Ideas for Your Paris France Vacation

Paris France Vacation - The 7th Arrondissementis one of the major tourist destinations, being home to the Eiffel Tower, the Musee d'Orsay and Hotel des Invalides, which is Napoleon's resting place.

Located on the Left bank of the Seine River, the 7th districtt is known as one of the city's most elegant residential areas surrounding the Eiffel Tower, and also contains a number of French national institutions, among them the French National Assembly.

The Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel), located on the Parc du Champ de Mars (the magnificent park surrounding it), is a 19th century iron lattice tower in Paris that has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

The Eiffel Tower is the single most visited paid monument in the world; with millions of people visiting it every year.

Named after its designer and engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entrance into the competition of he 1889 World's Fair.

Ideas for Your Paris France Vacation
Restaurants on the Eiffel Tower

The tower has three levels for visitors with the first and second levels featuring spectacular Paris restaurants.

The Restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel (formerly the Altitude 95) is on the first level, and the world famous Jules Verne Restaurant on the second level was featured in the James Bond movie "A View to Kill".

Advice for Your Paris France Vacation - Reserve At Least 3 Months in Advance for the Eiffel Tower Restaurants

If the Jules Verne Restaurant on the second level is fully booked, then make a reservation at Restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel.

Both restaurants are wonderful and serve superb cuisine.

Paris France Vacation Tip - Arrive Early for your Eiffel Tower Restaurant Reservations

I always call to make the reservation and then follow up with a fax to confirm.

When you arrive underneath the Eiffel Tower, if you are heading up to the first level restaurant, there is a booth outside a few metres to the south of the tower to announce your arrival and get a ticket for a free ride up the tower.

Because you have a reservation at the restaurant, you will be at the front of the long lineup and will not have to wait to get up the tower.

If you have a reservation at the Jules Verne Restaurant, there is a private elevator to take you upstairs.

In the photo below, you can see the first level restaurant on the left side and the people below the tower.

In the photo to the right is the outdoor terrace.

Yes, you can enjoy the fantastic view while lounging at the Eiffel Tower patio.

Visit on Your Paris France Vacation - The Park Surrounding the Eiffel Tower

The park at the Eiffel Tower, the Champ de Mars (Field of Mars), is a large public green-space in Paris between the Tour Eiffel to the northwest and the École Militaire to the southeast.

The park is named after the Campus Martius of Rome - Champ de Mars - after Mars the god of war, as it was named for its original use of military drills.

From the top level of the Eiffel Tower, the southeast view takes you towards Ecole Militaire and then far beyond is a tall black office tower, Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower in the photo above), the tallest building in Paris.

The views from the Eiffel Tower and the Champ de Mars park are absolutely amazing.

It is truly worth the effort to go for a walk in the park and also go up the tower.

There are public washrooms just below the tower, which are in good condition. Remember to bring some Euros to have access.

Up on the third level of the tower, you can walk around and see the panorama in every direction.

Paris France Vacation - Check Out the Views From the Eiffel Tower

Also take the time to walk around the luxurious districts surrounding the tower.

You will enjoy not only the walk, but also the architecture, bistros and gardens.

On Your Paris France Vacation
See the Museums on the Seine River

Musée d'Orsay is a museum in the 7th arrondissement of Paris housed in an impressive Beaux-Arts edifice, which was the former railway station, the Gare d'Orsay, built between 1898 and 1900.

It is walking distance from the Eiffel Tower.

The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1915, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography, best known for its extensive collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces (the largest in the world) by such painters such as Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, Seurat, Gauguin and Van Gogh.

The Musée d'Orsay is located along the Left Bank of the Seine River and is a great route for a leisure walk to the Tour Eiffel. 

Paris France Vacation - Take a Boat Ride on the Seine River Cruises

Once you have reached the Tour Eiffel, consider one of the Seine River cruises here (Bateaux-Mouches of which the literal translation is "fly-boats").

The Eiffel Tower is one of the pickup and drop off stops for the river cruises on Seine.

This is definitely an exciting place to visit, both in the day and the evening.

Top Picks for Paris France Vacation - 7th Arrondissement

• École Militaire
• French National Assembly
• Hôtel Matignon
• Hôtel des Invalides
• Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération
• Musée d'Orsay
• Musée Rodin
• Parc du Champ de Mars
• Quai Branly Museum
• Rue Cler
• Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower)

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