What to visit in Paris in 4 days. What else to see in Paris? Evening after arrival

Trip to Paris

Paris is the city of dreams. The number of world-famous attractions here is simply off the charts: the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame de Paris, the Louvre, Moulin Rouge, Montmartre... Add to them cozy restaurants, charming narrow alleys, picturesque parks and colorful townspeople - and you will understand why. Great writers and artists sought and found their inspiration in Paris.

However, we should not forget that this is a multimillion-dollar city with busy traffic, vast distances and a large number of visitors, and not at all the scenery from a movie. A trip to Paris is full of contrasts: it is at the same time a city of pompous palaces and shabby facades, romantic love and cruel revolutions, high art and the simple joys of life. It may not turn out to be what you imagined, but give it a chance and Paris will enchant you!

How to get to Paris?

The fastest and most convenient way to get to Paris from Moscow, St. Petersburg or Kyiv is by air. The non-stop option is provided by several airlines: Aeroflot, Transaero, Air France, Aigle Azur. Travel time from Moscow to Paris is about four hours, from St. Petersburg even less. Ukraine International Airlines or Air France will take you from Kyiv to the French capital in 3.5 hours. Many airlines offer options with one or more transfers, which will take longer, but will cost much less than direct flights.

The Aviasales service will help you speed up your selection of the most convenient and affordable flight. It provides flexible filter settings that will allow you to specify various parameters: departure dates and times, number of transfers, desired airports. But the main thing is, of course, the opportunity to compare prices among dozens of offers from various airlines and ticket sales agencies. Read more about this in the Ever.Travel review.

Where to stay in Paris?

Paris is beautiful all over - from the tip of the Eiffel Tower to the Luxembourg Gardens, from Montmartre to Montparnasse, any of the 20 administrative districts of this great city has its own charm. But still, there are areas that are more suitable for staying during a tourist visit, especially if you are visiting for just a few days and want to see as much as possible.

Map of Paris districts

City center

The ideal option would be to find housing in the central part of Paris, on the banks of the Seine. Districts 1 to 7 form the historical and tourist center of the city. Here you'll visit some of Paris's most famous landmarks and museums, admire its stunning architecture, and understand why this city is considered the most romantic in the world. The Louvre, Notre-Dame de Paris, the Orsay Museum, the Tuileries Gardens, Les Invalides, the Latin Quarter, the Saint-Germain district and, of course, the Eiffel Tower - all this will be within walking distance if you choose a hotel in the center of Paris.

Visa to France

France is one of the countries of the Schengen zone, so to enter its territory you will need to obtain a Schengen visa. To receive it, you must provide a package of documents. We advise you to check what is included in it and how much this pleasure will cost on the official websites of the French Visa Center in Russia and the France Visa Service Center in Ukraine.

As a rule, when you first apply to French visa centers, you will receive a six-month visa with a period of stay in the country of up to 90 days. For repeated applications, the validity of the visa may be extended to a year or two.

Applying for a Schengen visa usually looks like a rather intimidating and troublesome task, especially if this is your first time. In addition, to guarantee a positive result, all your documents must be in perfect order, because if you are denied a visa, your vacation plans may be hopelessly ruined. If you are not sure that you can cope with bureaucratic intricacies, or you just don’t have time to deal with the hassle of documents, use the VisaToHome service. You will only need to take photos, answer a few questions on the website and give a package of documents to the courier, and then the specialists will do everything for you. A few days later, your passport with the coveted visa will be delivered directly to your home!

How to get from Paris airport to the city

Paris - Charles de Gaulle Airport (L"aéroport de Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle) or Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle (Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle)- one of the largest airports in the world. Located 25 km from the capital. A trip to Paris by public transport will cost approximately 10 euros.

High-speed trains RER (line B) connect the airport with the city center and Gare du Nord station, where you can change to the metro or trains of other lines. The movement interval is 12-15 minutes, the trip duration is about half an hour.

There are also several bus routes from the airport to different areas of the city, including at night. This trip will take about an hour.

Taxi ranks are located at the terminal exits. A trip to the center of Paris by taxi during the day will cost approximately 50 euros, from 17:00 to 10:00, and on weekends and holidays - 15% more. Low-cost airlines fly to Beauvais Airport (Aéroport de Beauvais-Till). It is separated from Paris by about 70 km. By bus this distance can be covered in 1.5 hours and 15 euros.

Arriving in Paris late at night, with large suitcases or small children, finding a taxi or public transport is not an easy task. To save yourself the stress, it is better to book a transfer from Paris airport to your hotel in advance. We recommend using the KiwiTaxi service for this. On their website you will not only choose the car you want, but also immediately find out the exact cost of the service. 100% meeting at the airport guaranteed!

Car rental in Paris

If you want to visit not only Paris, but also its surroundings, such as Versailles, Fontainebleau or Disneyland, we recommend that you consider renting a car. It will be a little more expensive than using public transport, but imagine the freedom you get! By renting a car, you can go to the Cote d'Azur or even to one of the neighboring countries for a day. It is most convenient to use the RentalCars service to rent a car. It compares prices from several companies at once, allowing you to choose the most attractive option. Read more about this in the Ever.Travel review.

Paris city transport

In Paris there is an extensive network of bus routes, including night routes, and several tram routes. However, the most popular and convenient transport is the metro. Actually, the word “metropolitan” itself originally meant Parisian underground transport.

Paris metro- record holder for the density of stations: from any point in the city to the nearest station will be no more than 500 m. The average travel time between them is 2 minutes. The RER high-speed train network operates within Paris similarly to the metro, the only difference being that there are fewer stations and trains run less frequently but faster. Navigation is well organized - you can easily reach your destination if you carefully follow the signs. The outputs are marked with the word “Sortie”.

It is very convenient that a universal T+ ticket costs 1.7 euros for all types of public transport in Paris. A set of 10 tickets - “carnet” - is sold for 13.3 euros, which allows you to save money. Almost every station has a ticket vending machine with a menu in English.

Bicycle rental Velib

The city's bike-sharing network is considered part of the public transport system. It is very popular and easy to use. First you need to register in the system using a credit card. The cost of registration for 24 hours is 1.7 euros, for a week - 8 euros. 150 euros are blocked on the card as a deposit until the bike is returned. The first half hour you ride for free, then every 30 minutes the cost increases from 1 to 4 euros. However, no one forbids you to change your bike every half hour - there are really many rental counters.

Tourist maps of Paris

And those who don’t like to think through anything can use ready-made guides to Paris:

Main telecom operators: Vodafone, Orange, SFR, Bouygues. Tourists can buy a SIM card for about 10 euros, of which 5 will be credited. To register a SIM card, you usually need to provide your local address (for example, a hotel). The same card can be used when traveling around Europe - the tariffs are practically the same.

Shopping in Paris

It’s difficult to name the best place for shopping in the capital of world fashion, but we can say with confidence: here you can find everything - from haute couture masterpieces to affordable youth brands, from inexpensive souvenirs to works of art. Flea markets, small designer clothing stores, luxury boutiques and outlets - there is something for every taste and budget. The department store Galeries Lafayette is even considered a city landmark in its own right.

Sales with discounts of up to 60% are held twice a year: in January-February and July-August. Most stores are open from 9:00 to 19:00 from Monday to Saturday. In tourist areas (Champs-Élysées, Le Marais, Carrousel du Louvre) boutiques of famous brands are open on Sundays. On weekends, numerous street markets are open until lunchtime.

French cuisine

The number of cafes and restaurants in Paris seems impossible to count. The townspeople know how to enjoy food and do not refuse gastronomic pleasures. Everyday food is quite simple but tastes very good. In addition to wine and cheese, they love all kinds of soups: onion, tomato, potato, cream soup “Saint-Germain” from green peas, meat soup in a pot “potofeu” and bouillabaisse from different types of fish. Parisian chefs cook excellent meat and fish, the taste of which is enhanced by a variety of sauces. Moroccan cuisine is very popular, especially couscous. Hot flavored crepe pancakes (Crêpe) with or without filling, which can be bought on almost every corner - a wonderful snack while walking around the city.

According to the official Paris website, all prices already include a 15% service surcharge, so tipping is not necessary. However, if you want to personally thank the waiter, it is not forbidden to leave him 5-10% of the bill. By the way, the price of food and drinks may vary depending on where the table is located: indoors is cheaper, on the terrace more expensive.

History of Paris

It is believed that the capital of France was named after the Celtic tribe of Parisians, who lived on the Isle of Cité even BC. At the beginning of the new era, Julius Caesar built a military fortification and a city here. Until the 4th century, these places were called Gaul and belonged to the Romans - before the leader of the Franks, Clovis I, annexed them to his kingdom, making Paris the capital.

In the 12th-13th centuries, a period of rapid development began: new buildings were built, streets were paved, trade developed, and a university appeared. Since then, Paris has slowly but surely developed - hampered by plagues, wars, and uprisings. Craftsmen and officials, scientists and artists came here. At the beginning of the 18th century, half a million people already lived in the city.

