Paris Itinerary – Day one

Oui c’est Paris. Located in the north of France on the river Seine, Paris is synonymous with  beauty and romance. Dubbed the City of Light (la Ville Lumière) and Capital of Fashion, Paris is where some of the world’s finest and most luxurious fashion designers and brands, such as Chanel, Christian Dior, Yves Saint-Laurent, Guerlain, Lancôme, L’Oréal, Clarins call home. The capital city of France also has the reputation as being one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in the world. The city is rich in history and its name is synonymous with culture, art, fashion, food and design. Paris was the largest city in the Western world for about 1,000 years, prior to the 19th century, and the largest in the entire world between the 16th and 19th centuries. Today this metropolis is one of the world’s leading business and cultural centres, and its influences in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science, and the arts, all contribute to Paris’s status as a major global city. At the heart of Région parisienne, Paris produces more than a quarter of France’s gross domestic product (GDP) and is the most visited city in the world with over 42 million tourists annually. We’ve put together a iconic itinerary that is guaranteed to show you the best this city has to offer.

This photo of Sainte-Chapelle is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Le Sainte-Chapelle – Start your day by visiting the only surviving building of the Capetian royal palace on the Île de la Cité in the heart of Paris.  Built in the 13th century by King Louis IX of France to house his collection of Passion Relics, including the Crown of Thorns – one of the most important relics in medieval Christendom, this sublime Gothic chapel is renowned for having one of the most extensive and breathtaking in-situ collections of 13th century stained glass anywhere in the world. Fifteen huge mid-13th century windows fill the nave and apse, while a large rose window with flamboyant tracery forms splendid walls of light in dominant blues and reds. Badly damaged in the late eighteenth century during the French Revolution, Le Sainte-Chapelle was restored, and much of the chapel as it appears today is a re-creation, although nearly two-thirds of the windows are authentic. There are often long lines so it’s good to get here as early as you can.

This photo of Notre Dame Cathedral is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Cathédrale de Notre-Dame – After visiting Le Sainte-Chapelle, take a short walk and head over to the majestic Notre-Dame. Widely considered as one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in France and in Europe, this Roman Catholic cathedral was built between 1163 and 1250 by Bishop Maurice de Sully. Notre-Dame is the cathedral of the Catholic Archdiocese of Paris: Archbishop of Paris, currently André Vingt-Trois. Regarded as one of the most important historical monuments in Paris, the cathedral is one of the few remaining supreme masterpieces of Gothic art.

Musée du Louvre – After lunch, make your way over to one of the world’s most famous and largest museums and walk off that meal. Regarded as a historic monument in France, the Louvre is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement. The most visited art museum in the world has a collection of nearly 35,000 objects dating prehistory to the 19th century, exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres. This former royal palace (Palais du Louvre) has a long history from the Capetian kings of the 12th century to the present day. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum, to display the nation’s masterpieces. The iconic 20-metre-high glass pyramid which forms the entrance to the museum was designed and built by architect Ieoh Ming Pei, often called a master of modern architecture by his peers.  Some of Musée du Louvre’s most famous works include The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, La Liberté Guidant le Peuple by Eugène Delacroix, The Venus de Milo, or the Code d’Hammurabi. Given the popularity of Paris’s most celebrated museum with tourists, be prepared to wait for at least an hour during peak times. We suggest spending a good few hours exploring the museum’s extensive art collection which is divided among eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings.

This photo of Jardin des Tuileries is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Jardin des Tuileries – After the Louvre, cross the Place du Carrousel and take a stroll in the largest garden in Paris. Located between Musée du Louvre and the Place de la Concorde, it was created by Catherine de Medicis as the garden of the Tuileries Palace in 1564. In the gardens visitors can find over 20 species of very fine trees including mulberry and Judas trees. There is also a rich collection of statues that can be found in different areas of the garden. 18 statues by Maillol were installed in the Carrousel garden in 1964 and 1965 on the initiative of André Malraux. Visitors will also be able to see works by Coustou, Rodin, Coysevox, Carpeaux and modern sculptors like Max Ernst, Ernst, Henri Laurens, Giacometti. Just remember, a garden in Paris is never just a garden. It’s just merely an outdoor museum.

Tuileries garden : April-September : 7.30am-9pm; July-August : 7.30am-11.45pm Saturday-Sunday : until 0.45am; October-March : 7.30am-7.30pm.

And Wwen you are visiting this beautiful city, consider staying at one of our two luxurious properties in Paris; Fraser Suites Le Claridge and Fraser Suites La Défense.

Fraser Suites Le Claridge is one of the most dramatic hotels in Paris: right on the Champs-Elysées, with sweeping views over classic façades, Parisian rooftops and a tranquil courtyard. Our stunning historic central Paris hotel offers 110 spacious Paris apartments and studios for long or short-term rental. Ideal for business travellers – or for anyone looking for a great place to stay in Paris while relocating, on a training programme, working on location or simply enjoying a Paris holiday as a couple or as a family.

Choose a fully furnished studio or spread out in a one, two or three-bedroom self catering apartment in Paris. All offer the same facilities as a 4-star luxury hotel in Paris, including a 24-hour reception and concierge, breakfast, a daily maid service, WiFi, a business centre, three large meeting rooms, a library and a fitness room. Room service is provided by an external restaurant facility, and an excellent range of Champs-Elysées restaurants and shops lie outside the door.

Our spacious Paris apartments combine the advantages of a luxury hotel in Paris with self catering kitchens, business facilities, comfortable living areas and the ultimate location on the Champs-Elysées avenue in Paris. Charles de Gaulle airport, the La Défense business district and CNIT, the Porte Maillot Congress Centre, and major Paris attractions including the Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Galeries Lafayette department store are easily reached on foot or by metro.

Set in the business district of La Défense by the picturesque River Seine, Fraser Suites Harmonie is the Paris accommodation of choice for both business and leisure travellers. The 134 luxury Paris studios and apartments blend 4-star hotel services with contemporary décor, excellent self catering and business facilities, and matchless service from multilingual staff.

Fraser Suites Harmonie offers a convenient and cost-effective alternative to ordinary La Défense hotels, whether you are relocating, on a training or graduate programme, working on location or simply enjoying a holiday or extended stay in Paris. Choose a spacious Paris studio or spread out in one- or two-bedroom serviced apartments. La Défense’s futuristic buildings tower against the skyline and the River Seine meanders past. Many rooms boast balconies with stunning views over river or city.

All of our Paris studios and apartments offer the same top facilities as other La Défense hotels, including a 24-hour reception and concierge, a stylish bar and a fitness suite. Corporate guests on a business trip to Paris will appreciate the WiFi, business centre, three spacious meeting rooms and quiet library. Located in quiet Neuilly-sur-Seine at the entrance to La Défense, this modern, 14-storey Paris aparthotel is convenient for all major business destinations in Paris, including the towering skyscrapers and office blocks of La Défense, the CNIT and the Porte Maillot Congress Centre.

With a metro station opposite, an RER station within five minute’s walk, private underground parking and a reliable taxi and chauffeur service, it’s easy to travel to and from Paris’ best attractions. The Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysées, Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Opéra and famous department stores Galeries Lafayette and Printemps are all close. A direct RER train runs straight to Disneyland.