Paris is and will always be the dream destination for many tourists of whatever age group or travel plans. The city has become synonymous over the years with finesse, expensive taste and the good life, and for a good reason: It doesn’t take much to feel classy in the capital city of France. A whiff of Parisian air combined with hints of Chanel perfume, the aroma of freshly-cooked crepes and brewed coffee in the outdoor cafes, and the breeze from the River Seine is a constant reminder that the City of Lights is also the City of Life.
A big problem in Paris is that there are a lot of beautiful places to visit and there are almost always a lot of tourists all year round. Some of these places of interest are far away from the city center. Take Basilique de Sacré-Coeur in the Montmartre area, for example. It is famous not only for it spectacular view of Paris but also for the angelic voices of the Benedictine nuns that sing the liturgy of the hours. The Versailles and Eurodisney are also far and can be reached through a combination of subway, train and buses. If you have limited time in the city, you may have to choose which of these places to visit.
The city also offers many opportunities to get acquainted with the divine. The Cathédrale Notre Dame de París, the setting of Victor Hugo’s classic story on a hunchback, is also the repository of many Catholic relics such as the Crown of Thorns (housed in the nearby Sainte-Chapelle). Also recommendable is the Chapelle Notre Dame de la Médaille Miraculeuse on the Rue du Bac where the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared to St. Catherine Labouré and entrusted to her the miraculous medal. You could also be a bit more secular, follow the Da Vinci Code route and visit the Église Saint-Sulpice on the Rue de Vaugirard.
Now many people think that most emblematic monuments are expensive. Au contraire. The Arc de Triomphe and the Seine River, for example, can be admired from the outside. A walk along the famous Champs-Elysées (altogether now, shamps-e-LI-seh) is gratifying and free, and is a feast for the eyes. There are also many green spaces and parks like the Jardin du Luxembourg and the Jardin des Tuileries where you can while away your time. It’s pronounced roughly as (jzar-DAHN), in case you’re interested. Cap the day off by walking through the charming Boulevard St-Michel.
Finally, the world’s largest museum, the Louvre, is definitely a must-see. No one, and I insist no one, should leave Paris without entering the Louvre. The museum is very big so if you really are hell-bent on becoming cultured but are pressed for time, I say you should devote at least four hours to see a fraction of the museum’s art collection. The so-called “Louvre Light” route consists of: the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo and Leonardo’s enigmatic magnum opus, the Mona Lisa. I also recommend seeing the Code of Hammurabi, the world’s first written law, and the statue of Cupid and Psyche, a strong artistic personification of love. If you still haven’t got enough, try visiting the Musee d’Orsay for your Renois and Gauguins and the Hôtel des Invalides for a healthy dose of Napoleon Bonaparte.