Paris - the city of Romance. Paris is the world’s most elegant and romantic of cities, full of charm, culture, sightseeing and atmosphere. There’s no ‘best time’ to visit the city, visiting Paris in any one of the four seasons has its rewards, however, the Spring and Autumn are cooler months and the city seems to come alive in the spring, which some say is when Paris is at it’s most picturesque.
By far the best way to explore Paris is on foot, it’s a sheer delight, you will discover hidden squares, secret passageways and fascinating views that excite and delight as you turn every corner.
Places to visit in Paris: Start off with a visit to the first most powerful symbol of Paris, the 984- foot Eiffel Tower. The tower dominates the skyline and was constructed in 1889. Reaching the top of the tower feels like a great achievement, you’re also greeted with the best views of the city. Trivia: The tower is almost entirely constructed of pure iron, 2.5 million rivets were used during its construction, one workman was killed during the installation of the lift system, 50 tons of paint are needed to paint the entire tower from top to bottom.
Then onto the second most powerful symbol of Paris, the Notre-Dame. This stunning Gothic masterpiece was built between 1163 and 1345. The Cathedral is massive and can seat around 6,000 people; it is dominated by three spectacular and enormous rose windows, as well as a vast 7,800-pipe organ. Climb the 387-steps to the top of the cathedral tower for another spectacular 360-degree panoramic view of the city.
Out and about in Paris: Take a stroll to ‘The Left Bank’. St. Germain is the meeting place for many artists, with many famous cafes and interesting antique shops dotted along the tiny cobbled streets and shadowed passageways.
Take a long walk up the glittering Champs-Elysees, the most famous avenue in France which extends from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place dela Concorde. This is Paris’s chic area, where fashion wealth and the upper class meet and live together; here you will find famous department stores such as Galleries Lafayette and Printemps. The Montmartre stretches from the grand boulevards by the opera, through to the lively Pigalle and to Clignancourt flea market and the Sacre Coeur basilica. Take a slow ride down the Grands Boulevards with their wide tree-lined thoroughfares; look out for the famous and exciting theatre venues and buzzing trendy restaurants.
Other places of interest: Visit the striking Louvre (one of the world’s great art museums) it contains many masterpieces including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. Tip: Entry to the museum is free on the first Sunday of every month. Visit the Pompidou Centre, France’s most visited museum and the Musee d’Orsay for the best collection of impressionist art in the world. Visit the Versailles with its hall of mirrors, magnificent gardens and view of the Queen’s apartments.
Getting Around Paris: Paris has an excellent public transport system consisting of buses and an extensive underground metro system. The metro travel area is divided into five zones radiating out from the center and ticket prices vary depending on the number of zones you require. The Paris Visitors pass is valid for one, two, three or five days, the pass also allows discounts to certain places of interest including various museums, galleries and restaurants. Taxis are readily available and can be hailed on the roadside or picked-up at taxi ranks.
Tourist Bus: Getting around the city using other forms of transport couldn’t be easier. The popular L’OpenTour Bus is a great way to get your bearings and experience the sights of Paris from an open top-deck bus, pre-book your tickets if possible. The bus stops at over 30 major attractions and you can hop on and off as often as you please.
Nightlife in Paris: Paris nightlife is centered around the many trendy cafes, authentic bistros and restaurants. If you are on a budget look out for fixed price menus ‘Menu Prix Fixe’ or ‘Plat du Jour’ at the small restaurants of St. Germain, Montmarte or the boulevard du Montparnasse. If you are looking for something special and are prepared to ‘splash the cash’ try Le Doyen on the Champs Elysees, the head chef Christian Le Squer is discreet but very talented or La Tour d’ Argent overlooking the Notre Dame.
A night out ‘must do’ is to experience one of the three fabulous cabarets.
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The historic Moulin Rouge – the world’s most famous French cabaret revue is based on typical Parisian style.
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The Lido – The famous Parisian cabaret Le Lido features an unforgettable dinner and spectacular show, well recommended during your stay in the City of Light.
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The Paradis Latin – a fabulous revue, authentic and entertaining and includes the famous Can-Can.
How to get from Paris Airport to the City Centre: Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) lies 14 miles (23km) north east of Paris. From (CDG) the best and easiest way to travel into the city is by train. The train service (RER B) operates a fast and convenient service to the city from the airport with connections to the Paris Metro. Taxis are available on arrival at each terminal. Buses are also available to the city center and to major train stations.
A few ‘must do’s’ before leaving Paris:
1. Go ice-skating at the outdoor rink at the Hotel de Ville.
2. Kick back and laze on the banks of the Seine.
3. Allow yourself to get lost in the old streets and avenues.
4. Watch the world walk by as you sip coffee at a sidewalk café.
5. Take a midnight walk up the glittering Champs-Elysees.
However long you spend in Paris you know you will always return.
Accommodation in Paris: Paris is a very accommodating city, if you’re planning a quick visit or short break for business or pleasure, travelling with the family or looking for a romantic getaway, you’ll find a remarkable range of quality hotels ranging from budget and tourist grade properties through to 3 & 4 star and Luxury accommodation.
Build your own Holiday or City Break to Paris: There are many pre-packaged holidays to Paris from which to choose, however, why not try and build your own Paris holiday. Doing it yourself involves the booking of separate travel components, including flights, accommodation and transfers, enabling greater flexibility in travel dates, departure points, duration and in many cases lower prices when compared with the often restricted packaged holiday deal.
Flexibility is one of the key advantages to creating your own holiday. Whilst traditional package holidays may only offer set durations and set departure dates, there are no such restrictions when creating your own holiday. The same flexibility applies to your budget, by booking separate travel components (cheap flights, accommodation, transfers, excursions) travellers can decide to apportion their budgets accordingly, say between flights and accommodation. Try it for yourself and see how easy it can be.
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Published 11/03/2009.