In 1789, Paris thundered throughout the world: under the slogan “Liberty, equality, fraternity,” the townspeople seized the Bastille, giving rise to the French Revolution. After several decades of terror and chaos, power passed to Napoleon I. The ten-year reign of the emperor left many masterpieces as a legacy to the capital.

Napoleon III gave Paris its modern appearance. The actively developing city needed redevelopment. In the second half of the 19th century, most of the dense medieval buildings were destroyed, giving way to spacious boulevards and modern houses. The project was led by police chief Eugene Haussmann and, as they say, he had his own interest. On the wide streets, explosive Parisians could no longer build barricades, but it became very convenient for the authorities to disperse demonstrations.

It is important to know:

• Official language: French
• City area: 105 sq. km. Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements, numbered in a clockwise spiral from the center. In the very heart is the island of Cité, full of attractions, where the city itself was once born.
• Population: 2.2 million people. Together with nearby cities, it forms the so-called “Greater Paris” - an agglomeration with a population of about 10.6 million people. About 15% of the residents are foreigners.
• Visa: Schengen, standard requirements. The cost of a tourist visa for Russian citizens is 35 euros.
• Currency: Euro
• Time difference with Moscow:-2 hours in summer, -3 hours in winter
• Climate: The best times to visit Paris are spring and autumn. It can be very hot here in summer, but quite cool and rainy in winter and late autumn. Temperatures rarely drop below zero, but frequent rain and high humidity can make walking the streets uncomfortable. Officially, the high season is considered to be the period from April 1 to October 31.

Holidays:

Also celebrated in Paris:

Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) - the European analogue of Maslenitsa

The third weekend of September is cultural heritage days. Many historical buildings open their doors to visitors.

The third Thursday of November is Beaujolais Nouveau, the holiday of new wine.

Every first Sunday of the month is Museum Day. Entry to most museums is free.

This concludes our review of the French capital. The next step is yours: select the places and walking routes that interest you on the map, synchronize your travel plans to Paris with the Ever.Travel mobile application and go to conquer this beautiful city!

Photos used in the review Lola Pidluska,

Of course, 5-7 days is only time for a quick acquaintance with the city. However, if you happen to find time to visit Paris, even for such a short period of time, try to prepare in advance so as not to waste precious hours in this beautiful city in order to get the necessary information.

There are probably no such number of stereotypes about any other city in the world: Paris is considered a city of legends, a city of romance and love, the capital of world fashion and culture, etc.

I would like to make a reservation right away that if this trip had taken place in the summer, and not in December, the program would have been somewhat different, for example, in the summer we would definitely have set aside a day and definitely would have gone (to admire the magnificent garden that the famous artist Claude Monet built around his house and which he immortalized in his creations), or maybe . And so, I had to focus on visiting Parisian museums, and instead of the aroma of roses in the Luxembourg Gardens, I had to be content with the aromas of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine, sold everywhere in the city. But, looking ahead, I can say that the trip did not disappoint us in any way, and the beauty of the city, which, moreover, appeared before us in Christmas decoration, beckons us to return there again and continue to get to know it.

And one more thing: we compiled our routes, which will be discussed below, not according to the principle of “see all the sights of Paris and die right there,” but in such a way that, if you want, you have the opportunity to deviate from the chosen route, without “driving” yourself into a strict schedule so that you have the mood and strength to just slowly walk around the city, sit at a cafe table, drink coffee or freshly squeezed juice, in general, if possible, feel the taste, aromas and mood of this city.

Like most of our compatriots, the “gateway to Paris” for us was the largest in France and one of the largest airports in the world - Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport). Here I wrote in detail how we got to the center of Paris from the airport, as well as how to get to Paris if you arrive at another airport - Orly:

Text navigator

Evening after arrival

On the first evening, immediately after checking into the hotel, we walked to Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame de Paris), fortunately the walk there from our hotel took only 15 minutes. Impressive. Preparations for Christmas were in full swing in Paris, so the Cathedral appeared before us in all its splendor. In the following days, we tried, if possible, to lay out our routes so that we could look here several more times and admire this majestic structure and piece of architecture!

The first day

Actually, we didn’t want to plan anything specific for the first day: on the first day it’s much more pleasant to just wander the streets of a new city, soak in its atmosphere. But this time I had to change my habit, as it was raining in Paris. A walk around the city had to be replaced with a trip to the Louvre.

Louvre

One of the greatest and most famous treasuries in the world, located in the stunning interiors of a real royal palace. A definite must-see. Perhaps the most famous painting in the world, the Mona Lisa, is kept here, as well as magnificent statues, including the Venus de Milo, Nike of Samothrace, etc. And the collection of paintings by Italian and French masters of the Renaissance, not to mention the interiors of the Louvre itself, is simply amazing!

Also, if you are going to visit museums a lot, it makes sense to purchase Paris Museum Pass, then entry to the Louvre will be free for you and without a queue. Price Paris Museum Pass:

for 2 days: €42
for 4 days: €56
for 6 days: €69

What does it include Paris Museum Pass, – free and queue-free entry to many museums in Paris and the surrounding area. Full list . If there is a search at the entrance to the museum for security purposes, then you still have to stand in line like everyone else.

Let's return to information about the Louvre. They say that sometimes there are simply gigantic queues at the main entrance. To avoid them, it makes sense to either purchase a Paris Museum Pass in advance, or try to enter the Louvre through other less popular entrances. Here list of entrances to the Louvre:

• Inputs Pyramid(Pyramid of the Louvre) andGalerie du Carrousel: open daily (except Tuesdays): Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays - from 9:00 to 19:30; on Wednesdays and Fridays – from 9:00 to 22:00.
• Entrance Passage Richelieu: open daily (except Tuesdays) from 9:00 to 17:30 (and until 18:30 on Wednesdays and Fridays)
• Entrance Porte des Lions: sometimes closed for technical reasons.

You can easily spend a whole day in the Louvre, but you still won’t have time to see the entire exhibition in one day. Therefore, read the website in advance and decide what exactly you would like to see first. For connoisseurs, tickets are available for 2 days or more, but it seems they can only be purchased at the box office of the Louvre itself.

The Louvre has an excellent audio guide, however, recently Russian has been missing from the languages ​​that can be selected on the audio guide. Rumor has it that the lobby of Russian-speaking guides in Paris tried to do this.

In the evening, when the rain stopped and we were pretty tired from walking through the endless halls of the museum, we went out for a walk around the city. And here Paris appeared before us in all its pre-Christmas splendor.

The route of our walk that evening was as follows: Louvre – Tuileries Garden – Place Vendôme – Place de la Concorde – Champs Elysees. All this is located quite compactly, and if you are in good physical shape, you can endure such a walk even after a day at the Louvre.

Second day. Rodin Museum, Les Invalides, Champ de Mars, Eiffel Tower

I chose the hotel in Paris in such a way that most attractions could be easily reached on foot. It turned out very cool: from a cozy hotel located in the Saint-Germain area, we only had to cross the bridge over the Seine to the Louvre, and to implement the route planned for the second day, we also did not have to use public transport.

After a walk along the beautiful Boulevard Saint-Germain and through charming Parisian alleys, we came to the Rodin Museum.

Rodin Museum

Address: Musée Rodin, 79 rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France
Metro: Varenne (line 13) or Invalides (line 13, line 8)
R.E.R.: Invalides (line C)
Buses: 69, 82, 87, 92

Working hours: open every day except Monday (closed), from 9:00 to 17:45, on Wednesdays - until 20:45.

Price: €8.30

The museum includes an elegant palace, called The Hotel Biron, a park building called "The Chapel", in memory of the neo-Gothic chapel built on the site in the late 19th century and stood here until the 1960s, when it was planned to reconstruct the museum , giving it a modern look. The palace is surrounded by a small but very cozy garden, where perhaps the main exhibit of the museum is located, a magnificent statue - Rodin’s “The Thinker”:

Home for the Invalids

A magnificent building built in the 1670s by order of King Louis XIV as a hospital and home for disabled people and war veterans. The king was touched by the pitiful appearance of his soldiers, doomed to survive on alms and to do this, flaunting their injuries on the New Bridge. Social services and institutions dealing with the issues of the disabled are located here to this day, however, for us as tourists, the museums located in the building complex are primarily of interest - located in the very heart of the Invalides House, the Army Museum (collections of artillery pieces in the front yard, weapons and armor of the XIII-XVII centuries, the section of the New Age (from Louis XIV to Napoleon III, 1643-1870), the section of the two world wars and the history of the army from 1871 to 1945, Historic of Charles de Gaulle), Museum of relief plans (about 100 models of fortresses and fortified cities of France on a scale of 1/600) and, perhaps, the most “iconic” landmark - the Cathedral of the Invalides, under the main dome of which, in a monumental sarcophagus made of red Finnish porphyry, rests the ashes of Napoleon Bonaparte, brought to Paris by Prince Joinville in 1840 from Saint Helena.

Information on the official website - in Russian - almost full version: http://www.musee-armee.fr/ru/home.html

Address: 129, Rue de Grenelle, 75 007, Paris, France

Nearest metro stations: La Tour Maubourg, Invalides, Varennes

Opening hours: from April to October - from 10:00 to 18:00, from November to March - from 10:00 to 17:00. Admission to visitors ends, traditionally, 30 minutes before the museum closes.

