Paris (3-5 nights)

See:

Good place to see Eiffel Tower from afar – Trocadero station (along metro line 6 and 9). After walking to the base of the tower you can take Métro Bir-Hakeim (line 6) or RER Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel (C) to other places

Arc de Triomphe — The Arc de Triomphe exudes grandeur and offers a central view of the city Métro/RER Charles de Gaulle-Etoile (line 1, 2, 6, RER A)

Notre Dame Cathedral — Impressive Gothic cathedral that was the inspiration for Victor Hugo’s novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Climb to the top! Métro Cité (line 4) or RER Saint-Michel-Notre Dame (B, C)

Grand Arche de la Défense — A modern office-building variant of the Arc de Triomphe. Métro/RER La Défense (line 1, RER A)

Basilique du Sacré Coeur — A church perched on top of the highest point in Paris. Behind the church is the artists’ area, in front are spectacular views of the whole city. Métro Anvers (line 2) or Abbesses (line 12), then climb the stairs on Rue Foyatier or take the funicular to the top of the hill.

Centre Georges Pompidou— The museum of modern art. The building and adjoining Stravinsky Fountain are attractions in themselves. Métro Rambuteau (line 11)

Château de Versailles— Must be seen. France’s most exquisite chateau, on the outskirts of the city, easily visited by train. Once the home to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. RER Versailles Rive Gauche (C) at least half a day here. Versailles is in zone 4 so rmb to buy your day pass correctly otherwise you have problems entering the gantry to go back to Paris centre.

Recommended museums:

Musée d’Orsay — Incredible collection housed in a former railway station. Works by the great artists of the 19th century (1848-1914) including Monet’s “Blue Water Lilies, Renoir’s “Bal du moulin de la Galette”, van Gogh’s “Bedroom in Arles”, Whistler’s “The Artists Mother”, etc. RER Musée d’Orsay (C) or Métro Solférino (line 12)

The Louvre — One of the finest museums in the world of art and culture. Home of the Mona Lisa and innumerable others. Enormous building and collection, plan at least two visits. Métro Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre (line 1, 7)

Centre Georges Pompidou— The museum of modern art. The building and adjoining Stravinsky Fountain are attractions in themselves. Métro Rambuteau (line 11)

Eat

1) French food: honey confit de canard (duck) and oysters. Le Dalou restaurant. Address : 30 Place de la Nation. Metro: Nation (line 1, 2, 6, 9, RER A), exit 1

2) Cheap and good Korean food – Darai Korean restaurant. Address: 4 Rue Violet. Metro: la Motte-Picquet Grenelle (line 6, 8, 10)

3) Paris Chinatown Vietnamese food « Bahn mi sandwiches ». Hoa Nam. Address: 51 Avenue d’Ivry. Metro: Porte d’Ivry (line 7) Dumplings, rolls, and rice-and-meat plate combos. Tang gourmet. Address: 188 Avenue de  Choisy. Metro : Place d’Italie (line 5, 6, 7)

Vietnamese noodle place. Pho 14. Address: 129 Avenue de Choisy. Metro : Place d’Italie (line 5, 6, 7)

4) Poulet roti (roast chicken) more pricey but one of the top 10 best roast chicken places in Paris. Atelier Maitre Albert. Address: 1 rue maître albert, 5e. Metro: Maubert Mutualité (line 10)

5) And of course how can we forget about macarons? The best are from Ladurée which also has an outlet in Singapore. I personally prefer Ladurée to Pierre Hermes cos the latter’s macarons are too sweet for my liking, although they have more unique flavours over there.
· Ladurée 16 Royale, 16 rue Royale – 75008 Paris
· Ladurée 18 Royale, 18 rue Royale – 75008 Paris
· Ladurée Bonaparte, 21 rue Bonaparte – 75006 Paris
· Ladurée Champs Elysées, 75 avenue des Champs-Elysées – 75008 Paris

· Ladurée Printemps de la Mode, 64, boulevard

Metro : George V (line 1) ; Charles de Gaulle-Etoile (line 1, 2, 6) ; Saint-Philippe du Roule (line 9)

6) Famous Mont Blanc dessert and velvety hot chocolate. La maison Angelina. Address : 226 Rue de Rivoli. Metro: Tuileries (line 1) near the Louvre and Tuileries garden.

7) Berthillon ice cream, most famous ice cream parlour in Paris. Maison Berthillon. Address: 31 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île. Metro : Ponte Marie (line 7) near Notre Dame.