CLASSICAL CONCERTS
You can research schedules and book tickets online before your trip. Or, if you prefer to be more spontaneous, there are flyers advertising concerts plastered on walls all over Paris. We’ve gone to the website listed on a flyer to reserve the tickets online, and paid cash upon arrival at the church. Tickets have cost between €20-€30 each. In 2017 we were able to give our name at the front table and collect our tickets. However, in 2018 we had to print them first at the hotel for one concert, and for another chose to pick them up at a store like a Best Buy. The purchasing instructions said we had to present passports at the door with our tickets but no one ever asked for them.
There are also many free concerts held throughout the city. Below are links to ticket sites and guides to free concerts, though you may need to consult individual church websites for additional information.
Ticket Booking Sites
https://www.classictic.com/en/special/paris-concerts/92/
https://www.ticketmaster.fr/en/thematique/classique-et-opera/op
https://www.parisinsidersguide.com/paris-culture.html
https://www.parisdiscoveryguide.com/paris-church-concerts.html
Free Concerts
http://www.secretsofparis.com/classical-music/
HOTELS: How to select a hotel suited to slow travel
Daily Transportation
When selecting a hotel, it’s important to consider its proximity to a metro stop, which lines feed it, and the areas in which you will spend the most time. Although the Paris metro system can be quick and convenient, it can also be overwhelming and hectic at times. Taxis are notoriously difficult to catch and can be quite expensive. On our last trip we successfully used Uber several times. Paris is a wonderfully walk-able city. The more you position yourself to walk and integrate yourself into a neighborhood the more discoveries, and treasured memories, you will make.
Restaurants & Dietary Needs
Although we enjoyed our stay at the Hotel Royal Saint Michel, and we love the Left Bank, we found there were few vegan options other than juice bars and lighter fare. The 3rd and 4th arrondissements have a much higher concentration and variety of restaurants that cater to our eating style. We will likely stay in the Marais next time, as it will be much easier, and more pleasant, to walk a few blocks to breakfast or dinner, creating a better slow travel experience.
About the Jardin du Luxembourg
The Jardin du Luxembourg is a beautiful 60 acre park in the sixth arrondissement, boarding the fifth. Built in the early 17th century by Marie de Medici, the gardens have been open to the public since later that same century. The Luxembourg Palace, situated along the northern border, is where the French senate convenes. To the west, art exhibitions are held in the Musée du Luxembourg. On Sundays especially, the J ardin du Luxembourg is filled with locals enjoying a day in nature, as city life does not afford most Parisians green space at home. The park is generally open from sun up to sun down; you will find practical information for planning your visit here, but I recommend keeping your itinerary loose and enjoying the day.
MUSEUMS
Mémorial de la Shoah
The Mémorial de la Shoah is a moving monument to the French perspective of the Holocaust, and also focuses on other genocides of the 20th century. It offers permanent and temporary exhibitions which illustrate the stories of these tragedies, public programs and cultural events, and archives that can be searched by survivors and their families. 17 rue Geoffroy l’Asnier 75004 Paris France.
Musée Rodin
You may purchase a ticket for both the Musée Rodin and garden, or a reduced fare ticket with access to the sculpture garden only. Check the museum website for opening times and ticket prices. The museum café, located in the garden, has tables both inside and outside. It’s lovely any time of year and makes for a nice lunch or afternoon coffee break.