Grand Paris! Think of a romantic trip to Europe, and the City of Lights springs immediately to mind! And why not? It’s a beautiful city. Easy to navigate. And the sights! Well, there is no shortage of sights. And because of the combination of tourist attractions, food, and romance, it is one of the most popular destinations in the world.
So what do you want to do in this grand city? The museums? The Monuments? The markets? The bookstalls along the Seine? Is it the food that attracts you at world class restaurants, or do you just want to sit in a sidewalk cafe and watch the world go by?
There are so many “must sees” that you really will have to choose what is most important to you. Monuments? How about the Eiffel Tower. The Place de la Concorde with it’s Egyptian obelisk. Think of the line up of the Arc du Triomphe du Carrousel through the Tuileries to the Arc de Triomphe, and the Grande Arche in La Defense district. Or how about Invalides where Napoleon is buried.
Landmark churches? Start with Notre Dame de Paris. The Basilique du Sacre-Coeur… dramatic and white on the hill in Montmartre. The churches of La Madeleine, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Pantheon. Or just landmark buildings like the Palais Garnier.
There are so many world class museums that it would take your entire vacation to see them. The Louvre, the Musee d’Orsay, the Musee Rodin and the Musee Picasso to name some of the most obvious. Museums can make your head spin after a few hours. To avoid being overwhelmed by them, get a museum card. They are available for 1, 3 and 5 days.
The card will allow you can go in and out of the museums over the period of your stay and not get “museum head”. The museums are fantastic, but you want to get a feel for all of Paris don’t you?
Take time to stroll in a garden or two. The Tuileries stretches in front of the Louvre. The Luxembourg Garden is a great place to watch children of all ages sail small boats on the ponds. Sit in one of the cafes and have a glass of wine.
Wander in some of the neighborhoods. See Montparnasse with its artists and cafes. See the delectable food displays in stores around La Madeleine. Explore the Latin Quarter. See the Sorbonne and visit a bistro or two. Or just wander along the Seine and see what the booksellers have in those green metal boxes.
The food is, well, so French and wonderful. You can certainly eat expensive meals at restaurants with who knows how many Michelin stars, but the food will be good almost everywhere. Pop into any bistro or neighborhood restaurant and order a “prix fixe” menu and you are sure to have a great meal. You have to try the favorite street food of Parisians – crepes. Try one with Nutella, or sugar and butter.
Food, wine, and lots of action. If we haven’t got you packing your bags for Paris, we hope we at least have you dreaming of the City of Lights.
Paris Tours
Here is just a sampling of the magnificent Paris tours. Each of these is available from Viator.com:
Viator Exclusive: Private Paris Tour by Citroen 2CV
Price: $191.04
The Private 2CV tour of Paris with your very own courteous and knowledgeable chauffeur will take you to all of the city’s must-see sights! You will discover the most famous, beautiful and elegant monuments of Paris including: the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Moulin Rouge and Montmartre (the Sacre Coeur and the Place du Tertre).
Seine River Cruise and Paris Canals Tour
Price: $25.66
Cruise the waters of the River Seine before enjoying a unique view of old Paris from the canal Saint Martin. See many of the major attractions of Paris from the water including Notre Dame and The Louvre.
Eiffel Tower, Seine River Cruise and Paris Illuminations Night Tour
Price: $74.13
Paris is enchanting by night, so take this comprehensive four-hour tour to experience the magic first-hand and discover why Paris is known as the “City of Light”. You’ll visit the illuminated Eiffel Tower, take a one-hour evening cruise on the Seine River and tour Paris’ floodlit monuments at night.
Paris Walking Tour: Classic Paris
Price: $28.51
Take a walk around Paris with a local guide and see another side of this beautiful city. Walking with a local to guide you and share insights and stories is the best way to tour the classic sights of Paris. The walking tour of Classic Paris offers a complete overview of Paris from the ground up. Virtually every major site in the city center is covered, including Notre Dame Cathedral, the Place de la Concorde, the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees and, of course, the Eiffel Tower.
Paris City Tour and Seine River Cruise
Price: $41.34
A great combination! Offering an introductory tour of Paris’ highlights including the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysees and Notre Dame plus a one hour cruise along the River Seine. After you’ve meandered around the graceful boulevards and major landmarks of Paris, you can appreciate completely different views as you float along the Seine!
Paris City Tour by Minivan, Louvre Museum and Seine River Lunch Cruise
Price: $263.75
Take a small group full-day tour of Paris by minivan for a personalized Paris experience. Your tour combines fast track entry and a guided visit to the Louvre, lunch on a leisurely Seine River cruise, a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral and a tour across the center of Paris by air-conditioned minivan. With a maximum of only eight per group, this small group trip ensures a more intimate experience.