5 Free Things to Do in Paris

Flea Market Treasures

Paris is the world's premier walking city.  There is no better way to see the city than simply spending a day wandering and stumbling upon the city's countless secret attractions not listed in any guidebook. However, aimless wandering can leave you feeling like you missed out if you don't  get to see all that the city has to offer, including some of the more well-known diversions.

To help you with your urban exploration, we have come up with a list of the top free things to do in Paris:

1) Climb the Sacre Coeur steps - made famous once again by the hit movie, Amelie, Montmartre is home to countless artists, bakeries and of course, Sacre Coeur.  Climbing the steps there will give you an unforgettable view of the city, and cost you nothing.

Champs de Mars

2) Picnic at the Champs de Mars - the grassy field at the base of the Eiffel Tower is a fantastic place to grab some fresh bread, Nutella, and a bottle of wine and enjoy an economical lunch while basking in the shadows of the world's most famous tower.

3) Explore the Maison de Victor Hugo - always free to the public, Victor Hugo's apartment is a site that is often unexplored by visitors to Paris, but offers unusual insight into one of the world's most famous artists.  His apartment also houses some first edition works as well

4) Lay under the sun on the Seine at the Paris Plage - work on your tan while you lay on the Seine in Paris' temporary summer beach.  See and be seen by Paris' trendiest locals

5) Haggle at one of Paris' many flea markets - haggle with the locals at one of Paris' many flea markets.  Interesting, and full of everything from clothing to food, Paris' flea markets are a sight to behold located throughout the city

Celebrate Bastille Day like the French

Each July 14th marks the storming of the Bastille prison, and the start of the French Revolution of 1789. Hundreds of thousands of Parisians celebrate Bastille Day with festive events, including fireworks, parties, balls and parades throughout the city. Despite the recent political turmoil in Paris and rumors of canceling the different events, Bastille Day is sure to be as unforgettable as always.

Here are 5 Ways to Celebrate Bastille Day in Paris:

1) Attend the event’s kickoff, the Bal des Pompiers, on the evening of July 13 at 10:45 PM - the fireworks and concert at the Place de Bastille, the birthplace of the French Revolution itself.

2) Line the legendary Champs-Elysées to watch the famed military parade on July 14th, starting at 8:45 AM. The crowd can get as deep as 6 people, so be ready! This year marks the 50th anniversary of African colonies independence from France, so the military parade will be a mix of French and African soldiers.

3) Head to the fireworks at Trocadéro that will start at 11 PM. Gather with the thousands of other revelers on the beautiful Champs de Mars under the magnificent Eiffel Tower.

4) Let yourself simply wander! The city is electric during the Bastille day celebrations, with restaurants staying open all night for parties, live music, and picnickers in the city’s parks. Of course, nearly every bar and club will be staging a celebration as well so your options are endless.

5) If you’re less interested in being outdoors, and want to experience a slice of Parisian culture, the Louvre Museum offers free admission on Bastille Day.

A final word to the wise - don't forget your comfortable walking shoes because the metro is closed on Bastille Day!

The Beach Returns to Paris

Each summer since 2002, the city of Paris has brought a slice of the Mediterranean to those unfortunate enough to be ‘stuck’ in the city of lights and not able to escape to the coasts of France. This year, from July 20^th to August 20^th, the beach returns.

Over 3 kilometers long, the beach is divided into 3 main areas, the Louvre to Pont de Sully, the Port de la Gare, and the Bassin de la Villette. Each is divided into different activities and areas of entertainment.

The Louvre to Point de Sully is the ‘original’ Paris beach. There is a swimming pool, and tons of outdoor activities like wall climbing and even tai chi to keep oneself entertained.

The Port de la Gare is considered the intellectual option, as it is loaded with free newspapers, a temporary library, and art classes. Don’t forget your laptop, because there is also free wi-fi here.

The Bassin de la Villette is the newest beach offering and includes most of the boating activities, where one can test his or her rowing, kayaking and pedal boat skills.

