Top destinations in Paris

What can you see in Paris: Jackets at the ready – there’s a chill running through the Catacombes. This 3,000km (1,864-mile) network of tunnels runs under much of the city, containing the bones of six million people, including many who perished during the Revolutionary Terror. In these damp, cramped corridors, you’ll find the bones of Marat, Robespierre and their cronies packed in with wall upon wall of fellow citizens.

Paris restaurant pick : Comice : The bulk of Paris’s famed haute cuisine is fiscally out of reach for many. However the year-old Comice, headed by Canadian chef Noam Gedalof and sommelier Etheliya Hananova (the two are married), is an indulgence that won’t completely melt your credit card. The look strikes a similar balance: elegant but relaxed, with striking arrangements from a renowned local florist. Hananova’s wine list — which features lesser-known wines from around the world — is terrific, as is Gedalof’s light, inventive contemporary French cooking. Try the duck foie gras with hazelnuts, strawberries, balsamic, and black pepper or the butter-poached lobster with sweet pea and mascarpone ravioli.

To truly soak up the alluring ambience of Paris, tourists should try taking a boat cruise along the Seine River. Besides being one of the most enjoyable things to do while visiting the city, Seine River Cruises allow tourists to see the sights from a different perspective. The Seine River bridges, Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, and the Louvre Museum look stunning from the viewpoint of a riverboat. While a daytime cruise allows tourists to appreciate the glory of the monuments brightened by sunshine, the most romantic experience is an evening cruise. After sunset, the city’s landmarks are illuminated, which creates a special effect, and somehow the city seems more magical. For a cruise that includes dinner, try the Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Cruise. This four-hour sightseeing journey departs near the Eiffel Tour, and guests are treated to a gourmet three-course meal. Read even more details at Paris travel blog 2020.

Paris shopping pick : Boulevard Saint Germain, Bon Marche & Rue du Bac: Running through the elegant 7th arrondissement, the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Pres and into the lively Latin Quarter, Boulevard Saint Germain is a street shoppers won’t want to miss in Paris. Starting at the Seine River in the 7th, this pretty street is lined with trees and beautiful Parisian buildings. It’s a great spot for home decor shops, fashion boutiques and gourmet food shops. As you reach the intersection with Rue du Bac and Boulevard Raspail, you’ll enter a fabulous shopping neighborhood. Follow Boulevard Raspail down to Rue de Rennes, and along the way you’ll find many interesting stores, including Genevieve Lethu for dishes, tablecloths and so on (95 Rue de Rennes). Plastiques (103 Rue de Rennes) is great for home gift ideas, including cool cheese trays, salad bowls out of clear plastic with Provencal flowers inside and so on.

The most monumental boulevard in Paris used to be a desolate field of marshland until the 16th century, when it was landscaped by Andre Le Notre. A century later, the renowned Parisian city planner Baron Haussman designed the boulevard’s elegant buildings. The Champs-Elysees is divided into two parts with the Rond-Point des Champs-Elysees as its intersection. The lower part of the Champs-Elysees, bordering the Place du Concorde, includes a spacious park, the Jardin des Champs-Elysees, and the Petit Palais fine arts museum. The upper part, extending to the Arc de Triomphe, is lined by luxury shops, hotels, restaurants, cafes, cinemas, and theaters. This bustling area draws many tourists and is a gathering place for Parisians. The Champs-Elysees is famous for its prestigious establishments, such as Maison Laduree (75 Avenue des Champs-Elysees), a patisserie shop renowned for its 18th-century tea salon and delicious pastries (their specialty is “macarons”), and upscale designer boutiques like Tiffany & Co. (62 Avenue des Champs-Elysees), Louis-Vuitton (101 Avenue des Champs-Elysees), and Cartier (154 Avenue des Champs-Elysees). See even more details on FranceTravelBlog.com.