1. Stroll along the Seine

I like to orient myself with water when visiting a new city, the water dictating the growth of the city around it, and Paris’s river-front is lovely. The Seine twists its way through Paris on its way to the English Channel, passing the Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower, and a glittering array of bridges. Some of the more beautiful are the Pont Alexandre III, the Pont des Artes, and the Pont Marie. Since the river snakes its way in different directions, orientation is usually denoted by “left bank” or “right bank”- these are the directions to the respective bank when you face downstream.

The Louvre Palace seen from across the Seine.

2. Notre Dame and Île de la Cité

An island in the middle of the Seine, the  Île de la Cité is the epicentre of Paris, being the place upon which she was first established, while the Notre Dame is her heart. When you first see it, it takes your breath away. One of the finest examples of Gothic architecture and among the first to utilise flying buttresses to hold up the external walls, construction began in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII, and didn’t finish until nearly 200 years later in 1345. Go to the Île de la Cité at night for added “oooh ahh” factor.

Metro: Cité, St Michel

The Notre Dame cathedral

3. Eiffel Tower and Champ de Mars

The modern symbol of Paris, it’s hard to believe that the Tower, originally constructed for the 1889 World Exposition, was only supposed to last 20 years before being pulled down, and even that met fierce resistance from critics who lamented that the tower would dominate Paris and “humiliate” all the other more traditional Paris monuments. Indeed, legend has it that Guy de Maupassant dined every day in the tower’s restaurant because it was the only place in Paris the tower itself was not visible. Nowdays, the tower is universally admired and the Champs de Mars is one of the nicest places to sit with a bottle of vino and your lover in the shadow of the Tower as the afternoon light fades.

One guy I met at a hostel the first time I went to Paris made a trip to the Tower, and had a horrifying experience as a car drove into the pedestrian area under the Tower chased by a police car, the two playing a cat and mouse game that very nearly ended badly for my friend. But that won’t happen to you- it’ll be all romantic and stuff.

Metro: Trocadéro, Passy

Under the Eiffel Tower

4. Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe

The symbol of Paris (or was that the Eiffel Tower?) the Champs-Élysées is often described as the most beautiful avenue in the world. Whether or not you agree with that description, you’ll feel a million bucks as you walk it as it really brings home the glitz of Paris as a glamour destination. The Champs-Élysées is lined for miles by luxury stores and crowned by the Arc de Triomphe, a stupendous monument to French victory in various wars over the centuries. You can take the stairs to the top for a nice not-too-high view of Paris, but beware of the crowds- you’re not the only tourist in Paris you know!

Metro: George V

5. Musée d’Orsay

A wonderfully interesting place, the Musée d’Orsay began life as a railway station in the early 20th Century but soon fell into disuse, later being reborn as an art museum. The permanent collection houses the largest number of impressionist masterpieces in the world by artists such as Van Goph, Degas, Monet and Renoir. Go for the stunning architecture (not to mention its location on the Seine) and stay for the paintings.

Metro: Musée d’Orsay

6. Montmarte

Artists at Place du Tetre, Montmarte

Montmarte is a hillside to the north of the Paris city centre; a wonderful jumble of tattered charm, a mix of the bohemian, the charming and the sinister. As such, Montmartre has been the artistic heart of Paris for centuries, home to Van Goph, Monet, Mondigliano and Dali, among others. Ascend the many stairs from Place des Abbesses and you’ll arrive in the pretty Place du Tetre, where artists hock their wares and paint portraits of tourists. The lovely white domes of the Sacré-Cœur church crown the hilltop, and the stairs of the Sacré-Cœur are a great place to view Paris or take in the sunset. A word of warning- Montmartre’s proximity to lower socio-economic areas of Paris and popularity with tourists can make for a dangerous combination- watch out for pickpockets and avoid dark alleys after dark.

Metro: Abesses

View of Paris from Montmartre

7. Start the Night at a Brasserie in St Germain

St Germain by night

What Montmartre was to struggling artists, St Germain was to the existentialist thinkers of their age. Nowdays St Germain, on the Left Bank, is still somewhat arty but decidedly more upscale than its bohemian cousin to the north, with high end luxury retail and swish brasseries the speciality of the neighbourhood.

St Germain, as well as being a nice place to stroll around in, is home to some of the best brasseries in Paris. More than a restaurant or cafe, a brasserie is where Parisians go to drink libations, enjoy good food and converse. Probably the most famous (but pretty expensive) is Brasserie Lipp, with its mirrored walls and chic ambience. It was a hit with famed artists of old and the modern day Paris elite.  There is personality everywhere you look, from the neon lights to the cartoons on the bill, to the waistcoated waiters who are almost as famous as the establishment they work for. Right across the road on Boulevard St Germain is Les Deux Magots (I’m reliably informed this does not translate to “the two maggots”) and the ultimate in Art Nouveau decor, you absolutely have to see Le Petit Zinc.

