The Rough Guide to Paris - 11th Edition

by Ruth Blackmore, James McConnachie, Rough Guides

The Rough Guide to Paris provides accounts on the classic must-see sites like the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre, as well as delving deeper and allowing you to discover the less clichéd and commercial side of the city, such as the atmospheric streets of the Marais. Packed with practical, perceptive reviews and hand-picked listings of bars, restaurants, accommodation and more; the authors’ recommendations and expert local knowledge will inspire you to experience the best places to eat, stay and party whatever your budget. The guide provides all the info needed to explore every corner of Paris, with individual themed detailed sections; from how to keep the kids’ entertained to making the most of the Gay and Lesbian side of Paris. Covering daytrips from the city there are sections on Disneyland Paris, the famous historical city of Versailles, beautiful Monet’s Garden at Giverny and more. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Paris.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference, Education, France

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Giada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tra le tante guide sfogliate per organizzare il mio viaggio a Parigi, quella di Lonely Planet si conferma la più completa e pratica.
I cenni storici sono trattati meglio nella Rough Guide di Feltrinelli mentre la guida Mondadori è molto bene organizzata per quartieri oltre ad avere delle interessanti pagine di approfondimento.
Si sarebbero potute trovare tutte le informazioni sul web? Certo. Forse anche più aggiornate e complete. Ma il fascino di sfogliare una guida e appuntarsi le chicche più interessanti rimane per me il modo più bello per immergersi a pieno nella pianificazione del viaggio.

[Noah Oanh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously, this book is old, so much of the information is outdated. It took me a while to sift through all their suggestions, but I love their historical sections. They do a great job of summarizing the history of Paris in just a few pages.

[reveurdart · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Paris captivates and charms in equal measure. Heartbreakingly beautiful, impeccably stylish and unashamedly romantic, it is also a city of immense cultural importance, having spent much of the last thousand years at the centre of European artistic and literary life. And for all its magnificent monuments – the iconic industrial chic of the Eiffel Tower, the grandeur of the Panthéon, the jaw-dropping glasswork of the Louvre pyramid – the real Paris operates on a very human scale. Some of the most memorable moments come when stumbling across exquisite, secret little nooks or village-like neighbourhoods that revolve around the local boulangerie and café. Even as the capital’s culture has been radically transformed by its large immigrant populations, even as extravagant new buildings are commissioned and erected, Paris never feels anything but timeless. Traditional and cosmopolitan, nostalgic and forward-looking – a dynamic combination that gives this unique city its profound emotional pull. In the great local tradition of the flâneur, or thoughtful urban wanderer, Paris is a wonderful city for aimless exploration. Quarters such as the charming Marais, elegant St-Germain and romantic Montmartre are ideal for strolling, browsing the shops and relaxing in cafés, while the centre boasts some beautiful formal gardens and landscaped promenades that run beside the River Seine. There are nearly 150 art galleries and museums on offer, and barely any of them are duds. Places to eat and drink line the streets and boulevards, ranging from chic temples of gastronomy and grandly mirrored brasseries down to tiny, chef-owned neo-bistros and steamy Vietnamese diners. After dark, the city’s theatres, concert halls and churches host world-leading productions of drama, dance and classical music, and there is no better place in the world for cinema. There are also plenty of great places to enjoy clubbing and live gigs – not least jazz, world music and the home-grown singer-songwriter genre of chanson."

[Tri Le · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the Rough Guide to Paris to be a very useful and informative read that gave me plenty to consider for my France trip. I took plenty of practicalities from the basics section. A good thing was that the basics section was closer towards the front while many other guides I've read have them towards the back. The chapters were laid out in a matter that made sense. The layout of the various suggestions and sites were easy to read and lent themselves to a skimming style that I preferred and enjoyed. I could identify quickly which sections I wanted to explore further. The maps were clean and useful. Very useful travel book!

[Bex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally excellent guide to the city. Very useful to plan my visit around the city including some wonderful perfect tips for Versailles and Norte Dame.
Some price information is dated but can easily be found by referencing websites for the places mentioned. Would like to see more on how they rank affordability or a choice addenda by interest.

[Bernard O'sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't used a Rough Guide for quite a while.I would have been helped by information about good but less costly places to eat and stay, which used to be a great strength of this series but seemed to me to be lacking in this edition of this guide.

[Monica]

I prefer the Lonely Planet guides for organization, but the Rough Guides for background and further information. Used both (library copies) for recent trip to Paris.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was there for a couple of days earlier this week. It's an awesome city, although Notre Dame seems always to be draped in scaffolding. I took some photos of gargoyles.

[Liz De Coster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Organized by neighborhood attractions, then lodgings, food, etc. Good overall guide but could be dense if you're just browsing.

[Chrissie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I actually found this book on the negative side - I stopped reading eventually and went and got another guide.

[Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

reading the 2018 edition. Almost brought it to Paris but found LP 2017 edition more helpful. RG had the better maps.