Paris: 19 tips for a short stay

Tripoto
10th Jul 2014
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 1/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 2/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Louvre Museum
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 3/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Pont des Arts
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 4/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Palace de la Concorde
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 5/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Champs Elysees
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 6/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Arc de Triomphe
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 7/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Eiffel Tower
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 8/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 9/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 10/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Pont Neuf
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 11/21 by Valerie Alvarez
La Conciergerie
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 12/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Sainte Chappelle
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 13/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Notre Dame
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 14/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Sacre Coeur
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 15/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Place du Tertre
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 16/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Musee Rodin
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 17/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Les Invalides
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 18/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Brasserie Lipp
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 19/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Cafe Flore
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 20/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Marais
Photo of Paris: 19 tips for a short stay 21/21 by Valerie Alvarez
Luxembourg Gardens
1. Louvre Museum – spend an hour or two – maybe a morning. A trip to Paris would be incomplete without seeing the Mona Lisa at the Louve. To get in, you’ll want to get off at the Tuileries metro stop (it’s the one BEFORE Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre stop), OR if you just are walking, head to L’arche du carouselle (the little pink-ish arch in front of the Louvre.) there are little staircases down to the underground level where there is the metro and a whole mall. From that mall you can just walk right into the Louvre, under the glass Pyramids. Other tourists wait in line to get in the pyramids and it takes forever – besides, you can exit up through them to get the effect. (They are cool). Definitely get a map – it’s confusing and huge.
Photo of Louvre Museum, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
2. Lock your love and throw away the key on the Pont des Arts in Paris Lock your love on the Pont des Arts, which is near the Louve.
Photo of Pont des Arts, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
3. Head to the Palace de la Concorde… After spending a morning at the Louve you can go in two different directions: head out through the Tuileries to Place de la Concorde.
Photo of Palace de la Concorde, Paris by Valerie Alvarez
4. All The Way Up The Champs Elysees for fabulous shopping
Photo of Champs-Élysées, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
5. To the Arc de Triomphe... The Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile is one of the most famous monuments in Paris. It stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle, at the western end of the Champs-Élysées.
Photo of Arc de Triomphe, Place Charles de Gaulle, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
6. Over to Eiffel Tower A long walk overall- but do-able from the places listed above. And, of course the Eiffel Tower needs no introduction.
Photo of Eiffel Tower, Avenue Anatole France, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
7. Head across the Pont Neuf Head across the Pont Neuf (oldest bridge in Paris) to Ile de la Cite where Notre Dame de Paris is.
Photo of Pont Neuf, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
8. See La Conciergerie Also on that island is the little museum called La Conciergerie which is actually the prison where they held Marie Antoinette. Probably skippable, but there is also a little tiny church in the same complex called Sainte Chappelle.
Photo of La Conciergerie, Boulevard du Palais, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
9. Awe at the staind glass windows of Sainte Chappelle… Sainte Chappelle has unbelievable stained glass windows. This used to be the royal chapel and it is really cool.
Photo of Sainte Chapelle, Boulevard du Palais, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
10. Notre Dame is Amazing, too. Notre Dame de Paris is amazing. The cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture and among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world. You should go to the top of the towers, it’s pretty crazy because the steps are teeeny-tiny and you just wind up and up; and when you get to the very top there’s an amazing view.
Photo of Notre Dame, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
11. Wander through Sacre Coeur in Montmartre… Sacre Coeur is in Montmartre, a neighborhood known for it’s filming of Amelie. This cute, hilly, and artsy neighborhood is close to the metro station Abesses. There is also the cool staircase that is the famous photo opt there next to the funicular.
Photo of Sacre-Coeur, Rue du Cardinal Guibert, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
12. Also up there is Place du Tertre which, while touristy, is full of artists & is very cute.
Photo of Place du Tertre, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
13. Admire the works of Rodin The Musee Rodin is one of my favorite hidden gems in Paris. This great little museum is where you can see Le Penseur (The Thinker) in person. Located on 79 Rue de Varenne, over by Les Invalides.
Photo of Musée Rodin, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
14. Les Invalides Les Invalides, which is the gorgeous domed building that used to be the military hospital but now houses Napoleon’s Tomb (skip going in). That is all really close to Champs de Mars, the park that runs under Eiffel Tower. Really nice and pretty area., with great restaurants also hidden throughout. (Image credit: Pantchoa)
Photo of Les Invalides, Rue de Grenelle, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
15. There are tons of bars and cafes along St. Germain. The most famous are Cafe Flore Experiencing its traditional parisian atmosphere with locals and tourists alike, serving a plethora of French-style dishes. It’s a perfect spot for something simple like brunch.
Photo of Café de Flore, Boulevard Saint-Germain, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
16. Brasserie Lipp Sartres, Hemingway, Georges Sand and others hung out there. It is a Parisian experience that shall be had.
Photo of Brasserie Lipp, Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
17. Around Marais… Other cool area might be to go to the oldest part of town, called the Marais, and see the Hotel de Ville (city hall), Place Des Voges, and the Picasso museum. Also Centre Pompidu. There are lots of cute restaurants/bars near Centre Pompidu, but it can also be a bit dogy in areas. The Opera and Madeline are cool too, but then again, everything is pretty amazing in Paris.
Photo of Le Marais, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez
19. The Luxembourg Gardens are so pretty and worth a stop.
Photo of Luxembourg Gardens, Paris, France by Valerie Alvarez