orsay. I didn't know anything about it but my three-day museum pass included it so I checked it out. It was one of the highlights of my trip. The other was this little art bookshop/comic store on the left bank near Shakespeare and Co, but after about an hour of messing around with google maps I'm pretty sure it's gone now.  

[Kim Kelly]

Walking really is the best way to see the city. I covered nearly everything I wanted to see in one day, and it was well worth it. Completely gorgeous.

Don't miss having their macaroons! Laduree's is a favourite of mine, though some prefer macaroons from Pierre Herme's. Laduree's have a few locations around the city: http://www.laduree.fr/public_en/maisons/maisons_accueil.htm

Mmmm:

Macarons! Macaroons are something else! And not as delicious!

[tenni]

Macarons! Macaroons are something else! And not as delicious!

You are right, but I was using the spelling found on the Laduree's website for continuity. Sorry for the confusion.

[AllisonLeGnome]

Just wondering, does anyone have any experience as a student in Paris?

[Trembling Eagle]

do some parkour while ur there

[Sarah]

My student experience took place in '76/'77.  It is, in fact, a testament to Paris's clichéd timelessness (although that's Rome, I suppose) that much that I enjoyed then still exists now.

[buffcoat]

Sacre Coeur.  The church itself.  A magnificent place, truly inspiring to me.

The walk behind it is fascinating but Hold. Onto. Your. Wallet.

I got hit by a pickpocket there, and was very lucky that I had 'er up front.