Cost: full price – €9.50, reduced price – €7.50. There are categories of visitors for whom admission is free, please check.

After visiting the Invalides' Home, we moved past the military school building towards Field of Mars(at the foot of the Eiffel Tower).

The Champ de Mars itself does not make an impression in winter, I hope it looks better in summer... View from above:

Eiffel Tower

We couldn’t come to Paris for the first time and not climb the Eiffel Tower. Still, it is she who is now the main symbol of Paris, and of France in general. The queue, despite the frightening length, moved quite quickly, and after 20-30 minutes we received the coveted tickets. Unfortunately, on this day access to the very top (3rd level, or Summit) was closed, either for technical or weather reasons. In the end, we had to settle for a visit to the 2nd level, tickets there are almost half the price.

How to get there: There are many ways, which you can read about in detail. However, the most spectacular way to get to the Eiffel Tower is to take the metro to Bir-Hakeim station (line 6), as this line is above ground, and when approaching the station, you will be able to enjoy one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower tower. Another metro station nearby is “Trocadero” (line 9).

Working hours varies depending on the season and the method of ascent (by elevator/by stairs), check on the website.

To avoid queues at the box office, you can buy tickets online no later than 24 hours in advance, here.

Price:

Level 2 (Adults / Youth (12-24 years old) / Children 4-11 years old): €9 / €7 / €4.5

Level 3, or Summit (Adults / Youth (12-24 years old) / Children 4-11 years old): €15.5 / €13.5 / €11

This price is for tickets with an elevator. There is also a cheaper option - to climb the tower on foot, but such tickets (cost €5 / €4 / €3.5, respectively) can only be purchased at the box office; they are not available for online purchase.

The only slight difficulty is that for such advance purchase of tickets you need to clearly decide on the time of your visit and arrive early, because if there is a queue of people with the same tickets at the entrance, and in the end you will arrive at the control for 30 minutes ( or more) later than the time indicated on the ticket, you may not be allowed in (as written on their official website).

If you want to extend your acquaintance with the Eiffel Tower, you can stay in one of the bars or restaurants located right on it. – information about them. Indeed, why not have a glass of champagne at the bar at the very top of the tower?

Batobus waterbuses in Paris

Having completed our program for this day, we decided to take a ride along the Seine on the Batobus river bus. For us, living in the center, this type of transport has become a good alternative to the metro and buses. The eight Batobus berths are located very conveniently, close to all central attractions. As a result, we took tickets for Batobus for 5 days and enjoyed using these trams every day, since the stop called Saint-Germain-des-Pres is located a 5-minute walk from our hotel. (Now I’m looking at the official website (http://www.batobus.com/en.html) - the only options left are for 1 (€16) or 2 days (€19), or an annual subscription (€60)).

Day 3. Latin Quarter: Sorbonne, Hotel Cluny, Pantheon of Glory, Luxembourg Gardens and much more. The true spirit of Paris

This quarter most accurately preserved the spirit of Paris, which we all read about, for example, in the novels of A. Dumas, V. Hugo or Hemingway. It is here that you can try to find the real Paris, which is often greatly missed by tourists who have “been to Paris, but never seen it”... The Latin Quarter is named due to the fact that students and teachers of the large number of educational institutions located here previously communicated in Latin. In Paris, the name “Latin Quarter” is unofficially given to the area that partially covers the 5th and 6th arrondissements of Paris.

Sorbonne

Here is the famous Sorbonne(or the University of Paris), consisting of 13 educational institutions, the buildings of which today occupy almost the entire quarter. The Sorbonne in the world ranking of universities today may be inferior to educational institutions in the UK and the USA, but in Europe it is still very popular.

However, we arrived in this quarter exactly on Christmas Eve, so we were not able to appreciate how student life was bustling at the university and the adjacent cafés. But no one stopped us from walking along picturesque alleys and looking into equally picturesque courtyards.

Abbey of Cluny

In the heart of the Latin Quarter is the Abbey of Cluny. The Gallo-Roman baths built in the 2nd-3rd centuries are adjacent to the medieval hotel of Cluny, a rare monument of secular architecture of the Middle Ages. The entire complex of buildings is part of the National Museum, created in 1843. In the premises of the Cluny Hotel (built in 1485-1510) works of medieval art are stored, but the baths can be interesting in themselves (in the sense, like ancient baths) with mosaics that are well preserved for their age on the walls and as evidence the capital that was already emerging here at that time.

Pantheon

The Pantheon building is actually the Church of St. Genevieve, built on the initiative of Louis XV in 1790. A year later, the French Revolution turned it into the tomb of “great people” - the Pantheon. In 1806, Napoleon returned the church building, but in 1830 Louis-Philippe turned the building into the Pantheon, which in 1848 was named the Temple of Human Fraternity, and in 1853 - the National Cathedral of St. Genevieve. In 1885, the building finally became the Pantheon again, in connection with the burial of Victor Hugo (this was during the Third Republic).

The cathedral is very beautiful outside and inside. On the pediment of the portico on the outside is inscribed in gold letters: “To great people, a grateful Fatherland.” The dome inside the building is decorated with a fresco by Antoine-Jean Gros glorifying Saint Genevieve.

In 1851, Foucault conducted experiments here with his pendulum. The pendulum can still be seen here today.

In the tomb (as it should be according to Christian tradition, below ground level) rests the ashes of about sixty famous personalities, including: Emile Zola, Victor Hugo, Voltaire, Pierre and Marie Curie, etc.

To the left of the cathedral, slightly behind, stands the Basilica of St-Etienne du Mont:

Luxembourg Gardens

From the Pantheon along Rue Soufflot we walked to one of the most luxurious Parisian parks - the Luxembourg Gardens. The building of the Petit Luxembourg Palace located here today, after its acquisition in 1570, was given its name by Prince Tengri, Francois de Luxembourg. And in 1612, the palace, along with the surrounding lands, was bought by Maria de Medici, who ordered the construction of a palace worthy of her, but at the same time preserving the old mansion. Also, at the direction of Mary, a French-style garden was laid out here, which today is decorated with fountains and fifty statues. Over the next almost two centuries, the palace changed hands many times, until in 1800 Bonaparte transferred the building to the Senate. The Senate is located in the palace to this day.

Confectionery Dalloyau

Since it was the eve of Catholic Christmas, we, of course, could not miss this event and decided to celebrate it (even though we are not Catholics). To do this, we went to the first pastry shop we liked, located directly opposite the gates of the Luxembourg Gardens, at place Edmond Rostand - 75006 Paris, (Luxembourg metro station) and bought a traditional French Christmas treat - boucher, taking with it several other types of cakes, “to try”. And also a bottle of pink brut Taittinger champagne. Having bought all this at the market on the way to the hotel, fruits, nuts, cheese with delicious (still hot) bread, we received our “Christmas” menu.

The expensive wrapping and boxes, as well as the quite “boutique” bags in which our purchases at the confectionery store were packed, intrigued me, and I decided to look on the Internet. It turned out that this is one of the most famous confectionery shops in Paris, which, together with its competitor Ladurée, has largely determined the fashion in confectionery art in Paris since the Middle Ages. It turned out that the history of Dalloyau confectioneries dates back to the time of Louis XIV. In 1682, the Sun King hired Charles Daloyo as court baker and pastry chef. The family dynasty of royal confectioners has not been interrupted since then; just after the French Revolution, the Daloyo family moved to Paris, where they opened their first tea salon on the rue Faubourg Saint-Honoré. The Daloyos came up with the recipes for several world-famous French cakes, in particular the delicious Opera cake. They were also the ones who came up with the idea of ​​selling baked goods and ready-made takeaway meals. Like Ladurée, Daloyo has many boutiques in Paris, as well as in Japan, the Republic of Korea and Dubai.

I have absolutely no sweet tooth, at home I don’t look at pastry shops (or the “Desserts” section in the restaurant menu), but it’s true that it’s impossible to resist Dalloyau’s masterpieces! As a result, all the cakes were eaten faster than it occurred to us to capture them in a photo.

Day 4. Ile de la Cité. Marais quarter. Place de la Bastille

Isle of Site or Cite(French - Ole de la Cité) - one of two surviving islands of the Seine River in the center of Paris, which is, at the same time, the oldest part of Paris. Back in ancient times (at least from the 1st century BC), the island of Cite in Paris (then, by the way, called Lutetia in the Roman manner) was inhabited by one of the Celtic tribes - the Parisians. And in the 6th century, after Clovis I moved the capital of the Frankish kingdom to Paris, it was here, on the island of Cité, that the first Christian basilica in Paris was built - the Church of St. Stephen, on the site of which Notre Dame Cathedral was erected several centuries later.

The Ile de la Cité is connected to both banks of the Seine and the neighboring Ile Saint-Louis by nine bridges, the oldest of which today, in a strange twist of fate, is called the Pont Neuf and crosses the island.

