TravelMuse, Inc.
Imagine · Experience · Share™
-
EXPLORE AND DISCOVER
-
RESEARCH AND PLAN TRIPS
-
MAKE RESERVATIONS
-
LOGIN / JOIN
Destination Information
City Guide
Top Trips for Paris, France See all Trips»
View and personalize popular Trips from the TravelMuse community
Actions
The best place to begin a tour of Paris is at its most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower. Try to get there by 9a to avoid waiting in line. You might feel energetic enough to climb the 360 steps to the 1st level but the most spectacular panorama is at 274m.
After viewing Paris from on high, you can get a closer look at some monuments by taking a relaxing boat trip along the Seine. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, cross the main road towards the Pont de l'Alma bridge and go down a flight of steps on your right, following signs to the Bateaux Parisiens. The one-hour ride starts and finishes here; they leave twice an hour during peak periods and a guide provides an interesting multi-lingual commentary.j
Back at the Pont de l'Alma, cross the bridge and walk up through the Trocadéro gardens to the Esplanade. You'll be feeling hungry now, but if you fancy a change of scene, head for the métro, take line 6 to Charles de Gaulle Etoile and exit on the Champs-Elysées for a great selection of fast-food and traditional eateries.
Once on the Champs, you can head for the Arc de Triomphe via the underpass, and even go up to the top. Whether you choose to do this or not, you should definitely walk down the world's most beautiful avenue. It is about one mile long but you can hop on a bus going downhill to see it all if walking is not an option for you. At the bottom of the Champs Elysées you will hit the Place de la Concorde with its Egyptian Obelisk. A leisurely stroll through the Tuileries gardens will then take you to the Louvre and its famous pyramid entrance. You can either have a look inside, visit an exhibition or have a snack in one of the many cafés in the Carousel.
Another 15-minute stroll along and across the Seine, or a metro ride from the Louvre to Hotel de Ville (line 1), will take you to Notre-Dame Cathedral to view the exquisite Gothic architecture and stained-glass windows before taking a well-deserved rest.
Tour Two: Hotel de Ville, le Marais, Places des Vosges, Bastille
This tour concentrates on a relatively small area of Paris where there is a lot to see and do.
Start at Hôtel de Ville (métro lines 1 & 11), Paris' City Hall. The intricately decorated façade is exquisite but guided tours are rather complicated to organize, so simply linger a while and enjoy the splendor of the outside.
From Hotel de Ville, head 200m north up the Rue du Renard, to the multi-colored, Pompidou Centre, also called Beaubourg. There may be an exhibition you're interested in, but even if there isn't, take the escalators up to the roof for the view and maybe a coffee. Outside, groups of musicians and artists will entertain you at all times of day and night, and the neighboring streets are great for souvenir hunting.
On the northern side of Beaubourg, go east along Rue Rambuteau. This is a typical Parisian market street where you can buy food for a picnic, or stop at one of the cafés or wine bars – but beware, the food shops often close between 1p and 3:30p. This road will lead you to the Rue des Francs-Bourgeois and the heart of the Marais district, famous for its large, mansion-like hôtels particuliers and museums, including the Musée Picasso and the Musée Carnavalet (fascinating history of Paris). If you don't fancy a museum, just take your time looking at the ancient buildings and interesting side streets, or take a shopping stroll. The Rue des Francs Bourgeois will lead you to the Place des Vosges, a perfectly preserved example of 17th Century Parisian architecture, where Victor Hugo once lived. Walk around this elegant square, which is now home to luxury hotels, restaurants, art galleries and boutiques, to get a feel of regal life long ago.
Shifting from royalty to revolution, the tour now heads for the Bastille. Rue de Birague on the south side of the Place will take you into Rue Saint Antoine. Turn left here and walk a few hundred yards to the Place de la Bastille. The site of the infamous uprising is commemorated through a column representing freedom. From Rue Saint Antoine, cross over towards your right to the large concrete and glass Opéra Bastille, and have a quick look at the boats moored in the Port de l'Arsenal. You can visit the foyer of the opera house but you have to book a place on a guided tour to see the rest, unless you have tickets for a performance. The Bastille area, especially Rue de la Roquette and Rue de Lappe, is an excellent place for dinner as there is a vast choice of bars and restaurants. So get yourself a glass of wine, sit back and soak up the atmosphere of one of the youngest and liveliest parts of Paris.
Tour Three: Montmartre
It is worth spending a good part of a day in this one area to give you time to explore all the narrow, winding 19th-century streets and alleyways. Be sure to visit the magnificent Byzantine-style Sacré-Coeur Basilica and enjoy the views.
Start at the Anvers métro (line 2) and turn right up Rue Steinkerque. This road is full of cheap clothing shops so you might want to bargain hunt before sightseeing. At the top of Rue Steinkerque, either climb up the steps or, for the price of a metro ticket, take the funicular on your left. From the summit, the panorama spans a 50-km radius, so spend some time on the terrace or sit on the steps to spot monuments. Wander around inside Sacré-Coeur and then, if you like stairs and great views, there are 200 more to climb to reach the dome (access from outside the church on left).
Back on the ground, go left from Sacré-Coeur, and you'll reach the famous Place du Tertre where café tables, waiters, artists, souvenir vendors and visitors jostle for pavement space. This is where you'll find most of the restaurants, so ignore the high prices, sit down and enjoy the general atmosphere.
From here, wherever you go, you'll walk along picturesque, cobbled streets lined with beautiful old houses and buildings. Armed with a good street map, walk in a wide circle to the left of the Basilica starting in Rue du Chevalier de la Barre. Don't miss the ancient Moulin de la Galette in Rue Lepic or the vineyard on Rue Saint Vincent, which produces several types of wine each year.
The tour ends at Place des Abbesses. Lined with grocery stores, cafés and wine bars, this is a fun and trendy place to spend the evening, unless of course, you have tickets for that oh-so-Parisian landmark, the Moulin-Rouge cabaret in Place Blanche.
If you are with children or just a little tired, let the Montmartrain (Montmartre Train) take you around. It starts in front of Sacré-Coeur and gives you a guided tour through the streets of Montmartre, finishing up in Place Pigalle.
If you're visiting Paris and have the desire to go it on your own in the not-so-normal fashion, take a look into Cultural Tours of Paris. These guided tour books provide a glimpse into the city like no other.
Tour Four: Outside the City
If you are spending several days in the Capital, it may also be worth exploring the city's outskirts which contain numerous chateaus and countless historical sites. The first do-not-miss chateau is of course Versailles, home to Louis XIV and his court. If you can attend the fountain shows in the evening, your visit will be even more memorable. Also located to the west, the pretty town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, with its chateau and forest will enchant you.
The East offers many attractive options as well, like the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte or the Château de Fontainebleau. Rich in History, the picturesque town of Provins will transport you back in the Middle Ages.
If have 2 to 3 days to explore the reagion, Champagne (where the eponymous sparkling wine is produced) is a real treat. Drive the Route Touristique de Champagne and stop on your way in Épernay to visit the world-famous winery Moët & Chandon or try a smaller town like Oger and Mesnil-sur-Oger where you are assured to receive an authentic and warm welcome in family-owned wineries. The major city of Reims also has a history-rich heritage with its Cathedral and Palais du Tau. Among the celebrated wineries headquartered in Reims, Champagne Taittinger and Champagne Krug are some of the best.
Copyright © 1999-2008 wcities.com All rights Reserved - Contact Wcities
-
Editorial Sections
-
TravelMuse Blogs
TravelMuse Partners
-
Company Information
-
Book with Confidence
Travel Booking Price Guarantee
