If you find yourself en route in Paris to somewhere else, or in Europe looking for a weekend break, two days can accommodate a schedule to satisfy every whim – food, culture, sights and sounds.
Shopping at Leisure in Paris
From Bastille, take stroll along Rue Saint Antoine. The quarter to the right, close by to the Bastille is le Marais. Le Marais is the place to shop for some serious Paris mode, with Rue des Rosiers featuring hip boutiques of up-and-coming designers. Shop ‘til you drop for eclectic fashion, unique jewellery and fine arts.
Continue on Rue de Rivoli and Les Halles for more chain store shopping. Once called the ‘guts of Paris’ and an infamous meeting point for drug dealers, it is now a thriving metropolitan shopping scene and there is always a store with les soldes, on sale.
If you are spending the weekend in Paris, try to visit one of the many outdoor markets early in the morning. Markets and their produce differ depending on their quartier.
Paris Landmarks and Attractions
At the end of Rue de Rivoli is the Jardin des Tuileries, which leads through to Place de la Concorde. The Tuileries
Nearby, on the Champs Elysées is the second most famous landmark in Paris, the Arc de Triomphe. The legendary roundabout, Place d’Etoile, has 13 exits. With no marked routes or lanes, pedestrians are to avoid crossing, or attempting to cross it at all costs.
The pedestrian underpass leads to Arc, where you can climb the 234 steps to the top. Inaugurated in 1836 by King Louis-Philippe, it has become the symbol the French nation. Underneath the Arc is the tomb of the unknown solider, buried there in 1921 and marked by the eternal flame.
No visit to Paris would be complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower. Views from the top of the tower are spectacular. Elevator entrance is €13 for adults and €7.50 for children. From the end of 2009, visitors will be able to buy tickets online to avoid the enormous queues.
At night, take the metro to Pigalle where you can stroll up to the Sacre Coeur. Built in Romano-Byzantine style in 1875, this church was constructed as an act of penance after France was defeated by the Prussians in 1870. Today however, the Sacre Coeur is a melting pot of a meeting place, where tourists and Parisians alike go to enjoy the many buskers with some wine and cheese.
The narrow and twisted backstreets of Montmartre are also great for restaurants, to delight in the pleasure of French cuisine, without the price tag. Be careful however, because there are also many tourist traps, serving not so quality food at tourist prices.
If you have enough time to spare, be sure to catch dinner and a show at the notorious Moulin Rouge in Montmartre. Reservations can be made online at the Moulin Rouge’s official website.
Culture and Art
For any creative soul, Paris is the ultimate destination to visit the many museums and art galleries. There is so much to see that it is recommended to set one day aside just for discovering Paris’ art and culture.
If you only have time to see one art gallery, the Musée du Louvre would have to be it. As one of the most famous and respected collections of art in the world, it is also home to the famed La Jaconde, or Mona Lisa. The rumour is that if you stop to look at each of the Louvre’s artworks for 30 seconds, it would take nine months to see the entire museum. Of course no one has nine months to spend there, so a trip to the information desk upon entry is a good idea to work out which of the galleries to see.
More information on 1, 2 or 3 day itineraries or general travel information, the website Paris Info has a good selection of information on the typical tourist spots and the local hangouts.
