London and Paris in 10 days

Yep, I've been to London and Paris 2 times now via the Eurostar train and am planning to do it again in Sept. It's a great experience. I recommend doing London first. If you go in August or September you can tour Buckingham Palace(check their website for info). The changing of the guard is good, if touristy, I loved the parading marching bands. Great music. Do the Westminster walk (see Rick's guidebook for details). Tower of London, a pub (or other London Walk). Perhaps see a play -- west end or Shakespeare. Also recommend the British Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, and the National Gallery.
For Paris -- you must get a good guidebook - such as the Rick Steves' one - and follow his recommendations. Too much good stuff to mention here.

Hi Jen,

I (unfortunately) only spent a brief amount of time in London, but I would suggest that you see the changing of the guards, Westminster Abbey, and Trafalgar Square with the free British Art Museum. Yes, the changing of the guards is the most touristy thing that you can do in London, but it is worth seeing at least once. Just get there early for a decent view.

As for Paris, the must-sees are well-known. The Eiffel tower, the Louvre, Versailles, Notre Dame, Champs Elysees, and take some kind of cruise on the Seine. Other very valuable things to do are to see Les Invalides, which has the French war museum and Napoleon's tomb, and also to see the Paris Catacombs - but get there about 30 min before opening time unless you want to wait 2 hours in line.

On my first 10 day trip to Paris I took Rick's recommended day-trip to London first class on the Eurostar. The best part was the train ride! Paris was incredible and irresistable; I've been back every summer since. Bon Voyage!

YOu absolutely positively have to see the inside of the Paris Opera House (not the modern one). Google it under "Paris Opera House" and click on images, and you will see why. It is astoundingly beautiful, double marble staircases, ornate sculptures, take a look at the photos and you will be mesmerized ---and you can either take a formal tour or walk around yourself.

Also, although it may sound hokey, there is an open air, double decker bus (L'Open Air Tour) that goes around Paris and does a good job of showing you all the sights, and then you can always return once you decide which areas you would like to see in depth. It is a get on/get off bus, so you can actually get off at a sight that is of interest to you, and then hop on the next bus. There is also an audio tour that occurs as the bus is moving. The bus itself is neon green. There are a number of tours, but I think the best one is the green line. Have fun!

London - Trafalgar Square and the Art museum, eat in China Town (very good!), Hyde Park, Kensington Palace & the Diana Museum, Harrod's food area (buy some food here and enjoy in Hyde Park), see a musical (Dirty Dancing was really good), the Science Museum (if you like that sort of thing), the Tate museums. I would skip the Tower of London, very pricey and not really interesting IMO.

Paris - Eiffel Tower (of course!), Notre Dame, buy a Nutella crepe somewhere (where they make it in front of you, not a premade one), take a cruise on the Seine at dusk to see the sights while it is still light enough and then on the way back see the Eiffel Tower twinkling in the night, visit a Paris outdoor market (the one in the Bastille area is nice and is a couple times a week), Louvre, Rodin Museum garden, Sacre Cleur, do a short cooking class (A World in a Pan is a nice one and is done in the lady's home), relax in one of the many parks. Taking the hop-on, hop-off bus is a great way to get a "lay of the land." But the Metro is very easy to navigate as well. I stayed in the Bastille area and it was a nice area and was a relaxing walk into the city center (or a quick hop on the metro). I have to tell you I love RS's books, but his Paris one was horrible IMO. I have used his books for all the other European cities I visited and found them full of great information and very helpful. But the Paris one, I don't know - it was just bad. I would also skip rue Cler that RS touts, not worth it unless you are staying in that area I guess - but don't go out of your way for this.

London: The Tate, Museum of London, The Tower of London, Camden Locke Market, stroll through Hyde Park and visit the Hampstead Heath, Highgate Cemetery, The Sir John C Ritblatt Gallery in the British Library, stroll along the Thames, Westminster Abbey, The War Rooms, Changing of the Guard at the Pallie,theatre, theatre, theatre, every night by getting tix at the Half Price booth in Leicester Square. I'd even try a London walk, www.walks.com.

Paris: Rodin Museum, Notre Dame, Louvre, night cruise on the River, watching the sunset and the Effiel Tower lighting up by sitting in the park by the Tower, Invallides, Picasso Museum, Museum de Orsay, Pompidou Center, Chartes Cathedral, the skeletons of Paris, ie. the crypts below AND ignoring the Champs de Elysees,

IN both cities visit the open air markets and have a picnic if weather is good.

These are my must sees, whether or not they do anything for you depends are your preferences.