As the second largest city of Western Europe, Paris is known as the City of Lights for its well-lit displays in the late hours, which calls to visiting tourists from around the world. It is the home of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and many more vacationer attractions.

What can you see in a weekend in Paris? If you?re visiting Paris for only a short while, try these suggestions on the top hot spots. You can?t miss these!

Visiting Popular Attractions In Paris

Rising up over 300 meters tall, this steel structure, the Eiffel Tower, can be seen throughout most locations around the city. Elevators lift visiting tourists to the top to get a bird?s eye view of Paris. As it is lit up in the evening, it is one of the most beautiful sights in the entire city. Guided tours add to the thrill as you get to peek into history on how it was made and what it means to the French today.

The opera building, Op?ra de Paris Garnier started its history back in 1862 when its construction began. It took over ten years to complete, because an underground lake was discovered under the location and was completed in 1875. Tours and shows continue to operate through this attraction for those visiting Paris, though now mainly used for ballet performances since the construction of Op?ra de Paris Bastille, another distinctive entertainment tourist spot.

Visiting Museums In Paris

One of the largest and most famous museums is the Louvre of Paris, and visiting it is none other than an opportunity of a lifetime. With over 300,000 wonderful artistic works, you simply cannot see all of it in one day. An entire weekend could be spent simply gazing at the thousands of painting, including Leonardo da Vinci?s world famous Mona Lisa.

For something more exciting for children and families, try the Centre Pompidou. It not only contains a museum of modern art, but a bookstore and a library among other things. The museum, featuring the works of artists like Matisse and Picasso, holds one of the largest collections of cubist, surrealist and abstract art.

Photo Opportunities for People Visiting Paris

You don?t need to be Catholic to appreciate the majestic architecture of Notre-Dame. Its construction was made to fit a monumental scale, and plans were made to enlarge it even before the cathedral was completed. While not the biggest, it is the most famous and one of the grandest cathedrals in the entire world.

Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, the Arc de Triomphe, it is engraved with the names of the generals that commanded his troupes. It now stands as a monument to the era and a popular photo spot for tourists visiting Paris. The Arc also features an observatory to take in surrounding views.

If you?re still looking for something that will arouse the attention of the entire family, try the Jardin du Luxembourg, a 224,500 square meter park. An octagon pond called the Grand Bassin is located in the center of the park. It is here that children can rent toy motorboats for a fun afternoon. You can also check out the puppet shows, chess games, it?s many statues and it?s two famous fountains, the Fontaine de Medicis and the Fontaine de l’Observatoire, at the north and south ends of the park.

Obviously, these are not the only tourist spots, but upon visiting Paris, these are the most popular and are certainly not to be missed. Most of these locations offer regular guided tours, some at little to no cost. Call your travel agent and make arrangements to visit these locations.

Fionn Downhill is President of Four Corners Hotels offering discount hotels around the world. http://www.fourcornershotels.com/index.php/FR–Paris

Like Venice, Paris has always been a magnet for lovers and their affairs. As Woody Allen put it: As long as you haven’t been kissed during any of those rainy Parisian afternoons, you haven’t been kissed at all. Paris is where sleepy marriages are rekindled, the flames of passion ignited, vows renewed, and special someones met. But where will you get the most ardent thrill?

Finding your cafe terrace

I will start with an obvious spot: the sidewalk cafe terrace. There are thousands of such in Paris, and lovebirds are a common sight there. The cafe terrace is an enjoyable spot in more than one way. First, they offer a nice resting spot. Second, they make an ideal observatory. The streets become an aquarium, passer-bys are the fish, and you two become the observers. Third, sit down at a terrace where other couples are smooching, and you are part of a community setting a good example to the rest of the world. For all we need is love!

One of my favorite cafes is ‘Les Chevaux de Marly’, inside the Louvre Museum, facing the wing where the Da Vinci Code movie was filmed. Les Chevaux de Marly isn’t your typical sidewalk cafes; the place reeks history, and even when you sit outside you are well protected against the elements thanks to the stone parapet.

Now if you are a die-hard fan of the Latin Quarter, and the St Germain des Pres area, you will certainly want to sit at the terrace of ‘Les Deux Magots’ (A Pair of Old Bachelors). French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and his wife, writer Simone de Beauvoir, used to hole up there in the 50s. Rather large and well protected by a long awning, the terrace is a great spot to observe the foot traffic moving along the busy Boulevard St Germain. The atmosphere inside the cafe has kept some of its mid-20th century flavor. A tad on the expensive side, but history and a great view have a price, haven’t they?

