Day one:
Since time is wasting, arise early and begin your day with some live "theater" by walking the streets around your hotel -- Right Bank or Left Bank; it doesn't matter at this point. This walk can acclimate you faster than anything to the sights, sounds, and smells of the City of Light, and it gets you centered before you catch a taxi or hop aboard the Metro for a ride underground to your first attraction.
We suggest you duck into a cafe for breakfast. It doesn't matter which one. On virtually every street in Paris you'll find a cafe, often more than one.
Any neighborhood will provide a slice of Parisian life, as you order breakfast as thousands of locals do. Sit back, enjoy, and breathe deeply before beginning your descent on Paris. Start: Metro to Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre.
1. Musee du Louvre
You know you have to see the Louvre, perhaps the greatest museum of art in all the world. Since it opens at 9am, be among the first in line.
We've been going to this repository of art for years, and we discover on every visit something we've overlooked before. The palatial treasure trove is that richly endowed, and some of its art is the most acclaimed on earth. With your clock ticking, at least call on the "great ladies of the Louvre": the Mona Lisa with her enigmatic smile, the sexy Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory (alas, without a head). Try to allot at least 2 hours of viewing time for some world-class masterpieces.
After the Louvre, walk out to Les Jardins de Tuileries,
witht he long arms of the Louvre stretched out behind you, proceed through the graceful Arc De Triomphe de Carousel, built to commemorate Napoleonic victories. Now the city's grand axis unfolds before your eyes and you can see your goal, the Arc de Triomphe, shimmering in the distance.
Elegant and formal with ornamental ponds and terraces, dozens of statues and wonderful views, the Jardins des Tuileries makes a pleasant place to stroll.
The two pavilions flanking the garden are the Orangerie to your left and the Jeu de Paume to your right.
Leave the Tuileries by its grandiose gilded gates, your path into place de la concorde.
Magnificent and harmonious though it undoubtedly is, Place de la Concorde, from the mid 18th century, is all but ruined by roaring traffic around it,to appreciate it best, head for the middle where splendid vistas open up in four directions. Here is the perfect focal point, the 3300 year old Luxor obelisk which arrived in the 19th century, close by stood the guillotine where, during the revolution, 1119 people lost thier heads, including Marie Antoinette and Louis the 16th.
Continue down the Champs Elysees.
Turn left on Ave Winston Churchill, this part of Paris was created with a purpose, the Universal Exhibition of 1900. On either side stand the exuberant Grand Palais (grand palace), adorned by flying horses and chariots and its four corners, and the Petit Palais (small palace) while ahead lies lovely Pont (bridge)Alexandre the 3rd. GO ON THIS BRIDGE TO TAKE PICTURES!!! This is one of the best in Paris, used for numerous fashion shoots. My fiance and I have a framed pic of us kissing on this bridge with the Eiffel Tower behind us!
Go back to Av. Winston Churchill and cut through the charming little Jardin de la Vallee Suisse, a rocky watery oasis,and turn right on Av. Franklin Roosevelt.
Now here comes the shopping tour (its up to you how quickly you want to do this)
From Av. Franklin Roosevelt, turn left onto Rue Jean Goujon,and continue into Place Francois1er , walk up Rue Francois 1er and the sudden presence of Christian Dior announces your arrival in Avenue Montaigne (forget Champs Elysees-this is fashion central)
Turn Right on Ave. Montaigne.
Now its time to join the throng and march along the Champs Elysees, turn left on Champs Elysees.
Walk towards the Arc De Triomphe, enjoying whichever shop, bar or restaurant you choose on the way.
To visit the Arc de Triomphe DO NOT CROSS THIS ROUNDABOUT unless you are trying to commit suicide.
There is a pedestrian tunnel at the very top right hand side of the Champs Elysees.
Admire the Arc de Triomphe, ordered by Napolean in 1805 to commemorate his victory of the Battle of Austerlitz but was not completed until 1836, after his death.
At the bottom you will see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, commemorating the dead of two World Wars.
If you climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of the champs elysees.
I would then finish this day with a sunset cruise on the Seine, the Bateaux Mouches is located at Pont de L'Alma.
You can either take the metro from where you are, Charles de Gaulle Etoile, take the 6 Nation and get off at Trocadero and connect to the 9 Mairie de Montreuil and exit at the stop Alma Marceau or if you want to avoid the metro, the walk is not too far.
Walk back the way you came on Champs Elysees, and turn right on Ave George V, walk along here and you will end up directly in the Place de L'Alma. The Bateaux Mouches are along the river, you will see the signs. This is HIGHLY recommended to do at sunset, it is only 9 Euros and if you do it half in the light and half in the dark you will see Paris from the most amazing viewpoints.
Seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle at 8 or 9 pm depending on what time of year, is the most amazing sight. You will not regret it,
and after this cruise, you can know find a restaurant for dinner.
Day Two:
Start the morning as early as possible,with the Eiffel Tower, we were there at 830 am and the line was not bad.
This is an unforgettable experience, the view is amazing.
After this adventure, walk through the lovely Champs des Mars, the park directly in front of the Eiffel, this is a great place to take pics.
This park will lead you to the Ecole Militaire,
After this, take the road Motte-Picquet to your left and you will then come across Hotel Des Invalides, built to house sick and wonded soldiers.
From Hotel Des Invalides, find Rue de Grenelle and follow that street all the way to Rue du Dragon that you will turn left on.
Rue de Grenelle is full of boutiques for shopping as well.
