How to make the most of your Paris vacation

by: AbeliaFDuxbury
Total views: 11 | Word Count: 447

Although it isn't a well publicized fact, Paris is the second largest European city; ideally situated along the banks of the river Seine. Almost everyone taking a European vacation will decide on a short stay in Paris; you can never become bored in this beautiful city.

Visitors flock to see its many wonderful buildings; it has much to offer visitors who adore culture, even if it is only for a long weekend. Visitors to Paris as well as its citizens can travel around Paris easily; the Metro underground system is easy to understand, efficient and reaches everywhere even the most enthusiastic tourist would want to visit.

The Eiffel Tower at over 300 meters tall and is a magnificent steel structure; there are only a few places in the city where it isn't visible. You can be assured of an even more beautiful sight if you visit in the evening when it is illuminated; guided tours add to the thrill as you get to peek into history on how it was constructed.

On your Paris trip ensure you add the famous Champs Elysees to your list of places to visit; it will present you with many famous designer shops and good restaurants. This is considered a more exclusive and busy area of the city; most of the five star hotels are located here but more affordable hotels can be found further out.

The world famous Louvre museum is in this city; with over 300,000 wonderful artistic works, you simply cannot see all of it in one day. A short stay in Paris only ever allows a small appreciation of what is on offer; some of the most important art collections in the world are here including Leonardo da Vinci's world famous Mona Lisa. Many well known artists spent years of their lives in Paris; the likes of Monet, Picasso and many others lived in the city for years and some of their work can still be seen today.

The Arc de Triomphe another famous landmark was built by Napoleon in 1806; the names of his generals engraved upon it to honor them and his troops. Many people do not know that an observatory was included in the design which affords great views of the surrounding area; including all the avenues of which it is a focal point.

We can only cover a small sample places to visit; and these major attractions are probably best viewed as part of a guided tour, some of which are actually free. It's an unfortunate fact that a Paris short stay vacation will only include some of the attractions; this article has not even discussed the topic of medieval castles and gothic churches which the city has in abundance.

About the Author

Of course knowing a little basic French would greatly enhance your Paris holiday and you can now even learn French online which would make your vacation even better