Fall In Love With Paris: Your Must-See Itinerary
With its tree-shaded boulevards, street-side cafes and beautiful architecture, Paris is every traveler’s fantasy destination. But with so many attractions, tourists have enough to see and do for weeks. And if you find yourself visiting for only a day, knowing where to go and what to see can be crucial. To not only maximize your time, but also get the most out of what you see, check out our city tour below!
Start your day at the Louvre
Along the banks of the Seine River, the Louvre is one of the world’s most visited art museums. If you have time, grab a map (available at the museum entrance) and explore the halls. However, walking through this museum could easily take all day. So if you’re short on time, make sure to at least visit the Big Three: the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory and Venus de Milo.
Even if you choose not to wander inside, there is still plenty to see outside. The inner courtyard of the Louvre is not only beautiful, but perfect for photo ops. In the middle of the courtyard, between both wings of the museum, stands a glass and metal structure–the Louvre Pyramid. Doubling as the main entrance to the museum, the pyramid makes for a classic Paris photo, especially when it’s lit up at night.
The Louvre opens at 9 a.m., except for Tuesdays. Entry to the permanent collection costs €10 (about $13). Avoid lines by buying your tickets online. For ticket information, opening times and details about the museum, visit www.louvre.fr.
Take a stroll to Notre Dame Cathedral
When you’ve finished exploring the Louvre, take a short walk (about a mile) to Notre Dame Cathedral. The walk to this famous cathedral follows the river and takes you past Pont Neuf bridge, one of the oldest bridges spanning the Seine.
Notre Dame, a Gothic cathedral complete with flying buttresses and rose windows, is a spectacular sight. Wander inside to check out the famous stained glass windows. And, if you have time, climb to the top for an amazing panoramic view of the city and an up-close look at the cathedral’s famous gargoyles.
Notre Dame Cathedral is open every day at 8 a.m. and entrance is free. Audio guides and personal tours can be arranged and purchased inside. For more information on the cathedral or to see opening times, visit www.notredamedeparis.fr.
Cross the river to Place de la Concorde and walk up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe
From Notre Dame, travel about two miles to Place de la Concorde and down the tree-lined Champs-Élysées, one of the most beautiful avenues in the world. This street has everything from luxury shops to cinemas to charming cafes.
After a little more than a mile, you’ll reach the Arc de Triomphe, another famous Parisian monument. It’s surrounded by a traffic circle that is next to impossible to cross on foot without risking your life. To get to the monument, take the underground walkway along the Champs-Élysées. Once there, take the 300 steps to the top for an amazing overhead view of the Champs-Élysées and surrounding areas.
The Arc de Triomphe is open at 10 a.m. everyday. Climbing to the top costs €9.50 (about $12). For more information, visit http://arc-de-triomphe.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/.
Finally, reach the Eiffel Tower
After braving the traffic at the Arc de Triomphe, take the 20 minute walk to the Eiffel Tower, which (don’t lie!) is what you were dying to see all day. The Eiffel Tower, built in the late 1800s, is not only the icon of Paris, but all of France. At more than 1,000 feet tall, the tower offers one of the most spectacular views of Paris. One way to go is to climb the stairs from the ground floor to the second floor–nearly 700 steps. But even if you choose to climb, an elevator is still required to reach the very top floor.
The Eiffel Tower is open at 9 a.m. everyday of the year. The elevator to the top of the tower costs €13 ($17). To purchase tickets, see opening times or check out current weather conditions at the top of the tower, visit www.eiffel-tower.com.
End your day with an evening river walk or river bus tour
A day in Paris is not complete without an evening walk along the Seine or a river cruise. One option is to take the Batobus, a river version of the hop on, hop off tour buses. There are eight stops along this river taxi’s journey and it is great for a night-time excursion or even a daytime taxi to take you from one destination to the next. The Batobus can be easily located by signs near the river around most major sights. A one-day pass on the Batobus costs €14 ($19). For more information, visit www.batobus.com/english/.
That concludes Life2PointOh‘s exclusive tour of Paris. We hope you enjoyed this sight-seeing adventure!
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Photo Credits: Larry Johnson (Paris cityscape); simo0082 (Louvre); wlappe (Notre Dame); kainet (Arc de Triomphe); apdk (Eiffel Tower); dora_c (Seine River) via Flickr