More suggestions? Check out the following areas, you’ll find nice cafes: ‘Butte aux Cailles’ (in the 13th district), ‘Place de la Contrescarpe’ (in the 5th district), ‘Place des Abbesses’ (on the Montmartre Hill), and the perennial cafe facing the Pont St Louis, on Ile St Louis, near Quai de Bourbon.

Cool streets to roam

I always advise my friends who take the trip to Paris to discover the city on foot. Walking is the absolute best way to enjoy sightseeing in Paris. And ‘look up’ must be your operative word. Don’t just look at eye level: raise your eyes, and observe what’s above. The ‘upper floor’ scenery is worth it.

For romancing the love of your life, certain places have these very special qualities which will set them apart in your memories of togetherness. I will tell you about three for now, and there will be more to come.

Atop my list, ‘Place Furstemberg’. From the plaza of the St Germain Church, walk toward the Seine and Rue Bonaparte. Turn right into Rue de l’Abbaye. Follow the street to the first short alley on your left. Turn and you end up on ‘Place Furstemberg’. French painter Eugene Delacroix had his studio there, and this makes an interesting spot to visit during daytime. But ‘Place Furstemberg’ takes a whole other atmosphere at night. It is quiet, isolated, and sort of private. The nearby abbey lends it a historical feel. Sitting under the trees, the wooden benches welcome eternal lovers.

My second pick would be the steep flights of stairs leading up to the top of the Montmartre Hill, and the quaint streets below ‘Place du Tertre’. Here again, you would be well inspired to discover the hill during the day, and come back to it in the evening. Montmartre is one of the last areas in Paris to have retained their ‘olden days’ feel. Strolling around the hill at night gives you a whiff of what Paris was like in the late 1800s. Most definitely one of the very best spots to roam hand in hand, stealing a kiss here and there under the quiet glow of the street lights.

As a final destination for this short trip, let me take you to the park located at the tip of ‘Ile de la Cite’. This is the largest of the two islands, and the small park named ‘Square du Vert Galant’ takes its name from King Henri the 4th, a womanizer in his own right (‘Galant’ alludes to his reputation as a smooth talker, and ‘Vert’ means the guy was ‘always ready to fire’). Walk to the ‘Pont Neuf’ bridge, go down the flight of stairs opening behind Henri’s statue, and you will wind up on the wharf. There, lined with century-old trees, the park offers a magnificent view of the river Seine and the Louvre Museum. I recommend discovering the spot together during daytime. It is also the port of call of a boat tour operator. Seize this opportunity to boat upstream and downstream. Don’t forget to bring an extra sweater, the temperature at water level is chillier.

More romantic places

I love a good romance, and I would love to contribute to yours in my own way. So I’ll write more about these special Parisian spots in further installments to this series. Meanwhile, you will find more resources on the website Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News. Till then, I wish your couple to grow even stronger.

About the Author:
After 30 years spent in Paris, Phil Chavanne knows the city in and out. As the Senior Editor of Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News he shares with you his experience of Paris from the inside.

Sitting at a cafe terrace in Paris, and watching people passing by while sipping on your Perrier water is not something you want to miss. But here comes the check, and with it the question: should I tip, and how much?

The check is all inclusive

Unlike in America, cafes and restaurants in Paris directly include a 15% service charge in your check. This is required by French law as tips are assessed for taxation purposes.

The 15% service charge is clearly itemized on your check, on top of the VAT tax (a French version of the sales tax). The words ?Service compris? (Tip included) indicate that the tip has already been included in the total to be paid.

The good news is that prices rated on the menus are all-inclusive: they include both the 15% tip and the sales tax. There is no last-minute unholy surprise when you are given your check. What you saw on the menu is what you get charged, no hidden extras.

No further tipping?

A small extra-tip will be well received, of course. It is a way to show you liked how your waiter took care of you. This is not an obligation though.

Small extra tips are also welcome because they go directly into your waiter?s pockets. Oftentimes the 15% service charge goes to a common pot which is divided at the end of the day amongst all waiters. Some bar owners may also retain a portion or the entirety of the service charge: French law does not require that service charges be given back to waiters. So your waiter might not even see a dime of it.

