A City Guide To Paris

Paris is a city that everyone knows, even if only from films or books. Renowned for offering beautiful architecture, tasty food, compelling culture, and chic fashion, it is a must visit on just about every travel list. Let’s face it, we all want to be swept up in the creativity and romance of a world that almost seems magical. Of course, there is no shortage of incredible places to visit, chief among them of course being the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. Here are a few other suggestions to add to your Paris iteniary.

Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris

CATHEDRALE NOTRE DAME DE PARIS

Notre-Dame Cathedral, or simply Notre-Dame as it’s more commonly known, is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris. Widely considered as one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, it is among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world. Steeped in history, the original construction of the cathedral was completed in 1345. A true spectacle to behold, both inside and out, Notre Dame is a must see for anyone visiting Paris for the first time.  

Musee du Louvre

MUSEE DU LOUVRE

The Louvre is the world's largest museum and a historic monument in Paris. Housed in the Louvre Palace, which was originally built as a fortress in the late 12th century under Philip II, approximately 380,000 objects and 35,000 works of art are exhibited over an area of 72,735 square metres. The most popular among them is of course Leonardo da Vinci’s famed Mona Lisa, which consistently draws big crowds throughout the year. A central landmark of the city easily identified by the large glass pyramid that stands over the entrance in the main court, the Cour Napoléon, the Lourve is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement and was the world's second most visited museum last year, receiving 7.4 million visitors.

Berthillon Ice Cream

BERTHILLON

Berthillon is not your typical tourist landmark and yet a trip to Paris would not be complete without a visit to its famous store on the Île Saint-Louis. This French manufacturer and retailer of luxury ice cream and sorbet is owned and operated by the Chauvin family, descendants of the eponymous Monsieur Berthillon, who from 1928 operated a restaurant on the premises called "Le Bourgogne". Expect long lines in summer as tourists and locals alike wait patiently for their opportunity to sample what has been called some of the best ice cream in the world.

There are of course many, many other things to see and do in Paris but make sure you include these three on your list for your first (or next) visit.