How to make the Most of Paris in One Day
| | | Dec 24, 2014 | | | | |
 The third most visited tourist destination in the world, the capital of France, Paris, is a tourist's delight. The city was founded by a Celtic sub-tribe, who called themselves The Parisii, in mid-third century BCE, and thus the name. Paris is also known as "The City of Light," or "La Ville Lumiere." This is partly because Paris had a central role to play during the "Age of Enlightenment," and also literally, because in the mid-1860s, it was one of the first European cities to use gas lamps for street lighting and Parisian streets were illuminated by around 56,000 gas lamps.
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6.00 AM - Start Early!
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If you have but one day to enjoy Paris, do not fret. A day is still enough to cover the best of Paris and some more. Start your day early, as most Parisians do. Have a typical light breakfast of French croissants and cafe au lait (milk coffee). Pastries are an art form in Paris and you can try other variants which have fillings of custard or chocolate.
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7.30 AM - Begin at Place de la Concorde
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The city lies on the banks of the river Seine and the best place to start your day in Paris would be at the southern bank at Place de la Concorde. This 21.3 acre square is the largest in Paris and offers a stunning 360-degree view of the best of Paris; the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Elysees and the Tueleries Gardens. There stands a 3300-year old obelisk made up of yellow granite - a gift from Egypt.
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10.00 AM - Check out Arc de Triomphe
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Take the 2.2-km walk from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe via the historical Avenue des Champs-Elysees. The Arc was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte as a memorial to his military triumphs. It has a height of 164 feet and is 148 feet wide.
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01.00 PM - Go See Mona Lisa
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Take the metro or a bus to reach the Louvre, one of the world's largest museums. Home to 380,000 objects and around 35,000 works of art, the Louvre is a huge place. So you will need to see only the most important displays, like the Mona Lisa, and go to Ile de la Cite (The City Island), the heart of Paris, after a 1.8-km walk. Enjoy a French lunch in one of the many good restaurants in the area.
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11.00 AM - Eiffel Tower!
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From the Arc, take a 2-km walk to reach the Eiffel Tower, by crossing the Seine at Pont d'lena. Erected in 1889, by engineer Gustave Eiffel and his company, the Tower was initially criticized for its design but has since become one of the most recognizable structures in the world and a French icon. Take a lift to the third level observatory and see a stunning panoramic view of the city.
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5.00 PM - Ponder over Religious History
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Reach the Cathedral of Notre-Dame after a short stroll. The cathedral is one of the largest church buildings in the world. Check out Emmanuel, the 13-ton bell which is tolled to mark the hours of the day. It is also home to First-Class relics like the circlet of rushes of the Crown of Thorns, a fragment of the True Cross and one of the Holy Nails (all instruments of Jesus' Passion).
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7.00 PM - End your Day in the Midst of Legendary Memories
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Make your way to St-Germain des Pres after a short, 1.7-km walk from the cathedral. The cafes around this park have their place in history as the ones where writers like Sartre, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Camus and Joyce used to drink and write. And why not, lamplit bridges, azure evening skies and the buzzing life can sure fuel human imagination! Give your feet their well-deserved rest and enjoy dinner at any of the fine cafes here. So, there's Paris for you in a day! To see more of the city's marvels plan for a longer tour, the next time around.
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