How to do Paris in 48 hours

There's no need to worry that you will miss
the best Paris has to offer when this guide				There are other entrances other than the
shows you how to see it all in only 48 hours.				obvious one beneath the glass pyramid at the
				front door. Tickets can be pre booked online
Paris is a city of many faces, the narrow				up to a year in advance which also helps to
streets contain hidden jewels of patisseries,				keep queuing to a minimum.
bars and Parisian café culture that have
attracted visitors for centuries.				Walk through the archway in the centre of the
				main building and it will take you out onto
09:00				the riverbank again. Keep following the Quai
				de Louvre along the Seine until you reach
One of the best places to begin your day is				Pont Neuf. Along the way you will pass St
at the Arc De Triomphe, the largest				Germain-L'Axerrois, the royal chapel of the
roundabout in France's capital and one of the				Louvre. Further down is Chatelet, a huge
most hazardous in the world. No insurance				shopping centre facing the Ile de la Cite.
company will cover a vehicle travelling
around it, as twelve roads feed into the				14:00
circle with no clear road markings an and
even less clear is who has right of way.				Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Paris and
				joins the two banks of the river to Ile de la
Thankfully there is an underpass to get				Cite, where Paris originated. The island is
across safely. The view from the arch down				home to the Conciergerie prison where Marie
the 1.3km stretch of the Champs Elysée ends				Antoinette was held before her execution, as
at the Place de la Concorde and a smaller				well as many other nobles. But perhaps the
version of the triumphant arch that stands in				most famous building here is the gothic
the Jardin Tuileries beyond, the Arc De				cathedral known as Notre Dame.
Triomphe du Carousel. The arch itself offers
a fine panoramic view of Paris from the top,				Often consider by some as the finest example
as well as a good glimpse of that most famous				of Gothic architecture the cathedral was made
landmark, the Eiffel Tower.				famous by Victor Hugo and his novel the
				Hunchback of Notre Dame. The flying
09:30				buttresses used to hold up the immense walls
				on the outside are a signature feature of
The walk to the tower first brings you to the				gothic architecture.
Palace Challiot, a complex of four museums
dedicated to French movies, Naval history, a				There is a plaque on the ground in front of
museum of mankind and one for French				the church that marks the spot where begins
Monuments. The pathway between leads down to				the measurements for the arrondissements, or
the gardens of the Trocadero but the most				Parisian suburbs. These spiral out of the
striking feature is of course the tower just				centre like a snails shell.
beyond.
				The isle has flower markets as well as some
10:00				typical pavement cafes to enjoy a caffé au
				lait and croissant while watching the world
The Eiffel Tower was built as a showpiece of				go by.
the 1889 world Expo, advertising the quality
of French steel, incorporating 10,100 tonnes				Afternoon
of iron. Gustave Eiffel felt his creation was
a fine example of French engineering. His				You can spend the time people watching or
view sadly was not shared by everyone.				shopping, either in Chatelet or Les Halles,
Several attempts were made to take it down				another huge complex that offers some
but its role as a radio antenna in WWI was				excellent retail therapy. For things a bit
what eventually saved it.				more thrifty there is the Latin Quarter.

