What to See in Paris
The Eiffel Tower is seen as the landmark of Paris. It was created in 1889 for the World Exhibition. The plan was to demolish it after the exhibition, but because of the popularity, the plan was changed. The Eiffel Tower is 319 meter (1047 feet), and until 1931, when the Empire State Building was finished, the world's highest building.
You must be patience, if you are planning to visit the Eiffel Tower; especially in the high season. Here the line can be very long, because the elevator has a limited capacity. Instead of waiting a couple of hours, you can also take the 1.665 stairs instead. No matter what you decide, you will be rewarded with an amazing view. If you are lucky, you can see as long as 70 kilometers (43 miles).
Dan Brown made the Louvre Museum famous in The Da Vinci Code. But the museum is not just a scene of the crime in a famous book; it is also the house of an impressive art collection. Here you can see the Greek statue Venus from Milo and the famous painting Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.
But those two pieces of art is just a very small part of a huge exhibition in the old building from 1190. You can see everything from Greek and Egyptian ancient art to modern design and fashion. So if you want to see it all, one day is not enough.
If you have more time, you should also visit Champs-Elyses, the Notre Dame Cathedral and Versailles (about 30 kilometers/19 miles from the centre of Paris). Disneyland is also a very popular choice among kids.
You can also do some heavy shopping in Paris. You can find all the famous luxury trademarks in the department stores. When it comes to haute couture fashion houses, Rue du Faubourg-St-Honor on the right side of the Seine is the place to go. Look for Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, Pierre Cardin, Chanel, and Christian Dior.
Paris does also have great markets. Gourmet food can be found at the Rue Mouffetard market, while the March de la Porte de Vanves market has old books, postcards, porcelain, and musical instruments. If you are looking for cheap souvenir, you should visit Rue de Rivoli.
Finish your day on one of the great restaurants with a typical French dish and a glass of red wine; or try a sunset cruise on the Seine. If you have more energy, you can party on all night in one of the many nightclubs.