Other activities in Paris
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Cook’n With Class
Morning/evening/pastry classes available for €160/160/100.
reviewed
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Disneyland Resort Paris
Visitors (mostly families) pour into this park to scare themselves silly in the bloodcurdling Tower of Terror, dance in a High School Musical, dive with Nemo, hit 70km/h in a Space Mountain rocket, shake Winnie the Pooh’s paw and share a fiesta of other magical moments with Mickey and his Disney mates. And the kids can’t seem to get enough. As its marketing bumph boasts, at Disneyland ‘the party never stops’.
One-day admission fees at Disneyland Resort Paris include unlimited access to all rides and activities in either Disneyland Park or Walt Disney Studios Park. Those who opt for the latter can enter Disneyland Park three hours before it closes. Multiple-day…
reviewed
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Ô Chateau
Ô Chateau is a young fun-charged company run by bilingual sommelier Olivier Magny that offers the full range of tastings and experiences in a 17th-century vaulted stone cellar near the Louvre: wine-tasting over dinner (€130) or a cheese lunch (€75), with chocolate (€65), grands crus master classes (€95) and so on. It also organises day trips to Champagne to taste you know what (€150), Champagne-fuelled river cruises (€45) and, by night, Champagne bus parties (€60) with music which include, hmm, learning how to open a bottle of champers with a sword in front of the Eiffel Tower.
reviewed
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Harnn & Thann
This relaxing ‘natural home spa’ in a secret courtyard is a heady one for the senses. Masseuses soothe muscles with traditional Thai massage techniques and an aromatic mix of herbs and essential oils. Particularly inventive are its Wednesday Les Petit Duos (€50) – a 30-minute massage for one worn-out mum or dad plus kid (aged six to 12 years) – and its after-work bien-être (well-being; €250) deal for couples, which includes a foot bath, massage en duo and dinner at a neighbouring Thai restaurant. A 20-minute lounge in the peacock-blue hammam costs €20.
reviewed
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Alliance Française
French courses (minimum two weeks) for all levels begin every two weeks; registration (€57) takes place five days before. Intensif courses meet for four hours a day five days a week, start at 9am and 1.30pm, and cost from €420/736 for two weeks/one month; extensif courses involve three hours of class for three days a week, start at the same two times and cost from €184/348.
reviewed
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Spa Nuxe
A regular in Elle and other French glossies, this recently overhauled spa lounging in a medieval wine cellar with old stone walls and wood-beamed ceilings is where stars and supermodels find peace. Spa Nuxe offers an orgy of 45-minute massages (Thai, ayurvedic, Californian, shiatsu), including rhythmic ones to music; skin treatments; French pedicures and manicures; and so on.
reviewed
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Maison Roue Libre
RATP-sponsored Maison Roue Libre has as many as 15 different themed bike tours from 12km to 26km lasting from three to eight hours. Tours operate on certain weekend days throughout the year starting at 10am, 2pm or 8pm. Consult the website for exact details. The Bastille branch keeps the same hours but shuts Wednesday and Thursday in winter.
reviewed
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Piscine Roger Le Gall
With its grassy lawns to lounge about on and twin-set of pools, indoor and out, many reckon this is Paris’ best (blvd Périphérique is a tad close for our comfort). It is notably the only public naturiste pool in Paris where you can swim nude at selected times on certain days. In July and August admission costs more; open extended hours during school holidays.
reviewed
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Vélo Cito
The pedal-weary can opt for extra power with a smart electric bicycle to cruise around the city from this outlet located between Bastille and République; rental is by the day only and you need to leave your passport as a deposit. It distributes an excellent free map (1:53:000) detailing some lovely pistes cyclables starting at RER stations around Paris.
reviewed
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Club Med Gym
In addition to 17 gyms (one day pass €26) in greater Paris, Club Med runs Club Med Waou (basically, ‘Club Med Wow’; €35) centres offering luxurious settings and spa facilities. Club Med Gym branches include Palais Royal; République, which is entered via rue du Faubourg du Temple; and the 20e.