In any case, you are under no obligation to extra tip. You paid your dues when you paid your check.

How much should the extra tip be?

Extra tips may range from just a couple of Euro dimes for a coffee or a soft drink, to 1-5 euros for a lunch or dinner. A nice ?Thank You? is 5 to 10% of the total check. But once again, there is no obligation, and no steadfast rule as far as the percentage goes.

How do you tip elsewhere?

In many cases, tips are a valuable income supplement for their recipients.

Take taxi drivers for instance: the average salary of a taxi driver employed by a cab company is about ?1,400 a month, which in Paris is more or less equivalent to a $2,500 salary in NYC. These guys put in 10 hours a day. Some years ago, they used to work 14-15 hours a day, 6 days a week, to make more income. French law forbids them to do so today. So they appreciate your tip all the way: 5-10% of your fare is a good rule of thumb.

At the theater, tip the lady usher: a couple of euros is fine at the opera house [these ladies are also paid on the evening programs they sell, 50 euro cents is good at the movie theaters. Years ago, the lady ushers were not even paid by movie theater operators. They lived on tips only. Even if they are on a salary today, it is doubtful they earn more than the minimum wage.

At your hotel, your porter will appreciate a euro per bag.

At expensive restaurants, classical concert venues, and discos, coat ladies usually take care of your belongings. Tip them a euro per large item when you retrieve your coats.

At the museum, you may leave a couple of euros to your guide if you went through a guided tour.

In summary

These are guidelines based on experience and custom. They are in no way a uniform code of conduct. These advices are also applicable elsewhere in France. In other French regions, where the standard of living is lower than in Paris, tips are even more construed as a mark of generosity.

In the final analysis, tipping is just that: a sign of your generosity and of your appreciation of the level of service you have just received.

(This article has been written in collaboration with Vincent Ramelli, a regular contributor to Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, a Paris-born writer, and a specialist of the city.)

***About the Author***

Phil Chavanne shares many useful advices on how to visit Paris. His travel guide offers free information about Paris hotels, restaurants, tours, museums, and other sites.

The French term Lut?ce may not sound familiar but is a name the city of Paris was known by in earlier times. Paris is a popular tourist destination along with being a rich metropolitan city. It is the largest French city along with being the capital of France. The city boasts of innumerable historical avenues, monuments and museums. It is considered to be an architectural wonder and boasts of exquisite eighteenth century heritage buildings and palaces.

Paris was not always as large as it is today. When rail lines were laid out in the 1840′s it allowed migrants to flow into the city. Paris has always been perceived as the city of opportunities and continues to attract tourists, immigrants and people from the suburbs and neighboring cities. After having witnessed two severe bouts of cholera that greatly crippled the city, Paris continued to grow rapidly. Historians suggest Paris has been a part of numerous wars and sieges, along with being governed by foreign rulers.

The city of Paris is densely populated and has a relatively small metropolitan area. Paris has three airports and a comprehensive rail and motorway network. Its rich artistic backdrop is attributed to the humble nature of French noblemen of earlier generation. A number of these men and women were patrons of art. This prompted them to support artwork to an extent that the city boasts of the Louvre, which is prided to be amongst the most famous museums. The city rests on the banks of the river Seine and is thought to be home to more that 9.9 million people.

Paris is rated very high amongst fashion houses and boasts of a fast and exciting nightlife. Estimates suggest that Paris caters to more than thirty million visitors annually. Though most would take one trip to the Eiffel tower, the city boasts of many other archaic and architectural wonders that can keep visitors mesmerized for life.

Paris provides detailed information on Paris, Paris Hotels, Discount Flights Paris, Paris Accommodations and more. Paris is affiliated with Paris Casino Hotels.

If you watched CNN or Fox News like I did a few evenings ago, you might have been impressed at the student demonstrations in France.

Both TV channels had us sold on the idea Paris was being mobbed by the angry multitude. Pictures of Mad Max-like police trucks hosing thousands of protesters. Scenes of massive gatherings around Bastille square. Interviews of malcontent students. Some pyrotechnics to boot!

Golly!

Though I often travel to Paris, I live in Florida. So I had to wait until the following day before I could call relatives and friends in Paris. I got Vince first. Vince is always a reliable source, he’s got the local pulse. When I need to get the lowdown on all-things-Paris, I get it from him first.