Metro: Saint-Germain-des-Prés

The catacombs has over 5 million skeletons in a series of underground tunnels

8. See 10,000 Skeletons at the Paris Catacombs

On the day that I saw my first real human skeleton, I saw another five million or so. This is the number of people buried in the Catacombs beneath the Paris city streets in a series of disused old tunnels stretching for some miles. As the story goes, in the 1700s the graveyards all over Paris were filled to the brim and were excavated, the bones filling the underground catacombs to make room for new burials on the surface. That doesn’t really explain why they made all these bizarre sculptures and heart shapes out of skulls in the process, I suppose they thought it was all a bit of macabre fun. You too can enjoy (or be repulsed) by this most unusual of sights.

Metro: Denfert Rochereau

9. Père Lachaise Cemetery

Almost as odd a suggestion as the previous, only in Paris would I be recommending you visit a cemetery, but such is the romance of Paris that the living and dead are forever intertwined. The largest in Paris, the list of people buried here reads like a who’s who of everything that ever was. In more recent times, the cemetery has been something of a pilgrimage spot for people visiting the grave of Jim Morrison.

Metro: Philippe Auguste (near the cemetery main entrance) or Père Lachaise (500 metres away near a side entrance). Many prefer the Gambetta station as it allows them to enter near the tomb of Oscar Wilde and then walk downhill to visit the rest of the cemetery.

Le Marais

10. Latin Quarter and St Michel

Evoking images of bohemian Paris, the Latin quarter is situated close to the Sorbonne and other Parisian educational institutes, giving it its lively student atmosphere. Its name derives not from any ethnic preponderance but from the proliferation of educated Latin speakers in centuries past. Untouched by the bulldozers and philsophies of Baron Haussman, the Latin Quarter and neighbouring St Michel are fantastic places to get lost, with their twisting streets and interesting bars.

Metro: Cluny-la-Sorbonne, St Michel

11. Le Marais

Like the Latin Quarter, Le Marais (across the Seine on the right bank) is another area untouched by Haussman’s renovations of Paris, and thus more closely representative of the Paris of old. With beautiful achitecture, boutique hotels, a rabbit’s warren of streets, and a lively Jewish community, it’s another fine area to explore on foot or by bicycle, stopping somewhere for a crepe, a drink, or some kosher fare.

Metro: St Paul

12. Shop for Antiques at the Marché aux Puces St-Ouen de Clignancourt

It wouldn’t be an article about Paris if I didn’t mention shopping, and where better to shop for antiques and bric a brac than Paris? In the dodgy north of Paris, the Cligancourt Markets are gargantuan. If you’re a serious shopper you’ll want to spend half a day to a day here, and even if you’re just wanting a look you’ll need a couple of hours. You’ll find everything from junk to priceless treasure, with best results coming to those who know what they are doing, but hey maybe you’ll get lucky.

Metro: Porte de Clignancourt or Garibaldi

Beautiful tapestries I wish I could afford

13. Lounge in the Luxembourg Gardens

It’s the afternoon, it’s time to take a chill pill and get away from the maddening crowds of the city. The beautifully laid out Luxembourg gardens, a public park attached to the Luxembourg Palace where the French Senate sits, is just the place. For best results, take along a significant other for kissing and cuddling.

Metro: Odéon

Luxembourg Palace and Gardens

14. Montparnasse

Yet another area that used to be bohemian and home to penniless artists, Montparnasse retains some of its former tatty charm but is now more well known for its stylish shops, cafes, and brasseries. It’s also home to the grotesque Tour Montparnasse, from which you can catch a nice view of Paris.

Metro: Bienvenüe

15. Revolutionary Paris

With so many distractions in modern-day Paris, it’s easy to forget the bloody history that shaped this city. The Bastille, nowdays just a square with a large column, is the spot where the Bastille prison stood and was stormed in the early stages of the first revolution in 1789. The Conciergerie, on Île de la Cité, was one of the most gruesome prisons of the revolution. Meanwhile, Place de la Concorde, today a large intersection lit by many lovely lamps, with statues and fountains, was the home of the guillotine during the Terror. Such atrocity witnessed by cheering crowds saw the heads of more than 1000 people cut off in a single summer in 1794. King Louis the 16th was also guillotined in this spot in 1793. The square itself has been named various things over the years, first Place Louis 15th, then renamed Place de la Révolution during the Terror, then Place de la Concorde as a gesture of reconciliation after the turmoil of the Revolution. After the Bourbon Restoration of 1814, the name was changed back to Place Louis XV, and in 1826 the square was renamed Place Louis XVI. A plaque with this old name can still be seen on the corner of the Hôtel de Crillon. After the July Revolution of 1830 the name returned to Place de la Concorde and has remained since.

