Things to see and do in Paris

Stand underneath and marvel at how high it is. Or go up the tower and enjoy the view.
Metro: Champs de Mars/Tour Eiffel.

 

Did you know that there is also a Statue of Liberty in Paris, made by the same Eiffel who made the famous tower?

Built between 1807 and 36 to honour Napoleon. Today, homage is paid here every day to the Unknown Soldier, who has his grave here. From the viewing platform it is easy to see why the Place Etoile (“star square”) has been given its name - twelve avenues radiate from it to form a star shape.

Metro: Charles de Gaulle - Etoile.

Beautiful, white church which, with its onion domes, crowns the hill in Montmartre. Fine views across to the Eiffel tower. Do not miss Place de Tertre, a square full of artists, very close by, as well as the little alleyways which look as though they’ve come straight from Amelie of Montmartre.
Metro: Abbesses (and then the funicular railway from the bottom of the hill).

One of the world’s foremost art galleries generation after generation, with a priceless collection of paintings. Also large collections of ancient oriental, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman relics. Metro: Palais Royal and Louvre.
 
The Louvre, today more people come to see the Da Vinci code than to see the Mona Lisa.

Rodin museum. Beautiful 17th century palace with large statues by the sculptor. Metro: Invalides.

 

Pantheon. This is where the “great sons” of France lie buried, such as Zola, Victor Hugo, Voltaire and many more. Metro: Jussieu and Cardinal-Lemoine.

 

Jardin du Luxembourg. Large palace in formal grounds with beautiful gardens. Metro: Saint-Sulpice.

Opera. Opened in 1875 and one of the major landmarks in central Paris. Metro: Opera.

 

Bois de Boulogne. Large park, just right for pleasant walks, jogging or a tour by rowing boat on the small lake. Metro: Porte d`Auteuil.

 

Place de la Concorde. One of the world’s largest and most beautiful squares. The large “Cleopatra’s needle” is an obelisk from the temple of Luxor in Egypt. Metro: Concorde.

 

District of Marais. This is Paris’ “old town”. A once run-down poor district has become an area of chic boutiques, galleries and restaurants. Close to the Centre Pompidou – see Art in Paris. On Place des Vosges lies the Victor Hugo museum. Metro: Chemin Vert and St Paul.

Louvre. Art museum with a capital A. Mona Lisa and 400,000 other works of art.
Centre Pompidou. Colourful modern museum with exciting, ever changing exhibitions in airy rooms with artists, street performers and throngs of people just outside. Metro: Les Halles, Rambuteau, Châtelet.
Musée d´Orsay. Beautiful impressionist museum in old railway station right by the Seine. Metro: Solferino.
La Grand Palais. Varied temporary exhibitions in the beautiful Tuileries gardens. Metro: Champs-Elysées-Clemenceau.

The best way to get to know Paris quickly is to go on a sightseeing tour by bus through the city - many companies offer tours from various starting points in central Paris. Parisbus runs English-style double-deckers where you can hop on and off along the way. Or why not take a trip on a Bateaux Mouche or some of the other boats on the Seine, departing from Pont d´Alma?
 
You can see Paris all day long from the Seine on board the large, comfortable Bateaux Mouches.