By the beginning of the 11th century, a royal palace was built for Robert II on the Ile de la Cité, which remained the residence of French kings until the 14th century. In 1244-1248, the palace complex was supplemented with a real pearl of medieval architecture - the Sainte-Chapelle chapel, conceived as a repository of relics taken by Louis IX from Constantinople in 1239. Since the Louvre Palace, built for Philip II Augustus, could no longer accommodate the increasingly growing royal court and was too small to receive guests, by order of Philip IV the Fair, the royal palace on the island was rebuilt in 1302-1313. However, the new palace did not serve as the residence of the king for long - during the largest peasant anti-feudal uprising in the history of France in 1358, it became clear that the palace could not provide reliable protection for the ruler, so the royal family was forced to move first to the Hotel Saint-Paul near the Bastille, and then to the rebuilt Louvre. Charles V gave the palace complex partially into the possession of Parliament, which then performed the functions of a judicial body. The Palace of Justice exists on the island to this day, in a new building. The remaining premises were given to the manager of the palace, the concierge, from whom the name came Conciergerie:

Before the revolution, in addition to Notre Dame Cathedral, there were up to 20 churches and 15,000 inhabitants on Cite. In the 19th century, the architecture of the Ile de la Cité changed greatly: regardless of the historical and architectural value of the buildings, the town planner Baron Haussmann demolished all the buildings between the royal palace and the cathedral. In their place, the buildings of the police prefecture and the commercial tribunal were built. Three straight streets were laid between the new buildings, turning into bridges.

However, even today there is something to see in Cite. Moreover, perhaps no other place in Paris can boast so many attractions per unit area.

We were happy to devote a whole day in Paris to walking around Cite and getting to know its main attractions and museums, which deserve the closest attention and time spent getting to know them:

Notre Dame Cathedral

The second most important landmark of Paris, according to some classifications, is the cathedral, the construction of which began back in 1163 - Notre Dame, which also bears the unofficial title of “the most recognizable Gothic cathedral in the world.” Climbing up the cathedral tower, where 387 steps lead up, you will get a unique opportunity to look at one of the most famous panoramas of Paris in the company of chimeras and gargoyles.

Inside the cathedral - here she is, Our Lady of Paris, in person:

Ancient gothic chapel Sainte Chapelle:

Inside Sainte Chapelle:

Clock on the wall of the Conciergerie:

Palace of Justice:

Marais Quarter

The romantic name “Marais” translated from French simply means “swamp”. However, it was here, on the right bank of the Seine, in the area of ​​the Place des Vosges, that many noble nobles settled already from the 15th century. By the way, there was a swamp here, but already in the 13th century it was drained by representatives of the Templar Order.

By the way, on the Place des Vosges itself, which is considered the oldest and, according to some, the most beautiful square in Paris, until the 14th century stood the Tournelle Palace - the residence of the French kings before moving to the Louvre.

The quarter is located between Place de la République and Place de la Bastille. The boundaries of the quarter are: in the north - Boulevard du Temple, in the west - Sevastopol Boulevard, in the east - Beaumarchais Boulevard, and in the south - the Seine River.

The quarter is famous and interesting for tourists because it survived Osman’s “urban planning frenzy”, remaining almost untouched, and now here you can admire many magnificent palaces and mansions, adjacent to very ancient dwellings of artisans. And the royal family itself in the 14th century, while the Louvre was being reconstructed, lived in this area, in the “hotel” (mansion) of Saint-Paul. Today, here, on the right bank of the Seine, is the Parisian town hall, a beautiful palace Hotel de Ville(fr. Hotel de Ville), where the Parisian municipal authorities have been located since 1357. The Hôtel de Ville, with its graceful 110 m long façade, is located on the former medieval Place de Grève ( place de Greve), now the Hôtel de Ville square.

On New Year's Eve, when we found ourselves in Paris, life in the square was in full swing: there was an outdoor skating rink, music and a Christmas market. Fun and beautiful.

At the western border of the Marais quarter is the world famous Pompidou Center, built in the 70s based on an innovative design by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, selected from 680 competition entries. The Center for Contemporary Art, one of the best in the world, was named after French President Georges Pompidou, who, alas, did not live to see the project realized. The Pompidou Center is the third most visited attraction in Paris, after the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower.

Official website of the Pompidou Center: https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en

Cost: €14 (adult); You can buy it on the website, for a specific date, here.

Place de la Bastille

On the Place de la Bastille in Paris was the famous Bastille prison, captured on July 14, 1789 and completely destroyed during the French Revolution by July 14, 1790. The Bastille fortress was built in 1370-1383 as part of the defenses of Paris. It is believed that it was converted into a prison in the 17th century by King Charles VI. At that time, the Bastille held mainly political prisoners, as well as religious prisoners and "seditious" authors. The fortress-prison acquired a bad reputation when it became the main prison for prisoners arrested by order of the King of France, although the conditions in the Bastille were not the worst: there were many more terrible prisons in France at that time. The destruction of the Bastille became an expression of the struggle of the common people against the ruling regime, and the day of the storming of the Bastille is to this day the main national holiday of France (although, according to official data, it is not the storming of the Bastille itself that is celebrated, but the reconciliation of the king and the deputies that occurred exactly a year later). The outline of the Bastille fortress, marked on the pavement with stones of contrasting color, can be seen at the end of the street of the modern Rue Saint-Antoine. Some of the stones remaining after dismantling the walls of the fortress were used for the construction of a new bridge over the Seine - the Concorde Bridge, the other part was used to make souvenirs.

These days, Place de la Bastille is a busy transport hub where more than a dozen Parisian streets converge. The metro station of the same name is also located here. Until 1984, the Bastille railway station stood on the site of the modern opera house.

The square contains a number of attractions.

In the center of the square stands the July Column - bronze, 80 meters high, dedicated to the events of the July Revolution of 1830. The Bastille Opera, an ultra-modern building built to commemorate the bicentenary of the storming of the Bastille (1789-1989), is a significant concert venue. In fact, it is on this stage that most opera productions take place in Paris today, while ballet performances are increasingly taking place on the stage of the Opéra Garnier. Part of the fortress's former moat was rebuilt into a port, now known as Port Arsenal, used for pleasure boats. Here you can also see a section of the Canal Saint-Martin.

The square often hosts concerts and various public events, including political demonstrations. The north-eastern part of this area, with its numerous cafes, bars, nightclubs and concert halls, becomes especially crowded at night.

Day 5. Montmartre. Opera Garnier. Champs Elysees. Triumphal Arch. A little shopping

Of course, we could not ignore Montmartre hill(the literal translation of the name is Mount of Martyrs), which is the highest point of Paris, with its famous basilica of Sacré-Coeur (Sacred Heart, or Heart of Christ). You can climb the hill using the famous stairs or using the funicular (you can pay for the journey with a metro ticket).

Sacré-Coeur is one of the most famous Catholic churches in Paris, it is very photogenic, both outside and inside, but is quite young, it is only a century old (built in 1875-1914). By the way, it was built “in memory” of the liberation of Paris from the commune, after the bloody massacre of members of the commune in May 1871. I suspect that the French National Assembly decided to build this church on the Montmartre hill rather not as a memory, but as an edification...

In addition to the basilica, the hill itself and, perhaps, the area at its foot are definitely of interest to tourists. On the hill, to the left of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, is an ancient Benedictine monastery (12th century) - one of the oldest sacred places in Paris.

And the intricate streets on the hill, winding in the vicinity of the famous Place du Tertre, are full of bohemian charm: it was here, on the hill and at its foot, that in the 19th century, impressionist artists huddled in their closets (Renoir, Van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec lived and worked here , Utrillo, Apollinaire, Customs Officer Rousseau; a little later - Picasso, Braque, Modigliani), and this is where today there are art salons in almost every home. Many artists still work here today. A very interesting and “atmospheric” place.

Montmartre Hill, the highest point in Paris, offers a beautiful view of the city:

When we went down the hill, we decided to take a walk to the famous and, perhaps, the most “promoted” cabaret for tourists - Moulin Rouge (aka “Red Mill”). Our path ran along the well-known “Red Light District” - Boulevard Clichy, located between Places Blanche and Pigalle. The place, I’ll tell you, is not an acquired taste: numerous sex shops and brothels (apparently already open, despite the morning hours), dubious-looking personalities, mostly of Arab origin, in general, the quarter gives the impression of not only being a “hot spot,” but also very criminal. It is clear that any place looks completely different in daylight and artificial lighting. However, we had no desire to check how this area would look in the dark: here, even at 11 am, we wanted to clutch our purse tightly and, having taken a photo with the Moulin Rouge in the background, quickly move from here to some more “civilized” place. area.

Opera Garnier

National Opera of Paris. Official website: https://www.operadeparis.fr/. In fact, the Palais Garnier, or Palace Garnier, is only one of the venues of the national opera, which currently hosts mainly ballet performances, but, undoubtedly, the most luxurious. The second site is the ultra-modern Opera Bastille building, located at 130 rue de Lyon, 75 012 Paris.

