France is undoubtedly the leader of European tourism. Every day, thousands of guests from different parts of the world come to get acquainted with the sights of this country and its most beautiful capital. And who would have thought that a competitor would appear, capable of luring curious travelers over to their side, who doubt whether to choose London or Paris. Which city is more attractive for architecture lovers, fans of religious buildings, fans of shopping and street parties?
London or Paris - where is the best shopping?
Oddly enough, the English capital is in no way inferior to Paris in terms of purchases, both souvenirs and branded items. The first group includes items with traditional symbols and miniature copies of London's business cards - Big Ben models, red double-decker tourist buses, statuettes of policemen. For gifts to relatives and friends, tourists most often choose:
- caps and pipes in the style of the inimitable Sherlock Holmes;
- reticules and bags a la "English queen";
- tea with bergamot, in honor of the famous English tradition;
- malt whiskey.
The main shopping districts of the capital of Great Britain are Kensington and Oxford Street, and the first district will delight the owners of thick wallets and lovers of expensive interior items, in the shops of the second quarter you can find goods for any category of buyers.
Shopping in Paris will disappoint many tourists, firstly, everything is very expensive, because it is aimed at travelers with a big wallet, and secondly, it is easy to run into a fake. There are many souvenirs, but most of them are of poor quality, made in China and quickly lose their appeal. In addition, the cost of a keyring with the image of the Eiffel Tower will be five times more expensive in the center of the French capital than in the outskirts. Designer clothes and shoes, branded perfumes, products - wine and cheeses leave the purchases in the suitcases of the guests. To save money, it is recommended to visit outlets located outside the city limits - the assortment is large, and the prices are an order of magnitude lower.
Cuisine and restaurants
Traditional English cuisine is well known outside the country - oatmeal and meat pies, toasted muffins and five-hour tea. An English breakfast, unlike a continental one, is very hearty and satisfying, except for coffee with croissants or buns with jam, it includes fried meat (bacon, sausages), vegetables, potatoes, mushrooms. Other popular dishes include potato chips and puddings for dessert. The city is home to a variety of dining establishments, from cheap fast food to upmarket restaurants serving exotic dishes from far-off lands, formerly English colonies.
French cuisine is traditionally associated with humor exclusively with frog legs and onion soup. But you need to be prepared for the fact that in Paris they know how to feed tasty, satisfying, exquisite and expensive. Here you can find both traditional French restaurants and establishments of foreign cuisines, cafes and bars.
Attractions and entertainment
Walking around London can be continued endlessly, discovering familiar architectural masterpieces or legendary places such as Buckingham Palace, Tower Castle and the Bridge of the same name, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey. If possible, you should definitely take a walk in the parks of the English capital, each of them has its own entertainment. For example, in Hyde Park you can perform a monologue from the stage, for example, from a Shakespeare play, in Green Park, you can observe the life of Buckingham Palace and its inhabitants. The Royal Gardens are ready to showcase the rarest plants brought from all over the world.
In the center of attention of the guests of Paris in the first place - the Eiffel Tower. As much as I would not like to stand out from the crowd of tourists, but you cannot do without getting to know her. Each guest can compose a further route through the main French city by himself, including architectural sights known to the whole planet, or simply walking along the streets of the old city. The program can include a visit to the Louvre and Tuileries Gardens, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Arc de Triomphe, Montmartre and a walk along the Seine on a small boat.
Comparison of the two chic European capitals made it possible, on the one hand, to note that each of them is worthy of the attention of the most discerning guest. On the other hand, the main city of France is fundamentally different from the English capital, so travelers who:
- want to see how the English queen lives;
- love prim style and strict architecture;
- love to eat deliciously and will never give up another roast beef and a portion of meat pie;
- dream of taking a walk in English parks.
Paris is waiting for adults and young tourists who:
- dream of climbing the Eiffel Tower;
- they love walking along the old streets;
- ready for expensive shopping and standard souvenirs;
- dream of a morning cup of aromatic coffee with a delicate croissant.
