Not enough time to see everything and other Paris, France Things to Do Tips

Once you waited what seems like an eternity to get into the Louvre there is no rest for the weary. The Louvre is immense and houses thousands of exhibits from all the world, every style and from all parts of history.

You of course need to see the Mona Lisa. You really can't miss it. Just look for a huge mass of people crowding there way around the exhibit.

I've made 2 trips to the Louvre and both time I spent the better part of the whole day wandering through the museum in awe. Both times I felt I did not get a chance see the whole museum.

Leave a Comment

Address: Metro: Palais-Royal / Musée du Louvre
Directions: From Place de la Concorde walk into the Jardin des Tuileries and is located at the other end of it. Look for a huge line of people that coils around a large glass pryamid.
Website: http://www.louvre.fr

The Jardin de Tuileries connects the Champs-Elysees, via the Place de Condorde to the Louvre. Sourrounding the park are majestic buildings.

The park is a great place to kick up your feet and take in the sights, sounds and smells of Paris. A great place to people watch. Pariseans, Europeans and Americans can all be seen enjoying the park and fountain.

Leave a Comment

Address: Place du Louvre
Directions: Metro: Tuileries,Concorde
Website: http://www.louvre.fr

All along the Seine river on both sides are many of the most popular tourist sites such as Notre Dame, Eifel Tower, Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre and many other well know places. Many of the buildings and bridges have ornate fixtures and statues.

Located on the sidewalks around the river are artists drawing or painting, performing artists and a bevy of antique books and album stands. From time to time you will come upon small markets and the usual souvenir stands.

Leave a Comment

Address: Seine River

The Invalides is very distinguishable by it’s gold colored dome. In this, the former emperor Napoleon is laid to rest in an ornately carved wooden tomb.

All around the huge complex you will find antiquated cannons of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Inside, you will also find the Musée de l'Armée. Near by is also the French military academy.

Leave a Comment

Address: Esplanade des Invalides , 75007 Paris
Directions: Metro: Varenne
Website: http://www.invalides.org

With it's glitzy shops, hotels, restaurants and clubs, the Champs Elysées has no rivals anywhere in the world. Sure there are longer, wider and more glitzy streets, but no other street has seen and has been a part of history as this famous strech of road has had. Today on it’s wide sidewalks this is a popular tourist and local hangout.

The victorious Germans marched these streets when they defeated France in 1940 and in 1944 this is the street the allies marched victoriously on after liberating Paris. In the world of cycling this is the ultimate stadium for the final stage of the Tour de France.

Leave a Comment

Address: Champs Elysées
Directions: From the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde.

On both my trips to Paris, I took boat tours along the Seine river, sometimes more than once. In my opinion the best time to go is right before sunset. You will witness Paris as the sunsets and as it becomes night. Nothing is more breathtaking.

Since many of Paris main attractions are visible or are directly on the shores of the river, this is also a very pleasant way of seeing the sites. Besides the regular tours there are dinner cruises as well.

Leave a Comment

Address: Seine River
Directions: Most of the tour boats operate near the Eiffel Tower.

Sacré Coeur(Sacred Heart) Basilica sits on top of a hill, it's white against a backdrop of deep blue sky. It's much more of a functioning church than the over rated and tourist mobbed, Nortre Dame. You can go inside the church, but no photos are permitted.

After walking around the shops, cafes and restaurants in Montmartre, walk up the steps either directly in front of or to the right of the church. Either way you choose is a good exercise. If your unable to walk the stairs, there is cable car on the left side when your facing the front of the hill and church.

A lot of illegal street merchants set up shop in front of or on the hill selling mostly useless junk. From time to time they are sent scattering when a police car approaches. It's quit funny watching all them simultaneously bundle there stuff in there blankets as they run for cover.

Leave a Comment

Address: Parvis du Sacré Coeur , 75018 Paris
Website: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/

After it was completed in 1889 many people thought this structure was "ugly". Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Today it is the MOST recognizeable symbol of Paris and probably one of the most recognizeable structures in the world.

You cannot go to Paris and not got to the top of the Eiffel Tower. For miles around it is the tallest structure so you cannot miss it.

Go to the top of the tower. The view is breathe taking. The best view of Paris.

Leave a Comment

Address: Trocadero
Directions: You can't miss it!!!
Website: www.tour-eiffel.fr

The Musée d'Orsay is the lesser known than the Louvre, but it's collection of paintings is second to none. Another museum that I felt can't be fully appreciated in 1 day.

Suggestion if you are seeing more than just 1 museum, buy a museum pass.

Leave a Comment

Address: 62, rue de Lille
Directions: Metro: Solférino
Website: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/

This to me this was a bit of a let down. I was still exteremely impressed by the architecture of this beautiful catherdral, but I was horrified by the sheer scale of the commercialization of this place. It was more of carnival atmosphere, with the artists and merchants hanging out in front of the catherdral and the tens of thousands of tourists who flock to this site.

Still, Notre Dame is an indelible structure in Paris. It is heavily visited by tourists. You can go inside the catherdral and they DO permit photos.

Leave a Comment

Address: Ile de la Cité
Directions: Métro: Cité or St-Michel.