A good walk taking in the sights of revolutionary Paris can be found here.

16. The Louvre, Tuileries and Musée des Arts Décoratifs

At the Louvre with hostel buddies I’ve since lost touch with.

It might sound like a cliche but you really have to visit the Louvre, and not just for the Mona Lisa but also for the rest of the stunning collection, built up over centuries under the watchful eyes of kings, Napolean Bonaparte, and revolutionary figures. The Tuileries gardens, on the site of the original Tuileries Palace destroyed during the Paris Commune in 1871, are a great place to wander to get away from the crowds. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something a bit different and educational, try the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, a very interesting museum in the Louvre’s western wing which teaches you all about the different artistic movements at various points in history and how you can tell them apart. Metro: Musée du Louvre, Tuileries

17. Catch a Cabaret at the Moulin Rouge

Alright you filthy devils, it’s night time and we’ve had enough of famous artworks and gardens, we want to drink away our troubles and have some bawdy fun. Luckily, Paris is a place where you can have your debauchery and still claim to be cultured. The famous Moulin Rouge is your place, with its rotating red neon windmill in the gritty red-light district Pigalle. Bring your euros however, but watch your wallet out on the street!

Metro: Blanche, Pigalle

Catch a can-can at the Moulin Rouge

18. Spend a Night at the Opera

Somewhat more romantic, more dramatic and just as fun is a night at the Opera Garnier. The building itself has been described as one of the most beautiful opera houses in the world, and it was the setting for Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera. You don’t need to understand French to enjoy the show, but it helps!

Metro: Opera

19. Rent a Bike and Smooch your Lover

If you’re sick of walking, you should know that Paris is another one of these amazing cities that have installed stations with rental bikes all over the city. Now I’m not going to lie, it took me a bit longer to work out how to rent one of these bikes, but once sorted they are a great way to get around. You can see a lot of the city this way, riding from site to site, and once you need a break you can just stop next to the Louvre or the Champ de Mars for a smooch with your lover. Don’t worry, PDAs are officially sanctioned by the state in Paris. (Disclaimer- not actually true.)

Opera Garnier

20. Take Part in a Protest

All of that romance and emotion can go to the head, and it’s no surprise that the French can be a passionate bunch. They’ve had more revolutions and upheaval than probably any nation on earth, and in modern times its no different- there’ll probably somebody protesting or on strike during your visit. If you’re looking for some danger and feel at one with the cause, or you’re just a rabble-rouser, you can join in- just refrain from throwing bricks at the priceless architecture.

What do you think? Do you agree with this list? Any other tips you might want to share or questions you need answered? Let me know below! And if you enjoy these tips and want more of them, why not subscribe. It’s FREE.

The post 20 Cool Things to Do in Paris appeared first on Confiscated Toothpaste.

I am often asked where I have been. But over the years I have done so many oodles of trips that the answer is blurry- several countries I have been to several times, with little rhyme or reason- sometimes I’d need to travel for work, sometimes I followed my heart someplace and sometimes my heart yearned for someone I’d met on a distant continent. I make this list as a little catelogue of memories and moments as much for myself as for you.

Please note I have defined a visit in the most literal sense of the word. I have noted in the list below if it was just a few hours or a transit.

That’s the most beautiful sunset I ever saw, thought I. But hang on a second. Where am I again?

1. Australia

Born and raised in Sydney, you can take the boy out of Australia but you can’t make him drink… or something like that. Comfortable with the Australian wildlife despite several unfortunate encounters.

The 12 Apostles on the Great Ocean Road, Australia

2. USA

Lived and worked in Portland for 18 months and did research in Delaware for 6 months. Went on an Alaskan cruise. If you are where you’ve been, then I’m approximately 8% American, based on time spent there.

America…… America….

3. Mexico

Only visited Tijuana once as a kid. I remember having fun though. I must rectify this situation.

4. England

Too many visits to count. Probably the place I was least interested to travel to but a revelation of history and culture and now one of my favourites.

London, England

5. France

Three or four visits. Met friends there that I will never forget but will never see again.

The eerie underground tunnels of the Paris Catacombs

6. Belgium

Visited once; got notification of my TER (final highschool grade) here.

7. Netherlands

Visited once as a kid, walked through the red light district of Amsterdam with my parents.

8. Germany

Worked for several German companies, too many visits to count. Visited for Oktoberfest. One of the most historically interesting places and home to one of my favourite capitals- Berlin. Doing my best to learn the language.

