France's capital is one of the most popular tourist cities in the world, attracting visitors from all over the globe. Its iconic monuments and building, fine art collections and reputation for great dining all combine to make Paris a truly unforgettable city, no matter where you stay or what you decide to go and see. There are so many tourist attractions, it will probably be impossible to fit them all in, but there are some that shouldn't be missed.
The best way to see Paris is from one of the monuments that offer you an aerial view of the city. And there are plenty of them to choose from! The most famous is the Eiffel Tower, but the queues are often very long and besides, you really want this in your photographs, as part of the Paris skyline. The Arc du Triomphe involves climbing a lot of stairs, but the view at the top down the Champs Elysees is worth it. The lift in the Montparnasse Tower, the only skyscraper inside the city, takes you to the top floor in a matter of seconds and it is also open until late at night. Another interesting viewpoint across the city is from the steps of the Sacre Couer church in Montmarte. Montmarte itself is an interesting area to spend some time wandering round, and there is now a funicular railway that takes you most of the way up the hill.
The one thing everyone should do on a visit to Paris is take a boat trip along the Seine. Not only will you learn more about the city, but you also get great views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and the Louvre from the river. The Louvre may have the most famous painting in the world on its walls, but there are better and smaller museums if you have only have a short amount of time. The Musee D'Orsay, Paris' modern art museum is in an old railway station and features rooms full of paintings by Van Gogh and Monet.
The Notre Dame cathedral is situated on an island in the river, where you can also find the oldest buildings and streets in Paris. Make sure you climb the stairs to the roof and check out the famous gargoyles. In the summer, the road alongside the river is closed to traffic and becomes “Paris Plage” a man-made beach in the city, complete with sand, parasols and beach bars, There is also musical entertainment most evenings.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Paris? Then below is a selection of gites in Paris and villas in Paris that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
