Paris

Paris : Travel information before you go!

Discover the destination

The Parisian Ministry of Tourism didn't get it wrong in their numerous campaigns to promote the city! Paris, officially the most visited city in the world, is undoubtedly, aside from being the Capital of Romance, the Capital of Art and Culture, the Capital of Gastronomy and the Capital of Music! There is a thread of an abstract atmosphere woven into the fabric of Paris...it's in the light, in the dirty metros, sleeping on every street corner with the homeless and it glistens in the Eiffel Tower's watchful eye as it dances and dazzles on the Parisian skyline. There is always something new to uncover - be it a new opera at the world-famous Opéra Garnier, or a new exhibition at one of Paris' contemporary art museums, such as the Centre Pompidou or the Palais de Tokyo or a small boutique in the meandering streets of the Marais. Despite its beauty, Paris may not seem like the most welcoming of cities upon arrival due to the Parisians' bold manners but in time it opens itself up to newcomers and grips them so tightly that they never want to leave again! In the meantime, visitors should make the most of the city's varied art and music scene. Paris is also an amazing city to walk around, so wrap up warm and invest in a city map. It has to be noted that Paris is most beautiful in the winter, especially close to Christmas once the Champs Elysées lights have come on! In summer, the city sunbathes, rolls over and goes to sleep.

pros

•  The city's various museums
•  Eclectic cultural scene (theatre, music and cinema)
•  Strolling around the beautiful city
•  The low amount of chain restaurants, bars and shops

cons

•  The visibly higher number of homeless people out on the street
•  The boldly-mannered Parisians
•  Fairly dirty and smelly city

Visit Paris

• To see

  Anyone going to Paris for the first time will be taken aback by the abundance of must-see historical sites in the French capital city.
  The city's symbol is the Eiffel Tower, and it is almost always top on the list of things to see.
  Once you have climbed to the top of this giant lady, you can stroll along the mythical avenue of the Champs-Elysées, which never fails to attract tourists with its Arc de Triomphe and luxury boutiques.
  Towards the centre of the capital, you will find the Louvre and its pyramid, designed by the architect leoh Ming Pei, as well as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Musée d'Orsay (Orsay Museum) and the Musée du Quai Branly (Quai Branly Museum). The first museum is housed in an old railway station built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, the second emerged from the visionary mind of French architect Jean Nouvel (as did the building for the Institut du Monde Arabe [Arab World Institute]).
  Blending modernity and heritage, the city of lights which is just as beautiful at night-time as it is in the day, Paris is a city of contrasts and oppositions.
  From the famous district of Pigalle, the symbol of Paris' 'erotic nights', to the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, at the top of Montmartre Hill, these are two features that you cannot miss during a stay in Paris. Tourists will find themselves in the heart of the duality that Paris represents (a sort of urban struggle between good and evil, in which man sways between debauchery and the salvation of his soul...).
  There are also the 'Bateaux-mouches', which are mainly filled with tourists, but the boat trips are a good opportunity to get a different view of Paris (even for a Parisian, actually!). A tour which is accompanied by good quality historical commentary is an excellent way to find your bearings in the city.
  After having scraped the sky, meandered down the Seine, all you have left to do is visit the catacombs and the sewers of Paris (they can be visited!), and then you can say: "I have visited Paris from top to bottom!".

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  To do

  Most visitors come to Paris for a long weekend. With this in mind, here are a few pointers from the team: pop into the Centre Pompidou, the city's most visited contemporary art venue. The view from the top floor is also worth seeing (although when it rains it is impossible to see anything due to the the raindrops on the windows). Weather-allowing a pic-nic of Camembert cheese, baguette and red wine, on the Seine river banks obliges. Sit on the Tournelle quay after the Archevêque bridge and look out onto the back of the Notre Dame Cathedral which is the most attractive view of the enigmatic building. Afterwards, wander around the Marais' winding streets lined by quaint bars, cafés and boutiques. For a fairly good-value meal, head to Chartier, a real institution, for some choucroutte or steak and frites. Guaranteed to please with its Art-Nouveau décor and its 100 year history, Chartier is definitely one to try out whilst in Paris. For visitors that have never been to Paris, a detour via the Louvre Museum is a must. The Louvre has been assimilated, in size, to three horizontal Empire State Buildings, so as can be expected a couple of weeks should be ser aside to see the collections in their entirety - however, the volume and beauty of the museum can also be appreciated in a couple of hours.

