Île de la Cité, the larger of the two islands in the River Seine at the center of Paris (map), is one of the most important places you'll get to know in the city.

Here's where you'll find two of the city's most-visited monuments: the great Cathédral de Notre Dame de Paris, and the breathtaking Sainte-Chapelle.

Both ends of the island have delightful small parks great for a picnic lunch—right where you need one.

At the western tip of the island, the Square du Vert Galant beneath the Pont Neuf is a local favorite. Sit on a bench in the small park, or stroll along the stone walkways and dangle your feet over the edge as you gaze downstream at the Louvre.

Behind Notre Dame on the island's eastern end is the small Square Jean-XXIII, named for the revered Pope John XXIII.

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