Paris Things to Do

Those in Paris are probably having quite the experience right now as millions of citizens and visitors alike have hit the streets to celebrate the election of their new president, François Hollande. He beat out incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy by just a few percent, yet the victory was decisive and sparked the celebrations which speak volumes about France’s continuing pride in their nation.In the ever-historical Bastille Square, people climbed upon the July Column and stood close together with looks of happiness on their faces.

It’s the City of the Dead all the world comes to visit, the resting place of many icons: Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, Marcel Proust, Edith Piaf, Chopin, Modigliani – the list goes on. Pere Lachaise Cemetery is also very beautiful. Opened in the early 19th century it became the place for celebrity burials as a bit of a marketing ploy; many people at the time felt the cemetery was too far from the center of Paris and did not want to be buried there, so the city literally moved a few well-respected citizen’s graves to Pere Lachaise making it the place to be buried.

The Luxembourg Gardens are one of the world’s great places. They’re beautiful and iconic of Paris, they’re full of history and contain plenty to do and see. Built along with the Palais du Luxembourg in the 17th century by a heartbroken Marie de Medicis, after the assassination of her husband Henry IV, the park is typical of the time with its formal layout of avenues of trees, the central fountain and vista of the palace.

Paris is a city of the senses – sight and taste predominate. In terms of sounds, it can be filled with music or just the rush of traffic; smells can go from sublime to awful depending whether you’re standing in the food court of Galeries Lafayette or next to a busy road, and touch.. But predominantly, Paris fills the eyes and tempts the taste buds. One of the things the French are famous for are their sweet treats – pastries, cakes, and desserts – and of these, one of their most famous gifts to the world is the macaroon…

Spring is a happy time in Paris; everyone’s emerging from their winter hibernation and venturing back onto the streets and into the parks and cafes. You might need to take a jacket and scarf but the sun will be out and the flowers blooming. Some of the best places to soak up the spring sun are:

At first sight, central Paris can seem like a city crammed with buildings. Look closer and of course you’ll discover the manicured lawns and clipped trees of large gardens like the Luxembourg and Tuileries. Tucked away though are smaller stretches of greenery …

If you are looking for the most charming way to see a side of Paris ordinary tours cannot give you – the Paris Private Citroen 2CV Tour is the perfect way to enjoy Paris like a movie star.

Your intimate journey through Paris in a chauffeur driven Citroen 2CV, with its convertible roof, will make you really feel like you are in a movie as this iconic little car twists down Paris’s labyrinth of narrow alleyways and side streets.

You’ll discover a delicious emal at the Maison Dalloyau house of gastronomy. France is as much about food as it is about art and when you combine the two you get the gorgeous edibles produced by Maison Dalloyau. From their famous colorful macaroons and the beautiful and delicious cakes, to that Frenchest of things, foie gras and a fricassee de champignons, these people know how to make something special with food.

Living history and written history, the famous Parisian bookshop Galignani has both. With family roots going back to the first printing presses in Venice in the 16th century when Simone Galignani published a Latin grammar book, Galignani has been an important name for books since they became mass produced.

This tour is guaranteed to bring out the romantic in every Paris visitor. You will drift down the famed Seine River and along Paris’ winding canal network, while taking in the city’s most spectacular icons from a unique perspective.