It was interesting to get inside, but we didn’t have time to bother buying tickets for the performances in time, and by that time we didn’t know anything about the fact that there are excursions to the Palais Garnier building (as well as to the Opera Bastille building), the tour lasts about 75 minutes, tickets are available buy 10 minutes before the start, cost for adults is €12 at Opera Bastille and €10 at Palais Garnier (audio guide at Palais Garnier costs additional €5). No problem, we'll leave that for next time. But even from the outside the building looks truly luxurious.

The square in front of the Opera Garnier building is considered by many to be the very heart of Paris. At least, many popular tourist routes start from here.

How to get to the Opera Garnier building:

Address: Corner of Rue Scribe and Rue Auber, 75009 Paris

Metro station: Alight at Opera, lines 3,7,8
RER: Auber stop, line A

Champs Elysees

According to a popular stereotype, the Champs Elysees is “the most beautiful avenue in the world.” I don’t know what about “in the world”, but walking along the Champs Elysees illuminated for Christmas is very pleasant! By the way, the length of this street is 1915 m, width 71 m.

The Champs Elysees is a wide avenue (I would rather call it a boulevard) between Place de la Concorde, on which stands the Luxor Obelisk, donated to France by the Viceroy of Egypt in the 1830s, and Place des Stars (or, since 1969, Place Charles de Gaulle), in the center of which is the Arc de Triomphe.

What to see and pay attention to on the Champs Elysees

The Champs Elysees is conventionally divided into two zones: park and shopping. From the Place de la Concorde to the Round Square on both sides of the avenue there is a walking park 700 meters long and 300-400 wide, divided by alleys into squares:

northern sector, from east to west:

• Square of Ambassadors (the name comes from the hotels built by the architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel for foreign diplomats on the Place de la Concorde). Not long ago, the famous couturier Pierre Cardin organized his cultural center Espace Pierre Cardin here. The famous sculptural group “Horses” by Marly Guillaume Coustou is also located here.
• Elysee Square (in front of the Elysee Palace). At the corner of the Champs-Elysées and Avenue Marigny there is a monument to Jean Moulin, a hero of the Resistance who was captured by the Nazis and died under torture. One of the main attractions of the Champs Elysees is the Parisian residence of the head of the French Republic, the Elysee Palace. All French presidents, starting with the Third Republic, lived and worked in this palace.
• Marigny square (where the Circus street begins). The Marigny Theater has been located here since 1855 and for several years it was led by the founder of French operetta, Jacques Offenbach. There is also a philatelic market in this square.

southern sector, from east to west:

• Georama Square, or Ledoyen (opposite the Ambassadors Square): Here is located one of the oldest French restaurants - Pavillon Ledoyen. The pavilion (a yellow building that has survived to this day), built back in 1848 under Louis XVI, played a significant cultural role: such celebrities as Flaubert, Maupassant and Zola, Jean Cocteau visited here.
• the large square of the Games, or the large square of the Holidays (opposite the Elysee square). This site, which overlooked the windows of the Elysee Palace, was organized by the Marquis of Marigny on behalf of Louis XV's mistress, the Marquise de Pompadour. Here is the Small Palace and the Grand Palace, where the Museum of Discoveries and Inventions opened. In the center of Place Clemenceau stands a bronze statue of the great military leader Clemenceau, who led France to victory in the First World War.

In each of the squares, except the last one, fountains were installed in 1840-1847.

The park part of the Champs Elysees ends at the Round Square (Ron Point), where the theater of the same name is located (Theater de Rond-Point).

Further to the west begins the so-called “shop” part (two sidewalks of 22 m each and a roadway of 27 m), where banks, airline offices, car exhibition windows, the editorial office of the newspaper Le Figaro and the newspaper Jour de France, a large number of cinemas are concentrated, restaurants, many different shops famous around the world, including the multi-level music shopping center Virgin Megastore, the aristocratic Russian restaurant Rasputin, the famous Lido cabaret, the central tourist office of Paris, and also the best (in my humble opinion) in everything world Sephora store.

Triumphal Arch

The Champs Elysees ends at Place des Stars, so named because 12 streets radiate from here, but in 1969 renamed Place Charles de Gaulle. In the center of the square is the famous Arc de Triomphe. The roof of the arch is an observation deck with a good view of the Champs-Elysees and Paris, built in the 19th century by Haussmann. In the central span of the arch, since 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has been built, on which the Eternal Flame has been lit since 1926. Although troops no longer pass under the arch, it is one of the most solemn and formal places in Paris.

According to the law of meanness, on the day we ended up there, it was a day off, and we didn’t have a chance to get on the roof.

By the way, the easiest way to get to the Arch is by metro, station Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile.

Grand Boulevards, or a little shopping

We turned right from the arch onto Boulevard Haussmann, where there are two centers of attraction for all shopaholics arriving in Paris - eternal competitors - department stores. Au Printemps(address: 64, Boulevard Haussmann; official website: http://departmentstoreparis.printemps.com/) and Galeries Lafayette (address: 40, Boulevard Haussmann, official website (in Russian!): http://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/ru/).

We spent the rest of the day there, enjoying shopping and the incredible Christmas atmosphere.

I cannot help but note the highest level of professionalism of the consultants in the cosmetic departments of these two department stores: I have continued to use much of what was selected and recommended by the female consultants for many years now.

Shopping in Paris

This time shopping was not the purpose of our trip, however, I cannot help but note that shopping in Paris is very pleasant! I am pleased with the choice, the prices, and the surroundings. First of all, I would advise going to Paris for perfume and cosmetic shopping (Sephora on the Champs-Elysees, you are forever in my heart!), as well as for clothes. Yes, prices in Au Printemps and Galeries Lafayette department stores are often “biting” (unless you compare them with prices for products of the same “first-level” brands in Moscow and St. Petersburg), so that the French themselves usually risk coming here only during periods sales But there are areas - for example, Saint-Germain Boulevard and others, as well as department stores (for example, Bon Marche, etc.) where you will truly enjoy not only the assortment and quality, but also the prices.

Day 6. D'Orsay Museum. Once again admire the Seine as a farewell

On the last day before leaving, we decided to go to the famous D’Orsay Museum ( Musé e d‘ Orsay) . How could you leave Paris without admiring the famous masterpieces of the Impressionists in their, so to speak, historical homeland?

The museum is located on the left bank of the Seine, directly opposite the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden. It is located in a former station building, built on the occasion of the World's Fair of 1900, and houses the richest collection of works of Western art from the period 1848-1914 - masterpieces of painting, sculpture, objects of decorative and applied art, photographs, architectural drawings... The museum presents the most outstanding artists of the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries: Daumier, Millet, Courbet, Carpeaux, Manet, Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cezanne, Rodin, Gauguin, Van Gogh, Halle, Guimard, Lalique, Redon, Moreau, Villars, Bonnard, Buredel, Maillol and others. Actually, tourists are primarily interested in the works of the Impressionists here. However, the station building itself, as a museum space, is also very interesting.

The famous clock through which you can see the Montmartre hill and other hills in the vicinity of Paris

Ticket price: €11 (adult). At the entrance, as a rule, there is a queue; during the off-season, we stood for 20-30 minutes. It’s scary to imagine what happens here in the summer! I think it makes sense to purchase tickets online in advance. They are available on several sites: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/visit/admission/ticket-purchase.html

There are also combined tickets - Musé e d‘ Orsay + Musé e de l‘ Orangerie (€16) or Musé e d‘ Orsay+ Rodin Museum (€15). In general, it’s beneficial, and it would be useful to us, but we only found out about it on the last day of our stay in Paris.

Having admired the paintings of Renoir, Cezanne, Monet, Manet and others, we boarded the Batobus water bus at the pier near the museum and, as a farewell, made a circle around the entire center of Paris, then getting off at the Saint-Germain pier, near our hotel.

How would I plan a program for 6 days in Paris?

If the weather had allowed me to express myself the way I wanted, my routes for the first time in Paris would have been something like this:

Day 1

Get to any of the central metro stations (for example, Chatelet, or Saint-Germain-des-Pres, or any other) and just wander aimlessly along the streets wherever your eyes go (but without going to museums!), drink a cup of coffee with a croissant in one of the Parisian cafes, to feel the atmosphere of the city. Visit a couple of Gothic cathedrals, take a boat ride on the Seine, and walk along the Champs-Elysees. Perhaps, go to Notre Dame Cathedral and walk around it with an audio guide. In the evening, have dinner at a restaurant you like or buy wine with delicious French cheese and fruit for dinner at one of the shops.

Day 2

Louvre. Coming to Paris for the first time as a tourist and not going to the Louvre is a crime! The Louvre is a museum in which everyone (everyone, without exception!) will find interesting rooms and exhibits for themselves, not paintings and sculptures, but ancient Egyptian or ancient Mesopotamian collections. And if you are too lazy to look at the exhibits on the walls and in the windows, just come and stroll through the stunningly beautiful halls of the palace. In the evening, go for dinner to one of the famous Parisian cabarets - the “branded” Moulin Rouge, Lido, Crazy Horse or the small cozy La Belle Epoque (this is what real Parisian connoisseurs recommend visiting; tickets can be ordered on the website. If you’re not greedy, buy yourself a menu V.I.P. or l'Ocean, then you will have good seats. A ticket with a full dinner will end up being half the price of the aforementioned cabarets promoted for tourists).

