What
to Do in Paris. Paris Tourism Divided into 20 arrondissements that spiral outward
from the city center, Paris could be considered a collection
of charming villages, each with its own unique attractions
to explore. Of course, when the "village" you're
exploring contains famous international landmarks like the
Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame, it's easy to be awestruck and
stick to the beaten tourist track. Admittedly, the 10 must-do
activities outlined below are firmly planted on the mainstream
tourist route, but they're all sights you'll want to see at
least once in your lifetime. And remember, the City of Lights
has countless hidden treasures to explore as well.
Climb to the top of L'Arc de Triomphe.
This is a perfect first stop on your tour of the city. Built
in honor of the French Army and unveiled in 1836, the top of
the Arc de Triomphe offers a grand panoramic view (keeping in
mind, of course, that in a city that boasts the Eiffel Tower,
offering a noteworthy view is no easy feat). Inside the arc,
a museum details the monument's history. Outside, in the shadow
of the arc, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier pays homage to the
soldiers killed in World War I.
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The Scoop:
Address: Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris; Phone: +33 (1)
55 37 73 77; Hours: 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., October through March;
10 a.m. to 11 p.m., April through October; Cost: 40 F, adults;
25 F, ages 12-25; free for children under 12; Web Site: www.paris-touristoffice.com/index_va.html
An architectural
wonder and a jewel by night: the Eiffel Tower(Le
Tour Eiffel).
The Eiffel Tower has always been the structure Paris loves to
hate. Commissioned in 1887 for the World Fair, its intricate
latticework was considered gaudy by Parisians when it was first
built. Today, it stands as one of the world's most visited and
widely recognized attractions. You can stand in line and climb
2,652 stairs to reach the top, or if you're too tired after
a day of wandering the nearby Left Bank, you can take an elevator
up. Either way, once there, you'll be rewarded with a spectacular
view of the city. And don't be surprised when it disappears
from the skyline at night. At 1 a.m., the lights go dark and,
at sunrise, the monument once again rises like a guardian high
above the city.
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The Scoop:
Address: Champ de Mars, 75007 Paris; Phone: +33 (1) 44 11 23
23; Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., winter and fall; 9:00 a.m.
to midnight, summer; Cost: 24 F (first level), 45 F (second
level), 65 F (third level), adults; 14 F, 25 F and 35 F, children;
Web Site: www.tour-eiffel.fr/indexuk.html
Get an eyeful
at the Centre Georges Pompidou.
With its pipes, metalwork and elevators visible for all to see,
the Centre Georges Pompidou is memorable for its inside-out
appearance alone. But it is also home to the National Museum
of Modern Art/Center of Industrial Design. Exhibition galleries,
a public information library and a cinema, as well as a concert
hall and a research institute for contemporary music, are all
housed here. The complex draws an amazing — and an amazed
— 23,000 visitors every day.
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The Scoop:
Address: Place Georges Pompidou, 75004 Paris; Phone: +33 (1)
44 78 12 33; Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily except Tuesday.
Closed on certain holidays; call first; Cost: 30 F, adults;
free for children under 18; Web Site: www.centrepompidou.fr
Smile back at
the famous lady of the Louvre.
This is where schoolchildren go on a usual class trip. No wonder
the French have a reputation for loving the finer things. Once
a medieval fortress and palace to the kings of France, the Louvre
today is home to the famous Mona Lisa, as well as a world-class
collection of other paintings, drawings, jewels and sculptures.
Unless you're a die-hard art aficionado — in which case
you'll want to stroll at your own pace — a one-and-half-hour
guided tour of the Louvre may be the best way to ensure you
don't miss any of the prominent treasures at one of the most
beloved museums in the world.
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The Scoop:
Address: Main entrance is at the Pyramide Cour Napoléon,
75001 Paris; Phone: +33 (1) 40 20 51 51 or +33 (1) 40 20 53
17; Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily except Tuesdays and public
holidays; 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays; Cost:
46 F until 3 p.m.; 30 F after 3 p.m. and all day Sunday. Free
the first Sunday of each month; Free for children under 18;
Web Site: www.louvre.fr/
See the flying
buttresses of Notre Dame.
Built 900 years ago, Notre Dame (Our Lady) is one of the most
beautiful cathedrals ever built. It has inspired poetry, deep
faith and legends. Standing before the incredibly detailed facade,
you can't help but think of the workers that put each stone
and statue into place. To get a view of the famous flying buttresses
(they're the supporting arms that stick out of the side of the
building, in case you're wondering), climb the 387 stairs to
the top. Step outside and take out your camera. The views of
the Seine River, and the city beyond, are what postcards are
made of. Be sure to explore the inside of basilica, which was
completed from the late 12th century to the mid-13th and has
a beauty all its own.
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The Scoop:
Address: 6 Place du Paris de Notre-Dame, 75004 Paris; Phone:
+33 (1) 44 32 16 72; Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., daily during
winter; 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., daily during spring and fall;
9 a.m. to 10 p.m., daily during summer; Cost: 36 F, adults;
free for children under 17; Web Site: www.paris.org/Monuments/NDame
