There are a great number of options for tourists who are looking to book a city break in the coming months, from the staggering skyline of New York to the fascinating history of London. However, many people would surely nominate Paris as the ultimate destination of all, thanks to its spectacular collection of iconic landmarks, beautiful boulevards and tempting restaurants. If you’re planning to do the right thing by visiting the City of Love, here are a few tips to get the best from your odyssey.
Stay on your feet
There are some cities which are best explored in cars, but Paris is one of those places where two feet will be better than four wheels. Many of the most famous attractions are located close to each other, such as the Louvre, the Jardins des Tuileries and the Champs-Élysées. A sightseeing bus is a good option when you’re feeling tired, but if you’re able to walk as often as possible you’ll get the best from the city.
Don’t miss out on the Louvre
The Louvre is perhaps the most famous art gallery in the whole world, and it’s a must-see even if you’re not crazy about spending time viewing paintings and sculptures. The problem for people who are on short breaks is that time constraints will rarely allow for enough hours to even scratch the surface of the establishment’s contents. With well over 30,000 exhibits just waiting to be discovered, a little pre-planning could save a lot of time.
Enjoy the view!
One of the most popular attractions in Paris is the stunning Eiffel Tower, but you need to be ready for queues if you wish to get to the top. A good tip is to visit in the mornings, because it gets extremely busy in the afternoons. The views from the observation deck are always worth the wait, however, so take the elevator and prepare to savour the panoramic vista. And be sure to take the camera with you!
Be prepared to shop around
Paris is home to some of the world’s most famous shops, and of course is one of the centres of the fashion industry. Because of this, the prices in some of the high end stores are extremely high, but there are plenty of bargains to be had if you know where to look. The flea markets of Montreuil in the east of the city are perfect, offering some wonderful products that won’t set you back an arm and a leg.
And of course, there’s the food
No visit to Paris would be complete without a thorough investigation of the food options that are available. Whether you’re dining at a top restaurant or a small family-run bistro, you can be sure of finding an excellent menu, attentive staff and some truly wonderful cuisine. In France they take their food very seriously indeed, so be sure to savour every delicious mouthful.
David Showell lives in southern England and has visited France on several occasions. When he’s not travelling, he’s helping visitors to Limoges to find affordable car rental deals.
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