Day 3

Ile de la Cité and the Latin Quarter. In the evening - go to the opera.

Day 4

Trip to Versailles (official website: http://en.chateauversailles.fr/homepage)

or (if with children) to Disneyland, or better yet, not even to Disneyland (it’s better to go there in its “historical homeland” - in America) but to the truly French amusement park “Asterix”

Amusement park "Asterix", which opened in 1989 just north of Paris, is an alternative to Disneyland located in the east of the capital; it is entirely dedicated to the national culture of the Gauls. The idea of ​​its creation emphasized that the French (with nothing against the American-style entertainment industry that brings them income) are capable of building their own “city” of fun leisure time - homely, cozy, congenial, imbued with local flavor.

The main distinctive feature of “Asterix” is the combination of entertainment and reverence for national traditions, which is presented in an easy and entertaining way, with the humor characteristic of the French. The theme of the park is the adventures of a funny Gaul Asterix. The character, although fictitious, is considered a folk hero because, with the support of a friend, Obelix, is waging an irreconcilable struggle against the Romans who invaded the territory of Gaul. Surely you have seen films starring Gerard Depardieu, based on the comic books of the same name.

Day 5

Rodin Museum

Les Invalides (Cathedral + Army Museum + Charles de Gaulle Museum)

Eiffel Tower

Champs Elysees

Triumphal Arch

Defense skyscraper district

Day 6

Museum D'Orsay or Pompidou, shopping, stroll through your favorite places in Paris.

For lovers, one day you can take a walk to one of the cemeteries in Paris - an unforgettable experience is guaranteed! Read more about the most.

Public transport in Paris

Parisian public transport website: www.ratp.fr

The metro is quite comfortable, utilitarian in a European way, without any architectural frills; it’s not difficult to understand the layouts and stations. One trip on the metro will cost you €1.80, if you buy 10 tickets at once - then €1.41.

If you plan to travel a lot by transport, it may make sense to purchase a single pass for all types of public transport - Paris Visite Pass. It is available for 1, 2, 3 or 5 days, for transport zones 1-3 (Paris and its surrounding suburbs) or 1-5 (includes Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, as well as Versailles).

Includes the following types of transport:

• metro
• RER trains (RATP and SNCF lines)
• buses operating in the Ile-de-France region (except buses to Jetbus and Allobus Roissy CDG airports and the Air France branded bus network, as well as tourist excursion buses)
• trams
• funicular to Montmartre hill

The ticket is valid from 0:00 on the start date until 24:00 on the end date. Prices can be viewed.

Before use, you must sign your first and last name on the back, as well as the start date. After this, the ticket becomes personal and cannot be transferred to other persons.

Links about public transport in Paris:

Simpler restaurants, cafes and brasserie in Paris

To enjoy excellent cuisine in Paris, you don’t have to spend fabulous sums.

In restaurants and cafes in Paris, there are so-called set menus, sometimes there are several of them (the French simply call them menu - in our opinion it is a “business lunch”, and the menu in our understanding is called a la carte). The menu consists of at least two dishes and prices are fixed. It is wise to take a menu at lunchtime because it costs about €20 even in upscale restaurants and about €12 in simpler restaurants and cafes.

Even the most famous restaurants in Paris offer menus at lunchtime that cost almost half as much as in the evening. If one dish is enough for you, order the plat du jour. Ordering a la carte will have more variety, but will cost more. Service is included in the bill in all restaurants, bars and cafes in Paris, but you can leave a few coins as a tip. House wine is usually inexpensive, but a bottle of something more famous will add €15 to the bill almost indefinitely.

Fast food and takeaway

You can find sandwich stalls on almost every corner in Paris. Most bakeries (boulangerie) sell not only bread and cakes, but also a variety of pies. At train stations and central streets, the chain Paul sells sandwiches. When packing for a picnic, try a charcuterie (charcuterie shop), a cheese shop, a market, or the deli section of any supermarket. Charcuterie specializing in meat products sometimes also offer ready-made salads and side dishes.

There are also specialized gourmet shops (traiteur), for example, Fauchon. You can buy products in pieces or slices and ask them to pack them in a cardboard box (barquette). Asian, especially Chinese, delicacies are popular in Paris, as are Jewish and Eastern European delicacies. Sushi is sold everywhere (including takeaway).

Hot food can also be purchased to take away. In a creperie (pancake house), a huge number of which are just street stalls, you will be offered pancakes (sweet or with ham, cheese, etc.), pancakes and waffles with a variety of toppings and fillings. Turkish and North African kebab shops are very common, the latter also serving couscous with merguez (spicy sausage), chicken or lamb, or all three.

Couscous is usually topped with a spicy tomato sauce, and kebabs are wrapped in pita bread along with fried potatoes (frites). If you search, you can also find Middle Eastern falafel (fried chickpea balls) with salad and much more.

If Jules Verne's heroes managed to travel around the globe in 80 days, then 72 hours to get to know Paris is quite enough time. We agree that visiting a million attractions and museums requires much more time. However, if the visit is short, but you want to see the city, an express tour will help out. Short, but fascinating. Get your cameras ready: ZagraNitsa offers a great option for a quick date with Paris!

When you want complete freedom and unforgettable adventures, the best solution is to throw thoughts about tour operators out of your head and conquer the French expanses as a free tourist. No sightseeing buses, guides or tourist “patrols” - we will get to know the city on our own.

The most convenient way to book a hotel room or individual apartment in Paris is online: through the popular ones.

We have compressed the program of exploring Paris to the most famous and “juicy” places. If desired and possible, you can add additional items to the list (or remove unnecessary ones). Go for it, and bon voyage!

The first day

No sooner said than done. One fine morning you have arrived in Paris and are walking down the plane to Orly. From the airport to the capital it is only 14 km. The most convenient way to get to the city is by taxi; the journey to the starting point of the route - the Luxembourg Gardens - will take about half an hour. You can also take the Orlybus to the Denfert-Rochereau metro station, which is only a couple of stops away from Luxembourg station. Ticket prices: bus - 7.7 euros, metro - 1.8 euros.

Photo: hotel-design-secret-de-paris.com

Second day

After the stressful first day, we suggest you relax in a more relaxed mode. First, let's visit.

Photo: patrimoine-environnement.fr

From the theater we will head to a huge shopping center on Haussmann Boulevard. This is a real paradise for shopping lovers! We also recommend checking out the terrace on the ninth floor, which offers a gorgeous panoramic view of the city. The complex has many cafes and restaurants for every taste - from fast food to a sophisticated establishment under a dome, serving haute cuisine.

The second half of the day is possible (more about it below). Or visit the aquarium with an area of ​​more than 3.5 km², and then take a romantic walk along the Seine on a river bus. An hour cruise costs 13–14 euros per person.

Photo: roughguides.com
Photo: worldfortravel.com

You can also go to the La Défense area to get acquainted with modern Paris, the Grande Arche de la Defense and futuristic high-rise buildings with spectacular evening lighting, and take a walk through the shopping center. Please note: the last one closes at 20:00.

Photo: grandparis-mipim.com

If you're not a fan of long shopping trips, head directly to Montmartre from Opéra Garnier. It’s better by metro: on line 12 Trinité - d"Estienne d"Orves it takes only four stops to Abbesses station (about 20 minutes). A 40-meter Wall of Love with love declarations in different languages ​​is hidden two steps from the exit. Why not pop here for some spectacular photos?

Photo: darkroom.baltimoresun.com

Then along Yvonne le Tac street, which turns into Rue Tardieu, we get to the funicular. It will take you to the highest point of the city and the basilica. Entrance to the cathedral is free.

Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Shutterstock
Photo: Shutterstock

Those who want to end the evening “like an adult” after a walk through the streets of Montmartre are invited to go down to Boulevard Clichy. It will lead to revelation

After seeing the palace with the brilliant Mirror Gallery and other luxurious halls, be sure to take a walk through the park, laid out as if under a ruler.

Photo: fasttrackticket.fr
Photo: mountainsoftravelphotos.com

You can get to Parc et Château de Versailles from Paris by taxi, RER (line C, Paris - Versailles Rive Gauche station), SNCF trains (run from Paris Montparnasse and Paris Saint Lazare stations) or by Versailles Express bus, departing from the Eiffel Tower daily at 8:00 and 14:00.

Our excursion has come to an end - three days in Paris flew by in a flash! We will be glad if you share in the comments the “star” places that every foreigner who first arrives in La Ville Lumière should see.

Also pay attention to where you won’t meet tourists.

How to see the most interesting places and attractions of Paris in 1, 2 and 3 days. How to get there and where to stay on a budget.

I’ll say right away that 3 days in Paris is very little if you don’t prepare and plan your route. I've had two trips to Paris, several days each, and I still don't know this city. I can navigate, I know the main attractions, but this is just a ceremonial postcard to show off that I was here.

I will try to combine all the experience and information found on the Internet in order to make life easier for future guests of Paris and systematize memories. This article can be called a small guide to Paris.

Sights of Paris

It is worth preparing in advance for visiting many attractions and purchasing some tickets online. This will allow you to avoid standing in long, hours-long queues and will give you the opportunity to allocate more time to Paris itself.

