If life is a love song, Paris is the chorus. So sing it aloud in the city of love this Valentine’s Day
My first rendezvous with Paris blossomed into an ever-lasting love affair with the city, its people and all that it stands for. I was sold on the idea that Paris is the city in which one loves to live. There is no escaping the fact that Paris exists as a city of romance in our mind, and it is rightly so. Paris and Love have always been synonyms to many of us. But why is Paris the city of love? Is it because the French culture has been tolerant to public displays of affection? Or is it because of the way the city embraces different cultures and makes people more calm, loving, and open-minded? Whatever the case, if you are looking for an opportunity to discover – or rediscover – love in one of those candle-lit wine bars, Paris will not disappoint you.
Come February, and what better place in this planet to celebrate Valentine’s Day! The idea of being with your loved in Paris can’t go wrong. Be it those cobblestone walks around Montmartre, or walking arm-in-arm on the breezy boulevards along the Seine, or the amazement over watching the sunset from atop the spectacular Eiffel Tower with the perfect Parisian backdrop, it’s all a moment to savour and reminisce. Paris offers endless opportunities for romance on the D-day but here are a few must-dos.
Discover Paris together with a city sightseeing tour
Embark on a fabulous Tour of Paris at your leisure. Stop by sights such as l’Opéra, Notre Dame, and the Champs Elysées. Take a day-trip to Notre Dame and ascend the bell towers, gaining access to a stunning view of the city. A wonderful ending to this day of discovery would be a walk back to Trocadero to catch a glimpse of the city at dusk. This vantage point gives you an opportunity to snap some amazing shots of you and your love with the Eiffel Tower standing tall in the distance.
Visite Musée du Louvre
Take the theme journey through the historical Louvre Museum. Explore major works as the Venus de Milo and the Mona Lisa. Listen to audio commentaries at each major exhibit to learn more about the art stored in the Louvre, and get a route map that helps you plan your day trip around this great museum.
Top of Eiffel
No less than 20,000 gold lights, champagne in hand, and the company of one you love. Rev up the romance while you stare out across the city and cuddle up with your sweetheart. Live the moment. A sensational way to experience the moment would be to visit the champagne bar nestled in the tower itself. A rose or white champagne, chilled as you like, would be on offer for your special date. Want to have a taste of the modern French fine cuisine? Walk into Le Jules Verne for an unforgettable experience.
For showbiz lovers
Want to head out to a cabaret? Go the Moulin Rouge way, for the glamour, the beauty and stage setups that are not only stunning but seem surreal. The intimacy and sensual performances featuring a host of talented performers are just what would make your Valentine’s Day special. The Doriss Girls’ fabulous French Cancan is sure to enchant you.
Boat ride on the Seine
It doesn’t get more romantic then this. As you float in your own piece of paradise enjoying a romantic dinner cruise along the Seine River, love is definitely in the air. The best part of this journey is the breathtaking scenery, along with a fine assortment of wine and cheese to savour. Give yourself a chance as live music fills the vessel, and you sway to the music on the dance floor while the boat passes by all the iconic monuments alongside the Seine: Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Louvre, and Invalides. Though a daytime cruise is a great way to discover the city, the soft evening lights make it more magical.
Visit the Cathédral Notre Dame de Paris
One of the most popular attractions in Paris, Cathedral Notre-Dame, is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in the world. A dominating figure on the Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine, this spindly gothic buttresses and its magnificent stained glass windows make it as much a treat to your eyes. Around the square and bridges around the cathedral you’ll find assorted buskers, from full live bands to human statues, which always draw a handsome attendance from the visitors.
Aux Champs Elysées
The Avenue des Champs Elysées, Europe’s grandest boulevard, known for its glory and grandeur, runs westward from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. It has it all — the sprawling sidewalks, stylish octogenarians caked in make-up, cars in glimmering showrooms, pastel-green macarons in grand cafés... And if the monuments and symmetrical landscaping does not convince you, be informed that Champs-Elysées means “Elysian Fields”. This street must have been heaven on earth. The monuments and history connected to this avenue are worth more than the reality of the place today.
Say it in Montmartre
Montmartre and its signature Basilique du SacréCoeur (Sacred Heart Basilica) is one of the most charming areas of Paris. A place of pilgrimage for diehard romantics, even. For a grand look of the city of Paris, scale the steep staircases on the hillside to the basilica’s lofty dove-white domes. Seal your fate with your sweetheart with a kiss in front of the iconic Sacré Coeur Basilica. You can finally say it here — “Je t’aime”.