Have you been talking to people who prefer to call them "freedom fries?"

quote: Is Paris really that overwhelming and confusing?

Suggestions you ask?

• Learn some basic French (e.g., hello, thank you, how much for the little girl, etc…)
• Know how to read a subway map & street map
• Enjoy a Kabob w/ fritz (extra mayo)
• HAVE FUN!

Don’t worry about getting lost or confused, sometimes you find the best places & memories when you’re not expecting them.

Paris is one of the easiest cities to navigate. Have the people you’ve talked to ever read a map and taken a subway? or did the school bus always pick them up at the front door?

I found Paris to be EXTREMELY easy to get around. Just have a good city map with you (as you should in any place that you visit) and an idea of what sort of sites you are interested in visiting. Be courteous and enjoy the city… It is one of my all time fav. I really don’t know what the people you spoke with were talking about. But by the looks of the comments they made, I would be skeptical to listen to any other advice they give you.

Paris is great, very easy to get around in.

I can’t wait to go back!

i loved paris. even in highschool i found the metro easy to navigate. I agree wholeheartedly about the learning of basic phrases to help you get around, a little courtesy goes a long way. Just go with a plan of what you want to see, and know that you will never be able to see all of the louvre in anywhere near one day. A really good place for ice cream & sorbet is Bertillon (i think that’s the spelling but it’s been 3 years) on the Ile Saint-Louis (spelling again!) right by the Seine. It’s worth a stop, if you are looking for a sweet treat & it’s divine to get your cone & then walk the 1/2 block to the river & either eat watching the sunset on the bridge or eat it on the side of the river. Romantic & Wonderful! There are also TONS of free things to see. If you want more info, let me know. I took a study abroad class that spent 3 weeks going over the city development of paris. I’m a bit rusty but do know quite a bit of obscure stuff about the city!
-jenn

I also found Paris very easy to get around.

Their metro also covers tons of ground. This is nice because it allows you to freely explore by foot..with the knowledge that however far you may have drifted..there will likely be a metro to be your safety net close by, if you’ve gone further than planned.

No. The Metro and RER seem to inspire initial fear for lots of people. But once you overcome this, the system is easy to use. Each train has a line number (and a corresponding color on your map) and starting and ending point. (These are reversed when the train goes in the opposite direction). The signs in the stations all have arrows and signs showing the number of the line and the ending point. So, even if you have to make connections and change trains, all you have to remember (or see on the map) is the name of the station and the line number and direction in which the next train on your route is going. If you take a relaxed attitude and don’t panic, you can figure this all out in one ride.

Not at all.

Anyone who has made this statement is obviously unfamiliar with global metropolises in general.

Back last night after my Europe Trip.

Paris is super easy with the Metro.

The map (rail lines) are color-coded.You cannot lose your way.
Buy a bunch of tickets – the 10pack one or more.

Then the map can guide you. It is really easy. Have no fear.

The one thing that hits you is the crowd.
In the US we are not used to such crowds..or so many people on the streets or in Public transport…that’s the problem.

quote:
The one thing that hits you is the crowd.
In the US we are not used to such crowds..or so many people on the streets or in Public transport…that’s the problem.

Not to mention a lot of places don’t even have a metro. It sounds overwhelming unless you’re used to using the metro often in your city.

It does feel overwhelming when you don’t have anything planned and you feel rushed because you’re there for a short time. I just get over excited.

We travel junkies get a high from being in a new foreign city where we have to figure out an entirely new metro/subway system and try new brands of toothpaste. If you hear an unrecognizeable language iun the streets, it’s even more thrilling! Eventually, you’ll learn to appreciate this adventure. Paris is no more difficult that other European cities, or even certain cities in the Americas that don’t have a grid system (like Boston.) As others have mentioned, all you need to know is your metro stop. When you get lost, get to the nearest metro stop, and navigate your way home by underground train.

You’ll be fine

Paris is a very large city in population (and a very large metropolitan area, population wise) but the city is quite small in area, by North American standards. Have fun!

By the way, there’s a stereotype that all Parisiens are rude and unfriendly. I found this not to be the case at all. If you get lost, just ask someone; don’t be intimidated. Most people I met in Paris were very friendly and helpful, and if you meet someone who isn’t, just ignore them and ask someone else.