I thought this book was really helpful. The maps were great, just wish we had studied them a little more before we went! We had a great time in Paris and took the book with us everywhere we went. It helped us decide (before we went) which sights to see and which to leave out since our time in Paris was short. It also made it easier to find things and get around without wasting a bunch of time going the wrong way. We wouldn't have known about the museum pass without it!
--Ember

The book was a helpful tool while in Paris, However, if one is not wanting to walk one's legs off, maybe it is not the very best book. Some of the directions were not that easy to follow. It is a must to have a book of this nature but last time we used Frommer's and would probably use that one again opposed to Rick Steve's.

The book was a helpful tool while in Paris, However, if one is not wanting to walk one's legs off, maybe it is not the very best book. Some of the directions were not that easy to follow. It is a must to have a book of this nature but last time we used Frommer's and would probably use that one again opposed to Rick Steve's.

I was apprehensive about a surprise trip to Paris with absolutely no idea what to expect and no French language ability but after reading this book I'm ready to go and have the time of my life!

I purchased this book for my first trip from Australia. The information was accurate, easy to read and has become a great resource even after my trip for labelling my pictures etc. It has worn very well considering how many times I have referred to it.

Rick's recommendations and advice for places to eat, sleep and visit were all without fault. I read the book from cover to cover before left home.

Rick's museum tours were made so much easier with photos of works of art worth seeing and the descriptions were perfect for my previous lack of art appreciation.

I have recommended the book to many people planning a trip to Paris. The information was so reliable that I would not hesitate to buy a current edition on a return trip to Paris so I knew I had up to date info at my fingertips.

Rick Steves books are definitely overrated. Amazon had several reviews of positive ratings for his books. I would not recommend any of his books. His Paris travel book is modest at best.It does not offer direct and clear picture of Paris. His major weakness is the lack of good detailed maps. Do not buy this book. In Paris you can easily get free street and metro maps.Not only are they free but very practical.

I purchased this book for my first trip from Australia. The information was accurate, easy to read and has become a great resource even after my trip for labelling my pictures etc. It has worn very well considering how many times I have referred to it.

Rick's recommendations and advice for places to eat, sleep and visit were all without fault. I read the book from cover to cover before left home.

Rick's museum tours were made so much easier with photos of works of art worth seeing and the descriptions were perfect for my previous lack of art appreciation.

I have recommended the book to many people planning a trip to Paris. The information was so reliable that I would not hesitate to buy a current edition on a return trip to Paris so I knew I had up to date info at my fingertips.

Rick Steves books are definitely overrated. Amazon had several reviews of positive ratings for his books. I would not recommend any of his books. His Paris travel book is modest at best.It does not offer direct and clear picture of Paris. His major weakness is the lack of good detailed maps. Do not buy this book. In Paris you can easily get free street and metro maps.Not only are they free but very practical.

This is the best book on Paris. And it appeared that every American in Paris that we saw was carrying one! We had the Lonely Planet Paris also and a Frommer's but left them in the apartment and carried this one. I had faxed one of the recommended hotels ahead of our trip and while we chose to rent an apartment the hotel was going to honor what was promised by Rick Steves. We learned quickly that when it came to museums and Versailles to follow Rick's instructions. We were not disappointed. We especially liked the walking tour maps.

I have used Rick Steves book to plan my Paris visit this Christmas, and it has great information for travelers who want to mix with the local culture. I particularly like the all the details he provides because they often make the difference between a 'good' trip and a 'great' trip.

This book is great. It is detailed without being overwhelming and gives lots of great practical advice.

While this is the usual good Rick Steves book, the Kindle edition lacks the maps (other than a few line drawings) which you need in a guidebook. So if you thought you could take this to Paris and use as your main guidebook, you would be disappointed. The text is fine, and is typically useful, but it is hard to figure out where things are without maps.

Great information and I love Rick Steves's books. I go to Paris next week and know his informative book will help me get around to the important sights.

I just returned from Paris and used this book every day on our trip. We were not disappointed. Rick helps you figure out how to get the most out of Paris for the number of days that you're there. He provides tips on how to save money (i.e., Paris Museum Pass worked great), how to avoid crowds, and gives his opinion on things that you shouldn't miss, which as a first time visitor to Paris I appreciated. Another great feature of his city tour books are the muesum guides. For the major museums, he provides a written guide (and for some museums free podcasts) on what to see. Each museum guide suggests exhibits to see and is accompanied with a short blurb about why this painting or exhibit is important. I've used the Paris book and the London book and have had very memorable trips. I highly recommend it.

Spending thousands of dollars and having it ruined by being unprepared is simply inexcusable. Rick Steves brilliant guidebooks ensure that this will never happen. There are many brilliant guidebook series...lonlely planet, rough guides, michelin...but none moreso than Rick Steves. This is the one guide that gives you everything. Good restaurant picks, sleeping options, general travel advice, and the one thing that distinguishes Rick Steves from the rest-sometimes humorous, sometimes emotional, but always interesting guided tours of the sights. I used Rick Steves' Paris 2007 (Rick Steves) on my trip last August, I purchased every guidebook under the sun, and this is the only one I ended up using while I was there. Simply put, this is the best Paris guidebook out there until Rick Steves' Paris 2009 (Rick Steves' Paris) is released.

