| Day 1 |
As soon as
you check in drop your bags and get right into it. You
really should get as much out of Paris as you can.
Make Montmartre and the amazing Sacre Coeur
your first stop. Located beside one of the seediest parts
of the city, Montmarte couldn't be further removed. And
as well as being home to the beautiful basilica, this
part of the city is home to hordes of artists. You'll
see them dotted everywhere with their easels and sketch
pads but beware the hawkers. These are the guys who will
harass you for the duration of your stay asking to paint
your portrait so say no from the outset and let them know
that you mean it.
It's a really good idea to avail of one of the hop-on,
hop-off bus services that litter the city and whip you
around in no time. They take you to all the major sights
and you can spend as much or as little time as you wish
at each one. You should be aware, however, that the queues
at many of them are pretty insane, particularly at the
Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. A little insider
tip for the Eiffel Tower is to walk the stairs to the
first level and then take the elevator - much quicker
and much cheaper too.
For your first evening of socialising, Bastille
is a good choice. Laden with an excellent selection of
restaurants and an eclectic mix of watering wholes, you
won't be short of places to eat and drink. One place well
worth a visit, however, is Les Leches Vins. Not
the most impressive pub in the city, but it's certainly
one you won't forget. And it does sell particularly cheap
pints of Kroneneberg which is definitely a good reason
to visit. Paris is expensive and the drinking scene will
dent your budget most of all.
Accommodation - hostels
in Paris
Activity - activities
in Paris
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| Day 2 |
We recommend
beginning day two on one of the most famous streets in
the world - the Champs Elysees. Indulge yourself
with a nice breakfast in one of the many cafes which line
either side of the street and then do some shopping. Not
the cheapest place on earth to shop, but unavoidable.
Make your way to the Arc de Triomphe which lies
at the top of the Champs Elysees and for a breathtaking
view of the city climb the 292 steps to the top where
there is an excellent vantage point.
After catching your breath make your way to Esplanade
des Invalides. The huge golden dome is unmistakable
and can easily be reached by Metro from the Champs Elysees
- or if you're feeling energetic at all it is also within
walking distance. Commissioned by Louis XIV as a home
for wounded soldiers, it is one of the richest museums
of its kind in the world and is home to an unrivalled
selection of armour, weapons, uniforms and art. It is
most famous, however, as the final resting place for one
Napoleon Bonaparte.
This should provide you with your fill of sightseeing
for day two so we recommend adjourning to Le Marais
for the latter half of the day. With its picturesque streets
and carefully restored architecture it's almost like walking
around an open air museum. And when you've tired of all
the strolling, you'll be happy to hear that Le Marais
is also one of the liveliest parts of the city after sun
down so there's no shortage of places to kick back and
relax until the wee small hours.
Accommodation - hostels
in Paris
Activity - activities
in Paris
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| Day 3 |
To begin
your next day in Paris, take the Metro to Concorde,
the city's largest public square and walk through the
Jardin des Tuileries, the wonderful gardens commissioned
by Catherine de Medici, which lead you right into the
Louvre.
Now, you could spend weeks on end in this world famous
art gallery and many happily would. There are a few essential
stops, however, if you're not that partial to fine art.
One in particular, of course, is the Mona Lisa which can
be disappointing in the canvas, but still worth a visit.
After this stroll around for a couple of hours and check
out Napoleon's quarters and the collection of ancient
Egyptian artifacts if you're afraid of getting too 'arted
out'.
From the Louvre, Notre Dame - the most famous medieval
cathedral on the planet - is within walking distance.
Sunday is obviously the busiest day of the week for sights
with religious connections so do bear this in mind. Notre
Dame, however, is more than capable of coping with the
crowds.
All of this sightseeing is sure to work up an appetite
so hit the Latin Quarter for something to eat.
The narrow streets are lined with restaurants of the cheap
and cheerful variety, as well as the more up market. And
there are also plenty of bars and clubs to adjourn to
after dinner. This part of the city is one of the most
popular with visitors to the city and is home to a wonderful
mix of people every night of the week.
Accommodation - hostels
in Paris
Activity - activities
in Paris
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| Day 4 |
Situated
just twenty kilometres outside Paris is the town of Versailles.
Travelling by train it takes between forty five minutes
and one hour to get there from the city centre. The town
is best known for two things: the Treaty of Versailles
and also the Palace of Versailles. The latter is
one of the most visited monuments in the whole of France.
Along with the palace, the other best thing about going
here for a day is that it gets you out of the city, which
is always pleasant.
The palace, which was built for Louis XIV by his father,
Louis XIII in 1623, originally started as a hunting lodge,
but as he liked it so much he decided to expand it into
the huge palace it is today. There are four entrances
to the grounds, the best for visitors being entrance D,
as this is where organised tours depart from.
Also on the grounds are the gardens which are always maintained
to the highest standards. You can also visit the Trianon
which is the village Louis XIV bought, then demolished
to begin building what is the now one section of the Chteau.
All in all, the rooms in the palace are exquisitely decorated
and the grounds command amazing sights. This palace is
not to be missed and you could easily spend a whole day
here.
Thanks to the Oscar winning 2001 film, the Moulin Rouge
is famous worldwide now, not just in Paris. Before that
it was just the French Cancan which everybody was familiar
with. Since the show begun in 1889 famous performers such
as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Elton John have
appeared on stage with the female troop of dancers. In
the show 60 Doriis Girls wear costumes comprising of 1,000
feathers. You wont forget the night you went to the Moulin
Rouge, thats for sure.
Accommodation - hostels
in Paris
Activity - activities
in Paris
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| Day 5 |
Depending
on what day you are in Paris, there are a number of flea
markets which boast a large number of bargains, once you
look hard enough. Known as Les Puces the best of the citys
markets (and arguably Europes) is the Clignancourt
Flea Market, which can be found on the north side
of the city. You will find anything and everything here
you just need to have the patience to keep looking for
it. Whether you are planning on doing any shopping or
not, browsing is just as much fun.
You may find yourself staying at the flea market half
the day, depending how well you are getting on regarding
the bargain hunting. If not, a leisurely stroll down the
River Seine is the perfect way to while away an
afternoon. A boardwalk runs along most of the river which
flows through the centre of Paris. A good place to commence
a walk down this boardwalk is at the Eiffel Tower.
From here you can walk down past Jardin des Tuillieres,
the Louvre and Notre Dame, also a good place
to stop. There are numerous places along the river to
sit down, gather your thoughts and enjoy the scenery.
On your final night in Paris, one of the best spots in
the city for restaurants, bars and cafs is St. Germain
des-Pres. During the summer months the area is particularly
lively with live musicians playing all descriptions of
music.
Accommodation - hostels
in Paris
Activity - activities
in Paris
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