For me it was the city itself. I expected an unapproachable, intimidating city. I found a beautiful ancient but alive and vibrant place that was too exciting to believe. I will return again and again.

Seeing the Eiffel Tower from the balcony of our hotel room, lights twinkling at night above the tree-lined boulevard. I couldn't stop going to the balcony to see it!
Visiting the Louvre and loving the magnificent building itself as much as the art. Taking the Batobus at night, with bridges and buildings all lit up. Paris is lovelier than I'd even expected. (No dog poop in sight, or people peeing in the streets-- as some people had warned!)

Paris exceeded my expectations!
Everithin is magic!!
But, some places it's unbelieveble:

- Ille de Saint Louis

- The Arenes de Lutèce

- Place des Vosges

- Cafe Angelina (Rue de Rivoli)

- Montmartre

- Bois de Bologne

Deyrolle, an amazing taxidermy shop

Just walking everywhere, looking, touching, smelling and whispering to myself "I'm really in Paris."

Well it's not a site, but it is a "wow just look at that"... some of the street performers I saw in Paris were simply amazing.

Ste. Chapelle gets the "Took my breath away" award!
I was on the war path about checking unexposed 35mm film so was annoyed about going through Palace of Justice security. The first floor of the eglise was ok and DH and I were almost saying "is that all there is?" when we went up the stairs and literally gasped at the scene. I don't remember the time of day but the light was just magical! Put this on your list.

Second was surprise at the laciness of the Eiffel Tower-it is actually prettier than I'd anticipated.

I'm very tied to Italy but would choose Paris as a place to live if I could.

For my second trip to Paris, it was the pleasure of staying in an apartment, and seeing a different view of Parisian life than I had on my previous visit. I highly reccommend it if the logistics work out for you (need to be staying a week or more and have to have the right number of folks in the apartment to make it a really good buy).

The Musee Rodin and its beautiful gardens!!

I visited the Musee de Cluny for the first time in July and can't believe how wonderful it is.

Rodin Museum

Ste Chappelle

L'Orangiere (SP?) - Monet's Waterlilies were spellbinding!

Mass at Notre Dame
sunlight through the windows of St. Chapelle
food anywhere and everywhere
the people were wonderful;unlike the stereotype
Pont Neuf
the Louvre buildings and grounds
the Marais
the Mouffetard market
coffee and pastry in the opera tearoom

All of the above, especially, San Chapelle. It was my most cherished memory of Paris from my first visit, I won't say how long ago! Napoleons Tomb and the Army Museum are fascinating. I went to humor my husband, and hated to leave.

Paris, herself. What a beautiful city.

-The interior architecture of the Musée d'Orsay and its collections

-Paris lights at night

-The stained glass windows of Sainte Chapelle

-The Art Nouveau collection at Musée Maxim's

-The view of the back of Notre Dame de Paris from the terrace at the top of the Arab Institute

-The Louvre, specifically the building as well as its collections

-The rich collection of the Musée Carnavalet

-The market streets of rue des Lévis, rue Daguerre, and rue Mouffetarde

-Père Lachaise Cemetery in the fog one early morning

-Walking along the Promenade Plantée

-The general pleasure of café culture

Definitely "The Lady & the Unicorn" tapestries at the Cluny. Always appreciated tapestries. Once I saw these I became enraptured.

My most favorite sights (not sites) include my daughter, who I have now taken to Paris twice. Watching her tuck into Steak Frittes for lunch at a bistro on my birthday. Seeing her sitting so gracefully on the floor at the Pompidou, sketching the artwork. Watching her play at hide and seek in the Tuilleries. Everything in Paris has seemed new and even more special through the eyes of my child.

The number one thing that exceeded my expectations was the friendliness and warmth of the French people. That is my fondest memory of Paris. Well, that and the great food!! :-)

The Impressionist paintings at the Musee D'Orsay were wonderful.

The modern art museum of the city of Paris (currently under renovation) has an entire room taken up by a walls-and-ceiling work by Raoul Dufy - awesome!

http://www.v2asp.paris.fr/musees/MAM...cueil_angl.htm

WK