Hi Vince, it’s Phil. Gee, how is it today? Have you lived through the night?
Hi man, what are you talking about?
Well, I mean, the demonstrations and all. The mayhem.
Oh yeah, so what about them?
Well, I was on CNN yesterday, and they were showing all this mess with the police, and students, and cars burning!
And?
Come on, man, you can’t tell me nothing is happening there!
Well, there was a demonstration, for sure. Students in the streets. But this was yesterday….
You mean, it’s over?
Sure, buddy. Guys didn’t like what the government handed over, guys got in the street, guys vented their anger, guys go home and watch TV, end of story.
Oh. But about the cars torched? I mean, we saw it on TV!
To hell with TV! You see a couple of cars burning, and you think it’s the war?

OK, that was Vince’s input. Kind of reassuring.

Let’s ring family. I wanted to talk to Lolo, my brother in law. Lolo was an army firefighter for 15 years, he’s cool-calm-collected, and he’s used to assessing disasters with a cold eye.

Lolo? Hi, it’s Phil.
Hi bro, whassup?
Hey, I just wanted to hear it from you, you know, about the demonstrations, and the mess in Paris.
Yeah, that was sporty.
You mean, they wreaked havoc in the place?
No, I mean it was sporty to get to work on my scooter. I mean, some of the streets near the Bastille Square were jam-packed.
But what about the protests? I mean, they showed us the stuff on TV; it looked like mayhem with the cops and their trucks!
That was towards the evening, not during the day. I was not far from the demonstrations when they were full on. The students sure were a loud crowd, but the hosing only started in the evening, and only lasted a couple hours.
What about the cars burned?
There were a few. Less than in November, during the events in the suburbs.
Not many then. And how is it now?
Quiet. Everybody’s home, like nothing happened.
Do you mean the demonstrations are over?
Sure. I rode in Paris today, and it was business as usual.
Is it safe for Americans to come? You know I have this website, Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, and I give travel advice to people. Is it safe for them, or should I just tell my visitors to postpone their travel plans to Paris?
It’s just as quiet today as it was before the demonstrations. Come see yourself if you don’t believe me.

Oh I sure believed Lolo, he having served 15 years as a firefighter in the army, and saved several lives. He used to serve in Paris too, so he knows the place like the back of his hand.

But I figured: I’m not gonna risk sending the visitors of my website to Destination Hell. I want proof. Solid proof that it’s all over, and there’s nothing bad happening now in Paris.

So I called Serge and Tony, two friends who are in the video business. Guys, could you do me a favor, and shoot a short video for my visitors, with the time and date on it? I wanna see Paris as it is today.

Serge and Tony are very cool guys, and they sure obliged.

This is the video they sent me: Paris video

It was shot in Paris, between 1:00 and 2:00 PM on April 3, 2006, in various well-known places: under the Eiffel Tower, on the Alma Bridge, on the Champs Elysees Avenue, on Place de la Concorde, at St Germain des Pres, on St Michel Blvd, near the Cluny museum, at the Notre Dame Cathedral, on the Cite island, near the Louvre and Orsay museums, near the Opera house, and finally, right in the department store neighborhood.

What it shows is exactly how Paris is at this time. Business as usual. So how come we have seen such a mess on TV, and there seems to be no trace of it today?

For one thing, student protests rarely last. They are put together quickly, and dissolve even quicker. What we saw on CNN and other news channels was a live-fast-die-fast occurrence.

What’s more, TV and the news media rarely report quiet endings. ‘News’ is drama, war, atrocities, and the like. Uneventful endings never make the news.

The student protests of March 28 were filmed until everybody just went back home after sunset. Then they became much less newsworthy. Or so think the big honchos at CNN, Fox News, and the like. Don’t forget folks, these guys think for y’all, the rabble. So shut up and watch.

Thirdly, the French are Mediterranean in character. An argument breaks, tempers flare quickly, bird names are exchanged, and suddenly it’s all drama…. Then things resume their regular course, everybody shares a glass of wine, and the argument is soon forgotten.

The French government tried to pass a law which students and unions consider as a danger to job security. When the latter felt this law was forced into their gullets with no negotiations, their temper flared, and in no time they were down in the street. But it ended just as quickly as it all started. A flash in the pan. Within a day, it was over.

