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Paris; it’s considered to be one of the most romantic places in the world and is ever-popular as a tourist destination. A great choice for a short break or long-weekend, there’s a dizzying array of sights and places to see and it may seem like there’s never enough time to take it all in.
While it’s certainly impossible to take advantage of all the attractions the city has to offer in a short space of time, this article has come up with a selection of five of the attractions you have to see if you’re in Paris.
It’s seems virtually impossible to escape the landmark with which Paris is most commonly associated; every film with a scene in Paris has it looming in the background, walk anywhere resembling a tourist destination and there’s people with bunches of models on a key chain trying to sell you a miniature version of it; I’m talking, of course, about the Eiffel Tower.
Built for the World Exhibition in 1889, the Eiffel Tower rises 300 metres out of the ground and stands out in the Paris skyline, visible from all over the city. Seeing the Tower up close reaffirms like no other attraction that you are in the French capital and demonstrates just what a feat of engineering it was.
A magnificent iron framework made up of around 12,000 pieces of prefabricated iron fit together with something like 7 million nails. For those that don’t suffer vertigo or get easily bored with queues you can head to the top and get a view of Paris that’s unrivaled.
Another of Paris’ most famous attractions and one of the most visited museums in the world is the Louvre. Nestled in the heart of Paris in the 1st arrondissement on the banks of the Seine, the Louvre displays around 35,000 works of art including some of the most famous pieces in history with the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory amongst its collection.
While you may well have seen the Louvre on television, postcards or in magazines, until you’ve seen it in person there’s no way to appreciate the size of the gallery. Occupying a staggering 60,000 square metres, the Louvre sees around 8.3 million visitors a year through its equally iconic Pyramid entrance and underground lobby which also serves as one of the strangest places to find a shopping centre. Beware, though, if you plan on seeing the Mona Lisa, there’s a bit of a queue and taking in the entirety of the collection is something that could set you back a whole day at least.
If you’re still in the mood for art then it’s worth taking a stroll to the Musee d’Orsay (that’s Orsay Museum) on the left banks of the Seine and it’s collection of French art dating from 1848 to 1915. Built in the Gare d’Orsay, the railway station architecture allows the museum a unique layout with a long, high, ceilinged ground floor gallery perfectly suited for the sculptures it contains. This author suggests a bit of time should be spent taking in the model of the Opera House interior and the miniature Paris through the glass floor in front of it.
The Orsay Museum is home to a breathtaking collection of impressionist masterpieces including works by Vincent Van Gogh (Self Portrait, Starry Night Over the Rhone, The Siesta), Manet (The Luncheon on the Grass), Cezanne, Monet, Whistler (including the famous Whistler’s Mother) and many more with sculptures by Paul Gauguin and Degas’ famous studies of ballet dancers’ movement.
If you make it up the stairs to the collection of impressionist art, be sure to take a look through the large clock and enjoy another great view of the city, on a clear day you can see straight across to the Sacre-Coeur Basilica – another of those sights you should see.
Set in the Montmarte district known for its many artists, the Sacre-Coeur Basilica (which translates as Basilica of the Sacred Heart) was completed in 1914 after a pledge to build a church if Paris emerged unscathed from the Purssian war and as a moral condemnation of the sins of Paris with a basilica true to Christian traditions. The architecture stands as a contrast to the more Romanesque stylings of the city and looks more like an Eastern temple.
The outside of the Sacre-Coeur Basilica is an example of excellence in architecture and the, free to enter, interior is no exception. When you emerge, though, be warned that on a summers day the sudden hit of daylight may leave you squinting for while across yet another jaw dropping view of the city below as the basilica sits atop a hill. The highest point in the city, the butte Montmarte is no small climb even for those in prime health. Give more than a thought to the lift service and save your legs.
Another and perhaps more famous of Paris’ religious buildings is the Notre-Dame Cathedral. The religious heart of the city, the Celts had a sacred ground here, the Romans used the site to build a temple to worship Jupiter and a Christian basilica was built in the 6th century with work on the Cathedral beginning in 1163 and finally completed in 1345.
The first cathedral to be built to such a scale, the Notre Dame Cathedral is a huge testament to faith at 128 metres long with two 69 metre tall towers and a 90 metre spire which was added in the 19th century. While many of the cathedral’s famous sculptures and gargoyles were destroyed during the French Revolution many remain and the Cathedral was restored between 1991 and 2001.
As imposing as the Cathedral’s frontage is, there’s no way to prepare for the size of the interior. Walking into the Notre Dame is like walking into an aircraft hangar. The impact of which is something you can’t experience from a postcard.
There’s plenty to see and do in Paris and, when your feet have tired from walking the streets there’s plenty of coffee shops and cafes to rest and take stock in over a crepe and coffee.