Today it is one of the best known Parisian				Evening
landmarks, attracting thousands of tourists
to the top every year. The length of the				The Latin Quarter is also a great place to
queues depends on the time of year and time				tackle the Parisian cuisine scene. The name
of day. There are two points of entry for the				does not refer to the ethnicity of its
lifts, or there is the alternative of				inhabitants but more to do with the fact it
climbing the stairs, all 1,710 of them. A				was the seat of learning for medieval Paris.
great work out for the hips and thighs.				Students spoke to their tutors in Latin right
				up until the 18th Century. The alleyways are
If the lines are short it may be wise to take				now filled with little restaurants, cafes and
the chance now to make your attempt to reach				bookshops that still cater to the student
the top. If you are lucky enough to reach the				clientele.
third level you may wish to spend 1-2 hours
to experience it. There are museum rooms to				After dinner try a river cruise to see why
view with details on the tower's construction				Paris has earned the name 'city of lights'
and history. Otherwise it pays to arrive				and you may even catch the Eiffel Tower
early.				putting on it's sparkly display. There are
				plenty of companies offering short cruises
12:00				from Ile de la Cite up the river to the foot
				of the tower and back.
Beneath the tower lies the Champ de Mars, a
landscaped green area that leads to the Ecole				08:00
Militaire. Further on to the left of the
military school is the Hotel Des Invalides,				An early start is essential to avoid the
the site once used as an armoury that				queues, whether you are taking in the Louvre,
supplied the gun wielding revolutionaries in				or a bit of it at least, or reaching the top
1789.				of the Eiffel tower. Other museums and
				galleries worth a couple of hours discovering
Follow the riverside along Quay D'Orsay down				include the Musée D'Orsay, Musée Rodin,
towards Pont Alexander III. Cross the bridge				Musée Picasso and the Georges Pompidou
an walk towards the Petit Palais and the				Centre.
Grand Palais down Avenue Winston Churchill.
Both palaces are now art galleries devoted to				Alternatively if you want to experience art,
modern and ancient artworks, permanent				culture and extravagant wealth you can take a
displays as well as new artists. Straight				train ride out to Versailles, the summer
ahead you rejoin the Champs Elysée that will				palace built by Louis XIV. The humble
take you down to Place de la Concorde.				beginnings as a hunting lodge were soon
				transformed into an elaborate complex of
13:00				gardens, summer houses, follies, fountains
				and the immense royal residence.
The Place de la Concorde is the finishing
point for the cycle race the Tour de France				Afternoon
as well as the historical site of the French
Revolution. The square is worth a few moments				One of the most popular places to visit in
to remember it was originally called Place du				Paris is literally the dead end of town, the
Revolution, and home to 'Madame Guillotine'.				Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise. The most visited
				graves include Oscar Wilde, Gertrude Stein,
The Obelisk gifted by Mohammed Ali in 1831				Edith Pilaf and Jim Morrison. If your
came from Luxor and marks the spot where many				interest is piqued by the macabre then don't
French nobles met their end during the French				miss the catacombs. 1.6km of tunnels stretch
Revolution. The square would have been filled				beneath Paris housing the remains of millions
with peasants eager to see their former				of residents from overflowing cemeteries in
employers going for the chop in 1789 and				1785.
during the reign of terror that followed.
				Late afternoon
You can leave the traffic behind for a bit
now as you enter the Jardin des Tuileries.				A great way to finish is to spend the rest of
The fountains and pathways were once part of				the day at Montmartre, a much more lively
Palace Tuileries but it burnt down during				location. The steps to Basilica du Sacre
some violent revolutionary riots.				Coeur at the top offer a fine view over the
				city as well as plenty of street performers
In the gardens you will find statues and				and a chance to reflect on the day. The area
artworks on display, including one of Joan of				of Montmartre is synonymous with art and the
Arc, the peasant girl who led an army against				bohemian lifestyle. Although a bit more
the English in the 15th Century, and later				commercial these days the streets and squares
burned at the stake as a heretic.				are full of life and artists.

The end of the gardens is marked by				Evening
Napoleon's Arc de Triomphe du Carousel,
another little present to himself glorifying				Restaurants and bars attract locals and
his achievements. The horses, or Quadriga, on				tourists alike, where you can while away the
top are copies of the ones sitting above the				evening with a bœuf bourguignon or plat du
door of Basilica San Marco in Venice which he				jour. Just down the hill is Place Pigalle,
was made to give back.				famous for the Moulin Rouge, the red light
				district and other stage shows. The boulevard
13:30				is filled with bars and cafes that open onto
				the street until very late.
If you spent 20 seconds in front of each
piece of art in the Louvre you would be there				From the left bank to the right Paris is
for 3 months day in and day out. There are				filled with class, style and culture. Even in
literally millions of artworks by thousands				just 48 hours you can experience all the best
of artists covering centuries. Of course the				that this wonderful city has to offer.
most famous one would have to be Leonardo Da
Vinci's Mona Lisa.				Katy Hyslop has been a tour guide and teacher
				in Europe for the past 6 years.
It is advisable to devote a day or at least a
morning to visit some of the museum rooms.				She now keeps the crew in line at the Plus
One way is to pick a style or century that				Office in Italy. If you wish to know more
interests you and devote to it a couple of				about opening times and entry feesthen click
hours rather than try to see everything.				here.

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How to do Paris in 48 hours