An Erasmus student's guide to Paris

Paris, the city of lights and love. Source

After more than a year since I last browsed this website, I return with one year's worth of experience around my belt. I am no longer a nervous "pre-Erasmus", instead now a sad post Erasmus.

I will get to the point. During my Erasmus as well as after it I have been receiving floods of e-mails asking for advice and assistance about how to survive in Paris. Therefore I thought I would take advantage of the opportunity and respond to you guys.

It's already the 17th of September so I suppose that a lot of you will already have arrived and will have had time to realise how expensive everything is and how rude Parisians are.

Here's some tips you will not find in any guidebook:

Have you noticed those bicycles which are everywhere?

Sign up to Velib as soon as possible. For €30 you have the pass for an entire year and if you are young, send a copy of your national identity card to get 15 minutes free on each ride you take. I always used it when I was in a hurry, it tends to be faster than the underground, the train and the bus and it's also the best way to return home at night.

How many districts does Paris have?

20! And how many streets? No idea. Another important piece of advice is to go buy a pocket map at Gilbert Jeune book shop in Saint Michael. For only €5 you will have all the streets, underground and bicycle stops as well as public toilets all in your pocket. You will be able to lose yourself in the city with the confidence that you will be able to find where you are again.

How much does it cost to eat?

If you are a university student, €3.05. Search for the university canteens which are closest to you. I also recommend the one in Cité University residence and Port Royal which sells pizzas, kebabs, pasta etc.

Where are the best crepes made?

This is a "secret" which passes from Erasmus student to Erasmus student. If you live in Paris and don't try the crepes from Au P'tit Grec then you should hang your head down in shame. It is on Mouffetard street, close to the Pantheon. Unmissable!Source

And anything other than crepes?

You will find the best falafels in the world in Callejaid which is in Le Marais district.

And something sweet?

As well as Nutella crepes, you cannot go to Paris without trying its famous macaroons. Without doubt, the best (and most expensive ones) are made in La Durée, even if its just once it's still worth it to go in and buy a couple. But if you want to buy them as a present for a family member or something, I would recommend you buy them by weight at Georges Larnicole. They are still good but also cheap.

And for partying?

Erasmus students tend to meet up at Mix Club on Thursdays as well as the club Le Cab during the second semester. Erasmus Club Paris organises other events on Fridays. The most "university-like" parties are celebrated in Cité Universitaire residence. If you don't live there you will find it tricky to find out about them. But each organisation has one or two "external parties" where everyone can be invited.

But if you still want more,

girls have Lady's Night in Queen on Thursdays. If you want to go to one of the coolest clubs for free, then search up Showcase website and sign up to be on the guest list. Duplex is free on Wednesdays. And you can also enter free in Social Club.

More unconventional tourism:

Such a touristic and iconic city like Paris has few little known corners but I managed to find a few. Research into the Promenade Plantée Park or the former railway line "La Petite Ceinture".

Do you have the Imagine R student travel pass?

Take advantage of Saturdays and Sundays as no matter which travel zone you have bought, your pass will be valid in all of Île de France (the region which surrounds Paris). It is very useful for travelling to the airport for example.

A good phone company?

In the first four months I used Lebara as a lot of my friends had done the same and they gave us a lot of free minutes to call. But after that I switched to Free Mobile. For €19 I had 3GB of internet, unlimited texts as well as unlimited minutes for calls in France and abroad. An absolute bargain!

I don't think I have forgotten anything. I hope I have been helpful, I can assure you that I spent the best 10 months of my life there. Be grateful to the administrators who organise the €700 raffle as they gave me the final push I needed to write this. Source