If you are visiting Paris, here are five things you must see and do to make the most of your trip.

When you have decided to take a city break in Paris, you know that there are going to be many things you are going to want to do. The best thing to do is to divide up your time and to plan ahead, according to what you are interested in.

The best part about Paris is that it can truly be the city of anyone’s dreams. Therefore, the first thing that you need to do as you plan your city break in Paris is decide what you are most into and what you most like to do. Then, you can plan your city break around that. Sightseeing In Paris

For instance, if you are interested in the sight seeing aspects of Paris, you should plan your city break around that. You can visit things like the Arch de Triumph and the Eiffel Tower, as well as the other historical and tourist attractions of the city. History

If you are interested in historical and religious areas, you can plan your entire city break around these. You can spend a day touring the different churches, and looking at the ancient runes of the city as well. Art

If art is more your thing, you can plan your city break around it. You can spend at least one day at the Louvre and then you can visit the many other art galleries and exhibitions that are all over the city. There are enough art museums to keep you in one for every day of your holiday. Parisian Experience

Of course, perhaps you are simply looking to experience the real life in Paris. You can plan your city break by going to small bookstores and cafes, and by spending the evenings at small restaurants that the locals might visit. This is often a good way to get knowledge of how life really goes in Paris. Shopping

If you are interested in shopping, you can have an entire city break that is centered around shopping. With some of the biggest and most expensive shopping districts in the world, you can spend your entire break visiting different stores and buying things.

Because Paris is such a diverse and interesting city, you should be able to create a city break that is specifically tailored exactly to who you are and to what you enjoy. This is a great city for anyone to visit, and no matter what you are currently in to, you should be able to plan a holiday that is exactly what you need.

Paris is heaven for those who live (love) to shop. There are many options and it is worth every penny to look for the one which suits your pocket. You can find different kinds of shops like small boutiques to large malls and galleries. Whether you are a business traveler or a leisure traveler, when you are in Paris, shopping is always on the cards.Now the important question is what to buy in Paris. You can buy several things but listed below are some of the things worth buying:AntiquesBuying antiques is a pleasure as well as an art in Paris. You can find many dealers around the Boulevard St. Germain and also in Rue du Faubourg. However, few things should be taken into consideration like you need to take special permit before buying an antique which costs more than 1 million euros or those over 100 yrs old. Even for the purpose of investment buying antiques are a better option. In Paris there are many shops where you can get a good deal so you should do some searching before buying things which requires good amount.FashionWhat to say about fashion in Paris. It has all the big names and you can buy as many as you want. Champs Elysees is the place for all the designer shopping and there you can also find some boutiques which are convenient to you. There are many stores also which has everything that you need and it has all fashionable clothes and accessories which will add to your mood and personality as well.PerfumesThis is one of the best things to buy and gift someone. You can have the best of the perfumes here. To buy that perfume for your dear one you just need to step out of your hotel as perfumes are easily available and they even provide duty – free perfumes which are delivered to the airport on the day of your departure.SouvenirsThis is what we generally give to our friends and all. The little Eiffel tower is a very famous souvenir along with the T-shirts that you can easily find in many areas of Paris. If you want it to be very special then go for some up market stores and shop, where you will enjoy shopping.Food and WineYou can have the best of the wines and also take home different stuffs like curd milk, cheese and others. If you are a regular visitor here then trying your hands in buying something out of the league will be pretty refreshing. Paris has lots of stuff regarding food which you can buy and most important of all they are very good in quality.So, by now you would have got some ideas of what to buy in one of the most charming and fashionable cities of the world. Apart from shopping one can also enjoy visiting historical monuments, museums and art galleries and take back the memories that will be cherished throughout your life.