“There is love in the air under Paris skies,” as the old song goes, and it’s not hard to see why: Paris is one of the most fascinating and romantic cities in the world, and people throughout the centuries have found it impossible to resist its appeal.
History, architecture, arts, culture, cuisine, fashion... Paris has rightly been famous for all these things and morefor centuries
Known as the ‘City of Light’, the beauty of Paris never fails to bring a smile to the faces of visitors, in spite of the (debateable) reputation its citizens have for surliness.
Divided into a total of 20 numbered districts (arrondissements), Paris coils around the River Seine. With over 400 different metro stations, finding your way around is as pleasant as a Parisian spring breeze – even for those whose high school French has been reduced to ‘bonjour’ and ‘au revoir’ by the years.
The most well-known arrondissements are Bastille, Élysée, Ile de la Cite, Louvre, Marais, Montmartre, Montparnasse, Opéra and the Latin Quarter.
In the Louvre area, pay a visit to the city’s tourist information centre, named the Office de Tourisme et de Congrès de Paris, for the lowdown on what is happening and where.
Further official tourism outlets are to be found at Anvers, Montmartre, the Porte de Versailles and Pyramides, as well as at the train stations known as the Gare de l’Est, the Gare de Lyon and the Gare du Nord.
Accommodation in Paris ranges from luxurious hotels and large chains, to small, traditional and surprisingly cheap guest houses and self-catering apartments.
History, architecture, arts, culture, cuisine, fashion... Paris has rightly been famous for all these things and more for centuries, and it is still very much a trend-setting global capital which leads rather than follows.
Being relatively small in comparison to many capital cities makes Paris a very practical city for visitors, with many of the major points of interest and landmarks within walking distance of one another.
Besides adding to the city’s beauty and charm, the River Seine neatly divides Paris in two. Situated north of the river, in the area known as the Rive Droite (Right Bank), are some of the most renowned landmarks including the Champs Élysées and l’Arc de Triomphe.
Lying at the other end of the Champs Élysées is La Place de la Concorde, a beautiful square where several important historical events have taken place, including the execution of Louis XVI.
East of the avenue is the acclaimed Louvre and the Centre Georges Pompidou; south of the Pompidou is the majestic Notre Dame on Île de la Cité.
The area to the south of the river is known as the Rive Gauche (Left Bank) and it is from here that the Eiffel Tower, the mostprominent and famous landmark in Paris, commands the skyline.
Paris prides itself on its gastronomic delights and offers a wide selection of restaurantsserving mouth-watering French food, as well as international cuisine, while the capital’s vibrant nightlife allows you to work off the calories until sunrise if you wish.
Disneyland Paris, Parc Astérix and the Palace of Versailles are just a few of the many places of interest situated within easy reach of the French capital.