Top 9 Things to See in Paris
Source: stevenvanwel at flickr
I’ll say right now, making this list will be easy. I’ve been to Paris twice – both times in 2007 – and there is a lot to see and do there. In fact perhaps the most difficult thing will be ranking things in some type of order and sticking to only 9 items. I may have to create another post to cover the things I ran out of place on this list for.
1. Eiffel Tower, Le Tour d’Eiffel
This is it. This is Paris. See it during the day, see it at night, go to the top, eat in the restaurant (if you can get reservations that is). The Eiffel Tower is what makes Paris, Paris. It’s easily accessible on the Metro (subway). Those of you who enjoy walking can walk it.
2. The Grand Louvre
Known just as the Louvre, this museum houses the Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the sculpture Winged Victory, Michelangelo’s Dying Slave, Delacroix, Raphael, Rubens, and Vermeer. The Louvre specializes in antiquities – things more than 500 years old.
The museum is also famously known for it’s entrnace – the glass pyramids by I. M. Pei.
Most guide books suggest several days to really see the Louvre. It is an enormous building and an enormous collection. As we were walking in the Louvre, I had seen what I wanted to see and was a bit tired. So I wanted to leave quickly – it was another 45 minutes from where I was before I could breathe fresh air again. The Louvre is big. If all you want to see is the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, it’s still worth it to go but give yourself a few hours to do that.
3. Champs Elysees
A lovely shopping street, and a grand boulevard. One can imagine Napoleon using this street to parade in front of his people. Home of one of the largest Louis Vuitton stores in the world, as my wife will attest.
4. Arc de Triomphe
At the end of Champs Elysees is the fabulous Arc. The Arc is actually surrounded by a busy driving road, so you have to take stairs under the road to actually be under the Arc. Another quitessential Parisian landmark.
5. Musee d’Orsay
Paris does have quite a few museums, but the second most famous (and perhaps best) one is the Musee d’Orsay. Whereas the Lourve houses ancient works, the Musee d’Orsay holds more recent works and to some those are more interesting. The building itself is interesting – a former railway station. But the art work is what is impressive – Manet, Monet, Cezzane, Degas, Renoir, van Gogh, Whistler (and his mother). Well worth a visit.
6. Notre Dame de Paris
One of the most famous cathedrals in the world, the Notre Dame is spectacular in person. The massiveness of the structure, the stained glass windows… it’s a sight to behold.
7. The Latin Quarter
This is the place I will always stay when in Paris. Close to the Metro, restaurants and bars on every corner and down every side street. We had our Nutella Crepes at midnight before going in for the night, and a fresh baguette in the morning. There is a lot of energy here.
8. Jardin des Tuileries
A lot of the interesting sights in Paris happen close to the river between Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower. The Jardin des Tuileries is a lovely garden in the center of the city. It’s where lovers sit on benches, and families go for a stroll. It used to be part of a palace gardens but the palace itself burned down in 1871.
9. Bateaux Mouches
When in Paris, you absolutely must take the boat ride (at night) down the River Seine. To see the bridges that cross the Seine up close (and they are lit at night) is like looking at works of art from angles rarely seen. The buildings along the Seine are appropriately lighted, and make the city look magical from a distance. And then there is the Eiffel Tower. It’s one of the nicest water tours anywhere in the world. I would actually challenge you to find a nicer one. I highly recommend doing this at least once.
See, I missed a whole bunch of things on this list. Feel free to add some to the comments, and maybe I’ll include them in a future post.
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