L'Incontournable Tour Eiffel and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

No matter how cliche this might sound, a visit to Paris truly wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower - whether you choose to go up the tower or to admire it from afar is up to you of course! Built for the 1889 World Fair, it is a well-known fact that Parisians hated the big mass of metal when it was first erected - French writer Guy de Maupassant disliked it so much that he supposedly ate at the tower's restaurant nearly every day because it was the only place in Paris where he couldn't see the tower! But for some reason, the Eiffel Tower has aged very well. Its surroundings have somehow adapted to its presence to create a cohesive landscape and its elegant, 324 m shape no longer appears to be an eyesore. It's also worth seeing it during the day and then going back at night to see it all lit up and to watch when the flashing lights go on - it sparkles each hour on the hour for about 10 minutes.

When we got to the tower there was a huge line-up for the elevator so we decided to go up the stairs - it was cheaper (only 4 Euros) and we didn't have to wait at all. You have to climb 345 steps to get to the first level, and another 359 steps to get to the second level. Do be aware that the stairs only go up to the second level, so if you want to go all the way to the top you're going to have to pay again to use the elevator. As we went up on a hazy day, we were quite happy to stay on the first level and enjoy the view!

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Phone: 33 (0) 1 44 11 23 23
Address: Metro Bir-Hakeim
Directions: You really can't miss it!!!
Website: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/

Hotel des Invalides was built in the 1670s by order of King Louis XIV as a hospital and nursing home for the thousands of French war veterans - it still serves as such for about a hundred people. Most of the complex has now been turned into a war museum, and the majestic Dome des Invalides is where Emperor Napoleon I has been laid to rest.

Although it is free to walk around Les Invalides and to enter the church Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, it costs 8 Euros to visit the Dome and the war museum (but you can use your Museum Pass if you have one). Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, otherwise knows as the soldiers' church was completed in 1708. Its only ornaments are flags that were taken from the enemy in the course of France's numerous wars. Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb sits underneath the Dome des invalides and is surrounded by the tombs of other French war heroes, such as Marshal Foch.

As for the war museum, we only visited the part of the exhibition that covered the two World Wars. We thought we'd just take a quick peak as we didn't feel like getting into something this heavy when we were so light-hearted but we ended up visiting the whole thing. The exhibition was captivating and very moving - I will always remember the uniform of a French soldier killed during the 1914-18 war, still covered in mud from the trenches, as well as the German street signs that were put up in Paris during the 1939-45 war.

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Phone: 01 44 42 38 77
Address: 129 rue de Grenelle
Directions: Metro Invalides, within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower
Website: http://www.invalides.org/pages/anglais/menu_ang.html

When I first heard about the Rodin Museum, I wasn't sure I was going to go as I had already seen two Rodin exhibits that included his most famous masterpieces. However, my good friend Linda had said so much good things about the museum's gardens that I decided to go anyways, and I'm really glad she talked me into going! Even if you've seen Rodin's sculptures before in a museum, to see them outside in the beautiful gardens of the Hotel Biron, where Rodin lived and work from 1908 until his death in 1917, adds a lot of emotions to the works of art. You will find more sculptures inside Hotel Biron, including some by Rodin's student and lover Camille Claudel, as well as some paintings, including Van Gogh's Le Pere Tanguy.

The museum is closed on Mondays. It costs 9 Euros to visit both the gardens and Hotel Biron, or 6 Euros for the gardens only (you can use your Museum Pass if you have one).

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Phone: 01 44 18 61 10
Address: 79 rue de Varenne
Directions: Metro Varenne, within easy walking distance of Les Invalides
Website: http://www.musee-rodin.fr/

Walking through the streets of Paris is a great way to discover the city, and you don't have to pay a dime! Here are some tips for a quick walking tour of Les Invalides:

This walking tour actually starts by lying down on the Champ-de-Mars! Located in front of the Military Academy, this area once served as a parade square for the cadets. On a nice day or on a warm evening, hundreds of people come to the Champ-de-Mars to have a picnic while enjoying the view of the Eiffel Tower. The only problem is: don't try to find a square feet of grass that doesn't have a cigarette stub on it - we've tried and failed.

From the Champ-de-Mars, exit on Avenue Bouvard, cross Avenue Bourdonnais, turn onto Avenue Rapp, and locate No. 29. There you'll see a house that was built in 1901 by architect Jules Laviolette. It has a richly decorated facade and is a great example of Art Nouveau.

Go back to Bourdonnais and turn onto rue Saint-Dominique. By then you might be getting a little hungry so turn on Rue Cler, a nice little pedestrian streets well known for its cafes and fine products boutiques.

When you're done drinking that half-liter of French wine you can go back on rue Saint-Dominique and keep walking in the direction of Boulevard Saint-Germain until you come across rue de Martignac. There sits Sainte-Clotilde, the first neogothic church built in Paris. Architect Francois-Christian Gau started building the church in 1846 but passed away before its completion. Theodore Ballu took over and the church was finally finished in 1856.

From there you'll be a step away from the next neighborhood, Saint-Germain-des-Prés!

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Directions: Le Quartier des Invalides

The magnificient Gare d'Orsay opened in 1900, only to be closed in 1978. In 1986, the building reopened as an art museum dedicated to the work of French artists produced between 1848 and 1914, thus including the impressionist, post-impressionist and art nouveau periods. This museum is nowhere as big as the Louvre, but it took us almost as much time to visit it since we would recognize all the paintings and stop to admire each one. I would say it takes about 4 hours to visit all the museum if you keep going at a good pace.

The museum is closed on Mondays, and is open in the evening on Thursdays. Admission is 7.50 Euros (you can use your Museum Pass if you have one - it will also allow you to skip the line-up). If you get hungry, there's a restaurant, a cafe and a cafeteria that can suit all budgets!

