There is never enough time to see and do, taste, smell or touch all that Paris has to offer. The City of Lights is a magnet for the best of the best: writers, poets, artists, musicians, models, intellectuals, philosophers and dissidents.
Paris is in a league of its own when it comes to food, fashion, architecture and the arts. Each “quartier” or “arrondissement” of this city has its own distinct feel: from glamorous and sophisticated to gritty and rebellious. The best way to get to know the Paris is on foot – along the banks and bridges of the River Seine, in and out of famous cathedrals like Notre Dame, or at the bars, cafés and restaurants that line its cobblestone streets.
Some of the best café culture is found in Montmartre, marked by the decadent white Sacré-Cœur Basilica on the hill. This area was the stomping ground for some of the world’s greatest artists. It’s also home to the infamous Moulin Rouge and Lapin Agile cabarets, in the red-light district of Pigalle.
It’s worthwhile to see every site twice – once in the daylight and once at night. After all, the view from the Eiffel Tower is incredible when you can see its surrounds in daylight but it’s even more stunning at night – a romantic light show, best seen from a river boat cruise.
Another attraction best visited two – or more – times is the world-famous Louvre art museum. Home to more than 35,000 masterpieces, this is where you’ll see Mona Lisa’s enchanting smile and masters such as Vermeer, Caravaggio, the French impressionists and Rembrandt, to name a few. The museum is a work of art itself, with a 21-metre-high glass pyramid marking its entrance. Be warned – there are about 150 museums in Paris, such as the Musée d’Orsay and Pompidou Centre and lesser-known gems such as the Picasso, Rodin and Jewish museums, so budget your time accordingly.
If it’s shopping you’re after, stroll the Champs-Élysées – this two-kilometre-long promenade stretches from Place de la Concorde to Place Charles de Gaulle, bookended by the Arc de Triomphe and the Musée de Louvre. It’s the place to be during times of celebration, be it the French National Day (Bastille Day on 14 July) or New Year’s Eve. In July, the final leg of the Tour de France cycle race ends here.
If you’ve got an extra day and want to get out of town, take a train to Versailles. Just 20-kilometres away, this 11th-century palace and garden was home to King Louis XIV and the summer palace to Napoleon. It also saw the historic signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 in the now legendary Hall of Mirrors.
Now do you see why there’s never enough time to do it all in Paris?
Arts + Culture Lovers; Backpackers/Budget Travel; Couples/Honeymooners; Foodies; History Buffs; LGBTQ-friendly; Luxury Travellers; Special Events + Parties
