A tourist information guide on how to explore romantic Paris

Paris – The city of light and romance. Paris is the most elegant and romantic city in the world, full of charm, culture and wonderful sightseeing. There is no “best time” to visit the city, visiting Paris in any of the four seasons has its individual rewards, however spring and autumn are often said to present Paris at its most picturesque.

Paris encourages exploration, the best way to discover Paris is on foot, it’s a delight, you’ll discover hidden squares, secret passageways and mesmerizing views that will thrill and delight as you stroll through the narrow, romantic and shady streets.

Places to visit in Paris:

Begin your sightseeing with a visit to the first and most powerful symbol of Paris, the 984-foot Eiffel Tower. Built in 1889, the tower dominates the skyline, to reach the observation areas go up (better yet take the elevator) to the second floor (115 meters). To reach the observation deck at the top of the tower (276 meters), visitors must take a second elevator. Getting to the top of the tower feels like a great achievement, you are also greeted with the best views of the city. Trivia: The tower is built almost entirely of pure iron, 2.5 million rivets were used during its construction, only one worker died during the construction of the tower and that was during the installation of the lifting system, it takes 50 tons of paint to paint the entire tower from top to bottom.

Now on to the second most powerful symbol of Paris, Notre-Dame (Our Lady of Paris in French). This impressive Gothic masterpiece was built between 1163 and 1345. The cathedral is huge, seating around 6,000 people; It is dominated by three spectacular and huge rose windows with a diameter of 13.1 meters, as well as a vast organ with 7,800 pipes. Climb the 387 steps to the top (there is no elevator) of the South Tower for more spectacular panoramic views of the city.

On a walk in Paris:

Visit ‘The Left Bank’ and then St. Germain, the famous meeting place for many local artists, with many intimate cafes and fascinating antique shops dotted along the small cobbled streets and shady passageways. Take a long walk along the glittering Champs-Elysées, France’s most famous avenue, stretching from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde. This is the chic area of ​​Paris, where fashion, wealth and the upper class meet, mix and coexist; here you will find famous department stores such as Galleries Lafayette and Printemps. Montmartre stretches from the grand boulevards next to the opera to lively Pigalle and the Clignancourt flea market and the Sacre Coeur basilica. Take a slow stroll down the Grands Boulevards with its wide, tree-lined streets; Look out for the famous and exciting theater venues and world-renowned restaurants.

Paris – sights: Plan a visit to the impressive Louvre (one of the largest and most important art museums in the world) which contains many masterpieces including the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Tip: Admission to the museum is free on the first Sunday of each month. Visit the Center Pompidou, the most visited museum in France, and then the Musee d’Orsay for a spectacular insider’s view of the world’s largest collection of quality Impressionist art. Visit Versailles with its hall of mirrors, magnificent gardens and glimpses of the Queen’s private apartments.

Traveling around Paris:

Paris has an excellent public transportation system consisting of buses and an extensive underground metro system. The metro travel area is divided into five zones radiating from the center, ticket prices vary depending on the number of zones traveled. Take advantage of the ‘Paris Visitors Pass’, valid for one, two, three or five days, the pass also allows discounts in certain tourist areas and places of interest, including several museums, galleries and restaurants. Taxis are readily available and can be hailed on the road or at taxi ranks.

City Guides – The Tourist Bus:

The popular L’OpenTour bus is a great way to get your bearings and experience the sights and sounds of Paris, all from the vantage point of an open-top bus. Tip: book your tickets in advance if possible. The bus stops at over 30 top attractions and you can hop on and off as many times as you like.

Paris nightlife:

Nightlife centers around the many popular cafes, authentic bistros and restaurants. If you’re on a budget, look for ‘Menu Prix Fixe’ or ‘Plat du Jour’ fixed price menus in the small restaurants on St. Germain, Montmartre or boulevard du Montparnasse. If you are looking for something special and prepared to spend money try Le Doyen on the Champs Elysees, the head chef Christian Le Squer is understated but very talented, also try La Tour d’Argent with a view of Notre Dame, especially if you are looking for a ‘food with a view’. A visit to Paris would not be complete without a ‘night out’ to experience one of the following three fabulous cabarets.

1. The historic Moulin Rouge – the most famous French cabaret revue in the world which is based on the typical Parisian style.

2. The Lido: The famous Parisian cabaret Le Lido offers an unforgettable dinner and a spectacular show, highly recommended during your stay in the City of Light.

3. El Paradis Latin – a fabulous, authentic and entertaining venue and includes the famous Can-Can.

Getting from the airport to the city center: Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG) is located 23 km (14 miles) northeast of Paris. From (CDG), the best and easiest way to travel to the city is by train. The train service (RER B) operates a fast and convenient service to the city from the airport with good connections to the Paris Metro. Taxis are available on arrival at each terminal. Buses are also available in the city center and at the main train stations.

Some “must haves” before leaving Paris:

1. Ice skating on the outdoor rink of the Hotel de Ville.

2. Relax and laze on the banks of the Seine.

3. Allow yourself to lose yourself in the old streets and avenues.

4. Watch the world go by over coffee at a sidewalk cafe.

5. Take a midnight stroll down the glittering Champs Elysees.

No matter how long she spends in Paris, she knows that she will always come back.

Accommodation in Paris: Paris is a very welcoming city, whether you are planning a quick visit or a short break for business or pleasure, or simply looking for a romantic getaway, you will find a remarkable variety of quality hotels ranging from budget hotels and resort properties to grade up to 3 and 4 star and luxury accommodation.

Create your own Paris vacation or city break: There are many pre-packaged Paris vacation deals to choose from, however why not try creating your own Paris vacation? Doing it yourself involves booking separate travel components, including flights, accommodation, and transfers, allowing for greater flexibility in travel dates, departure points, duration, and in many cases, lower prices compared to the often restricted vacation package.

Flexibility is one of the key benefits of creating your own vacation in Paris. While traditional vacation packages may only offer set departure dates and durations, there are no such restrictions when creating your own vacation. The same flexibility applies to your budget, by booking separate travel components (cheap flights, discounted accommodation, transfers, sightseeing tours), travelers can decide to tailor their budgets accordingly, for example between flights and accommodation.