What are the best places to visit in Paris for a two day trip?

Question

I'm going to Niger Africa for two weeks and then right after I'm staying two days in Paris on a layover flight...in those two days what are the "must see" places of Paris?? And how come you think so?

Answer 1

I suspect that after two weeks in Niger (or anyplace in subSaharan Africa) you're going to be exhausted and more in need of some simple relaxation than two days of frenetic sightseeing.

I suggest you take it easy and spend most of your time enjoying the good food and convivial cafes of Paris.

The "must see" sights are so well known that I'm sure you already know what they are.

Notre Dame and Sacre Coeur, the two most famous churches and the Eiffel tower and Arc de Triomphe because you've seen them in almost every movie ever made that is set in Paris.

A boat ride along the Seine on one of the Bateau Moche is another obligatory tourist thing to do. So as is wandering around Montmartre (after seeing Sacre Couer) and seeing all the really terrible art being sold in the Place de Teatre and checking out the bookstalls along the Seine after seeing Notre Dame.

One sees these things mainly because they are emblematic of Paris which is one of the great cultural icons of Western civilization. Books, movies, plays, and music all refer to them and your friends will expect you to have seen them and forever after you will be able to say to people while watching any one of a thousand  movies or TV shows..."I've been there."

This is not to say that they aren't beautiful or historically important or otherwise interesting in their own right but that is the primary reason why tourists go look at them.

EDIT: I notice that your trip to Africa is on a Christian Mission (now I'm sure you'll be exhausted). But let me add one more place to see as I hope that a person who does this type of work is truly a spiritual person.

After you see Notre Dame walk along the path on the side of the church towards the back and continue past it and across the street to the Memorial to the Deportation. This memorial is dedicated to the 200,000 people  who were deported from France to concentration camps in Germany during WWII. The interior contains 200,000 lit crystals, each commemorating a life lost.

In the overall carnage of World War II, these are only a tiny percent of the dead but even this number is shattering to contemplate. The visual representation helps one grasp the terrible number.

Over the exit the words "Pardonne N'oublie pas" (Forgive but do not forget) appear.

Say a prayer that men may someday cease this sort of horror which is still happening today.