Experience in Paris, France by Stephanie

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

I lived almost 6 months in Paris and I loved it. There is so much going on, and many things to do in town or around. I would definitely recommend this city if you ever have the chance, even though you need a nice budget and the city is quite exensive.

What is the student lifestyle like in Paris?

Since I did my internship in this city I cannot tell a lot about the student lifestyle. But I know that there are a lot of student parties and a great Erasmus community.

How much does it cost to live in Paris?

Paris is really expensive. The worst wasfinding a place to live and one should definitely reserve some good time to look for a place to stay since the rent is quite high. Also, the food and coffee prices are high, but then the quality usually is great as well.

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

As mentioned earlier, most places are extremply expensive and then you will find a tiny room and sometimes it is really messy. So, my advice would be to take enough time to look for a place. There are multiple websites such as: appartager.fr or pap.fr where one can search. Mostly the places are rented on a first come first serve basis which means that the first person saying to take the appartment usally gets it. So one has to be fast. Nevertheless, you alsways want to see the apartment first because often the pictures in Internet are not true.

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

The food is just delicious! Of course, the most famous dishes are Crêpes and galettes which are similar to pankaces. My favourites were the French Onion soup, which is an Onion soup but has a thick layer of cheese on top of it --- soooo good. And another one is "Croque Monsieur" it sounds not that special, it is bread with ham and cheese inside and then there is cheese on top. But it is absolutely my favorite and you should give it a try!!!

What places would you recommend visiting in Paris?

Paris has so many lovely places, of course the Eifel Tower, the Louvre and Notre Dame are a must. Also, if you have never been there, the Disneyland is really nice. Personally, I loved Butte Chaumont, which is a park and has a really nice fountain in the middle. Also, Jardin de Luxembourg (a huge park) and the castle of Versailles are really nice. Furthermore, the Montmatre and le Marais are two areas where it is lovely to eat or take a cup of coffee. Walking along the Saine is great as well and you cannot forget the Champs-Elysee where there are always some street artists.

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

It is good but very expensive. You should watch out for "formule" which is kind of a menu where you get a starter and main dish or main dish and dessert for a fixed price. And then you can usally choose between a couple of different ones. Le Marais is a nice area where you will find lots of nice restaurants. If you are lookinf for steak I can recommend the "hippopotamus" which is a popular chain and not too expensive, especially if you go thee for lunch. For crepes and galettes, I recommend Montmatre, and for the best real french food and sea food (expensive but very delicious) is the "Wepler Brasserie" at the place de clichy.

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

There is a lot going on during the night and you will find a lot of bars in "Oberkampf". Also, some clubs include the "Duplex" close to the "Champs-Elysee" and the showroom. But I did not like the clubs too much, and prefered drinking french wine in front of the eifel tower or at the seine in the evenings.

What advice would you give future students heading to Paris?

To fully like and appreciate Paris and its culture you absolutely should know your budget. It is no problem to not have a lot of money, but then it just might take a little to find a place to live and to eat where it is not too expensive. If you like to do things and experience the city and you easily get bored staying in your room the whole weekend, Paris is the place to be for you!