Paris short stays

Although it isn't a well publicized fact, Paris is the second largest European city; the river it straddles, the Seine, also has two islands, situated in the oldest part of the city. Paris short stays are primarily taken by couples wanting a romantic weekend; with a great deal to see and do that really a week is needed.

It is renowned for its wonderful Gothic inspired buildings and street markets; the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre must not go unmentioned. Traveling through the city of Paris can be very enjoyable; there is a superb underground rail system called the Metro which is efficient and easy to understand.

At almost 1,000 feet high, the Eiffel Tower is an impressive sight; it can be seen from any point within the city and the superb views just can't be matched by those looking at it from the ground. In the evening the illumination means it can be seen for many miles; it is possible to take organized tours which tell the story of the Tower and the history of France.

A walk along the Champs Elysees is essential when you visit Paris; it's where you will find all the top class hotels, shops and restaurants. This avenue may be select but it attracts large numbers of visitors daily; most of the five star hotels are located here but more affordable hotels can be found further out.

The world famous Louvre museum is in this city; it contains almost a third of a million exhibits and is in fact one of the biggest art museums in the world. There are enough art exhibits to keep you occupied for more time than your short stay in Paris would allow; the Venus de Milo is displayed here and of course the Mona Lisa. Many well known artists spent years of their lives in Paris; painters like Monet and Picasso spent many years here and a large number of their art works can be seen in Paris today.

The Arc de Triomphe another famous landmark was built by Napoleon in 1806; the names of his generals engraved upon it to honor them and his troops. A little known fact is that there's a viewing observatory built into the building allowing the whole area to be viewed; it stands in the place where the city's main avenues begin including the Champs Elysees.

This city has a huge variety of places to visit, many of these have not even mentioned here; although no trip would be complete without seeing these, they are probably best viewed as part of a guided tour, some of which are actually free. It's an unfortunate fact that a Paris short stay vacation will only include some of the attractions; this article has not even discussed the topic of medieval castles and Gothic churches which the city has in abundance.