1. without a queue - 19.5€
2. without a queue - 38€
3. without a queue - 36€
4. skip the line – 12€
5. — 18€
6. — 37€
7. in Russian – 130€

What to see in Paris in 1 day

One of the starting points for a walk around Paris can be Trocadero . This place can be easily reached by metro by getting off at the Trocadero station of the same name.

Why Trocadero? This is where the most famous observation deck in Paris is located, and the views from this platform are shown in many films. It’s worth coming here if you want your first impression of Paris to be exactly as it was from the movies. The only nuance that can ruin everything is the crowds of tourists from early morning until late evening, but this is a drawback of all of Paris.

Eiffel Tower

Arriving at Trocadero, let's start the first day with a symbol that leaves no one indifferent. Some admire her, while others, trying to stand out, express their contempt and still take pictures against her background and climb on her, paying their money, to say something like “Finally, she is not visible.”

We are talking about the most famous and one of the most important attractions of Paris - the Eiffel Tower. You can linger here for a long time, it’s not so easy to get around it, and if you also sit on the grass on the Champ de Mars, it may turn out that half a day has already passed.

The queue for the tower is never small, so if your plans include conquering it, then depending on your budget there are two options - purchase tickets in advance and go to the top without queuing.

1. — 49€
2. — 81€.
3. — 42€.

Statue of Liberty

Not far from the Eiffel Tower there is a small replica of the Statue of Liberty. It is located on Swan Island. Looking at it, one involuntarily recalls the world-famous Statue of Liberty in America, which appeared there thanks to France.

Military school

Having returned from the Statue of Liberty to the Eiffel Tower and having spent some time on the Champ de Mars near it, we need to move on. At the end of the Champs de Mars there is a large complex of buildings, this is the Military School.

Home for the Invalids

Many people associate France with Napoleon Bonaparte, and after visiting Paris it is worth visiting his grave, which is located in the Invalides. This is a whole complex of buildings, headed by the cathedral, where Napoleon’s grave is located, as well as sarcophagi with the ashes of other emperors.

• — 11€.

There is also a museum of plans and reliefs and an army museum. The purpose of this complex has not yet changed; war veterans are still staying here today.

Montparnasse Tower

Now it’s worth heading to the Montparnasse skyscraper, from the roof of which you can take the best photographs of both the Eiffel Tower and Paris itself from a bird’s eye view. This is the highest observation deck in Paris.

• — 15€.

On the 56th floor there is an indoor area with a restaurant, and on the 59th floor there is an open area. The remaining floors are occupied by offices of various companies.

Pantheon

After leaving the tower we head to another majestic building, the Pantheon. Here are the ashes or a piece of soil from the graves of the most prominent people in France. The road to it will lie through the Luxembourg Gardens. The entrance is free.

The Catholic Church of Saint-Etienne-du-Mont is located next to the Pantheon, it is located on the Mount of Saint Genevieve. The church contains a tomb containing the relics of the patron saint of Paris, Saint Genevieve.

This is where the sights of Paris on the first day end. Taking into account the time spent on the Champ de Mars and the Montparnasse observation deck, it should be a whole day of excursion.

Sights of Paris in 2 days

We will start the second day with another well-known symbol, without which not a single film about Paris can do - this is the Arc de Triomphe, and the day will end with a visit to the Louvre.

Triumphal Arch

There is a museum inside the architectural monument, and at the very top there is an observation deck. Entrance to the site is paid. The queue here is much shorter, but if you want to skip it, I will provide a link to tickets.

• — 12€.

Champs Elysees

Immediately after the Arc de Triomphe the Champs Elysees begin. Many will be disappointed that there are no fields here, and today it is just a street with expensive shops connecting the Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe.

Place de la Concorde is hard to miss, as it is located in the center of the city between the Tuileries Garden and the Champs Elysees, its fountains attract attention, and the obelisk is visible from afar.

Tuileries Garden

Located between the Place de la Concorde and the Louvre, the garden has become a must-see on tourist routes. If you're lucky, one of the many outdoor exhibitions will be taking place during your visit.

One of the favorite pastimes of tourists in the Tuileries Garden is to sit around the fountain, basking in the sun and feeding the birds.

After feeding the birds, don’t forget to snack on a French baguette, which in Paris tastes fantastic, especially if you’re even a little hungry.

Place Vendôme

One of the famous squares of Paris and it is located a few minutes from the Tuileries Garden. You can only take good photographs of this area from a height, because... it just doesn't fit into the lens.

The Louvre is one of the main attractions of Paris, one of the largest and most famous museums in the world. The most famous exhibits of the museum are the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa.

It can take a whole day to explore the entire museum, as its huge collection numbers about four hundred thousand exhibits. Here you can get acquainted with the art of ancient Egypt, the ancient East, see sculptures, study the art of Islam, and also visit halls with fine and graphic arts.

The queue at the Louvre is often no worse than the queue at the Eiffel Tower, so it’s also worth purchasing tickets here in advance, although it costs a little more online.

• without a queue - 19.5 €.

What to see in Paris in 3 days

Day 3 can start with the Sacré-Coeur Basilica as one of the most remote attractions in Paris and gradually move towards the city center to the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral.

Basilica of Sacré-Coeur and Montmartre

To get to the basilica you need to take one of 3 metro lines - M2, M4 or M12 and get off at Anvers, Chateau Rouge or Abbesses stations, respectively. To the left of the basilica there is a funicular to the top of the mountain, for those who find it difficult to climb the steps.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Christ or Sacré-Coeur is a decoration of the Montmartre region and is considered one of the main Catholic churches in the country. The area in front of the basilica allows you to enjoy views of Paris and its surroundings.

Since the basilica is located on a mountain, this is another observation deck with views of Paris from where most of the city is visible.

5 minutes from the basilica in the vicinity of the Montmartre district, you can find an unusual monument in the form of a man half stuck in a wall. This is the hero of Marcel Aimé's story "The Man Walking Through Walls."

Show-Cabaret Moulin Rouge

Coming down the mountain from the basilica, it is difficult to pass by another symbol of Paris, because it was here that the famous Cancan dance was first performed. The cabaret is located on Boulevard Clichy; the building is easily recognizable due to its red mill.

There was a period when this establishment enjoyed a negative reputation, but now even children from 6 years old are allowed to attend the show and you can visit the establishment with the whole family.

Although this is the most famous establishment in the city, there are several other cabarets in Paris that are in no way inferior to the Moulin Rouge. Below is a selection of tickets for alternative cabaret shows. - 11€.

After the opera, we head towards the Ile de la Cité and along the way we will see the lonely Tower of Saint-Jacques.

What kind of ancient city would it be without the Town Hall? The Paris City Hall has seen a lot, there were various kinds of riots and revolutions, during which it managed to survive, but with the proclamation of the Paris Commune it was completely burned down.

The square and the town hall located on it have the same name Hotel de Ville, which means city palace.

Now you can cross the bridge and explore the Ile de la Cité, where you can see the second most important symbol of Paris, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris or Notre Dame de Paris. This is not only an important building in Paris, but above all the soul and heart of the city. It was built on the island of Cité on the site where there once was a former pagan temple, and after it the Church of St. Stephen.

Palace of Justice and Conciergerie Castle

The huge palace complex, which includes the courts, prosecutor's office and police, is located on the same Ile de la Cité as Notre-Dame de Paris. Today the palace is a huge complex of buildings, the main of which are the Conciergerie Castle (prison), the Sainte Chapelle chapel and the Palace of Justice itself.

The story turned out to be very long, but these are only the main attractions of Paris and a few less significant ones that came across along the road or were nearby. Now you will understand that Paris and 3 days is very little.

What to see in Paris in 1, 2 and 3 days

Paris is one of the most visited cities in the world by travelers. About 18 million tourists come here every year! Have you decided to be one of them? Then you’ve probably already wondered how long to stay here and what to see on your own first. We will try to make your task easier and, based on our personal experience (yours truly visited Paris in the summer of 2017), give some valuable advice, as well as provide several options for interesting routes.

Day 1. Route through the historical center

Of course, initially it is better to go to the very heart of the city. Here, at almost every step there is some kind of attraction, and in order not to miss all the most interesting things, it is better to plan your route in advance...or use ours!:)

The route we offer you is a long walk through the historical center of Paris and will be a serious test for your feet, so be strong and wear comfortable shoes.

The first day is purely sightseeing. We will get to know the city, its architecture and main attractions and will not waste time visiting museums for now. It will be very exciting and interesting!

Place de la Bastille
We suggest starting your walk from the famous Place de la Bastille.

At the station of the same name, 3 metro lines intersect - 1st, 5th and 8th, so getting here from anywhere in the city is not difficult. Place de la Bastille is also the intersection of more than 10 streets and boulevards and is of great importance for the city, although from an architectural point of view, we must admit, we were not particularly impressed.

Place des Vosges and Marais district

From Place de la Bastille we move to the small Place des Vosges - the oldest square in Paris.

