Paris

Regarded as the most romantic city in Europe, Paris, capital of France, is a hugely popular tourist destination. Travellers flock each year to this majestic place to view its well known landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Louvre and the Notre Dame Cathedral. Some find Paris matches up to the wonders printed in travel guides and seen in blockbuster romances, whereas others seem to be a little letdown and disappointed with, what is supposed to be, a magical experience. I am glad to say we are not of the latter persuasion, and we genuinely find the locals friendly and love the city.

The most comfortable way to travel to Paris from London, in our opinion, is with the Eurostar train. Departing from Waterloo Station, it takes approximately two and a half hours to reach the Gare du Nord station in Paris. During this time one can relax, enjoy a drink, have a few snacks and enjoy the smooth journey through the Channel tunnel - which is precisely what we did. Sometime this year, 2007, the Eurostar will depart from King's Cross Station in North London. Other methods of reaching Paris are via ferry from Dover, or, of course, with a flight to Charles de Gaulle airport.

We booked a hotel that was relatively central and easy to find, the Hotel des Batignolles, and although it was not very spacious, the room had a certain traditional charm. It was clean and pleasant, with large windows, which always earns extra points in our appraisals of accommodation. Located near to public transport, specifically the Rome metro station, it is also close to Moulin Rouge, and also to the beautiful area of Montmartre, probably my favourite part of Paris. Montmartre is set on a hill and therefore has amazing views over the city. With steep, narrow cobblestone streets, the area was popular with artists who lived or worked there, including many famous names such as Picasso, Monet and Van Gogh. The Basilica of the Sacré Cœur is also situated in Montmartre, a beautiful cathedral located at the highest point of the city, and well worth visiting - if not for the cathedral itself, then for the spectacular views of Paris. Montmartre is a tourist hub and there are a variety of souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes catering precisely for this. It is, therefore, also worthwhile exploring less popular routes to find genuine and cheaper places to eat and drink.

Our Paris travel guide, published by Lonely Planet, came in very handy, and we used it quite extensively. The itinerary for our first day consisted of seeing the major tourist attractions. From our hotel, we walked all the way to the Arc de Triomphe, the world famous monument commissioned by Napoleon I in 1806. After some time admiring the structure, we strolled along the busy Champs-Élysées, looking at the upmarket shops and restaurants along the way. Next, we stopped at a cafe for some French cheese and red wine, before heading to the Louvre. As I'm sure most readers are aware, the Louvre is a world famous art gallery, housing such famous works as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. The actual buildings themselves, including the glass pyramids, that make up the Louvre, are quite a sight to behold. After that cultural expedition, we decided to enjoy some of the warm, summer weather and walk along the banks of the Seine River, soaking up the holiday atmosphere. We finally reached the Notre Dame de Paris, an awe inspiring work of Gothic architecture.

As it was drawing toward late afternoon, we thought it might be a good idea to grace the Eiffel Tower with our presence, whilst the sun was setting. We stood in a long queue to gain entry by lift to the first floor of the Tower, but it was definitely worth the wait - the view was really incredible. I admired it briefly, before my fear of heights took over, and I was glad once I was on firm ground once more. By the time we had reached the ground, night had fallen and the Eiffel Tower was lit up dramatically against the dark sky. We then decided to make our way to the Latin Quarter, popular with students from Sorbonne University, crowding the winding streets filled with bookshops, bistros, bars and cafes. Whilst in the Latin Quarter we also went to view the Panthéon. Originally built as a church in the 18th Century, dedicated to St Genevieve, this dome structured building eventually became a memorial and mausoleum for some of France's most distinguished residents, including Victor Hugo and Marie Curie.

Even though most of the main attractions of Paris can be seen on foot, the metro system is useful for sights that are further afield, or perhaps to give weary legs a rest. We found the metro system, or métropolitain, quite easy to use. As we were foreign visitors to the country, we bought something called the "Paris Visite", which is a travel card valid for either 1,2,3 or 5 days unlimited travel on the city's transport network, and also gives some discounts on a few attractions.

There is so much to do and see in Paris, that it's difficult trying to accomplish it all in one weekend. There isn't much point in rushing around, trying to see as much as possible in a short space of time. We saw what we could, but at the same time enjoyed everything at a leisurely pace, which I think is the best way to do it. Make time to sit in cafes, stroll along the Seine and simply appreciate the surroundings. No doubt we will be returning to Paris at some point in the future to continue our exploration of this wonderful city.