In the new year those looking for a city break should look no further than effervescent Paris. Cheap flights and budget hotels are easy to come by, the only cost will depend on what you want to do when you are out and about. Many words spring to mind when thinking of Paris; beautiful, romantic, glamorous along with cheesey, tacky and over-priced. I would definitely encourage you to adopt the first mindset when thinking of Paris. As although it undoubtedly has its fair share of tourist traps and 16 euro Guinness, the best way to experience the city is to give in and accept it for what it is.
The Montparnasse district is a great place to stay when in Paris. Offering its own quirky neighbourhood feel it offers easy access to all the sights. Overlooking the area is the huge Tour de Montparnasse, this gigantic skyscraper is considered ugly by the locals but standing at it's base and looking up is a dizzying experience. The Boulevard de Montparnasse offers a range of shops and restaurants made famous by writers like Hemingway, such as La Rotonde- which offers a delicious reasonably (for Paris) priced set meal. At the end of the Boulevard a stroll through the calming park of the Jardin du Luxembourg would be a good option.
The Montmartre area of Paris is famous for the artists who have made the district home. The most well-known of Paris's cabarets is found here- the Moulin Rouge. Near the Moulin Rouge film fans can grab a coffee in the Two Windmills cafe in which Amelie worked in. Stopping for a crouque-monsieur from one of the many cafes is also a great Parisian experience. Montmartre is full of things to see and do with cafes and boutique shops, although its best to avoid the seedy atmosphere at night. A visit to Montmartre isn't complete without seeing the Sacre-Coeur basilica, impressive both outside and in with remarkable panoramic views over the city.
Whichever way you look in Paris there is an iconic sight, and even those that are not usually interested in sight-seeing cannot help but be affected by the grandeur of Paris. The Ile de France, an island in the middle of the Seine River, not only offers fantastic views of the river but is home to the Notre Dame Cathedral. Famous for tales of its hunchback and for its divine beauty, Notre Dame is one of Paris's jewels. The Arc de Triomphe built by Napoleon is one of the sights most people would associate with Paris, and gives great views, particularly down the Champs Elysees. A saunter down this most famous of streets allows those shopaholics some time to pick up some French fashions. Walking down the Champs Elysees will bring you through the beautiful Jardins des Tuilieres where you can rest in magnificent surroundings, before heading into the adjacent Louvre Museum.
The Louvre is an epic building, once home to the French Royal family, and houses the Mona Lisa- although getting a glimpse of it through the throngs of tourists can be difficult. The sight to complete your visit to Paris is the most iconic emblem of the city, if not France itself- the Eiffel Tower. Although you will have undoubtedly seen the tower a thousand times on t.v, the size when viewed from its base is breathtaking. Theres nothing better than grabbing an ice-cream, or glass of wine, in the Champ De Mars park next to the tower and admire it from there.
Paris is definitely a romantic city, and visiting it with someone you love makes it an experience you will never forget. But even if not, Paris is one of the great cities in the world, and with its fantastic sights and experiences will leave you wanting to come back again.
The Montparnasse district is a great place to stay when in Paris. Offering its own quirky neighbourhood feel it offers easy access to all the sights. Overlooking the area is the huge Tour de Montparnasse, this gigantic skyscraper is considered ugly by the locals but standing at it's base and looking up is a dizzying experience. The Boulevard de Montparnasse offers a range of shops and restaurants made famous by writers like Hemingway, such as La Rotonde- which offers a delicious reasonably (for Paris) priced set meal. At the end of the Boulevard a stroll through the calming park of the Jardin du Luxembourg would be a good option.
The Montmartre area of Paris is famous for the artists who have made the district home. The most well-known of Paris's cabarets is found here- the Moulin Rouge. Near the Moulin Rouge film fans can grab a coffee in the Two Windmills cafe in which Amelie worked in. Stopping for a crouque-monsieur from one of the many cafes is also a great Parisian experience. Montmartre is full of things to see and do with cafes and boutique shops, although its best to avoid the seedy atmosphere at night. A visit to Montmartre isn't complete without seeing the Sacre-Coeur basilica, impressive both outside and in with remarkable panoramic views over the city.
Whichever way you look in Paris there is an iconic sight, and even those that are not usually interested in sight-seeing cannot help but be affected by the grandeur of Paris. The Ile de France, an island in the middle of the Seine River, not only offers fantastic views of the river but is home to the Notre Dame Cathedral. Famous for tales of its hunchback and for its divine beauty, Notre Dame is one of Paris's jewels. The Arc de Triomphe built by Napoleon is one of the sights most people would associate with Paris, and gives great views, particularly down the Champs Elysees. A saunter down this most famous of streets allows those shopaholics some time to pick up some French fashions. Walking down the Champs Elysees will bring you through the beautiful Jardins des Tuilieres where you can rest in magnificent surroundings, before heading into the adjacent Louvre Museum.
The Louvre is an epic building, once home to the French Royal family, and houses the Mona Lisa- although getting a glimpse of it through the throngs of tourists can be difficult. The sight to complete your visit to Paris is the most iconic emblem of the city, if not France itself- the Eiffel Tower. Although you will have undoubtedly seen the tower a thousand times on t.v, the size when viewed from its base is breathtaking. Theres nothing better than grabbing an ice-cream, or glass of wine, in the Champ De Mars park next to the tower and admire it from there.
Paris is definitely a romantic city, and visiting it with someone you love makes it an experience you will never forget. But even if not, Paris is one of the great cities in the world, and with its fantastic sights and experiences will leave you wanting to come back again.
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