Fun fact: I was born in Paris. My mom had an all-consuming love for this city since before she could dream of ever actually visiting, much less living in it. As such, I've been lucky enough to visit Paris several times, and develop my own all-consuming love for the city of light. This summer, I spent 10 days showing Mark around Paris - it was his first time, and we had a completely beautiful few days walking and talking and taking in the abundance of stimuli that is Paris. A word of advice: don't try to do everything. Paris is huge, and the density of culture and beauty here is simply endless. After 10 full days of exploration, we still hadn't seen and done all that we wanted to. I guess you'll just have to come back - how awful. Take it easy, don't push yourself to do more than you can handle, and you will enjoy your time in Paris more for it.
Start off with a good birds-eye view.
Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world to look at from above: the grey roofs, sunken boulevards lined with splashes of green, the unexpected silhouettes of La Defense melting into the horizon. Seeing all this from above instantly conveys the unique Parisian atmosphere. It is also a great way to get an idea of where the landmarks are laid out in relation to one another.
For the best views in Paris, check out the terrace of the Printemps department store (much better than that of the neighbouring Galerie Lafayette!), or go straight for the monuments and climb the 300 steps up the Arc de Triomphe for a stunning panoramic view of the centre. The Eiffel Tower is without a doubt a great view, but keep in mind that you can't see the tower itself from the top! I recommend you climb the stairs - it's way easier than you'd think, and you will save yourself heaps of time waiting in the never-ending line for the elevators (more on climbing the Eiffel Tower in a future post...). I'm also assured that the view from Tour Montparnasse is stunning - that said, I haven't been up in that infamous skyscraper yet, so I can't confirm.
For the best views in Paris, check out the terrace of the Printemps department store (much better than that of the neighbouring Galerie Lafayette!), or go straight for the monuments and climb the 300 steps up the Arc de Triomphe for a stunning panoramic view of the centre. The Eiffel Tower is without a doubt a great view, but keep in mind that you can't see the tower itself from the top! I recommend you climb the stairs - it's way easier than you'd think, and you will save yourself heaps of time waiting in the never-ending line for the elevators (more on climbing the Eiffel Tower in a future post...). I'm also assured that the view from Tour Montparnasse is stunning - that said, I haven't been up in that infamous skyscraper yet, so I can't confirm.
Next, zoom in on a few architectural landmarks.
Now that you've seen Paris from above, it's time to zoom in and get a closer look at the incredible architecture below. Some highlights are the Opera, the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel tower of course, the Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, and all those other celebrated buildings that I'm sure you've heard of before. A few less well known buildings worth visiting: the Grand Arch at La Defense, and in fact all of Defense, for a completely different side of Paris. Another modern building, the incredible Louis Vuitton Foundation is one of the most creative and visually appealing feats of modern architecture that I've ever seen. Also, don't forget that the architecture of the simple residential buildings all over Paris is gorgeous, and as such, a walk through the centre with no particular destination in mind may be one of the best ways to discover beautiful places.
Soak in the sunshine in one of Paris' many parks and gardens.
Sitting on the heavy green chairs of Paris' gardens, watching toy boats in the fountain at Jardin du Luxembourg, or resting under statues at the Tuileries is a long upheld Parisian tradition. Bring a picnic, people watch, and enjoy the atmosphere of these incredible gardens. Don't forget to ride at least one of Paris' traditional carousels - yes, even if you're an adult. And if carousels aren't quite your speed, the Jardin des Tuileries has a small amusement park on its left side, along rue Rivoli, so that you can get your adrenaline rush at the same time as take in the stunning views of central Paris. A recent discovery, the Jardin d'Acclimation by the Fondation Louis Vuitton is one of the best planned out parks I've ever been to. With mist machines. wading fountains, carousels and roller coasters, trampolines and food trucks, this park has everything that you could possibly want from a park on a hot July day.
Take in the unparalleled museum culture.
Paris has hundreds of museums: there is something for everyone, and you are free to pick and choose which you are most interested in. The world's most famous museum, the Louvre, is absolutely enormous, so be sure to either schedule multiple visits to cover all of the departments that you're interested in, or just skim the surface, locating artefacts that you most want to see. The Musee d'Orsay is one of the prettiest and museums, housed in a converted railway station, and is home to some of the world's most famous paintings. For a quick pop of culture, drop by the Musee d'Orangerie to see Monet's famed water-lilies. For modern art, the Centre Pompidou is one of my favorite museums ever - they have a great collection of modern and contemporary pieces, accompanied by very interesting little paragraphs explaining their possible interpretations. Some lesser known and smaller museums are also worth a quick visit, as much for their atmosphere as for the displays. A few that we enjoyed are the Palais Galliera for fashion exhibitions, the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris, the Cite Architecture Museum, and the Army Museum at Les Invalides.
Don't forget to stop for a cafe au lait.
Paris' sidewalk cafe culture is unrivalled - watch Parisians hurry by, hear the car horns of angry drivers, and become an expert in the life of one Parisian street at a time. Be warned, however: sidewalk cafes are not about coffee, they're about the entire concept of sitting facing the street and watching. Be prepared, however, to pay up to 6 euros for a cup of notoriously bad coffee. If, after a few days, you're craving a truly great cup of coffee in a different kind of environment, don't despair. Over the past few years, a number of wonderful kraft coffeeshops have opened in every arrondissement in the city. Though we tried, we didn't manage to conquer all those that we wanted to. However; a couple that we really enjoyed were Ten Belles (10 rue de la Grange aux Belles), and Coutume (47 rue de Babylone). Welcoming and well designed, these coffeeshops rarely disappoint. I got my list of the . best coffee in Paris from TimeOut