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What To See And Do In Paris

By: Kyle Mark


Posted Sunday, August 17, 2008

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The French capital, Paris, is known for fashion, beauty and it is considered to be one of the most romantic cities in the world. Many people refer to it as The City of Lights. It is a great mix of ancient and modern architecture and in Paris there is something for everyone. The city has a circular shape and it is surrounded by hills on all sides. The River Seine splits the town in two. 20 districts make up the inner city and they are numbered following a clockwise spiral, starting from the 1st district.

The center of the city is named Île de la Cité, home of the Notre Dame cathedral and the Palais de Justice. On the northern bank of the Seine you will find the government and business districts and the Marais and Bastille quarters. On the southern bank there is the university of the Sorbonne, the main district for academics. You will find the major attractions in the 1st six districts, located in the center of the city and gathered around the River Seine. La Banlieue is the name for the suburbs found outside of the city's inner circle and they are mostly residential areas.

Paris - Tourist Attractions

The city of Paris is filled with museums, and if you want to visit many of them, it's best if you buy the Carte Musées et Monuments. This card can be found at any tourist office in the city and allows entrance to almost seventy hotels within the city's limits. If you want to visit a limited number of museums, you should miss The Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Carnavalet, the Centre Georges Pompidou, the Rodin Museum, the Picasso Museum, the Delacroix, the Invalides, and the Jeu de Paume. All these attraction are located in the first seven Parisian districts. Also try to reach some of the most important landmarks of Paris, whether there are buildings or places with historical or art signature. Try to get to the Eiffel Tower, the Sainte Chapelle, the Père-Lachaise Cemetery, the Catacombs, the Pantheon, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Sacré Coeur, the Chateau de Versailles, and the Grand Arche de la Defense. Keep in mind that one can never see all that Paris has to offer in just a brief trip. Many people who constantly live in Paris haven't seen all the attractions.

Going to Paris and not do shopping is close to impossible. This fashion capital of the world lives up to its reputation and offered department stores and boutiques with the greatest brand in the world and the most luxurious ones. However, nothing comes cheap and expect to spend a lots of money because Paris is one of the most expensive cities on the globe. An extremely large selection of restaurants is in the first six city districts. Make a reservation if you want to go to a trendy restaurant and keep in mind that most of the times you can find a good meal on the corner cafes or local diners. Usually, the restaurants that are tourist-oriented are the most expensive. Besides food, Paris is popular for its drinks so check out a club or bar if you are there. In Bastille you will find the best pubs and clubs and usually they close around 6am.

Learn more about Paris, including things to see, do and what to eat at Guide To Paris, a site written from the perspective of a Paris tourist.

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