Paris Things to Do Tips by vichatherly

Take a cruise down the Seine Bateaux Mouches Review

A good way to relax after a hard day in the museums is to take one of the many cruises up and down the river Seine. Especially good if you're on a short trip, as it shows you many of the sights of Paris including the Seine itself.

Address: Port de La Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris

Directions: We took a cruise from Bateaux Parisiens, not too far from the Eiffel Tower.

Phone: 33 146 994 313

Art attack in Montmartre! Montmartre - Sacré Coeur Review

The painters hill of Paris. Plenty of art and artisans for all you budding artists out there.

I didn't take up the offer of the many portrait artists that wanted to take a quick sketch. "I'm no oil painting" I kept telling them!

Website: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/

The Louvre buildings Louvre Review

The architecture of the Louvre buildings was enough excitement for me. Next time I might venture inside.

Might get inside and take a look at the Mona Lisa just to see what the fush is all about.

Directions: Métro: Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre

Website: http://www.louvre.fr

Notre Dame Notre Dame de Paris Review

Paris has iconic buildings all over the place, in the same way as in London. The Notre Dame de Paris is one of these such buildings. A pleant cruise down the Seine will give you a view of the church but it worth getting a close up view to see all of it marvels.

"A gothic masterpiece. Notre Dame, conceived by Maurice de Sully, was built between the twelfth and fourteenth centuries (1163-1345)."

Address: Place du parvis de Notre Dame , 75004

Directions: Métro: Cité; RER: Châtelet-Les Halles, Saint Michel-Notre Dame

Website: http://www.paris.org/Monuments/NDame/

Wander up and down the Champs-Elysées Champs Elysées Review

This is the most well known street in Paris. It is full of everything that a tourist could want for. Plenty of shops, designer and otherwise, to buy that all important gift for back home. Plenty of restaurants and bars to re-energise the weary walker, and at either end of the street we have two of the worlds most iconic monuments, the Arc de Triomphe and the other the Place de la République.

It can get a bit too busy, and you'll have to watch the prices before using the bars and restaurants, but it's well worth the look.

Address: Champs-Elysées

Basilique du Sacré Coeur Montmartre - Sacré Coeur Review

Another icon of Paris. This church to the Sacred Heart is situated on the hill of Montmartre.

I've walked around it a couple of times now. The classical way is to walk up to it from the bottom of the hill. This tends to be the busiest of ways and the steps can be a bit of a tire, there is a cable car available to help you out with the climb. This is the best way to get you pictures of the famous white building that dominates the City.

I preferred taking the longer more winding route staring from Moulin Rouge and heading up the hill and taking my pictures on the way down.

Building started in 1875 and was finally completed in 1914 at a cost of 40 million francs.

Address: Parvis du Sacré Coeur , 75018 Paris

Directions: Metro: Anvers, Abbesses, Château-Rouge, Lamarck-Caulaincourt

Website: http:///www.paris.org/Monuments/Sacre.Coeur/

Musée d'Orsay Musée d'Orsay Review

I had a morning free before heading back to England and so I to check out a museum. I not the greatest museum lover and so I looked around VT for advice on what would keep me amused for a few hours. I decided not to take on the Lourve and went for the Musee d'Orsay. This turned out to be a great idea as the museum was really rather good. Beginning with wandering across the Seine and taking a look at the spectacular statues outside. The building itself used to be a train station and then a hotel, before finally becoming opening as a museum in October 1977.

I started with the statues as I suppose they interest me the most. Then I went on around to the paintings and was surprisingly drawn into them. Maybe I'll get used to this museum life lark. Anyhow the museum as a whole is well worth the visit even if, like me you don't think museums will hold you interest for too long.

Directions: Métro: line 12, Solférino station; RER: line C, Musée d'Orsay station

Website: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/

Arc de Triomphe Arc de Triomphe Review

This is another one of the must see things in Paris. It’s situated at the top end of the Champs Elysées. To get up close you'd better take the underground tunnel rather than risking the road. You can take a tour of the Arc and climb up onto the top. This gives you some great views of Paris and shows the planning that went into creating the shape of the city.

"Commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon, shortly after his victory at Austerlitz, it was not finished until 1836. There are four huge relief sculptures at the bases of the four pillars. These commemorate The Triumph of 1810 (Cortot); Resistance, and Peace (both by Etex); and The Departure of the Volunteers, more commonly known by the name La Marseillaise (Rude).
La Marseillaise by François Rude; One of four reliefs on the pillars of the Arch. The day the Battle of Verdun started in 1916, the sword carried by the figure representing the Republic broke off. The relief was immediately hidden to conceal the accident and avoid any undesired associations or interpretations as a bad omen.

Engraved around the top of the Arch are the names of major victories won during the Revolutionary and Napoleonic periods. The names of less important victories, as well as those of 558 generals, are to found on the inside walls. Generals whose names are underlined died in action.

Beneath the Arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and eternal flame commemorating the dead of the two world wars."

Address: Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris

Directions: Metro Line 1, 2, RER A : Charles-de-Gaulle Etoile

Website: http://www.paris.org/Monuments/Arc/

Climb up to the top of the Eiffel Tower Eiffel Tower Review

This really is a must do thing and is well worth the effort. I've done the climb a couple of times now and have always resisted getting in on of the lifts. Amazing views from the top of Paris.

Don’t forget to catch the night time light show. The tower lights up and begins to flash. I think this happens on the hour from 21:00.

Check out the website for upto date admission times and fees.

Address: Trocadero

Directions: You can't miss it!!!

Website: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/