reviewed
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Maison Roue Libre Bastille
Sponsored by the city’s public transport system, this is the place to rent a bike – pedal powered or electric (with which you can rent a €32 audioguide). Seniors, students and under-26s get a 10% discount. Insurance, helmet and baby seat are included. The deposit is €150, and you need some form of ID.
reviewed
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Paris Story
Although it’s not exactly a tour, Paris Story offers a one-hour audio-visual romp through Paris’ 2000-year history on the hour, with headset commentary in 14 languages; an interactive model of Paris called Paris Miniature; and Paris Experience, a gallery of five themed video clips.
reviewed
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Paris Cooking Classes With Patricia Wells
An expensive cooking course is the Paris Cooking Classes with Patricia Wells led by the incomparable American food critic and author at her cooking studio in rue Jacob, 6e. The class runs from Monday to Friday, is limited to seven participants and includes market visits, tastings, local transport and daily lunch.
reviewed
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Vélib
A runaway success since its launch in 2007, Vélib’ has revolutionised how Parisians get around. Its 1451 stations Vélib’ across the city – one every 300m – sport 20-odd bike stands a head (at the last count there were 20,600 bicycles in all flitting around Paris) and are accessible around the clock.
reviewed
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Espace St-Louis
Take your pick of keep-fit courses at this fun fitness place: pilates, hatha or ashtanga yoga, qigong, salsa, samba, flamenco, modern jazz. Pay €10 to try a one-hour cour or buy a carnet. Recommended are the classes aboard a péniche (barge) on the Seine near Notre Dame or the Louvre. Details are online.
reviewed
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Bike About Tours
This is an expat-run tour group, offering 3.5-hour daytime tours (adult/student €30/28). Tours begin at 10pm and run from mid-February to November, with an extra 3pm tour from mid-May to September. They leave from in front of Notre Dame; reservations are recommended. Private family and group tours are also available.
reviewed
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Vedettes du Pont Neuf
This company has a centrally located dock at the western tip of Île de la Cité and offers 1hr cruises year-round. Tours run (almost) half-hourly from 10.30am to 10.30pm from mid-March to November, and less regularly the rest of the year.
reviewed
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Paris Cycles
Paris Cycles rents bicycles on av du Mahatma Gandhi, across from the Porte Sablons entrance to the Jardin d’Acclimatation.
reviewed
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Act Up Paris
Meetings of this association (known for its ‘outings’ of the not-always rich and famous and other extreme actions) are open to the public and are held every Thursday at 7pm at the École des Beaux-Arts (Amphithéâtre des Loges, 14 rue Bonaparte, 6e; Metro: Germain des Prés).
reviewed
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Cours de Langue et Civilisation Françaises de la Sorbonne
The Sorbonne’s prestigious French Language and Civilisation Course has courses for all levels. A four-week summer course starts at €560, while 20 hours a week of lectures and tutorials costs €1380 per semester. Instructors take a very academic (though solid) approach to language teaching.
reviewed
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iXair
A company called iXAir at the Héliport de Paris next to the Aquaboulevard in the 15e offers limited circuits by helicopter over the city lasting between 30 and 60 minutes for €138 to €239. You should book well ahead; some tours only run the first weekend of the month.
reviewed
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La Cuisine Paris
The love child of American banker Jane and French management consultant Olivier, this courtyard cooking school has two kitchens and a band of expert chefs running themed workshops (€65, two hours) in English or French. Monthly programme available online.
reviewed
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La Marina de Paris
La Marina de Paris offers lunch cruises at 12.15pm (€53; Friday to Sunday) and dinner cruises at 6.30pm (€48; daily) and 9pm (€78; daily). They last about 2¼ hours, and a menu for children under 12 (€40) is available at all meals.
reviewed
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Luxembourg Tennis Courts
The city runs some 170 covered and open tennis courts in dozens of locations (hours vary considerably); reserve by telephone or online. Courts include Luxembourg; Candie; and Neuve St-Pierre.
reviewed
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École Le Cordon Bleu
Dating back to 1895, the Cordon Bleu school has professional courses as well as one-day themed workshops (€170) on topics like terrines and pastries, and two- (€299) and four-day (€869) courses on sauces and the secrets of bread making.
reviewed