Boat trip on the Seine and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

We got a Bateau-mouche from near the Eiffel Tower which took us right up the length of the Seine, past Notre Dame and back. It took about 1 hour. There was on-board commentary and music. We passed under many of the bridges, saw the Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, the Conciergerie and Notre Dame from the boat. Recommended for a relaxing hour on the river!

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The Eiffel Tower is 114 years old and 324m high.
There are lifts that go to the floors and stairs go just up to the second floor. It is open every day of the year, usually from 9.30am-midnight.
We paid for a ticket right to the top (10,40 euros), but we firstly stopped off on the second floor where the views were still amazing.
Please look at my Paris page travelogue for views from up the Eiffel Tower.

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Address: Metro: Bir-Hakeim, Trocadero. RER - line C
Website: www.tour-eiffel.fr

The Jardin du Luxembourg is not far from the Sorbonne University. This photo is of my favourite part of the garden - the Fontaine des Medicis, built around 1630. It is a very peaceful place and was very romantic! Please look at my Paris page for another photo taken in a completely different part of the Jardin du Luxembourg.

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Phone: 0033 1 42 34 20 00
Address: Boulevard St Michel, 75006 Paris
Directions: Rue de Vaugirard, Metro Luxembourg

Sacre Coeur is at the top of Montmartre Hill and was built in 1914 but not consecrated until 1919. It's famous white-architecture dominates the city.
It is well worth taking the 234 steps to the top of the dome for beautiful views across Paris, but it is definitely hard-going!
If you don't fancy the climb, then the view from the top of the steps, on ground level to the entrance of Sacre Coeur is pretty amazing too.

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Address: Metro: Abbesses, Anvers
Directions: From Anvers metro station, take the road on your right, up a small hill and you will see Sacre Coeur ahead of you
Website: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/

The cathedral Notre Dame is one of the most magnificent achievements of Gothic architecture ever built. Construction was completed in 1345. It can accommodate over 6,000 worshippers.
It has some lovely stained glass windows inside and I believe you can also go up the towers, which we did not do as we had already seen views of Paris from the Eiffel Tower and Sacre Coeur.
Please see my Paris pages for more photos

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Address: Ile de la Cit?, Place du parvis de Notre Dame
Directions: Metro: Cite
Website: www.paris.org/Monuments/NDame/

This is a small gothic chapel near Notre Dame, within the Palais de la Justice. There are two levels to it, the first level has a shop in it and is quite dark, then you go up some stairs where the view before you is breathtaking! Words (nor pictures) can describe how beautiful it is, tall stained glass windows everywhere with gothic architecture. It was designed as a shrine for Jesus Christ's thorn crown and was built in 1246 during the Middle Ages.
It is open from 10am-5pm and 9.30am-6.30pm April- September.

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Phone: 01 53 73 78 50
Address: Boulevard du Palais
Directions: Sainte-Chapelle is inside the Palais of Justice on Ile de le Cité-- a few minute walk from Notre Dame. Métro : Cité, Staint-Michel, or Châtelet. RER: Chatelet -Les-Halles, Saint-Michel
Website: http://www.pbase.com/francist/chap&page=all

When it was built in the 14th Century, La Conciergerie was a luxurious royal palace but it lost favour with the kings of France and became a prison and a torture chamber at a later date. During 1793-94 it was used to incarcerate alleged allies of the Revolution before they were brought before the Tribunal. Among the 2600 prisoners who were kept there before being sent to the guillotine was Queen Marie Antoinette. The Conciergerie has 3 Gothic halls fromthe 14th Century, one of which is the largest surviving medieval hall in Europe. You can see reconstructions of cells and also the room where Marie Antoinette was kept.
It is open from 10am-5.30 pm (6pm April-September) and the ticket can be combined with entrance to the Sainte Chapelle.

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Address: 1 Quai de l'horloge, on bank of River Seine

Going up Sacre Coeur is well worth it as you can see for miles, however, it is quite hard going with a few different staircases to contend with. On a clear day you can see the Eiffel Tower.

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

Walking along the Seine is nice and relaxing. All along the way are 'bouquinistes' which are stalls selling old books, postcards, posters etc, can be very interesting! Apparantly there are 243 'bouquinistes' in Paris along the right and left bank of the Seine and between them cover 3km! Bouquiniste means 'seller of second hand books'

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Place Des Vosges is the oldest square in Paris, dating back from the 17th Century, and is in the heart of the Marais district. There is a beautiful garden with fountains and 36 brick and stone houses all around it in a symmetrical design. Many famous French people have lived here including Richelieu - who became Prime Minster in 1624 and Victor Hugo - the author of 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame'. The house where Victor Hugo used to live, the 2nd floor of house no 6, is now a Victor Hugo museum. It is really a beautiful place to spend an hour or so relaxing.

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Directions: Close to Metro station St. Paul, Chemin Vert or Bastille.
Website: www.paris.org/Monuments/Vosges/