| Paris simply has that je ne sais quoi. While you may | | | | ticket and admission to more than you'll have time to |
| want to avoid the city in high season due to the high | | | | see! |
| density of tourists, Paris is beautiful the whole year | | | | Notre Dame is considered one of the finest examples |
| round and anybody who's been there will tell you how | | | | of French Gothic architecture in the world and boasts |
| there's always something new to discover. If you're | | | | beautiful stained glass windows and a massive organ, |
| planning a trip there or just looking for some ideas for | | | | which has an astonishing 7,800 pipes! The great bell, |
| what to do when you're there, look no further... | | | | Emmanuel, is tolled to mark the hours of the day and |
| Getting around | | | | special occasions. Astonishingly, the cathedral itself |
| Getting around Paris is simple. Locals recommend taxis | | | | was never officially finished... |
| for the speediest way across town, but they can be | | | | Arc de Triomphe is a famous moment that stands in |
| expensive. A cheaper option is the Metro, which is | | | | the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle at the |
| cheaper and very extensive, although it can be | | | | western end of the Champs-Elysees. The triumphal |
| crowded. Otherwise, you can go by foot or rent a bike | | | | arch honours those who fought for France, particularly |
| as part of the city's Vélib' system. Paris is an | | | | in the Napoleonic Wars. On the inside and top of the |
| incredibly pedestrian-friendly city and one of the | | | | arch, the names of generals are inscribed. The Arc is |
| greatest pleasures is simply strolling through the streets | | | | the linchpin of the historic axis (L'Axe historique) - a |
| and seeing what hidden gems you find. | | | | sequence of monuments and grand thoroughfares on |
| Weather | | | | a route which goes from the courtyard of the Louvre |
| During summer, the weather is often warm and can | | | | Palace to the outskirts of Paris. |
| be humid. In autumn, winter and spring, it is cool, with | | | | The Panthéon was originally intended to be a church |
| wetter winters. Still, even if it rains, there is a wealth of | | | | dedicated to St. Genevieve, but is now most famous |
| museums and galleries to see, or you could simply | | | | as a burial place for such famous names as Voltaire, |
| while away your time in a trendy cafe. | | | | the Curies and Rousseau. Located in the 5th |
| Museums and Galleries | | | | arrondissement on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, |
| The Louvre is one of the largest and most famous | | | | the Panthéon looks out over all of Paris. Head down |
| museums, housing many works of art, including the | | | | to the catacombs for a particularly interesting |
| Mona Lisa (La Joconde) and the Venus de Milo statue. | | | | experience. Its architect, Jacques-Germain Soufflot, |
| Le Musee d'Orsay is located on the banks of the | | | | died before his work was achieved, and his plans |
| Seine, housed in the former railway station the Gare | | | | were not entirely followed. Nevertheless, it is one of |
| d'Orsay, an impressive Beaux-Arts edifice. Houses | | | | the most important architectural achievements of its |
| works by greats such as Monet, Cezanne, Renoir and | | | | time and the first great neoclassical monument. |
| Degas. | | | | Cafes, Restaurants and Bars |
| Centre Georges Pompidouis is a complex in the | | | | Art Brut - fantastic setting and incredible decor (food |
| Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement of Paris, | | | | isn't bad either!) |
| near Les Halles, rue Montorgueil and the Marais. It was | | | | Cafe Lacombe - perfect for brunch |
| designed in the style of high-tech architecture. It houses | | | | Tribal Cafe - cheap pints and free couscous - need I |
| the Bibliothèque publique d'information, the Musée | | | | say more? |
| National d'Art Moderne, and IRCAM, a centre for music | | | | Le Tambour - all night eating and drinking, for those |
| and acoustic research. It is named after Georges | | | | who get a bit peckish around midnight... |
| Pompidou, who was President of France from 1969 to | | | | Hotel du Nord - understatedly chic with a parisian |
| 1974. The Centre Pompidou has had over 150 million | | | | heritage, fantastically romantic and peaceful |
| visitors since 1977. | | | | Point Éphémère - run by a non-profit organisation |
| Palaces and Landmarks | | | | that converts wastelands into cultural centres for |
| The Eiffel Tower is a global icon, completed in 1889. Its | | | | young artists, features a variety of interesting |
| first and second levels are accessible by lift and stairs, | | | | exhibitions and concerts. |
| but you must take an elevator to the top, where you | | | | Hotels |
| can look out over the entire city for a spectacular | | | | When booking a hotel, bear in mind that while most |
| view. | | | | places in the centre of the city (1-6th districts), once |
| The Palace of Versailles is known in French as the | | | | you start getting into double-digits, you should take |
| Chateau de Versailles. When it was first built, Versailles | | | | more care. Check out your hotel or hostel beforehand. |
| was a country village: today it is a suburb of Paris! The | | | | Don't just go for the cheapest one you find, or you |
| court of Versailles was the centre of political power | | | | might discover with a shock that it's, for example, in the |
| from 1682 till 1789 and is a symbol of the Ancien | | | | middle of the red light district! Hotel reviewing platforms |
| Regime. Today it is one of the top tourist attractions in | | | | and travel forums are a good place to check out |
| Paris.You can purchase a Passport for Versailles from | | | | whether your choice is a safe one. |
| one of the train stations that includes round-trip train | | | | |