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Ile de la Cite and Ile St-Louis

Map of Ile de la Cité and Ile St-Louis

As the historic cradle of Paris -- first settled over 2,300 years ago by the Gallic Parisii tribe -- some of the city's oldest "must see" sights are found on the Île de la Cité, including Notre-Dame, the Conciergerie, and Sainte-Chapelle. The small island is also home to Paris's high courts (Palais de Justice), police headquarters, and the Hôtel Dieu hospital, contributing to the already significant bustle of tourists and traffic. It's possible to escape the noisy crowds in the winding medieval streets behind Notre-Dame or under the trees at place Dauphine, but for a decent selection of hotels and restaurants cross the pedestrian bridge to the even tinier Île St-Louis. The art galleries and gift shops along the narrow main street of this exclusive residential enclave have been carefully groomed to appeal to tourists, with prices to match. You'll have to cross the Seine to get to the nearest métro, but this is an excellent place to explore the city's older districts on foot.

At a Glance

SIGHTS

1. Notre-Dame
Size things up at the most enduring symbol of Paris.
2. Pont Neuf
Count the grotesque carved heads on Paris' oldest bridge.
Sainte-Chapelle
Check out the exquisite stained glass windows in this 13th-century chapel.