Ah Oui, the Sights of Paris

I had the incredible opportunity to live in France and teach English for a school year. I visited Paris several times throughout my time in Europe, so I’d like to share my recommendations for what to see while you’re there. So, on y va! (here we go!)

1) Take the river boat on the Seine River to see the main sights. It’s a great way to see the main part of the city (instead of being underground on the metro) and get a commentary in English too. It starts from the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame Cathedral, and you can get off at stops to see the Louvre, Musée D’Orsay, and other popular sights. There are several tour boat companies to choose from, but here is one called Batobus.

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2) Go in the famous Louvre Museum…depending on what you want to see you could spend a couple hours or a couple days there. I’d skip the Mona Lisa unless you desperately want to see it. It’s very small and always crowded with people. Instead, pick a few exhibits that sound interesting to you personally.

3) Definitely go inside the Notre Dame Cathedral. It’s massive and magnificent.

4) Just across the river from Notre Dame is the Shakespeare & Company bookstore, full of books—in English! If you’re a book lover or just need to escape all the French language circling around you, this is a great little oasis.

5) The Sacre Coeur Basillica is at the top of Mont Matre, an art district. It’s a nice walk and a great view of the city. I’d recommend going during the day since at night Mont Matre can get sketch in some places.

6) Visit one of the big parks. The French know their flowers, even in winter! The Parc Floral de Paris is one of my favorites. Vast, flowers, forests, walking trails, and if you’re lucky you may see a peacock!

7) Eat Crepes! The street vendor ones are a decent lunch on the go, but if you want the real thing, take a meal at a Crêperie. Here’s a helpful hint: check out this blog Where to Get the Best Crepes in Paris.

8) Last and most famous….La Tour Eiffel! If you can, go both during the day and at night. Completely different. And unless you have an intense fear of heights, GO UP. The view is breathtaking, and while you’re up there, see if you can spot the original (and smaller version) of Lady Liberty.