Take a tower-power-nap and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

All the times (7) I have been in Paris, I have wanted to go nearby the Eiffel Tower... just to feel I'm really in Paris! But if you have been up in the tower once... or maybe several times, and feel like you've been there, a great thing to do is just to hang out in the park at the foot of the tower - named Parc du Champ de Mars (the Mars Park). Bring some lunch, a frisbee or whatever you feel like, and take a break with a stunning view of the world famous landmark. And if you stay long enough for the sun to set, it'll be even better!
I love to hang out here when I'm in Paris, and the park is also the place to be on the Bastille Day night (July 14) if you wanna watch the amazing fireworks show!

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Address: At the foot of the Eiffel Tower... can't miss it!
Directions: Nearby metro stations are: École-Militaire, Pont de l'Alma and Champ-de-Mars.

Well, this is a classic, but if it's your first time in Paris, you gotta go to the top of Arc de Triomphe to enjoy the nice view of the streets spreading out in the shape of a star!
Even though you might have been up high elsewhere in Paris, this is something different. It's quite fun just to look down and follow the crazy traffic around the arc.

By the way, you have to walk under the streets to get to the arc. It's 5,50 euros to get upstairs but only 4,50 if you are a student or under 12 years old. Be ready to walk quite some stairs and before you reach the top, there is a historic museum and a souvenier-shop.

Down under the arc you gotta look up and see the beautiful decorations, and the a flame burns at the 'unknown soldiers grave'.

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

At the end of Champs-Elysees!

The classic of classics - the world famous Eiffel Tower!
This is the symbol of Paris, and maybe even France.
You gotta 'climb' this tower once, and enjoy the view of Paris. On top there is signs telling how long the distance is to big cities of the world. The tower also includes a restaurant.

Be prepaired to stand in line for some time though!

Be sure to enjoy the view at nightime too, when the lights are on. From 2003 and 10 years forward, the tower will flash with 20.000 bolts the first 10 minutes of each hour after dark - beautiful sight!

Visit the official website to check out the latest news on events, and read all about the history of the tower...

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Address: Trocadero
Directions: I guess there is no need for directions here :0)
Website: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr

Many tourists go to Montmartre to visit Sacre Coeur, and if you go there, you have to see 'Place du Tertre' too, which is just in the area. A nice place with a lot of expensive cafes and restaurants, full of artists who offer to draw you.
A good idea is to go around and watch the different artist work, and if you decide to get drawn yourself, you can take your time to find the style of drawing you like.
Be sure to ask for a clear price before he/she starts to draw you, and be aware that it will probably take at least 15-20 minutes so you have to be able to sit still.
If you are two or more persons together that wants to get drawn, you may be able to get it a little cheaper.

My friend and I paid 30 Euros each for a pretty big and well-looking drawing.

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Address: Place du Tertre
Directions: At Montmartre near Sacre Coeur

Another place you must go on your visit to Paris is the area 'La Défense' outside the center of the city. This area makes you feel like being in the middle of a big modern American city, with a bunch of skyscrapers and a lot of special architechture.
Take the metro there, and take your time to wander around, and maybe visit the huge shopping center located near the Grande Arc (which you can read more about in it's own section).

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Address: La Défense
Directions: It's too long to walk there from the center city, so take the metro, that drives outside along the way.

The Grande Arc is the symbol of the Défense area, and a popular viewpoint for tourists.
Unless you are afraid of hights, you gotta take the outside glas-escelator to the top. Actually there is not much to see inside up there - some paintings, a souvenier-shop and a restaurant, but the view from there is amazing!
You'll have a perfect view of the entire Défense-area, as well as the view towards the center city, where you can see the old Arc de Triomph, and even longer on a clear day. It's beautiful!
Standing inside the cube of the Arc, try going to the 'back-side' to enjoy the view of a parc and a cemetary along with some funny steel monuments.

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Address: La Défense
Directions: Take the metro to the Défense area...no need for further directions.

Jardins du Luxembourg located in the 6th arrondissement is one of the greater parks of Paris, and one of the most famous and beautiful!
This is a very nice place to go an enjoy your lunch, just sit and relax or let your kids play.

The big fountain on the photo gathers many people and not at least kids playing with model ships. The park includes courts for Tennis, Basketball and petanque as well as a huge playground. You can take a pony-ride or listens to concerts in the summer!

Be sure to look for more photos in my travelogue about Jardin du Luxembourg...

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Directions: You'll find the park between the 5th and the 6th arrondissement. Take a look at a map of Paris and you can't miss it.

Another classic! The world famous art museum Louvre. You don't have to be a true art-lover to be able to enjoy this one though.

This is an amazingly huge collection of world famous art and you either have to prepare to use A LOT of time here or plan what areas you wanna see the most.

One of the museums most famous paintings are of course 'Mona Lisa'. This paitning is locked in a glass-montre and has a guard. It's not allowed to use flash if you wanna take a photo of it.

All the buidlings and the well-known glass-triangles are beautiful and the museum includes souvenier and bookshops as well as restaurant and cafés.

It's possible to get a guided tour.

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Phone: (33) 01 40 20 50 50
Address: Musée du Louvre, 75058 Paris Cedex 01
Directions: Lovre is hard to miss and can't be found near the right bank of the Seine - right in the center of the city. You'll easily find it on any map or guidebook!
Website: http://www.louvre.fr/louvrea.htm
Other Contact: info@louvre.fr

A true Paris-classic and known from the cartoon, the cathedrale of Notre Dame is surey a must see!

It's located at IIe de la Cité in the middle of the city and is extremely beautiful both outside and inside, and both in daylight and at night-time!

You can enter the church for free but have to pay if you wanna get up in the towers to enjoy the view.

The place in front of Notre Dame is always busy and there is often something happening here and some entertaining to watch.

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Address: Ile de la Cite
Directions: The biggest of the islands in the Seine...can't miss it!

This tip is to go to 'Place de la Bastille'. This is a beautiful and busy area of the city. Here is a lot to see and a lot of cozy cafés and bars. You'll find the Opera here too as well as some good shopping-streets nearby!

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Address: Simply...Place de la Bastille
Directions: It's on the left side of the seine.