The Islands: Ile de la Cité and Ile St-Louis
First settled in 300 BC, Ile de la Citè was the birthplace of Paris. This island in the Seine is also the geographic heart of France, and was an important center of law and religion for centuries. To the east, picturesque Ile St-Louis is one of the city's most fashionable addresses.
topChurches
Notre-Dame
6 Parvis Notre-Dame, Place Jean-Paul II, Paris 4è
+33 (01) 42 34 56 10
Mon-Fri 8am-6:45pm; Sat-Sun 8am-7:15pm
Tours in English Wed-Thu 2pm, Sat 2:30pm
With its splendid carved portals, impressive rose windows, famous gargoyles, and huge vaulted nave, Notre-Dame Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. One of the first buildings to use flying buttresses, this magnificent church took 170 years to build.
Sainte-Chapelle
4 boulevard du Palais, Paris 1è
+33 (01) 53 40 60 97
Mar-Oct 9:30am-6pm daily; Nov-Feb 9am-5pm daily
Closed Jan 1, May 1, Dec 25
Called "a gateway to heaven" in medieval times, this stunning Gothic jewel blazes with light from its 15 stained-glass windows.
topMarkets
Marché aux Fleurs
Place Louis-Lépine, Paris 4é
Daily 8:30am-4pm
This colorful year-round flower market is the most famous in Paris.
Marché aux Oiseaux
Place Louis-Lépine, Paris 4é
Sun 8:30am-4pm
On Sundays, this market selling caged birds joins the flower market.
topTours
Seine & Bridges Tour
Vedettes du Pont-Neuf
Square du Vert Galant, Paris 1è
+33 (01) 46 33 98 38
Daily every 30 min from 10am-12pm, 1:30pm-6:30pm
Lights of Paris with English commentary May-Oct 9-10:30pm daily
Fun and relaxing, these Seine river cruises give the history of each bridge and point out major sights along the river banks.
topRestaurant
Mon Vieil Ami
69 rue Saint Louis en l'Île, Paris 4è
Tel: +33 1 40 46 01 35
Wed-Sun, noon-2pm, 6:30-11pm; closed for 3 weeks in Jan & Aug
Vegetables get pride of place in this welcoming restaurant from chef Antoine Westermann. Inventive modern Alsatian cuisine.
topSnacks
Berthillon Glacier
31 rue St Louis en l'Ile, Paris 1è
+33 (01) 43 54 31 61
Wed-Sun 10am-8pm
Closed Mon-Tue
Best Ice Cream in Paris
Carette des Vosges
25 Place des Vosges, 4è
Tel: 33 (0)1 48 87 94 07
Hours: open 7 days a week from 8am to 11:30pm
In this new location Carette offers hand-made chocolates, macarons, pastries and light lunches.