Paris knows how to do a city break. Whether you stay for a couple of days or a few weeks, your itinerary will not suffer in the slightest. The Louvre, the Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame and the Pompidou centre are just a handful of landmarks the chic city has to offer.
Paris is perfect for hostelling. Due to the arrangement of the city and the effective Metro system, you are never too far away from the main sites. Most of the good hostels are centrally located with plenty of decent facilities and amenities either onsite or very close by.
Where to Stay
The recent trend in ‘flashpacking’ means that hostels have had to up their game, as ‘flashpackers’ (tech-savvy travelers, adults on a career break, or free spirits with more money to burn) come requiring quality rooms and facilities, such as free internet access and 24hr security.
Paris is championing this move towards these boutique hostels with new ones springing up each year. Finding a
Paris hostel which meets all your specific needs and requirements is no longer a time consuming chore – due to the high competition, most hostels strive to make themselves appealing to all manner of guests. Families, couples, students, groups and individuals are all catered for.
St Christopher’s Inns have hostels in locations which span the globe. The purpose built Parisian version is located conveniently two stops away from Montmartre, has a female only floor and free WiFi. Their well-oiled model is one which is repeated all over the city and stands as a benchmark for other hostels in the area.
Many of the Parisian hostels have up to and over 100 beds, however if you want a more homely feel to you stay there are also smaller, cozier alternatives which are slightly further out. The Boissiere only offers private rooms, all of which have a bathroom attached, and is located very close to the center of the city (next to the 17eme). With rooms at 42 euros a night, they are not the cheapest option but are highly rated for safety, cleanliness and most importantly value.
What to Do by Day…
In the day time there are lots of attractions, quaint boutiques plus hundreds of cafés and bistros to rest up in. If you really want to save some pennies (or euros as the case may be) there are plenty of fun and free things to do during your stay.
All of Paris’s impressive churches and cathedrals are free to visit, and it sounds morbid, but nothing beats wandering through some of Paris’s cemeteries, filled with the famous graves, from Jim Morrisson to Jean Paul-Sartre.
Make sure you don’t try and squeeze too much into your days and give yourself time to appreciate what the city has to offer. Rather than rushing round to try and take in as many sites as possible, take a stroll from your hostel and see where you end up. The tightly packed and easy to navigate arrondissement system coupled with the vast array of metro stations available means that getting lost is almost impossible!
…And By Night
Paris comes alive at night, and to discover a true idea of a French night out you need to avoid the obvious tourist traps like the Moulin Rouge and discover some hidden gems.
Check out more out of the way places tucked away along hidden streets – the hills of Montmartre are peppered with little bars and bistros, and the Marais is a lively area popular with a young, studenty and gay crowd.
What to Eat
If you are spending more than a couple of hours in Paris there is no excuse for neglecting the gastronomic delights on offer whilst you are there. There are a lot of food chains, and budget bakeries but Paris is also peppered with plenty of affordable cafes and restaurants.
Another option is to take the train to Nanterre Ville on a weekend and have a look around the market (right next to the station). The prices aren’t hiked up as they are in the capital, and there is an abundance of interesting and different produce to try out including fish, veg, cheeses and breads.
