Paris Citytrip
Known as the most romantic city in the world, one cannot help but fall in love with the city of Paris. The tourist crown of France, Paris has a lot of exquisite places and tourist attractions that will keep you amazed during a citytrip. Keep the excitement burning for your citytrip to Paris and take note of these tips on what to see and what to do.
The first thing on your what to do list during a citytrip to Paris is to prepare everything that you need for the travel. Set your budget and sort out your schedule so that you will not be running into problems later on. The best time of the year for a citytrip to Paris is during spring when it is not too cold and it is not too hot. And of course, you should learn basic French words and phrases so that you can interact with the locals who cannot speak in English.
A citytrip to Paris is never complete without climbing atop the Eiffel Tower. An evidence of engineering genius of the French, this is a 300 meter tower that was built back in 1889 as a centenary for the French Revolution. Take a ride on the elevator and marvel at the site below. In the evening, have a picnic at the grassy area below. The tower is illuminated hourly for five minutes by the 20,000 light bulbs. And of course, don't forget to buy souvenirs at the 2nd platform where you can find a gift shop.
Paris is synonymous to the Louvre and its pyramid, so it does deserve a visit during your citytrip to Paris. On your what to see list, allot enough time so that you will be able to see most of if not all the 35,000 works of art that are on display. You can see here Roman and Greek relics, paintings depicting the Renaissance period, Egyptian antiquities and a lot more. There are other great museums that you can visit during your citytrip to Paris, such as the Musee d'Orsay and the Les Invalides. Musee d'Orsay is located on the Seine left banks in a former railway station. You can see here French artworks that date back from 1848 onwards. Meanwhile, Les Invalides is a compound where you can see monuments and military museums. You should not miss the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte, one of the most influential people in France.
Churches and cathedrals are also important sites that you should visit on a citytrip to Paris. The Notre Dame Cathedral is the perfect representation of French Gothic Architecture, built way back in 1345. Aside from touring inside the cathedral, you should make it a point to climb up the 387 steps going up to the tower. The Sainte Chapelle Church is located just near Notre Dame Cathedral, a structure that was built back in 1248. This is considered as the highest achievement during the period of Gothic architecture. Meanwhile, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is located in Montmarte, the highest point in Paris. Featuring Byzantine and Romanesque architecture, you can see from here breathtaking views of the city below.
On a citytrip to Paris, shopping and dining should be a part of your itinerary. There are tons of designer shops around the city where you can get the best quality of clothes, shoes and other goods. For souvenirs, kitchenware, books and other things that you might need, you can go to the flea markets where you can buy them at bargain prices. After your shopping spree, enjoy a meal in the various restaurants that serve French cuisine. You can have fine dining at the big restaurants or you can savor delicious meals at the smaller ones. After an exhausting trip around the city, end the day with a sunset river cruise at the Seine. You can take a cruise at around 9 in the evening so that you can witness the sunset as well as watch the sparkling light display an hour later.
A day or two is not enough for a citytrip to Paris so if time is limited, you should make the most of it by visiting the places that were mentioned above. You will definitely have the best time exploring the city and learning more about Paris.