Of all the places I have travelled around the world, the Eiffel Tower remains one of my favourite places in the world in terms of sites to stand and marvel at. What a structure. A stunning attraction.
If you only have time in Paris to see one attractions, let it be the Eiffel Tower!
Paris is a city which has plenty of opportunities for budget travellers and backpackers, in addition to those people looking for higher end accommodation and stays in the French capital. Having spent a few nights in many of the youth hostels in Paris, here are my favourite youth hostels to stay in Paris.
BVJ Louvre Youth Hostel
This is one of the better placed hostels in the city and is close to Le Louvre, Paris and various other attractions. As part of a national chain this is a trustworthy establishment offering a safe and convenient place to stay.
Youth Hostels in Paris
Woodstock
This is a cosy hostel which has a party atmosphere but top class resources as far as youth hostels go. The breakfast is included in the cost and there is a convenient baggage room where you can leave your belongings in good faith.
Le Village
People staying at this hostel have the choice of either staying in double bedrooms or dormitories. The hostel has a great location in the middle of Montmartre which is one of the most popular areas of the city. One of the best things about staying here is the design of the building itself, which is in keeping with the artistic nature of the area. All rooms have private bathrooms.
Peace and Love
This is a fun and friendly place to stay and is especially appealing to those who like to socialise with fellow travellers as the onsite bar sells drinks for much cheaper than elsewhere in the city centre. There is free wifi access and a comfortable tv area, whilst each of the rooms has a shower and sink. Rooms vary in size from double up to 14 bed dorms.
L’arc de Triomphe is one of the most iconic structures in the city of Paris and attracts millions of visitors each year. Aside from the obvious fact that the structure of L’arc de Triomphe is so huge, the other main draw to it is the history and the significant that it has seen over the years.
When the Emperor Napoleon returned victorious from the battle at Austerlitz in 1806, he commissioned work to begin on the arc as a tribute to the event, and indeed the arc went on to become a memorial for members of the French army who died in battle over the years. After taking two years to lay the foundations of the arc it was not long before the now famous structure began to take shape. The first time the residents of Paris were actually given a clue as to what the completed structure would look like when Napoleon had a wooden version erected for his wedding day in 1810, but it was during king Loiuse-Phillippe was on the throne towards the middle of the 19th century that the arc made real progress.
Paris attractions
Many of the most significant battles and wars in which the French have participated since the arc was erected are now commemorated in or on the arc, including the famous tomb of the Unknown Soldier, an unnamed soldier who died in the First World War, whose remains are in a coffin in the chapel within the arc.
The arc has been the backdrop for many famous marches through Paris, including the notorious German invasion parade which was mirrored by the allies when they reclaimed the country.
Although Paris is a romantic playground for grown-up visitors, you might be surprised to find out how kid-friendly this cosmopolitan city is under the surface. With proper planning, even sites that kids might consider stuffy can turn into grand adventures and the sites adults think are just for kids can be the highlight of their trip!
Tour the Carousels- For a full day adventure that can be beautifully folded in with sightseeing activities, have a treasure hunt to find the all the exquisite carousels tucked around Paris. In the process, the family will wind up visiting sites like the Luxembourg Gardens, the Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, the Jardin Des Tuileries and even the Eiffel Tower. Some carousels are double-deckers with not only the traditional painted high
Paris walks
horses but gondolas for the adults to ride in luxury and sexy mermaids that tempt even the teenagers. Smaller toddler carousels have enchanting fanciful creatures that are just the right size for their first ride on a merry-go-round.
Sandcastles on the Seine – Although scoffed at by many when it opened in 2002, the series of manmade beaches along the Seine known as the Paris Plages developed into a success by offering individual themes like swimming spots, sandy beaches or launches from which to explore the Seine in a kayak or canoe. Often you can catch a free concert in the evenings, but to find an open spot amid the coveted strips of sand to build a sandcastle is challenging but part of the fun.
Science Museums – Reputed to be the finest science museum in the world, the Universcience complex embraces both the ornate Paris Science museum (the Palais de la Découverte) built in the 1930s and the sparkling new Paris Science Museum (Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie at the Parc). Interactive exhibits help kids (and adults) develop a richer understanding of the scientific method. The Geode IMAX theatre features films for the older kids and the Children’s Cité is designed especially for pre-school children with age appropriate exhibits where they can play for 90 minute sessions with pure abandon.
Theme Parks – Definitely Disneyland Paris attracts the most visitors (and heated debate) but don’t overlook other amusement parks that may not be flashy but are just as entertaining. The Parc Aserix is Disney’s main rival, sporting the biggest wooden rollercoaster in Europe. Spend a day roaming the France Miniature Map with its fascinating bird’s eye view of the French countryside that covers 12 acres with exquisitely detailed scale models including recognizable landmarks. The Aquaboulevard is the world’s largest indoor water park and the complex also houses cinemas, sports facilities and restaurants.
Zoos and Aquariums – The animal and undersea kingdoms are well represented in and around Paris and expeditions to the aquarium or zoo are entertaining and educational for all. There are two aquariums, Sea Val d’Europe is the biggest with over 30 displays but the CinéAqua has (originally the Aquarium du Trocadero) has undergone major renovations to add more marine related attractions. The traditional 15 acre Parc Zoologique de Vincennes it is within metro riding distance of the city center and has long been home to exotic and endangered species from around the world. If you have access to a car, you can drive through the Parc Zoologique de Thoiry safari park, but be prepared to do plenty of walking as well to get even closer to friendly animals like the sea lions, giraffes and even get up close and personal with France’s first visiting komodo dragons.
About the author:Lela Lake is a life-long Paris lover and writes for AnyTrip.com, the budget travel specialists. You can browse the site’s selection of Cheap Paris Hotel or enter their Love Paris competition for the chance to win one of four free trips to the City of Light.
When looking for a fun family activity to enjoy in Paris you should look no further than the Aquaboulevard water park. The park is a mixture of indoor and outdoor space which boasts a superb range of slides, pools and activities for all of the family to enjoy.
Aquaboulevard is the largest urban water park in Europe and is superbly well designed to be exciting and attractive to children whilst also catering for adults. There is a surprising amount of space to enjoy simple swimming or splash about with the kids, especially as the indoor pools are connected to the outside which are equally fun on a rainy day as they are in the sun.
Paris Beach
As well as long windy slides there are smaller ones designed for younger children and various other water features to explore. For the adults there are spa pools and also sauna facilities available on site. Other features of the park include crazy golf and picnic areas.
Travelling from the centre of the city to Aquaboulavard is easy as you can just jump onto metro line 8 in the direction of Balard, take the tram in the same direction, take a mainline train on line c to Boulevard Victor or take the short journey in a hire car. You should be able to get to Aquaboulevard in half an hour or less from the city centre.
Paris beach as it is sometimes also called is a great idea both for its tourist value for the city coffers and for its fun value for local and for visitors. It seemed like a crazy idea in its infancy but the idea have continued over recent years and now seems to have its place set in stone as it were.
Find more Paris travel ideas from the Holiday Velvet Online travel guides series.
There are many professional tennis tournaments in the world each year, but there are four which are considered to be the best in the world. The French Open Tennis Tournament is amongst these tournaments and is contested each year at Roland Garros beginning in the month of May.
French Open Tennis Tournament
Each time the tournament begins, the best players in the world congregate in Paris to battle it out for one of the most coveted titles—an event which grabs the attention of the world’s media and mesmerizes the residents of Paris as well as the thousands of tourists who travel to Paris especially to witness the event.
The French open is played on clay and is widely considered to be the most important clay contest in the world.
Clay is a surface which favours the player who is able to really apply spin to the ball, and is conducive to a style of play that you cannot find in any of the other major tournaments.
The French open event is contested over a two week period which means that there are plenty of opportunities for the sports and events fan to gain access to the event and enjoy watching a game on one of the many courts at Rolland Garros.
Many of the courts only have small stands whilst there are a few courts which can accommodate significant numbers of people, with another due to be built over the coming years.
Visiting the French Open will give you a great opportunity to explore Paris and all of the city’s fabulous attractions.
Although the historical attractions in Paris are undoubtedly one of the best tourist features the city boasts, there indeed are plenty of other sites not worth neglecting; and below is a brief guide to the 5 modern attractions to visit in Paris.
Pompidou Centre
The Pompidou Centre
This is a great example of state of the art architecture, which confounds beyond Paris as it is home to the largest modern art museum in Europe, standing as a great modern attraction.
Stade de France
This stadium is a modern attraction that was built specifically for the world cup in 2002 and is the height of modern stadia. You can visit here to take a tour, admire the size and design of it or to take in one of the many world-class sporting events and concerts which take place here.
Grande Arche de la Defense
This is yet another modern attraction in Paris, and a cousin of L’Arc De Triomphe which is also found in the city. It was built in the 1980s and is similar in size to its historical relative. It’s located within a modern business park but also has luscious greenery from which you can admire this feat of architecture.
Les Halles
Last but not least in our list of 5 modern attractions in Paris is this huge shopping mall in the centre of the city – Les Halles, which is home to hundreds of shops, cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues varying in size and nature.
One of the most celebrated aspects of French culture is the food. Whilst the savoury dishes take most of the spotlight, there are also countless high quality French desserts which you simply must sample. Below are just some.
Crepes – This is the continental cousin of the pancake with which we are so familiar. Crepes are generally very thin and can be enjoyed with a variety of sweet and savoury fillings, although if you wish to be truly traditional you can enjoy them with Cider in keeping with the Brittany tradition.
French Desserts
Creme Caramel – Not to be confused with its cousin, Creme Brulee, this is a custard desert which is topped off with a layer of caramel. This is an extremely sweet but entirely satisfying dish which has spread around the world, but there is nothing quite like the way the French make it.
Gateau aux Noix – This is a walnut cake which can be made in a variety of different ways. Whichever way you try it, you are assured to find yourself a new favourite dish.
Tarte aux Fruits – This is a dessert which can be enjoyed hot or cold. The fruity taste makes it an ideal treat to enjoy on the summers day. The fruit is laid on top of the flan as opposed to in the actual mixture itself, so there are a number of different ways to tackle this provincial favourite.
If you are the type of person who loves going on holiday but hates missing sporting events then it is likely that you seek out the best sports bars wherever you go. Sport is a big part of Paris life, and as such, there are a number of sports bars scattered around the city. Here are some of those which you might like to visit when in Paris:
The Auld Alliance – For those of you who like to watch sport in familiar surroundings this bar is the option for you. This Scottish pub provides a familiar port hole in the middle of the French capital with its traditional British layout. There are a number of
Sports Bar Paris
Scottish ales, a pool table and most importantly, a number of screens showing a constant stream of sport.
Au Metro – It is well known that rugby players and fans absolutely love a good old drinking session. This bar in the centre of Paris is dedicated to this culture. The bar shows all live rugby matches as well as a selection of events from other sports. Aside from showing sport, Au Metro also has a good standard food menu.
The Moose – Visiting the Moose will enable you to view sporting events from around the world as there are 10 screens powered by 4 satellite boxes from different countries. The bar is one of the longest in Paris and the selection of beers will keep you going all day.
One of the most efficient ways to move around Paris is to use the Metro, which is the equivalent to the London Underground. The metro is one of the most efficient underground systems in Europe and serves thousands of people every day. Whether you need to get around for business or pleasure, this is not only the quickest way to get around, but also the cheapest. Below are some tips and information to help when using it:
Avoid using the Metro at rush hour for obvious reasons. At these times of day the locals who are travelling to and from work will crowd the carriages making them difficult to get onto and considerably more uncomfortable. Try and plan your key journeys to coincide with the quieter times of day.
Acquiring a map will help you to plan your journey ahead of arriving at the Metro as well as serving as a good guide whilst on the carriages as to where and when you need to change.
Metro Paris
Keep your ticket with you at all times as if an inspector asks to see it and you don’t have it you may be subject to an unwelcome fine. Do not try and avoid the fare as checks are regular and you won’t be able to exit stations.
The Metro stops running in Paris at about 1:15AM so be careful not to get caught out as you may find yourself having to either pay considerable more for a taxi or waiting around 4 hours for the next train.
