You’ve probably heard more than once that Paris is the city of light. More than likely, the same amount of times that you’ve heard it called the city of love. Neither of the two definitions are inaccurate. Still, the only way to decide on one of them is to visit the city, stroll around its streets, breathe in the atmosphere and choose what it represents for you.
The first thing to keep in mind when you visit Paris is that it’s one of the most visited cities in the world and finding reasonably priced accommodation is next to impossible unless you book well in advance.
When it comes to choosing flights, you need to decide between proximity to the city or price. Charles De Gaulle is the main airport and has a direct train connection to the centre of the capital, while Orly Airport is located some 12km from the centre and is connected by tram and train.
But if you choose a low-cost airline, you’ll more than likely land at Beauvais-Tillé Airport, which is 80km from Paris, and from there the best option is to take a bus that will bring you to one of the metro or train stations.
Once in the city, it’s relatively easy to discover both the centre and its neighbourhoods.
Let’s take a look at the main monuments:
Eiffel Tower:
The iconic tower was constructed for the Expo in 1889, and strangely enough, it was initially criticised by Parisians. Today, however, it’s the city’s most representative structure. For the more well-to-do, there’s the ‘Le 38 Tour Eiffel’ restaurant, where you can enjoy your own romantic-movie moment.
Arc de Triomphe
It was inspired by the Arch of Titus in Rome and built on the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte to commemorate the victory at the Battles of Austerlitz. Make sure you climb up to the roof- the panoramic view of the city is spectacular.
Champs-Élysées
This is one of the city’s most famous avenues. It has two very different parts, one of which is known for the extensive gardens that surround the Palais de la Découverte, the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais.
The second part begins next to the Arc de Triomphe and has plenty of shops and businesses, where luxury boutiques, department stores, restaurants and cinemas show the more glamorous side of Paris.
Louvre Museum
It’s impossible to visit Paris or the Louvre Museum without stopping for a moment in front of the enigmatic Mona Lisa. Much has been written about this painting. But apart from Da Vinci’s work, the museum in itself is a wonder.
Notre Dame Cathedral
It’s one of the oldest Gothic cathedrals in the world. The two immense towers on the facade and the gargoyles which have been keeping an eye on the city for hundreds of years are the most characteristic features of the cathedral. It’s currently closed to visitors as a massive fire broke out in 2019 and the cathedral is now being renovated.
River Seine
More than 30 bridges cross the River Seine, and some of them are incredibly beautiful and well worth visiting. One case in point is the Pont Neuf, which is decorated with 381 stone masks along the sides of the bridge.
The main neighbourhoods:
Île de la Cité
The Île de la Cité is the heart of Paris and also where the city was founded. It’s another obligatory stop with a lot more to offer than just the Notre Dame Cathedral. A great area to stroll around and enjoy its gardens.
Latin Quarter
It is the city’s liveliest neighbourhood. It’s very picturesque and full of students as its home to the Sorbonne University. Standing out among the monuments is the Pantheon, where both Marie Curie and Voltaire were both laid to rest. Thanks to its young population, it’s full of life at night with plenty of cinemas, theatres and reasonably priced bars and restaurants.
Montmartre (the artists’ quarter)
This is a neighbourhood located 130m high on a hill and represents the seedier side of the city. Steep, narrow alleyways show off sex-shops and cabarets while tourists search for the coveted photo in the legendary Moulin Rouge.
The more bohemian area of this neighbourhood is Place du Tertre,where the terraces of the restaurants share space with the works of local artists.
Marais and Place des Vosges
The city’s most cosmopolitan area. It was once an area for the more affluent with many mansions and palaces. Some of them belonged to illustrious figures such as Victor Hugo.
There is a huge variety of restaurants and shops in the area, and it’s also home to the largest Jewish community in Europe as well as being the city’s gay neighbourhood.
