A Day on the Islands
Morning
Arrive at
Notre-Dame
by 8am to beat the crowds and
appreciate its magnificence, then head for the fragrant Marché aux
Fleurs. As well as flowers, you can buy all kinds of garden accessories
and seeds. Return to Notre-Dame if you want to ascend the towers, which
open at
10am. Take a coffee break at
Le Flore en l’Ile
, with its views of the cathedral.
The fascinating Crypte Archéologique is worth a half-hour visit, then spend the late morning at
Sainte-Chapelle
, when the sun beams through the stained-glass windows.
There are plenty of places for lunch, but on a sunny day try
La Rose de France
with its terrace seating.
Afternoon
Spend a
leisurely afternoon strolling the narrow streets of the Ile St-Louis,
which are filled with characterful shops and galleries (see Shopping).
Wind up with an afternoon treat by visiting Berthillon, considered the best ice-cream purveyor in France (
-
31 rue St-Louis-en-l’Ile
-
Open 10am–8pm Wed–Sun, closed mid-Jul-aug & school hols
).
With more than 70 flavours on offer, from plain vanilla to whisky, and
including virtually any fruit you can think of, the hardest part will be
choosing, although there is plenty of time to make your choice as there
will inevitably be a queue, especially in summer.
Shopping
