by Erin St John

Created on: February 26, 2007   Last Updated: March 25, 2007

Vacationing in Paris gives every traveler the happy problem of having to choose not only what they will see, but what they won't have time to see. Paris offers such a cornucopia of sights and experiences that it is impossible - in the span of a normal vacation - to hit everything.

Nor would you want to attempt it. A big part of enjoying Paris is being able to take in its beauty and charm, not just racing from one great cultural destination to the next. Accepting this ahead of time will make your trip much more enjoyable (as well as relaxing!).

Before you go, do a little bit of research and figure out what you would most like to see. The best advice for any traveler to Paris is to purchase a Paris Museum Pass. They are available in 2, 4, or 6 consecutive day passes, the six day pass costing 60 euros. Not every famous site in Paris is included, but almost. And the neat thing is that the pass gives you UNLIMITED entrance. While it doesn't sound that exciting, it allows you to be much more flexible with how you spend your time. For instance, the Louvre museum is one of the most popular destinations in Paris; however, it is such a mammoth museum with extensive collections, that most people are only able to take in one gallery before becoming exhausted. Instead of devoting an entire day to try to see every piece of famous artwork, you can - with the Pass - spend a couple hours in the morning looking at the Italian Renaissance, then go somewhere else in the afternoon, and come back the next evening for an hour to look at a wing of sculpture without getting charged admission twice (or three or four times, if you like the Louvre).

The Pass also includes the Orsay Museum, which picks up where the Louvre leaves off, with the most impressive collection of impressionism artwork just about anywhere. (If you prefer Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Van Gogh to Leonardo and Michaelangelo, this is the art museum for you.) The National Picasso Museum, the Rodin museum, and Pompideau Center (Modern Art Museum) are also included, and can be added to your itinerary if you want a more in depth look at some of Paris's amazing art offerings.

If, like most tourists, you plan to go visit Notre Dame on the Ile-de-la-Cite, the Pass can help you there as well (free admission to the Towers). Notre Dame is not to be missed, but if you have the time, stroll a few blocks down the small island to the Palace of Justice. Inside, you can visit Sainte Chapelle, the royal chapel built in the 1240s by King Louis

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