Experience in Paris, France by Elitsa

What is it like to live in Paris? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Hello, everyone.

I will tell you about my stay in one of the most beautiful cities in the world - Paris. For the first time I visited Paris in October 2019. I was in Paris 5 days. I stayed at home in the Montmartre neighborhood. This neighborhood is great. Renting an apartment there is expensive.

As for the food - I have not visited many different restaurants because it is quite expensive. I ate mainly in city supermarkets such as Carrefour, Lidl and several other French stores. Supermarkets are not expensive and there has everything what you need.

This summer I am considering visiting Paris again and staying there for a longer time, even want to try to live there. I have fallen in love with this city and recommend to anyone who wants to visit it - a trip, just transit or going to study or work.

The transport in the city and around is very well developed. I used the metro that is most popular. There are daily cards, five day tourist cards, there are monthly cards and a tickets for every day. I also used RER. RER are trains that go above ground and travel to the suburbs, around Paris. I used it to go to Versailles Palace. They are very comfortable, fast and clean. The cards for transport are not valid for RER. You need to buy a separate one that is special for RER and it is a little higher price.

I recommend Paris to anyone who wants to go - to work, to study, to trip or just past transit. This city has something magnetic and I'm sure everyone who visits it will love it.

As I say - Paris, keep yourself because I am coming for you so soon!

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What is the student lifestyle like in Paris?

I have friends that are studying in Paris. I have plans to work there this summer, but I'm not studying there. There are many different programs that offer education in different languages, so even if you do not know French, it is no problem to realise your dream of education in the city of love.

How much does it cost to live in Paris?

The truth is that living in this city is not cheap. The most expensive thing in the city of love is the rent. A room in Paris costs about 600 euros per month. It also depends where you want to stay. Paris is divided into 20 arrondissement.

As I said above, food is not expensive if you buy things at supermarkets such as Franprix, Carrefour, Lidl, etc.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Paris? Is there any advice you can give?

Finding an accommodation in Paris is not difficult nowadays, thanks to the internet and the infinite amount of information. I'm also looking for accommodation and the internet helps a lot with this.

Erasmusu.com is a site that would help you find a shared room with students and share your monthly rent.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

The most delicious thing I ate in the city of love was cheese with a baguette on picnic in Versailles Palace and a bottle of wine under the Eiffel Tower. (What could be more french and tasty than cheese, baguette and wine?) All those were bought for less than 10 euros at a supermarket in the city.

Something that was home-cooked was spinach quiche - very tasty and light.

What places would you recommend visiting in Paris?

I have visited many places, but there are also many that I could not see. I will say to you all the places I visited.

• Louvre Museum (outside and inside),
• Royal Palace,
• Montmartre neighborhood and Sacre Coeur Cathedral,
• The Eiffel Tower,
• Champ-Elysees,
• Concorde square,
• The triumphal arch,
• A long hike along the Seine River,
• Museum of the perfume,
• Opera Garnier,
• Pantheon,
• Garden of Luxembourg,
• Notre Dame,
• Trocadero square.

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Is it good to eat out in Paris? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

The famous crepes and waffles are everywhere in Paris.

They are not so much expensive and they are delicious. My favorite crepes are the ones in front of the Eiffel Tower - there are very small shops and one crepe costs 4 €. The waffles I ate in Paris were prepared with chocolate plus ice cream, bounty, nutella, snickers, m & m candy. They are located in the Montmartre neighborhood and cost 8 euros. They were really huge.

Is the nightlife good in Paris? Where is good to go?

My dream was to see the beautiful Eiffel Tower and the famous "light show". I went to the tower and sat on the lawns next to the "Iron lady". I drank wine and watched the lights. There is a light show every hour, which is five minutes long. The other night I went to the famous playground the "Trocadero", from there I watched again the lights of Eiffel tower and "Invalides".

What advice would you give future students heading to Paris?

Realize your dreams! Paris is waiting for you!