  Montmartre, the hill of Paris, to the north is a must. Without doubt one of the city's most beautiful areas, visitors must have a coffee or dinner in one of the area's quirky restaurants. A visit of the Montmartre cemetary or the Père Lachaise (where Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde are buried) has to be on the itinerary.

  Those are just a few things to have on your list when going to Paris, but there is one last thing ALL visitors must do on their trip: visit the Eiffel Tower, of course! For the best view, visitors should take the métro to Trocadéro (lines 6 and 9) after 10pm to see the tower lit up against a foreground of fountains and a back drop of the Champs de Mars (gardens behind the Eiffel Tower) and the Ecole Militaire (Military School)afar.

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  To think about

  The public transport company, RATP, sells a 'Paris Visite' card and coupon which enables you to enjoy all of the Ile-de-France region's network (underground and overground trains, buses, trams, SNCF suburban trains, Montmartre's cable car, Montmartrobus, Optile network buses, depending on the zone option: 1 to 3 or 1 to 6).
  These coupons are valid from the date of first use (and not the date that they were bought on) and they are available for one, two, three, four or five days.
  
  The Paris Museum Pass gives you the possibility of entering over 60 museums and monuments in Paris and its surrounding areas, as many times as you like and without having to queue (Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Centre Pompidou, etc).
  It is available for two, four or six days.

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• To avoid

  Avoid driving in Paris, it will only bring you stress, parking problems and traffic jams.
  With its 14 underground lines, tramways, buses and Velib' bicycle stations, every hidden corner of Paris is made accessible.
  If you want to visit the city, high heels and fancy shoes are to be avoided. Distances may seem long on a map, but once you are there, when you see all the beauty spread out all around you, you never know how far your feet may take you...

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  To try

  As in all big, capital cities, there is little chance that you will starve of hunger in Paris - there is no lack of choice when it comes to food!
  You will seldom find a main street which doesn't hold at least one restaurant. There is Indian cuisine (to be found in the 10th arrondissement in particularly), regional cuisine, vegetarian, African or Asian cuisine: whatever your favourite food is, you'll find it!
  However, the tourists who like to keep to their own food habits, exempt of any exoticism, will find fast food, Tex Mex restaurants, kebabs and any other greasy delights that take their fancy.
  More daring visitors may try out a 'brasserie parisienne' where salads and daily specials are served, along with a glass of red wine and a cup of coffee to finish off. For those looking for this kind of atmosphere, which has almost been brought to its climax, there is the canteen restaurant, now listed as an historical monument: 'Chez Chartier' (10th arrondissement).
  More and more little restaurants are sprouting out of nowhere, serving salads, vegetarian meals, quiches, savoury tarts (there are a quite a few in the Montmartre district).
  As far as quality is concerned, it is not always easy to spot if one restaurant is better than another (or if there is no risk as far as hygiene is concerned). As a general rule, it is better to avoid going to tourist areas (prices are much higher for sometimes questionable quality, unfortunately).
  However, as there is an exception to every rule, do not hesitate to devour falafels near Rosiers street on a Sunday afternoon... it is packed with people queuing to get served, it is cheap and it is absolutely delicious!As the capital of France, the country of gastronomy, Paris is, naturally, an inevitable culinary step for anyone who enjoys refined cuisine.
  The 'Restaurant Pierre Gagnaire', 'Le Meurice' run by chef Yannick Alleno, 'Le Bistrot' where Guy Savoy reigns and 'Le Pré Catalan', etc. Stars don't just shine on the façades of these famous establishments, they also shine in the eyes of their happy guests.

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  To bring back

  Like in any touristy destination, Paris has myriad souvenirs to bring back, such as t-shirts, shot glasses, ashtrays and the like. Thebest souvenirs in the 'cheesy' category are Eiffel Tower keyrings for a Euro each. Otherwise needless to say to bring back wine and cheese if checking luggage in.

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Paris is without doubt one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its wondrous charms throw you into a rich cultural past of famous figures like Jean-Paul Sartre and Ernest Hemingway who thrived in Paris. Traditionally known as the city of love, lights, fashion and gastronomy, the French capital ...

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