There is only one regrettable fact in this: heavy-handed, scandal-happy, war-loving news reporting gives us all a false impression that France is a dangerous place to travel to these days.

Yet, had TV cameras continued rolling and spent just as much time showing Parisians had returned to their peaceful lives, such impression would have been quickly dispelled for what it really is: 100% false.

And so it is the privilege of regular Joes like me and other honest-to-God travelers to report the happy ending: everything is fine and dandy in Paris, folks. Live your lives as you plan them, and if you wish to travel to France, just don’t bother too much with the news.

PS– Paris is a big city. Demonstrations are mostly channeled along certain boulevards: Nation-to-Bastille, Nation-to-Italie, Bastille-to-Republique, and Bastille-to-Chatelet. Look them up on a map. Look at all the space around these spots. Well, that’s your own playground in case new demonstrations occur when you are in Paris. A fact the news media conveniently omit to tell you. It wouldn’t sell.

As Senior Editor of Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News, Phil Chavanne helps travelers leaving to Paris. Phil takes exception here to the way the news media artificially staged the recent events in Paris. With direct information from the field, and a video to prove it, Phil shows it is perfectly safe to travel to Paris. To see the short movie, click here: Paris video

Sitting at a cafe terrace in Paris, and watching people passing by while sipping on your Perrier water is not something you want to miss. But here comes the check, and with it the question: should I tip, and how much?

The check is all inclusive

Unlike in America, cafes and restaurants in Paris directly include a 15% service charge in your check. This is required by French law as tips are assessed for taxation purposes.

The 15% service charge is clearly itemized on your check, on top of the VAT tax (a French version of the sales tax). The words ?Service compris? (Tip included) indicate that the tip has already been included in the total to be paid.

The good news is that prices rated on the menus are all-inclusive: they include both the 15% tip and the sales tax. There is no last-minute unholy surprise when you are given your check. What you saw on the menu is what you get charged, no hidden extras.

No further tipping?

A small extra-tip will be well received, of course. It is a way to show you liked how your waiter took care of you. This is not an obligation though.

Small extra tips are also welcome because they go directly into your waiter?s pockets. Oftentimes the 15% service charge goes to a common pot which is divided at the end of the day amongst all waiters. Some bar owners may also retain a portion or the entirety of the service charge: French law does not require that service charges be given back to waiters. So your waiter might not even see a dime of it.

In any case, you are under no obligation to extra tip. You paid your dues when you paid your check.

How much should the extra tip be?

Extra tips may range from just a couple of Euro dimes for a coffee or a soft drink, to 1-5 euros for a lunch or dinner. A nice ?Thank You? is 5 to 10% of the total check. But once again, there is no obligation, and no steadfast rule as far as the percentage goes.

How do you tip elsewhere?

In many cases, tips are a valuable income supplement for their recipients.

Take taxi drivers for instance: the average salary of a taxi driver employed by a cab company is about ?1,400 a month, which in Paris is more or less equivalent to a $2,500 salary in NYC. These guys put in 10 hours a day. Some years ago, they used to work 14-15 hours a day, 6 days a week, to make more income. French law forbids them to do so today. So they appreciate your tip all the way: 5-10% of your fare is a good rule of thumb.

At the theater, tip the lady usher: a couple of euros is fine at the opera house [these ladies are also paid on the evening programs they sell, 50 euro cents is good at the movie theaters. Years ago, the lady ushers were not even paid by movie theater operators. They lived on tips only. Even if they are on a salary today, it is doubtful they earn more than the minimum wage.

At your hotel, your porter will appreciate a euro per bag.

At expensive restaurants, classical concert venues, and discos, coat ladies usually take care of your belongings. Tip them a euro per large item when you retrieve your coats.

At the museum, you may leave a couple of euros to your guide if you went through a guided tour.

In summary

These are guidelines based on experience and custom. They are in no way a uniform code of conduct. These advices are also applicable elsewhere in France. In other French regions, where the standard of living is lower than in Paris, tips are even more construed as a mark of generosity.

In the final analysis, tipping is just that: a sign of your generosity and of your appreciation of the level of service you have just received.

(This article has been written in collaboration with Vincent Ramelli, a regular contributor to Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com, a Paris-born writer, and a specialist of the city.)

***About the Author***

Phil Chavanne shares many useful advices on how to visit Paris. His travel guide offers free information about Paris hotels, restaurants, tours, museums, and other sites.