http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/ Welcome to Been there. Your tips on the places you know - that you love, live in or have just visited - are what make this guide. http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34667 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/34667 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30977 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30977 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30693 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30693 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30629 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30629 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30628 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30628 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30627 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/30627 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28548 vingtparis.com. A team of excellent and knowledgeable writers highlight and review a superb leftfield, less mainstream, unpredictable selection of music, art, literature, theatre and dance events. And the occasional picnic too! Each event I've found through vingtparis.com has had the same buzz and gave me that great but rare feeling when you're in Paris: 'This is the right place to be. This is where I should be right now.']]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/28548 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25033
As for practicalities, the side entrance in the Richelieu wing is far less crowded than the main one under the pyramid. The Paris museum pass is very handy for skipping the ticket lines. It is also worth noting that not all of the many toilets marked on the map will be in working order, so if you come across one that is, best make use of it.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/25033 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24542 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/24542 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23883
We went on the Saturday and had the place to ourselves, apart from the usual crowd that is always gathered around the Mona Lisa. We went again on the Sunday and it was hideously busy. We didn't have to queue though: a nice security guard spotted our pushchair and let us jump the queue! It's a surprisingly child-friendly place, and of course the advantage of the free Sunday is that you can take the kids (they are always free on any day) and you haven't wasted the cost of your ticket if their behaviour is such that you have to leave after five minutes.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/23883 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19849 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/19849 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17480
It would be great - if it were true!

Last year's was a shambles. The authorities didn't (wouldn't) release guides until the night itself (and then didn't explain how to get them) and most Parisians had no idea what was open, or where.

We joined the crowds milling outside the Louvre (closed), tried the Musee d'Orsay (closed) and settled for a Bateau Mouche - which turned out to provide the long awaited guidebook once you'd bought your ticket.

The boat trip itself was pleasant, during which we could read the guide - to discover few places indeed were open at all, and the promised 'all night opening' of the Metro only applied to certain lines in certain directions.

The only bar we could find open and not crammed with similarly baffled tourists was Australian (not very Parisian). When we finally gave up, we joined the thousands of others equally trying to desperately get a taxi home in the sub-zero temperatures, and ended up huddled in a Metro entrance (closed) for warmth until the hordes had thinned enough for us to try and get back.

It can't be blamed on our being tourists - as we have French friends who live in Paris and who we'd joined to spend the 'event' with!

Hopefully this year's will be better, but I'd definitely check every detail out in advance, just in case!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/17480 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16476 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16476 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16474
There, in a peaceful mansion, you'll find the largest Monet collection anywhere. See the entire range of his work, culminating in the Giverny Nympheas, displayed in a wonderful circular gallery.

Admire works of many other Impressionists, including one of the few women, Berthe Morisot, Manet's sister-in-law. Easy to get to (four buses, metro), opposite a delightful park, near good, cheap restaurants - a day out of Paris, in Paris!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16474 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16437
You can arrive as the setting sun catches the top of the glass pyramid (making for the perfect ‘I heart Paris’ portrait) then dash to all the best bits while everyone is making their way out.

As you stand tête-à-tête with the Mona Lisa, you might finally realise what all the fuss is about.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16437 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16375 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16375 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16367
The internal courtyards, lined with Andalusian mosaics, are offset by dark eucalyptus and cedar trim. The mosque's adjoining cafe and restaurant, serves excellent north African cuisine such as couscous, tajine and sweet mint tea to all.]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16367 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16292
Glasses going back 800 years, including some (eg Elton John's) that are positively architectural. You tell me that a museum of contact lenses would look this good!]]> http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16292 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16225 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16225 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16206 http://www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/tips/16206