| While there are many excellent Paris guided tours, if | | | | riverbank. |
| you're only in the city for a short time, you might prefer | | | | You could easily spend an entire day at the Louvre, |
| to skip those and do this simple walk instead. | | | | but for now, you should just spend some time |
| It can be done in a few hours without having to rush | | | | appreciating the magnitude and splendour of the |
| and it takes in many of the city's most famous sites: | | | | building. |
| Start at Hotel De Ville (easy enough to get to, the | | | | After the Louvre and continuing in the same direction |
| nearby metro station is also called "Hotel De Ville"). | | | | you've been heading, you'll come to the Tuileries |
| This is Paris' city hall and has a long and colorful past. | | | | gardens. These formerly royal gardens can give you |
| Perhaps most famously, it was the place where De | | | | some compensation for not going into the Louvre as |
| Gaulle announced the liberation of Paris to the crowds | | | | they contain a number of sculptures. |
| in the adjacent square. | | | | After the Tuileries, you'll come out at Concorde, home |
| The next step on your walking tour of Paris with a | | | | to one of the three "Cleopatra's Needles". It'll also be |
| guide is the Ile De La Cite. So, cross the bridge next to | | | | the first time on this non guided trip around Paris that |
| Hotel De Ville and that'll take you to Notre Dame. | | | | you'll get a view up the Champs Elysees to the Arc |
| The Ile De La Cite is the island in the middle of the river | | | | De Triomphe |
| Seine. It's the oldest part of Paris and, as well as being | | | | And it's to the Arc you're headed. |
| home to Notre Dame, it also has the famous church of | | | | The "Champs" is good for shopping and good for |
| Saint Chapelle. | | | | people watching, but there's not a lot to say about it |
| If you head west along the island (if you want to know | | | | for sightseers. However, the Arc is another story. It's a |
| which direction is west, the front of Notre Dame faces | | | | truly spectacular monument and, even if you don't go |
| west), you'll get to the end of the island and you'll be at | | | | up to the top, at the very least, you should go through |
| the famous Pont Neuf bridge. | | | | the underpass and see the arch up close. |
| From there, you'll get amazing views of the river, it's | | | | That's the end of the walk. Maybe your next stop will |
| beautiful bridges and the many famous buildings that | | | | be to a cafe terrace to have a coffee and rest your |
| grace its banks. | | | | feet. |
| In particular, the Louvre, which is approximately 200m | | | | These do-it-yourself walks can be a fun and inventive |
| away on the right hand side. | | | | way of seeing the city, but if you're staying longer, I'd |
| That's where you're headed next on your "not guided" | | | | still recommend one of the proper Paris guided tours |
| tour of Paris, so cross the bridge and walk along the | | | | as the best way to see and learn about the city. |