What to do in Paris

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                                 What to do in Paris

If you are from India and reading this, chances are that you are planning to go to Paris for the first time. Paris is rightly called ,the most romantic city of the world. But you might come back disappointed from here ,if you don’t really know what to do in the city or what to see .Fret not, we are here to guide you to  a wonderful trip to this lovely  place.

1.Climb Eiffel Tower- Paris would not have been what it is today, had it not been for lofty Eiffel Tower. Forget what the sceptics are saying about this monument, climb on top of it and enjoy a beautiful landscape of the whole city. To have the best of it, you have to be smart with the timings.

Go up when there is still daylight ,you can see the city from top.  Then come down and sit in the nearby park and enjoy the bewitching sight of tower lights.

2.Louvre and the other museums-Paris has a number of museums,130 ,to be precise ,Louvre being the most glorious one of them. Not only because of the world famous lady residing there ,but for many such magnificent artefacts.

For the rest ,take your pick as per your taste. You can consider visiting Musée d’Orsay, Musée de l’Armée, Grand Palace and Small Palace .

3.Notre Dame and many more- After museums ,Paris comes on top of having a number of churches too. By all means visit the most iconic, Notre Dame ,which is beautiful but don’t forget to explore others like the Basilica of Sacre-Coeur at Montmartre.

This towering white -domed church will win your heart. Just sit outside and gaze at the beautiful landscape of the city it offers.

4.Other must -see monuments-This historic city has some of the most alluring monuments of the world. Do visit the imposing structures of Arc de triomphe, Luxembourg Palace and garden, City hall and Opera house but also save time for the eerie Catacombs, the ethereal Pere Lachaise Cemetery.

These are some of the spots which most tourists miss, but are a must for a complete experience of Paris.

5.Take a walking tour- Your first day in the city should begin with a free walking tour starting from Fountain in the old city. They have the most interesting tales to share with the tourists, including trivia like ,why should you wave at the passing boats and why are the horses of different statues have different postures.

This four hour tour familiarizes you with the city so intimately that afterwards you can easily roam around exploring it in depth  at your pace .

6.Walk the glorious avenue of Champs-Elysees- From Louvre to Arc de triumph, this road is in a straight line through the  Tuilerie Gardens and the Place Concord. Old timers shed tears for the commercialization of this place but for the tourists it’s the most happening road to walk on.

It has numerous stores like Sephora, Gap ,Virgin, Louis Vuitton and also several cafes. Have a look at all but the decision to buy should be your own as the stuff is also available in India. But just walking on the wide pathways ,lined with tall trees is a pleasure .

7.Take a cruise on river Seine-Paris offers many magical things to do and see, a boat trip along the Seine comes quite on top of it. You will pass under the numerous bridges, have an uninhabited view of the tree-lined boulevards and spot all the enchanting monuments on way. You can see Notre Dame, Louvre, Grand Palais, Petite Palais, Musee de Orsay ,Lock Bridge and the cherry on top, Eiffel Tower.

Take the evening cruise which allows you to have a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower after it has been lit up .

8.Spend time in the Tuilerie Garden- In a rush to see everything ,we often miss to experience in this city. Don’t make that mistake. After visiting the Louvre or Arc de Triomphe or strolling Champs Elysees, just grab a chair in the Tuilerie Garden and enjoy the beauty. I can assure you, if after some years somebody asks you about your favourite memory of the city, these moments will be very high on your list.

9.Sit outside a bistro and have a crepe-Relish Paris as the locals do. Take an outside table in any of the bistros and order a crepe. This wafer thin pancake ,famous in Paris ,is a must have before you plan to leave the city. Also have a Cafe au Lait with it.

Soak in the atmosphere around you while waiting for the delicacy .

These are some of our favourites when in the city of love. Go ahead and create some of your own and love the city for those.

Bon voyage!

--Mamta Kumar

   An Educationist and an avid traveller