After trying several....no, actually A LOT of other guide books over the years, Rick Steves is the only one I use now. I went to Paris in May of 2008 and I can't tell you how much I would have missed if hadn't used his book. It's a great guide book, but it's also a real treat to read; funny, witty, a little wicked. He goes into the history of the area without coming across as preachy or boring.
Needless to say, I would recommend this guide book over all the others.
Renee Wilson

We ran into so many people with this book. It made our trip so much easier. We used this as a guide and wouldn't think of going anywhere without one of these!

A great book on visiting Paris. Highly recommended. Rick Steves helps to de-mystify are very large and complex city. I have been to Paris a couple of times before - both times without much preparation. This book will save you a full day lost to confusion. Buy it and read it.

Having just returned from a visit to France, we found this guide to be invaluable. Rick Steves may come across as a bit dweeby on television, but his books are remarkable. This one is packed with terrific information that is well organized and easy to find. For instance, he gives you a useful chart of many of Paris's major museums with information about what days they're closed, the hours, etc. There is information about the subway system and transportation as well as hotel and restaurant listings by arrondisement, walking tours of various neighborhoods and museums, and practical information about holidays, language, etc. When we were headed out the (hotel) door and travelling light, this is the book I'd carry. Well worth the price and highly recommended.

I bought this book on a recommendation from a friend, and it was the primary book we used once we landed in Paris. We had several other books, too, but they simply didn't have the level of detail and were not organized as intelligently for how you would actually want to spend your day. We left them in our apartment as we set out on our daily adventures.

We have two children, ages 8 and 12, and we wanted to see major sights. But we are experienced travelers who also enjoy getting off the track when possible. Rick Steves gave us insights on both -- how to see things like the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame with the least hassle, but also less-known street markets and pet shops.

My only criticism is that the book, like all other travel books I've seen, greatly underestimates the time that one would spend at a place if one really wants to see it. We spent 2x to 3x as long at things as Steves suggested, such as the Rodin Museum and Cluny Museum.

I've lived in Paris and visited the city on countless occaisions - and I contantly see Americans in their new white tennis shoes traipsing round the city with a copy of Rick Steve. It's obviously a popular guide and does a great job of showing you how to be a tourist in the city.

Buy a different guide book like the Rough Guide to Paris or Lonely Planet and then you won't be in a restaurant with a whole load of other Americans!

I've lived in Paris and visited the city on countless occaisions - and I contantly see Americans in their new white tennis shoes traipsing round the city with a copy of Rick Steve. It's obviously a popular guide and does a great job of showing you how to be a tourist in the city.

Buy a different guide book like the Rough Guide to Paris or Lonely Planet and then you won't be in a restaurant with a whole load of other Americans!

This was extremely helpful for my trip to Paris and helped me plan my trip. There were a few areas that were sketchy and incorrect but overall, this was the best guide for my six day trip to Paris. In fact, I saw many Americans with the 2007 version - so I know this is the guide to use.

This was an excellent guide for a trip to Paris for 9 days. We agree with his assessment of each of the recommendations in the book. Where he said not to miss something, we were pleased with that tip. Once in museum or building, his remarks led us to the best spots. Where he said not to go, we knew not to do so. I would recommend this book to all.

If you're traveling to Paris, this is the book for you. Look no further. Mr. Steves offers an everyperson's perspective on the makeup of the city, how to get there, and how to enjoy yourself once you're there; all within thrifty, modest or splurge budgets. From the engaging narrative to the hand-drawn maps, this book is well-constructed, thorough, and insightful. Don't get on the plane without it...

Rick Steve's guides are the best! I always take them with me to Europe and find them to be very useful. They are so different from all the other guides as they are written to be more personable and humorous. They are very easy to follow and a great value too.

A gret book for anyone traveling to Paris especially for the first time as we are. Great ideas of places to visit, what to do , maps and different places to see

So Mr. Rick is starting to show his age a bit (or maybe it's the market he's targeting that is aging him..) This book would be best for somebody who is (a) middle aged and (b) has never been to Europe/Paris before. (And maybe (c) from Seattle, with that singularly provincial and self-satisfied worldview.)

Now of course if you've achieved middle age and have not yet been to Paris (and maybe are from Seattle to boot), then you're probably unsalvageable anyway, in which case you may find the cutesy, and generally fairly shallow, descriptions of what is worth seeing there amusing, or at least tolerable - I found them more annoying. A much better choice for cultural insight of appropriate depth would be the Michelin Green Guide.

More annoying is the lack of some basic details, e.g. how to find/grab the train from the airport to town - as with instructions in general, you are probably better off with nothing than with something as incomplete and confusing as provided in this case, when you need it most, in your transatlantic jetlagged funk; at least then you'll start out knowing that you are on your own and will need to sort things out.

To this book's credit, it does provide advice of sufficient accuracy to be quite useful on museum access/logistics, e.g. closing days, why it's worth getting a museum pass (which it is), connecting to versailles - but even here it's not perfect, and most of what matters you could grab with a quick reading in the library, or even the bookstore.

All in all, I'd give this one a miss - it's not worthy of its subject, which is an easy 5 stars!

Paris remains quite enthralling, and more than worth your time/money/effort - the place has always been expensive, but worth it, and that is manifestly still the case, even with the dollar in freefall. Go and have a good time, but don't expect to do it on the cheap!

Rick Steves writes my favorites guidebooks, no matter where I'm going. His books are laid out in an easy way to find things, and I like how he lays out some great walks to take in the city. I read other books to get tips, but Rick's books are the ones that I actually take in my suitcase, to reference while I'm there.