After Rue du Dragon, you will hit a major street, Blvd St.Germain,
at this point you should be able to see the big church, St Germain de Pres and the famous cafe next to it, Les Deux Magots, this is where the famous literary greats, Hemingway, Wilde etc used to hang out. Stop for a "cafe creme" if you'd like. (thats coffee with cream, if you just say coffee, they will bring you an espresso in paris) the hot chocolate is also delicious, its literally melted chocoloate, not the watered down American version, or lunch in this area if you are hungry,or grab a baguette and some fruit as you will be coming to a beautiful picnic spot in a moment.
Next Continue along Blvd St Germain and turn right on
Rue de Tournon, take this road, you are now going south towards Le Jardin Luxembourg (the most famous picnic spot in paris)
On your way down this road though, ( Rue De Tournon) if you have read the da vinci code, and want to see the church St.Sulpice where the Character Silas finds the rose line and the egyptian obelisk, you will come across Rue St Sulpice on your way, so detour to your right on this street and see the church if you'd like, but come back this way and continue back down Rue De Tournon again, and you will enter the Jardin De Luxemboug, the most beautiful park in paris. So picnic here or just stroll through, it is beautiful. This park is also great for kids, with donkey rides and childrens playgrounds.
After this park, go to Blvd. St.Michel and go north towards the river, when you get to the river, walk along the riverbank to your right as you will be coming across the most beautiful cathedral Notre Dame. Cross the bridge that leads you directly to it, on this bridge you will also find a great photo opportunity.
You can go inside and even go to the top of Notre Dame if you'd like.
After Notre Dame, find the bridge that connects to the other island, Isle de St Louis, this is a beautiful island with old homes built for aristocracy. Explore this island a little bit, it is not very big. The ice cream on this island is famous, Berthillon, you will see it sold everywhere.
When you are done with the island, cross over to the other side of the river, on Pont Marie (Bridge Marie) and go to your left on Quai de L'Hotel de Ville, walk until you see the Hotel De Ville, a big majestic city hall, it is beautiful.
After you see this city hall, the road on the other side of it is Rue de Rivoli, go to your right on this road and follow Rue de Rivoli until it becomes Rue St. Antoine. This area is beautiful, its called the Marais, dont miss Place des Vosges, a big square in between Rue de Turenne and Rue des Tournelles, this square is built of homes where the aristocracy lived including Victor Hugo, authour of Les Miserables, his old house is a museum now.
After this, you can continue along Rue St Antoine until you get to the Bastille, the tall monument in the middle of the square, this represents the "storming of the bastille" during the revolution when the revolting crowd destroyed the jail that was at this location.
This area has lots of restaurants and shops and cafes, if its dinner time you'll find something here.
There is also a metro stop here, Bastille, so you can get back to your hotel.
Day 3:
Now that you have seen most of the big sights, Notre Dame, Eiffel tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre,
I'm going to send you to another great museum.
Musee D'orsay. The metro stop is Solferino.
This museum is beautiful, it used to be an old train station converted into a museum and inside you will find beautiful works of some of the most famous impressionist artisits, Renoir, Monet, Manet, Dugas, Van Gogh.
Spend as much or as little time as you'd like, but you must see it.
After you are done, take the metro to Sacre Coeur, the famous basilica on top of the hill in Montmartre, there are a few metro stops for Montmatre, so find the one easiest for you.
Once you get off there, it shouldnt be too hard to find the huge hill with the massive white Basilica perched on top, this is a must see! The view from the top is amazing. And the basilica is beautiful.
Once you are done viewing the basilica go to Place de Tetre, here you will find one of the most famous sights of Paris, all the artists drawing you, drawing famous Paris landmarks, its very cool. This square has cafes and restaurants too, but Id save your appetite!
Stroll the streets of Montmatre from Place de Tetre, take Rue Lepic as it winds down the hill, you can catch the famous Moulins now, on Rue Lepic is Moulin de La Galette and go all the way down the hill, down Rue Lepic to Place Blanche. This will be the red-light district and the home of Moulin Rouge is on Rue de Clichy. You might want to stay away from this area at night and see it while it is still light out. This is where prostitutes, sex shops, strip clubs etc are located, so I'd see the famous Moulin Rouge during the day.
Alright, I hope you have worked up an appetite now or are starting to get hungry, now for the most delicious meal in Paris, and its affordable, if youre in a group of at least more than one person, this will be quite fun!
Head to the Latin Quarter, take the metro to Censier-Daubenton, this is the heart of the Latin Quarter, where lots of students hang out, there are alot of hostels and therefore some great cheap restaurants and cafes. Walk along Rue de Mouffetard, and look for a restaurant that says "Fondue/Raclette"
There are quite a few, if you have never have Raclette, you will love this cheesy surprise! Like a foundue, Raclette is melted cheese, but its a certain kind of cheese. Its a little stinky but believe me, ,when it is cooked, it is the most delicious cheese over some potatoes. Raclette is served on a hot grill or oven and you scrape off the cheese that is ready to melt off onto your plate and on top of potatoes. Yummy! Its big so go with someone you can share it with!! You wont regret this experience!
After your meal, walk it off by strolling the streets of the Latin Quarter,
keep along Mouffetard and you will come to Place de la Contrascarpe. From here take Rue de L'Estrapade and you will find the Pantheon. Some of France's most famous are buried here.
From the Pantheon if you walk up Rue St.Jacques, you will come across the Sorbonne the most famous college in France.
Now you have seen all the great Paris sights and neighbourhoods, if you are tired, go to bed!
If you want to party go to the Champs Elysees, its still lively after dark! and there you will find bars and clubs etc.
I hope I have helped and I hope you follow my advice, if you do, you will have the most amazing experience in Paris.