Tours

1. The Main Sights

The best place to start is at the most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower. Try to get there by 9a to avoid waiting in line. You might feel energetic enough to climb the 360 steps to the 1st level but, of course, the most spectacular panorama is at 274m.

After viewing the city from on high, you can get a closer look at some monuments by taking a relaxing boat trip along the Seine. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, cross the main road towards the Pont de l'Alma bridge and go down a flight of steps on your right, following signs to the Bateaux Parisiens. The one-hour ride starts and finishes here; they leave twice an hour during peak periods and a guide provides an interesting multi-lingual commentary.

Back at the Pont de l'Alma, cross the bridge and walk up through the Trocadero gardens to the Esplanade. You'll be feeling hungry now, but if you fancy a change of scene, head for the metro, take line 6 to Charles de Gaulle Etoile and exit on the Champs-Elysees for a great selection of fast-food and traditional eateries.

Once on the "Champs," you can head for the Arc de Triomphe via the underpass, and even go up to the top. Whether you choose to do this or not, you should definitely walk down the "world's most beautiful avenue". It is about one mile long but you can hop on a bus going downhill to see it all if walking is not an option for you. At the bottom of the Champs Elysees you will hit the Place de la Concorde with its Egyptian Obelisk. A leisurely stroll through the Tuileries gardens will then take you to the Louvre and its famous pyramid entrance. You can either have a look inside, visit an exhibition, or have a snack in one of the many cafes in the Carrousel.

Another 15-minute stroll along and across the Seine, or a metro ride from the Louvre to Hotel de Ville (Line 1), will take you to Notre-Dame Cathedral to view the exquisite Gothic architecture and stained-glass windows before taking a well-deserved rest.

2. Hotel de Ville, le Marais, Places des Vosges, Bastille

This tour concentrates on a relatively small area of Paris where there is a lot to see and do.

Start at Hôtel de Ville (metro lines 1 & 11), Paris' City Hall. The intricately decorated façade is exquisite but guided tours are rather complicated to organize, so simply linger a while and enjoy the splendor of the architecture.

From Hotel de Ville, head 200m north up the Rue du Renard, to the multi-colored, Pompidou Centre, also called Beaubourg. There may be an exhibition you're interested in, but even if there isn't, take the escalators up to the roof for the view and maybe a coffee. Outside, groups of musicians and artists will entertain you at all times of day and night, and the neighboring streets are great for souvenir hunting.

On the northern side of Beaubourg, go east along Rue Rambuteau. This is a typical Parisian market street where you can buy food for a picnic, or stop at one of the cafes or wine bars—but beware, the food shops often close between 1p and 3:30p. This road will lead you to the Rue de Francs Bourgeois and the heart of the Marais district, famous for its large, mansion-like "hôtels particuliers" and museums, including the Musee Picasso and the Carnavalet (fascinating history of Paris). If you don't fancy a museum, just take your time looking at the ancient buildings and interesting side streets. The Rue des Francs Bourgeois will lead you to the Place des Vosges, a perfectly preserved example of 17th Century Parisian architecture, where Victor Hugo once lived. Walk around this elegant square, which is now home to luxury hotels, restaurants, art galleries and boutiques, to get a feel of regal life long ago.

Shifting from royalty to revolution, the tour now heads for the Bastille. Rue de Birague on the south side of the Place will take you into Rue Saint Antoine. Turn left here and walk a few hundred yards to the Place de la Bastille, site of the famous storming and commemorated by a column representing freedom. From Rue Saint Antoine, cross over towards your right to the large concrete and glass Opera Bastille, and have a quick look at the boats moored in the Port de l'Arsenal. You can visit the foyer of the opera house but you have to book a place on a guided tour to see the rest, unless you have tickets for a performance. The Bastille area, especially Rue de la Roquette and Rue de Lappe, is an excellent place for dinner as there is a large variety of bars and restaurants. So get yourself a glass of wine, sit back and soak up the atmosphere of one of the youngest and liveliest parts of Paris.

3. Montmartre

It is worth spending most of a day in this one area alone to give you time to explore all the narrow, winding 19th-century streets and alleyways Be sure to visit the magnificent Byzantine-style Sacre-Coeur Basilica and enjoy the views.

Start at metro Anvers (line 2) and turn right up Rue Steinkerque. This road is full of inexpensive clothing shops which may tempt you to bargain hunt before sightseeing. At the top of Rue Steinkerque, either climb up the steps or, for the price of a metro ticket, take the funicular on your left. From the summit, the panorama spans a 50km radius, so spend some time on the terrace or sit on the steps to spot monuments.

Wander around Sacre Coeur and then, if you like stairs and great views, there are 200 more to climb to reach the dome (access from outside the church on left).

Back on the ground, go left from Sacre Coeur, and you'll reach the famous Place du Tertre where cafe tables, waiters, artists, souvenir vendors, and visitors jostle for pavement space. This is where you'll find most of the restaurants, so ignore the high prices, sit down, and enjoy the general atmosphere.

From here, wherever you go, you'll walk along picturesque, cobbled streets lined with beautiful old houses and buildings. Armed with a good street map, walk in a wide circle to the left of the Basilica starting in Rue du Chevalier de la Barre. Don't miss the ancient Moulin de la Galette in Rue Lepic or the vineyard on Rue Saint Vincent, which produces several bottles of wine a year.

Finish this tour at Place des Abbesses and walk along Rue des Abbesses. Full of grocery shops, cafes, and wine bars, this is a fun and trendy place to spend the evening, unless of course, you have tickets for that oh-so-Parisian landmark, the Moulin-Rouge cabaret in Place Blanche.

If you are with children or just a little tired, let the Montmartrain (Montmartre Train) take you around. It starts in front of Sacre Coeur and gives you a guided tour through the streets of Montmartre, finishing up in Place Pigalle.

If you're visiting Paris and have the desire to go it on your own in the not-so-normal fashion, take a look into Cultural Tours of Paris. These guided tour books provide a glimpse into the city like no other.

4. Outside the City

Western Paris If you are spending a couple of days in the Capital, it may also be worth exploring the city's outskirts as it contains numerous chateaus and countless historical sites. The first do-not-miss chateau is of course Versailles, home to Louis XIV and his court. If you can attend the fountain shows in the evening, your visit will be even more memorable. Also located to the west, the pretty town of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, its chateau and forest will enchant you equally.

Eastern Paris The east offers also many attractive options, like the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte or the Château de Fontainebleau. Likewise rich in History, the picturesque town of Provins will transport you back in the Middle Ages.

Champagne Region If you can further explore the region 2 to 3 days, the Champagne region where the eponymous sparkling wine is produced is a real treat. Drive the Route Touristique de Champagne and stop on your way in Épernay to visit world-famous winery Moët & Chandon or in smaller town like Oger and Mesnil-sur-Oger where you are assured to receive a more authentic and warmer welcome in family-owned wineries. The major city of Reims also has a history-rich heritage with its Cathedral and Palais du Tau. Among the celebrated wineries headquartered in Reims, a visit to Champagne Taittinger and Champagne Krug are exquisite.