French Farmers Turn the Champs-Élysées into a Giant Flower Market

French farmers, in protest of rising costs and decreasing productivity brought their farms to one of the most famous avenues in the world, the Champs-Élysées. Over 2 million people visited the 150,000 plants and animals that nearly covered the entire avenue.

Income levels for farmers have dropped over 34% between 2008 and 2009, leading to demands for greater government assistance in the forms of subsidies and price protections. The current European Union farming subsidy gives more than €45 billion to farmers, but is set to expire in 2013 with negotiations for the new program already underway. Claiming that the event was not created as a protest, the farmers insist that it was designed to bridge the gap between the rural farmers and urbanites and improve communication between the different classes.

Politics aside, the spectacle was an unforgettable experience. Thousands of visitors were seen snapping photos with their mobile phones, and getting first hand glimpses of pigs, cows and sheep.

New Versailles Tour Announced

Aeon Tours is proud to announce that our touring partnership with the Palace of Versailles has been a huge success. Recently, the team at Aeon had been hard at work partnering with Versailles so that our guests can gain elite entry into the Palace of Versailles and skip the long entrance lines.

All of our hard work paid off and we've been granted partner-status which allows each of our groups to enter the palace through priority entrance, by specific appointment. Extremely convenient for those touring Versailles, it allows one to schedule their entry into the famed Palace, and not wait in the long entrance line. With busy season fast approaching, and entry lines often up to 2 hours long, this is invaluable to our time-conscious travelers.

Aeon's Versailles Tour allows our guests to explore the Palace and the legendary gardens while getting a firsthand view into French royal history and the home of such luminaries as Marie Antoine King Louis XIV.

Paris Catacombs Are Open Again

Closed since early September 2009, the Paris Catacombs are once again open to the public. Initially, the Catacombs had been closed indefinitely by the Parisian municipality as they had been vandalized with bones being scattered everywhere. The spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office in Paris had said that the scattered remains were a hazard to visitors. On December 10, 2009, the city decided to reopen the Catacombs so that their rich history might again be experienced by visitors.

The burial ground for more than 6 million Parisians, the Catacombs are one of Paris’ most legendary sites. Part of an intricate network of tunnels underneath the city, the Catacombs are visited by almost 300,000 people each year. You can visit the Catacombs of Paris with one of our Private Tours of the city. Simply enter Paris Catacombs Tour in the space provided when booking!

Getting from CDG to Paris by Bus

There are several ways to get from the airport to your hotel in Paris, including grabbing a taxi, hopping on the train, or, my personal favorite, the under-used bus. Both the Air France bus and the Roissybus are quick, convenient, and affordable. Even more fun is the view of the city one gets when taking the bus as they take travelers through the outskirts of the city that we’d most like never see as a typical tourist. Simply hop on at the airport, and pay the driver directly.

The Roissybus drops riders off at the Opera Metro (convenient to the Le Grand Hotel Intercontinental, the Ritz, and the Park Hyatt) for a mere 8.50€, far cheaper than a typical taxi ride fare of 45€. It’s also convenient if your hotel is off of a metro line that runs through the Opera stop. Hopping off the bus, and crossing the street (diagonally) to hopping on the subway to catch lines 3, 7, or 8 is easy and a time-saver.

You can pick up the Roissybus at departs every 15 minutes from Terminals 1 and 2. Simply follow the signs at the airport.

Air France has two bus lines that go into the center of Paris, Line 2 and Line 4. Line 4 stops at Gare de Lyon and Montparnasse while Line 2 stops near the Charles de Gaulle Etoile (Arc de Triomphe) and Porte Maillot. Both Air France lines cost 12€ for a one way trip or 18€ for a round trip fare.

To pick up the Air France bus, head to Gate 34 at the Arrivals level in Terminal 1. In Terminal 2 B or D, head to Gate B1. If you arrive in Terminal 2 A or C, get on at Gate C2. The bus departs every 30 minutes.