KIC+ Manchester Volume 3, February 2014 | Page 14

Lots of people from Kaplan have asked me these last months about the best things to do in Paris. Consequently, this article is about my best spots and places in the capital of France as I have lived in Paris for about two decades. It’s far from an exhaustive article of tourist places but just my point of view. Obviously, everyone knows about the Eiffel Tower and the Champs-Elysées, so I want to talk about some of the lesser-known sights.

Firstly, I love “Montmartre”; you will have a beautiful view of the whole Paris. There is an exhibition of Dali’s work if you want, and artists on the top of the hill. In the same area if you fancy eating in a good “brasserie” you can go to the Café “Les 2 moulins”. It’s the café from the movie “Amelie Poulain”, so if you want to try the famous “crème brûlée”, it’s the right place for that.

Secondly, for the cultural part, you could find good exhibitions in “Centre Pompidou”. Then, you have the Louvre Museum, Quai Branly. The latter exhibits 3,500 works of art from Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. Finally, if you are into photography, you could go to the European Museum of Photography (MEP). Little tip : the admission is free every Wednesday from 5 pm to 8 pm . . This museum is near to "Notre Dame" and if you like ice-cream you MUST GO to Berthillon Most of the brasseries around this shop sell this ice-cream, which has been made by the Berthillon family for 60 years.

Concerning some novel and unusual experiences, I recommend you the “Catacombs”, a corridor stacked with bones under Paris built at the end of the XVIII century.

You should also spend an afternoon in the “Marais” (Station Saint Paul L1) which is the Jewish and gay quarter of Paris. You will find some very good Jewish bakeries (amazing cheese cake on the “rue des rosiers”), and second-hand clothes shops.

The Promenade plantée (French for tree-lined walkway) which begins at “Opéra Bastille” is a 5km elevated park built on top of an obsolete railway infrastructure. If you want to get some fresh air, this green belt is the ideal place.

One other piece of advice, before your trip, download the app RATP which is the company of metro and buses of Paris. The underground is definitely the best way to travel around the city and you can have special offers during the week-end if you are under 26 years old or if you buy a Visit-Paris travel card for 1,2 or 5 days.

Do not hesitate to wander down the side streets during your trip, this city is full of attractions and sometimes it’s just better to discover hidden corners of Paris by yourself.

I wish you a pleasant and safe holiday.

The famous artisitc district of Montmartre

14