Paris Holiday Guide
French Holiday Property Home > Holiday Guides > Region Guides > Īle-de-FranceParis - everybody's favourite destination
Any holiday guide to Paris is left struggling not for what to put in, but for what to leave out, so much does this department offer to its visitors. (The department of Paris includes the main areas of the city of Paris.) It has endless history and heritage, fantastic architecture, amazing shopping, the best fine dining opportunities in Europe and an atmosphere that has made it everybody's favourite holiday or short break destination.Top 10 things to see and do in Paris
1. The Eiffel Tower
You can't miss the Eiffel Tower in Paris as its distinctive shape and height dominates the city from most areas. Whether you decide to climb the stairs and take the lift to the very top to enjoy the dizzyingly stunning views of the city or simply to stand below and get a sense of the enormity of this iconic structure, it's a sight you won't want to ignore. You can dine in the Tower restaurant, stroll in the surrounding park, take out your paints and canvas and create your own masterpiece of the Tower or stand back and take photographs.2. The Louvre Art Gallery and the Mona Lisa
Of course, the famous Louvre Art Gallery has so much more to offer than just Leonardo's mysterious painting, but this portrait of the lady with the enigmatic smile is possibly the first one that everyone heads for when they enter the Louvre. For art lovers, a visit to the gallery is paradise, but for everyone else it is still an incredible experience and an essential part of Parisian life.3. Eat in a brasserie
Paris has some of the best Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, and if your pocket and palate dictate then the choice of which to enjoy is yours, of course, but if you want to experience the real Paris then a simple brasserie will do the trick very well. They are found on almost every street corner, offering typically Parisian food and a chic, buzzy ambience at quite reasonable prices. They can be very busy, especially at lunch time, and the waiter probably won't remember your name if you should return, but the atmosphere is as authentically Parisian as it gets.4. Shop on the Champs Elyssées
There can hardly be a shopping experience like it, especially at Christmas time when the fairy lights hanging from the trees and the seasonal displays in the shop windows transform this already fantastic street into a magical wonderland. Although prices can be somewhat inflated, there are cheap and cheerful shops too, so whether you are looking for the most exclusive designer fashions of jewellery or just for some knick knacks for the children's Christmas stockings, you should be able to find them on this historic street. Wear comfortable shoes, though, the Champs Elyssées is a long street, and by the time you have explored all the little alleys and halls that fan out from it you will feel as if you have been walking for a week!5. Ride the Metro
It may sound strange, as the Metro is just a (sometimes scruffy!) train service that runs sometimes underground, sometimes above, but a trip on the Paris Metro is another "oh so Parisian" activity that no visitor should miss. When you are above ground you get some interesting views of Paris, and on the trains you will find yourself serenaded by accordion playing buskers. It all comes together to offer up a sense memory that will never leave you.6. Take a boat trip on the Seine
For a different perspective on Paris, try taking one of the "bateau buses", or water taxis that cruise long the mighty River Seine through the heart of Paris. You can see the sights and enjoy the atmosphere while resting your feet and letting the guide do all the work. Families with children usually find this a popular activity too.7. Moulin Rouge
A trip to Paris can hardly be complete without a trip to see the world renowned dancers of the Moulin Rouge. The shows are almost always sell outs, so make sure you book your tickets well in advance of your visit.8. The Notre Dame Cathedral
The Notre Dame Cathedral is another of the top sights to see. You might not catch sight of poor old Quasimodo, or the fiery heartbreaker Esmeralda, but you can hear the famous bells chiming and gaze in awe at this supreme Gothic building.9. Sacre Coeur and Montmartre
The splendid white basilica of the Sacre Coeur and the charming ambience of Montmartre are more "must sees". Montmartre is Paris at its most beguiling, with the atmosphere of a village with its winding, cobbled streets, rather than a part of the city. You will understand immediately just why so many great artists found inspiration and a spiritual home here. It is also a great place to find some of Paris's best cafés. These are places traditionally favoured by the Bohemian set, who settle and watch life pass by while discussing their ideas.10. The Père Lachaise Cemetery
Making a trip to a cemetery may not sound like an ideal holiday activity, but the Père Lachaise is no ordinary cemetery. It was the end of the road for countless famous figures from history, ancient and modern, and as you walk you can spot names like that of Edith Piaff, Molière, Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison. There can be few places on earth where so many iconic figures are gathered together. Some of the most famed of the dead here have their graves watched over almost constantly by their fans and followers, and the cemetery lays a fair claim to being one of the most fascinating places in Paris.Food and drink in Paris
Everything is available in Paris. The city has every ethnic cuisine you can think of represented in its stores, markets and restaurants, and there is every level of price and standard to be found too. Kids and teens who love fast food won't be disappointed, as even this capital of gourmet dining has its share of McDonald's and pizza take aways. You can, however, offset this against the delights of the brasseries, patisseries, chocolateries, fromageries, charcuteries and bistros found in every corner of the city.For top end dining, head for restaurants like le Cinq, where the food, service and atmosphere is the stuff of dreams - although unless you are rather wealthy you might add that the prices can be the stuff of nightmares! If you want to try authentic Parisian dishes, consider the humble Croque Monsieur (creamy fondant cheese with ham in a meltingly delicious hot sandwich), Coq au Vin (chicken cooked in wine), Moules Frites (mussels and chips) or divinely flaky croissants.
