Parisopoly – Readers Pick The Best Of Paris. The Results…

Year in and year out, Paris is chosen as one of the top tourist destinations on the planet. A few years ago we polled the readers of Paris Insiders Guide to find out why they loved Paris and what they thought were the best things about the city — or the worst, in one case.

We called the poll Parisopoly, in the form of a virtual tour of Paris, stopping to ask questions along the way. Some of the results were pretty clear. Avenue des Champs-Elysées was definitely the undefeated champion for the most overrated Paris attraction. But there were a surprising number of ties and near-ties, and a lot of places that definitely merit an honorary mention.

1. Best Hotel for a Week's Stay

The Question

You've drawn a Chance card giving you one week in Paris at the hotel of your choice. Which hotel do you choose?

The Result

It was a tie —

• Four Seasons George V…
• Hotel de Crillon (currently closed for renovation)

Runners-Up

• Plaza Athénée…
• Shangri-La Hotel…
• Hotel Francois 1er…
• The Ritz…

2. The Most Romantic Spot

The Question

GO directly to the most romantic spot in Paris. The place you'd propose or be proposed to. The place to go with your loved one on a very special anniversary. Where do you go?

The Result

There was a clear winner here —

• Pont des Arts, the pedestrian bridge that connects the classical Institut de France with the Louvre, just downstream from Ile de la Cité.

3. Favorite Store for a Shopping Spree

The Question

Drawing a Poitrine Communauté (Community Chest card) you find you've won a $5,000 Paris shopping spree. What one store do you spend it in?

The Result

Another tie, this time between two of the city's grand magasins, the big department stores —

• Le Bon Marché, the Left Bank winner (and our personal fave)
• Galeries Lafayette, the Right Bank winner.

Runners-Up —

• Louis Vuitton's flagship store on Champs-Eylsée.
• The Pylones stores
• Colette, on rue Saint-Honoré in the 1st Arrondissement

4. Best Museum for a Private Tour

The Question

The Director of Paris Museums has invited you to a private nighttime tour of the museum of your choice. Which one do you choose?

The Result

The winner was —

• Musée d'Orsay… the Impressionist gem, followed closely by —
• The Louvre… the epitome of art museums.

5. The Three Must-See Attractions

The Question

Take a ride on the Metro. You have only one day in Paris and a Paris Visite Metro Pass in hand. What are the three attractions that you simply have to see?

The Result

The results were not surprising —

• The Louvre…
• Luxembourg Gardens…
• The Eiffel Tower… the most visited monument in the world.

6. The Three Don't-Miss Restaurants

The Question

You've just been appointed the Food Reviewer for Paris Insiders Guide. What are the first three restaurants you eat in (for free!) and review?

The Result

The winners were —

• Jules Verne Restaurant… located on the Eiffel Tower.
• Frenchie, by Chef Gregory Marchand, in the 2nd Arrondissement.

With all these tying for the third restaurant —

• L'Ambroisie, 4th Arrondissement
• Benoit, 4th Arrondissement
• La Tour d'Argent, 5th Arrondissement
• L'Arpege, 7th Arrondissement
• Le Dome du Marais, 4th Arrondissement
• Pierre Gagnaire, 8th Arrondissement

7. The Most Overrated Paris Attraction

The Question

In Parisopoly you don't GO to Jail. Instead you GO to the the Most Overrated Paris Attraction. What is it? The one you'd tell your friends not to bother with?

The Result

Winning with a comfortable margin of victory —

• Avenue des Champs-Elysées

8. The Most Underrated Paris Attraction

The Question

Advance to the most underrated Paris attraction. What do you choose? The one you'd only share with your best friend, so it doesn't get overcrowded with all those tourists?

The Result

Another tie for first place —

• The Catacombs…, in the 14th Arrondissement, the repository of the bones of Parisians past./li>
• Musée Marmatton…, in the 16th Arrondissement, the premier museum of Claude Monet's works.

Runners-up —

• Musée Jacquemart-André, in the 8th Arrondissement

9. The Favorite Bridge

The Question

Take a walk along the Seine. What Paris bridge would you walk across, if you had to choose only one?

The Result

With an easy win, it was —

• Pont Alexandre III…, the gilded bridge built in 1892 that spans the Seine to connect the Grand Palais with Invalides.

10. Single Favorite French Food

The Question

You have a Get Out Of Customs Free card, allowing you to bring back as much of your single favorite French food as you want. What do you fill your suitcase with? (It's hard to choose just one, isn't it?)

The Result

The winner was —

• French Cheese, followed closely by Foie Gras.