Panoramic Views of Paris

As you walk around Paris, getting to know the city, walking streets, seeing the sites and listening to the sounds of the city, be sure to enjoy the wonderful panoramic views of Paris that can be found in many places. These views will help orient you to the layout of the city so that you can get your bearings as you walk around Paris.

There are many places in Paris to get a panoramic view. Some of my favorite places to get a great panoramic view are:

• the best view of Paris is from the top of the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees -- this provides an excellent panormic view of the city and there are several visual displays to help orient you to the various buildings around town (remember to jot down the ones that look interesting in your spiral notebook!)
• the rooftop café of the Samaritaine (a department store) provides an excellent view of the old part of Paris
• climbing to the top of the Notre Dame cathedral provides many great panoramic views
• the view from the bar at the top of the Hotel Concorde Lafayette is great at sunset if you're looking for a romantic aperitif
• and finally, the view from the Eiffel Tower is excellent... although the lines can be long... climbing the stairs provides a good option to avoid the lines and get some exercise

The photo I included in this blog entry is a photo I took from the top of Notre Dame.