The Berlin Wall, East Berlin

9. Switzerland

Three visits for work and play.

Looking over Jungfrau from Thun, Switzerland

10. Italy

Three visits and home to Venice and Rome, probably the most exotic places in all of Europe.

The Grand Canal. Venice, Italy

11. Austria

Visited three times. Broke my wrist here snowboarding. I can recommend the hospital system.

View from a little cottage in the Austrian Alps near St Anton, with a barn attached that smelled of cows. Stayed here for 2 nights

12. Thailand

Three visits. All of them completely crazy and resplendent with unexpected adventures (both good and bad).

Thailand adventure time. Ko Phi Phi Leh.

13. Norway

Two visits, travelled extensively. Coming from Australia, I was intrigued by this other-world of mountains and ice. I’ve been almost everywhere from the party South to the wild North, during both the cold dark winter and the glorious summer.

Flåm, Norway

14. Sweden

Visited once, extensive travels there as well. Many good parties.

Camping in the rain and a crappy tent in the Stockholm Skärgård (archipelago), Sweden

15. Spain

Four visits including an epic roadtrip adventure from Malaga to one of my favourite cities, Barcelona. An acquired taste for me, like a good red wine.

The isolated abbey of Montserrat, Spain

16. Singapore

Too many visits to count. Stopovers, friends living there, work colleagues living there. Check out Confiscated Toothpaste’s definitive guide to the island city-state.

Colonial Singapore. View of the Arts House and Asian History Museum

17. Maldives

Visited once, spent 10 days living on a boat and surfing.

Having fun after a day of motoring from surf break to surf break, Maldives

18. Denmark

Visited Copenhagen once and drank a lot of Danish beer.

Christiania in Copenhagen, Denmark

19. Finland

Having a Finnish ex-girlfriend meant several visits including living there for brief periods. And extensive travels, from Helsinki in the South to Inari in the North. Had my best Northern Lights experience here and also went dogsledding.

Somewhere near Juorkuna, in the north of Finland

20. Estonia

Visited twice. Tallinn is a wonderful city and very interesting due to its modern history.

The walls of Tallinn, Estonia

21. Tahiti

Visited once, threw coconuts around. I was supposed to be there for a couple of days longer, but my flight from LA had to turn back midair due to a cracked windscreen. So instead I spent some more time in LAX instead. Joy.

Island men, Tahiti

22. Cook Islands

Short transit while on my way home from Tahiti hungover and tired early morning, but wow! Imagine a stunning forested volcano with the runway on the beach and the breaking waves right next to you as you taxi to a terminal the size of your loungeroom.

23. Scotland

Visited once, loved it.

Riding in the late, late, summer sun on the Isle of Skye, Scotland

24. Japan

Visited twice, the last time for an epic snowboarding trip. Was here during the 2011 9.0 earthquake. Also had one of my strangest travel experiences here.

Niseko, Japan

25. China

Worked with several Chinese companies, 4 visits, and stayed with a family in a regional area a few hours drive from Shanghai.

A barge packed to the brim with coal on Lake Tai, Wuxi, China

26. Brazil

Fiancee is Brazilian. Four visits and will get married there in 2014! Rio is one of my favourite cities and has some great surfing.

Looking towards Leblon and the Two Brothers mountain as the sun sets over Ipanema beach. There is plenty of football kicking going on all day

27. Czech Republic

Visited Prague once for the weekend, incredible place.

Prague, Czech Republic

28. New Zealand

One visit, roadtripped both islands with an ex. Plenty of amazing places but Queenstown is my favourite.

Despite what you may have heard, New Zealand really is full of sheep and mountains

29. Canada

Been twice to Vancouver. Does that count?

The Capilano suspension bridge, British Columbia, Canada

30. South Korea

Visited 3 times for work, but South Koreans know how to party and there was plenty of that done as well.

If anything, I think Seoul could use more neon.

31. New Caledonia

Visited once on a South Pacific cruise from Sydney.

Isle of Pines, New Caledonia

32. Argentina

Transited on way to/from Brazil.

33. Chile

Transited on way home from Brazil.

34. United Arab Emirates

Visited twice and found the more traditional Arab areas fascinating. Check out my 10 Cool Things to Do in Dubai.

The incredible Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, UAE

35. North Korea

Only visited North Korea by crossing to the the North side of the UN conference room in the Joint Security Area in Panmunjeom. Would love to visit properly some day.

Looking towards North Korea from the UN Joint Security Area, Panmunjom. South Korean soldiers guard the border, which is the concrete threshold between the huts.

I would love to know if you have been to any of the above, what your favourite countries are, and where I should travel to next??

The post List of Countries I Have Visited … Plus a Photo for Each appeared first on Confiscated Toothpaste.