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Paris - A Vacation in the City of Light
If you have time to visit only one city in Europe, make it Paris!
Your trip should include: the treasures of the Louvre, the towering
magnificence of the Eiffel Tower and the electric atmosphere of Notre Dame
cathedral.
Whether you seek a hauntingly beautiful cityscape, meaningful historical
sites, exposure to the some of the greatest art in the world, high-fashion,
excellent shopping or a sampling of the best cuisine around, Paris offers
all of these and more.
- We describe
the best places to visit in Paris organized by major attractions. We
also include brief descriptions of other attractions in the surrounding
area, so that you can explore
Paris
with a minimum of effort. Although the "City of Light" is a large
metropolitan area,
the best places to visit are clustered in a narrow band along both sides of the Seine River
in central Paris.
 .
- The custom maps
used in our Paris Guide provide street detail and
include “arrondissements”, “neighborhoods names”, and, of course, symbols
locating the best places to visit in Paris.
- We have added
a satellite view map showing our recommended Best Places to Visit in
Paris. These symbols occur on the detail pages reached by clicking the
links below. When you see the icon of an airplane next to an attraction's
name, click it for an aerial
view of the feature.
- For example, click the symbol below to see
the Arc de Triomphe from above. Be sure to zoom in for even
greater detail.
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The Paris Museum Pass is a discount pass that covers most
major museums and several attractions in Paris and surrounding areas. The pass, allowing unlimited
visits during the chosen period, is sold at many museums
and train stations.
One of the best benefits of this card is that
you do not have to stand in line to buy tickets to enter an
attraction and are often provided priority access.
The Paris Museum Pass is available in two, four and six day
cards. The current price of the Paris Museum Pass (in
Euros)
is 2 days =
€32, 4 days = €48 and 6 days = €64
For more details,
visit this
site.
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| If you
are here because you have an interest in the DaVinci Code - cut to
the chase and see our
DaVinci Code Map.
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Each of the underlined links below connects to a detailed section of
our Paris Travel Guide that provides comprehensive information on the
attractions listed. Our detailed sections include photos, tourism
information and links to detailed maps and satellite imagery pinpointing
the location of the attractions we cover.
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- This is the
historic core of the city and it bears the imprint of the
Hunchback of Notre Dame, Marie Antoinette, the Sorbonne and famous writers and intellectuals
from around the world - suffice it to say, this is a complex and enormously varied area of
Paris. It is also offers some of the City's best attractions,
fabulous cafes and numerous spots for observing the "soul" of
Paris, while you rest up before visiting the next spectacular attraction.
- Click the
Latin Quarter and Surrounding Areas
to begin your exploration of this historical core of Paris,
including : The Latin Quarter, Île de la Cité (Notre Dame,
the Palais De Justice
including the beautiful church Ste. Chapelle, and the Conciergerie
(where Marie Antoinette was imprisoned), the quaint residential
island Île St. Louis, the Museum of the Middle ages, the Luxembourg
Gardens, and the trendy St. Germain des Prés area.
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- The Eiffel Tower can be seen from many areas of the City, but
you must ascend it to witness the glory of Paris. Click on our
Guide to the
Eiffel Tower and
Surrounding Attractions to discover the Eiffel Tower and
several interesting attractions that are close by.
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- This area of
Paris is a magnet for romantics and one of the places that most
travelers visit. The Champs Elysées has a "movie scene" quality that
continues to enchant visitors to the City of Light. You may
find a smile on your face and a song in your heart as you stroll
along the world's most famous avenue. If you are not impressed by
day, try taking a stroll here in the early evening when the
buildings are illuminated - it's magical.
- In addition
to the signature Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysées, this section
of Paris includes the Palais de L'Elysées (the French
Presidential Palace), the Grand Palais, and the Petit Palais,
two stately buildings near the Seine.
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- It seems so unfair that the incomparable Louvre and numerous
spectacular attractions can be found in one compact, scenic area of
Paris!. This part of Paris will likely take more of your time than
you had expected, but it will be a wise investment.
- Click on our
Guide to the Louvre
and Surrounding Attractions for details on visiting the Musée
du Louvre, the Jardin des Tuileries, the Orangerie (to view Monet's
Water Lilies), the Place Vendome for fine shopping (and the Colonne De La Grande Armée),
as well as the stunning Opéra Garnier.
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- Famous art and artists, history and a different character make this
another of the popular areas in Paris. Click our
Guide to the Invalides
and Surrounding Areas to start your journey to explore: The Musée D’Orsay
(Impressionist art),
the Musée Rodin (sculpture)
and the Hôtel
des Invalides, a beautiful church that houses Napoleon's impressive tomb.
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- Visiting Paris is a constant encounter with names and
places taken from the pages of history. Click on our
Guide to the Marais and
Surrounding Attractions
to discover the highlights of this unique section of Paris including
wonderful neighborhood of the Marais, Les Halles,
the Pompidou Center, the Hotel de Ville (the ornate City Hall of
Paris), the Place des Vosges (one of oldest squares in Paris),
Picasso's Museum,
the Carnavalet Museum, and the Place de la
Bastille.
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- Montmartre
is a somewhat rundown, Bohemian section Paris that
has set the scene in countless novels, numerous movies and thousands
of paintings.
Click on our Guide for
Montmartre to prepare for a visit to the Montmartre
neighborhood, including the panoramic view of Paris from the church of
the Sacre Couer
and a night time visit to the Moulin Rouge - what an amazing mix of culture, architecture
and ambiance.
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- Although not an attraction that appeals to everyone, the Cimitière
de Père Lachaise is the final resting place for many famous persons,
including Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf Jim Morrison, lead singer for the
Doors. If you are interested in
visiting, see our handy map to this cemetery that attracts hundreds of
thousands of visitors each year.
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Daytrips in the Paris Region
- There is so much to see and do in Paris that some travelers
never experience the beauty of the surrounding area. We recommend a
daytrip or two to balance your travels. A trip to
Versailles is a must, but each of our recommendations for day trips
is a "memory
maker". Click the links below to see which daytrip is the one for
you.
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| If
you are "new" to Paris, read
our section on
Paris Know-How.
Our "know-how"
explain
"arrondissements" and how they are used in Paris, describe tips for using the Metro,
suggest tips for dining in
Paris, discuss French etiquette, and other information that will help you "navigate" Paris. |
Featured Paris Videos
Or click this link to select a video from our collection of
Paris Videos.
Versailles Small Group Day Trip from Paris
From Viator Tours
Click here to see our recommendations on the
Best Places to Visit in France
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