Next we go out onto Fran Bourgeois Street and move along it. Now you are in the rather famous Parisian colorful quarter of Marais, which was chosen by rich Parisians, the Jewish community, bohemians and sexual minorities.

Center Georges Pompidou

The most popular attraction here is perhaps the Center Georges Pompidou, which is where you are heading. The appearance of the building certainly deserves attention.

If you are planning a visit to this museum, it is better to postpone it until another day so as not to waste time (and there is plenty to spend it on).
Not far from here is the fast food restaurant Flunch. If you want to have a budget-friendly and hearty lunch, this is the place for you.
From the Center Georges Pompidou we turn towards the embankment of the Seine River.
Nearby rises a rather interesting architectural creation - the Saint-Jacques Tower.

Having reached the embankment, we find ourselves in front of the Ile de la Cité, on which the famous Notre Dame Cathedral rises. If you do not plan to go inside the cathedral, you can walk up to it on the first day. If you want to inspect its interior, it is better to postpone the visit to the second day, because there is always a queue of people wanting to get inside near Notre Dame (and there is still something to see on the Ile de la Cité!). It moves quite quickly, but you still have to spend 20-30 minutes. Entrance to the cathedral is free. If you have only one day allotted to Paris, then, of course, move here: Notre Dame is a must-see.

Louvre

If you decide to explore Notre Dame, then after it return to the Seine embankment. We continue moving along it. Ahead of you awaits another iconic landmark of Paris - the Louvre.

As mentioned above, on the first day we propose to take a sightseeing tour of the city, so we will not visit the Louvre itself and will only examine it from the outside. You need to set aside a separate day to visit the famous museum.

Tuileries Garden
In front of the Louvre lies the Tuileries Garden - one of the most picturesque parks in Paris, through which we will take a walk. Here is also one of the two Arc de Triomphe of the city - the Arc de Triomphe Carrousel (this is a small arch, not to be confused with the famous Arc de Triomphe of Paris - it is in front of you :)

Champs Elysees

The Tuileries Garden smoothly flows into the Champs Elysees. They are separated only by the picturesque Place de la Concorde, through which our path lies. The 2-kilometer Champs Elysees stretches from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, along which we will take a walk.

Along the way, you can step a little to the side and look at the Elysee Palace. The final stretch of the Champs Elysees is especially interesting - here you will find shops and boutiques of iconic brands. If you are in the mood for a little shopping, stay here.

Triumphal Arch

Right in front of us is the Arc de Triomphe! Frankly, it turned out to be so huge and majestic that it personally took our breath away. By the way, there is an excellent observation deck on the arch.

Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars

After visiting the Arc de Triomphe, the culmination of our walk awaits you. It should already be getting dark outside, which means the Eiffel Tower is getting ready to turn on its lights. We are heading to the Champ de Mars, where we will finally give our legs a rest and an unforgettable sight for our eyes.

No matter how trivial a pastime may seem to you, visiting the Eiffel Tower, we hasten to assure you that the end result will exceed all your expectations. We run into the nearest store for a bottle of wine, sit back on the grass of the Champ de Mars and enjoy!

We personally do not recommend going up to the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower: it is a waste of time and money that is not worth it. There are much more interesting observation platforms in Paris, one of which we will suggest you visit on the 2nd day, but the Eiffel Tower has one significant drawback: from it you cannot see the Eiffel Tower itself :)

By the way, a huge selection of wine is available in the largest wine library in Paris - Lavinia. True, to get there, you will need to take a little walk from the Champs Elysees, and to choose a wine from this countless collection, you will have to spend a lot of time.

When the Eiffel Tower begins to shimmer with lights, you will definitely get goosebumps, and the thought that at this moment you are a participant in some great event will firmly linger in your head.

Once you are ready to leave the Champ de Mars, you can head home with a clear conscience and a full set of impressions.

1st day route in Paris on the map

On the second day, having had a good night's sleep, we continue to explore the most interesting places in the city.

Ile de la Cité and Notre Dame Cathedral

Let's start with the Ile de la Cité. The nearest metro stations are the Chatelet junction or Cite line 4. We do not recommend getting off at Cite, because then you will miss the opportunity to walk along the magnificent Notre Dame Bridge.

The main attraction here is, of course, the famous Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral.

Take your time waiting in line and be sure to go inside. It's worth it!

Also, for an additional cost (8 euros) you can go up to the observation deck of the cathedral, which is reached by 387 steps.
After visiting Notre Dame, take a walk around the Ile de la Cité and explore its incredible architectural ensemble.

Latin Quarter
Then we cross to the other side of the Seine and find ourselves in the Latin Quarter. This is an area of ​​narrow, colorful streets with inexpensive cafes and restaurants, which was formed around the oldest university in Paris, the Sorbonne. If you want to have a budget snack or a full lunch, the Latin Quarter is one of the best places in Paris for this.

Tourists can enjoy numerous fast foods, as well as budget restaurants of French cuisine, where you can try frog legs and snails.
For us, a kind of entrance to the Latin Quarter will be the narrowest street in Paris - La calle mas estrecha de Paris (marked on the map). This, of course, is a kind of “attraction” for tourists - in almost every European city there are similar “narrowest streets”, which, in most cases, lead directly to the entrance of some establishment or, at least, into the arms of the waiting administrator of this establishment: ) But one way or another, the place is quite interesting and it’s worth taking a couple of photos here.

The Latin Quarter, by the way, is a great place to buy souvenirs. In local shops you can find a lot of souvenirs with quite pleasant promotions (buy more, pay less). But we do not recommend spending the entire budget allocated for this important expense item. There will still be a place ahead where you can do this with a clear conscience :)

We won’t give you a clear route through the Latin Quarter, because the whole charm of this place lies in its unique atmosphere, and it doesn’t matter which path you take. The main attractions of the quarter include the Sorbonne University, the Pantheon, the Church of St. Severina.

As well as the well-known tourist street Mouffetard - everything is marked on the map below.

Luxembourg Gardens

After a walk through the Latin Quarter, we head to the palace and park ensemble of the Luxembourg Gardens - perhaps the most favorite recreational park among tourists and locals, after the Champs de Mars.

The Luxembourg Gardens actually also belong to the Latin Quarter, but deserve special attention. The main attraction of the park is the Luxembourg Palace, where the Senate, the second chamber of the French parliament, sits.

Grab a coffee (or something stronger:) and take a short walk through the park, sit on one of its many benches, and admire the beauty of this place.

Montparnasse

The next area on our way is Montparnasse. There are two quite interesting attractions here: the Montparnasse Cemetery and the Montparnasse Tower. The latter is perhaps the best observation deck in Paris, from which you can see the entire city, including the Eiffel Tower, and at the same time, according to one popular local joke, you cannot see the ugly Montparnasse Tower itself. You can climb to the 57th floor of the 200-meter skyscraper for 15 euros.

As for the Montparnasse Cemetery, it is, of course, slightly inferior in popularity to another Parisian cemetery, Père Lachaise, but it is also quite popular. Many famous French figures are buried here.

Montmartre and Sacre Coeur Basilica

After Montparnasse, we take the metro and go to the most picturesque Parisian quarter - Montmartre. It should be getting close to evening, and this is the best time for a walk here.

Montmartre is considered the most picturesque area of ​​the city. The well-known film “Amelie” was filmed here, which brought additional popularity to this place. The hill on which it is located is the highest point in Paris. On this hill rises the Sacré-Coeur Basilica - one of the most magnificent sights in Paris, in our humble opinion.

Montmartre is also home to the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret.

Our main goal is the above-mentioned Sacre Coeur, but there is no need to rush and waste time in Montmartre. This is the most popular place in Paris to buy souvenirs. Be sure to stop by some cafe on the street (if the weather is favorable, of course) to fully experience the spirit of this amazing place.

You can have a small picnic on the grass at the foot of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica. By the way, you can get into the basilica itself for free and it’s worth doing.

For an additional cost you can go up to the dome.

At the top of the hill, at the foot of the basilica, by the way, there is a magnificent view of the city.

If you are traveling around Paris with your significant other, then while walking in Montmartre, be sure to visit the Wall of Love, on which “I love you” is written 311 times in 250 languages.

So, your busy second day in Paris will come to an end in Montmartre.

2nd day in Paris on the map

3rd day and subsequent

If you clearly followed our route in the previous two days, then we are pleased to inform you that the “minimum” program has been completed!
On the third and all subsequent days, it is quite difficult to advise something specific, because it should already depend on your individual preferences. Those who are partial to art, of course, need to visit the Louvre and the Center Georges Pompidou.
How else can you have fun in Paris?

Take a boat trip along the Seine (from 16 euros) and admire the beauty of Paris from the water.

You can walk around the La Défense skyscraper district and get to know a completely different, modern Paris.

Of course, visit the famous Disneyland, located 40 minutes by train from Paris.

Another popular attraction outside the city is Versailles, which, like Disneyland, will require an entire day.

In Paris itself, among the many attractions, it is also worth noting the Père Lachaise Cemetery - one of the most outstanding monuments of funerary architecture.

Of course, this is not a complete list of Paris attractions. But they are quite enough to spend a few days with interest in this city.

This will be interesting to you: