A few things to keep in mind before heading out sight seeing. Dress for the season. Springtime in Paris can be cold and rainy. Summers hot and uncomfortable. Take a bottle of water with you no matter where you go. Stopping at a supermarche costs about 2-4F per 1.5 litre bottle of water. A can of Coca-Cola can easily run over 10F ($2US) from a street vendor.

Prototype of the Statue de Liberte with the Eiffel Tower in the background

Remember to take your camera and plenty of film. Most sites, being tourist sites, will overcharge on film. Bring as much film as you can from your home country. If you carry a wallet keep it in your front pocket. Women are discouraged from carrying purses and are better off using a fanny pack (bum bag) or the like. Leave your passport behind. A simple driver's license is adequate identification should you need it (unless you are cashing travelers checks then you may need a passport). Speaking of cash, if you have a bank ATM card carry that instead of cash. Most cash machines in France work with bank ATMs (at least from the states they do). Visa debit cards will be accepted everywhere and this is my #1 recommendation for getting cash. 

Champs Elysees - Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre

The famous Champs Elysees is one of the trendiest parts of Paris to start at. You need to take the #1 metro (La Defense/Chateau Vincennes).

Sandra is using the light up metro map to find where she is going

There are a number of metro stops here, starting with le Arc de Triomphe at 'Charles de Gaulle-Etoile' metro stop. You can get out here to see the famous Arc de Triomphe. If you get a chance, schedule your trip around VE day. For the ceremonies the Arc is surrounded by flags of many countries with a huge French flag hanging in the Arc. A tremendous sight. From here walk away from the Arc down Champs Elysees (east). You will see many shops that you can shop at. The Disney store is here , too (for the tykes).

World Cup '98 saw the needle dressed in a soccer ball

Waking EAST from the Arc de Triomphe you will come across a large needle type Egyptian obelisk in the center of the roundabout. This is Place de Concorde or the 'Concorde' metro stop. The needle marks the site where Marie Antoinette was beheaded. An excellent picture taking opportunity lies here for both the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower (beyond the water fountain). Just east beyond the needle is...

Jardin de Tuileries (with the metro stop of the same name) further EAST. This is a large garden that famous Kings of France used to call their backyard (including Napoleon). Now a public place. While walking around imagine how the French revolution started in this area with the peasants killing about 600 Swiss guards that guarded the French palace. This is a dusty place due to the use of a sandy surface for the walkways. Be careful not to walk on the grass. Sometimes there is a fair here including ferris wheels and the like. Statues grace the gardens

The Musee d'Orsay is nice as a followup to the Louvre

and Paris is constantly in the process of keeping this place looking nice. Stay away on windy days , though, as the dust tends to fly around. Bring bottled water if it is a hot day, there are few vendors in the park.

At this point you may want to take a break and stop off at a fabulous chocolate shop, Angelina's.  Located on rue du Rivoli it is near the corner of Place Concorde and the Jardin de Tuileries.  You will find it under the covered walkway across the street from the Jardin.  My personal favorite is the house speciality "Chocolat de l'Africain" which is only 36F and is one great cup of hot chocolate.

Just a little further from the Tuileries is the Louvre. Find an entrance marked Carousel which

One view from the panorama ontop the Samaritaine

takes you below street level. As you descend into the Carousel you will see an excavation of ancient Roman walls that were built hundreds of years ago.

If you are arriving at the Louvre by metro, get off at the Louvre stop (on the #1 metro). Some warnings about the Louvre. While the Mona Lisa you see is a fake (and not a good one at that) the Milo de Venus is authentic and an excellent picture opportunity. While you are not allowed to take flash pictures in the Louvre, in some spots it is ok but in others museum employees will yell at you so watch before you shoot.

The panorama is on the roof of the Samaritaine

Starting January 1996 visitors can enter the Louvre free of charge the first Sunday of the month. The French ministry restored the practice after a six year hiatus where the Sunday entrance fee was half the normal weekday price. On France 2, television minister Douste-Blazy said one reason he was bringing back the free entrace fee was so that everyone in France would have the chance to see the extensive artwork available in the Louvre. Many exhibits that used to languish in the basement are now available for viewing. The minister's first memory of going to the Louvre was with his family. He hopes many more people can now share a similar memory. 

The view from the panorama of the Samaritaine is free

Going a little further east, you will need to detour to Quai de Louvre, the street along the river Seine. You are looking for the Samaritaine Department store. And no, you are not here to shop, unless you want to. The goal is to go to the top floor and then take the stairs to the very top to the panorama where you get the best view of Paris for FREE. From here you can see all around what Paris looks like and, if you feel like it, eat at the bistro on the floor right below.  Additionally, the panorama has a nice tablet that describes what you are seeing and its relative position to where you are standing.  Remember that the store is closed Sundays and holidays. 

Now that you have walked about 5km, take a break and head to the hotel and rest. 

Eiffel Tower and Statue de Liberte

The Eiffel Tower has a countdown to the number of days left in the millenium

Next stop is la Tour Eiffel. Here you want to take the #6 (Nation/Charles de Gaulle-Etoile) metro. Get off at the metro stop 'Trocadero'. When you exit head for the large structure and view the most incredible sight of the Eiffel Tower you can imagine.

Walk down the stairs past the fountains and cross the streets with care and go up the Eiffel Tower. Do this once during the daylight hours and once at night. The French are experts at the night time lighting of buildings/monuments and the sights of Paris are extraodinaire at any time of night. You can also walk to the other side of the Champs de Mars (the park at the base of the Eiffel Tower) to Ecole Militaire. Again, do not walk on the grass. Be sure to order a 'crepe au chocolat' a delight to eat while walking.

Take napkins for the kids (the chocolate is very messy).

From here walk to the overhead Bir-Hakiem metro stop (named for a battle in Africa during WWII) and keep going past it along the Seine River. You will notice a small island in the middle of the Seine, Alles de Cygnees.  You want to walk half way over the bridge and you'll find some stairs going down to the island. 

Beautiful scenery along the river Seine

Here you will find the original Statue de Liberte.  smaller prototype of the same statue sent to the Americas. After you see the statue and are walking back toward the bridge, take an opportunity to take really excellent pictures of the Eiffel tower of your loved ones in front of it. This is the best stop for really romantic pictures. Plus the walk under the tree covered path is romantic in itself. Pleasantly, this is not a touristy spot for some reason. I guess one of Paris's better secrets. 

Sacre Coeur and Montremarte

Now you head off and take the metro to Pigalle to see Sacre Coeur (Sacred Heart Church) on top of the

Sacre Coeur at the top of the hill

hill which is a structure you have seen from every point that you have visited so far. A great place to relax, drink a bottle of excellent French wine and eat a sandwich.

There is an incline tram here that travels up the hill. You can use one of your metro passes to take it either up or down.

Near the church at the top of the hill is a place (plaza) where street artists of all kinds sell nice paintings. Haggle; the artists expect you to. If you don't, you have overpaid. A good technique is to see something you like and inquire to its price. Then walk away. Fork out the Francs you're willing to pay into your back pocket and go back. Then simply present the artist with the Francs and more likely than not he/she will take it. Never pull out all your money in front of the artist, you'll lose all your bargaining power then. 

The Grateful Dead

You may think I am crazy about this next attraction but it is by far one of the more bizarre places I have ever been. Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise (same metro exit). Here you will find such notables as Fredrick Chopin (!), Edith Piaf, Modigliani, Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison who, by the way, has a full time guard. Not only are the residents here of note but also the entire atmosphere and uniqueness

Edith Piaf's resting place

of the cemetery and the architecture of its mausoleums. Put this place on your list. There are maps for 10F at the flower shop at the metro exit . None of the maps are accurate to the exact location so expect to spend some time finding your idol's grave.  There are some maps posted at the entrances to the cimetiere.

More photos of famous graves at Pere LaChaise are available here.

A similar experience can be had at the catacombs. You need to exit the Denfert-Rochereau metro. The entrance to the catacombs is inside a small green building in the place. Open only during certain hours and closed at lunch time. Not to be visited after a dodgy meal! 

Shopping at La Defense

Grand Arc La Defense on a summer day

La Defense is a shopping area so if you are interested in spending money then this is the place to go. Not only that but this area, right outside of Paris, is also the only area where large buildings are allowed to be built. The Grande Arc La Defense is here and lined up perfectly with the Arc de Triomphe. Grab some food from the Auchat supermarket in La Defense and eat on the stairs. On a nice day you can see quite far. La Defense is named after a French defence against the Prussians a long time ago, it is not a defence area. You will see buildings named after well known companies like Fiat, Renault, Elf, etc. here.

Time for break, go home and relax.

Eating

Notre Dame as seen from the boat

Now to see another famous site, Notre Dame. Take the metro #4 to 'Cite' stop. Exit here and you will be at Notre Dame.

From here walk south and you will be in the trendy St Michel/Germain area of Paris. You will find lots of inexpensive Greek restaurants here amongst others. The small streets can take you back in time if there are not too many people there.