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Address: Quai Anatole-France
Directions: From metro Solferino, follow the indications.
Website: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html

The history of Saint-Germain-des-Pres goes back to 543 AD, when King Childebert decided to build a new basilica. The building has of course expanded and changed throughout the years, but it has always kept its religious purpose. It was badly damaged during the Revolution and left in such a state of disrepair that the authorities seriously considered taking it down. The church was saved by a group of Parisians led by none other than Victor Hugo, who once lived nearby at no. 30 rue du Dragon. Intensive restoration work ensued and, in my opinion, it is now one of the nicest churches in Paris!

Saint-Germain-des-Pres is open to visitors every day of the week (no admission fees).

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Phone: 01 55 42 81 33
Address: 3 Place Saint-Germain-des-Pres
Directions: Near the Saint-Germain-des-Pres metro station
Website: http://www.eglise-sgp.org/

So where did Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Joyce and others hung out after having made the trip down to no. 12 rue de l'Odeon to borrow a few books at Sylvia Beach's Shakespeare and Company? If you could go back in time, chances are you'd find them at Les Deux Magots, at Le Café de Flore or at the Brasserie Lipp, all located on boulevard Saint-Germain, right by the church Saint-Germain-des-Pres. Before the Lost Generation writers took over, French poets Rimbaud and Verlaine hung out at Les Deux Magots, as did Picasso and Saint-Exupery (when he wasn't at Brasserie Lipp), and later on in the 1950s Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir made a habit of writing for two hours every day at Les Deux Magots, while they also held a famous literary salon at Le Cafe de Flore.

We stopped for drinks on the sunny terrace of Les Deux Magots where we were greeted by a very friendly waiter. Left and right of us people were chatting, reading, scribbling in little notebooks - it was all too easy to imagine what it must have been like back in the 1920s when some of the world's greatest writers got together to drink the afternoon away. Of course the prices have gone up a bit since then, but I was happy to see that they didn't take advantage of their reputation to rip off tourists (as in the astounding 6 CUC I paid for a daiquiri at La Floridita, in Havana, which was also one of Hemingway's favorite hangouts) - the prices at Les Deux Magots were the same as in any other cafe in Paris, and the atmosphere made it worth every Euro we spent!

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Phone: 01 45 48 55 25
Address: 6 Place Saint-Germain-des-Pres
Directions: Near the Saint-Germain-des-Pres metro station
Website: http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr

L'Hotel, located at no. 13 rue des Beaux-Arts, is one of the city's most famous hotels - throughout the years, its guests list has included the likes of Salvador Dali, Princess Grace, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and popular Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges. But perhaps one of his most famous guests was the playwright and novelist Oscar Wilde (1854-1900), who took up residence at L'Hotel (then known as Hotel d'Alsace) after being released from prison and spent the last years of his life thoroughly enjoying the charms of Paris. He died of meningitis on November 30, 1900, in his room at L'Hotel.

When we showed up at L'Hotel to snatch a few pictures, the staff was super friendly and invited us to take our time and look around, even suggesting we stop for a drink at the bar. Despite the fact that it is a very posh and popular hotel, they really made us feel comfortable.

Also, right across the street from L'Hotel is the Hotel d'Angleterre, where Ernest Hemingway spent his very first night in Paris, in December 1921 (he stayed in room no. 14).

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Phone: 01 44 41 99 00
Address: Nos. 13 and 44 rue des Beaux-Arts
Directions: Metro Saint-Germain-des-Pres
Website: http://www.l-hotel.com/

These beautiful gardens were created by order of Marie de Medicis back in 1612 and have become one of the most popular places in Paris to hang out on a sunny afternoon. Students often gather in the Jardins du Luxembourg to read and study, while children play by the fountain and workers stop by with a sandwich for lunch. The gardens are bordered by the beautiful Palais du Luxembourg, near rue Vaugirard, which was built for Queen Marie de Medicis and her son King Louis XIII, and which now houses the Senate. There are about 100 beautiful sculptures spread out through the French and English gardens, and one of the highlights of the gardens is the Fontaine de Medicis, once again built according to the plans of King Henry IV's widow.

The gardens are open from sunrise to sunset, admission is free, but remember to bring a few coins (20 p.) to use the public restrooms. A really great place for a nice picnic!

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Directions: Located between the Saint-Germain-des-Pres and Montparnasse neighborhoods

Saint-Sulpice is the second largest church in Paris after Notre-Dame. Its construction began in 1646 but it took over a century to complete it. The result is impressive: the church is 113 meters long, slightly darker than other churches in Paris. When we came in the organist was playing something that could have become the soundtrack to a Dracula movie - the effect was rather spectacular and I walked through the church in silence with my ears and eyes wide open, hair standing on end!

I was relieved to see that the church wasn't too crowded on the day we were there. Saint-Sulpice is one of the Parisian locations mentioned in Dan Brown's best-seller "The Da Vinci Code", and since then many tourists have come to Saint-Sulpice looking for the "Rose Line" and the obelisk mentioned in the book and featured in the movie starring Tom Hanks. But there are other more interesting features to be found in this church, including the murals painted by renowned French artist Eugene Delacroix.

Saint-Sulpice is open everyday and admission is free. In front of the church is Place Saint-Sulpice, ornated with the beautiful Four Bishops Fountain (Fontaine des Quatre-Eveques), where kids and pigeons take turn eating lunch :o)

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Phone: 01 46 33 21 78
Address: Place Saint-Sulpice
Directions: Metro Saint-Sulpice, in the Luxembourg area
Website: http://www.paroisse-saint-sulpice-paris.org/