Paris, the city of romance, and also the city of lights, is the most visited place in the world. With a footfall of more than 20 million tourists, it is the capital of France and home to the iconic Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum. Visitors from across the world come to Paris to feel the magic and amazing vibe of this place. Paris hosts a number of fashion events round the year and it is also the fashion capital of the world. Its established boutiques and shops form a quintessential part of the visit of every fashion lover.

A paradise for food lovers, Paris has many world-famous Michelin Star restaurants, cozy bistros, boulangeries, patisseries and cheese shops. Those interested in adventure activities can try quad-bike trek, bubble football, indoor freefall simulator, skydiving, hoverboard road. The world famous Tour de France attracts cyclists from around the globe. History buffs will love the museums and monuments.

By Air

Paris has three international airports, Charles de Gaulle International Airport (Roissy), Orly International Airport and Beauvais (Aéroport de Beauvais Tillé). It is well connected to the rest of the world. The airline shuttle service has shuttle flights between airports.

By Rail

Paris is well connected to the rest of Europe through an excellent railway network. There are six major railway junctions. Train Express Régionale, Trains à Grande Vitesse, the high-speed Thalys, are some of the important trains.

By Road

Buses connect Paris to other cities in France, Eurolines is a major bus operator. Megabus connects Paris to Brussels, United Kingdom and Amsterdam. Traffic is dense and those wishing to go by car can hire a taxi.

Things to do and places to see

Eiffel Tower

The most iconic landmark of Paris, towering 324 meters, is Eiffel Tower, a wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It sees a footfall of about 7 million people each year. It was built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, commemorating the Centenary of the French Revolution. The tower has three levels for visitors, with restaurants on the first and second levels.

Its construction in 2 years, 2 months and 5 days was a veritable technical and architectural achievement. Built to last 20 years, it was saved by the scientific experiments that Eiffel encouraged and in particular by the first radio transmissions, followed by telecommunications. It was named part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

Louvre

The Louvre is the largest and most visited art museum in the world. It started out as a medieval fortress before becoming an art gallery for the study of antiques and works of Old Masters in the 1700s. Today, it is a museum that would need days, if not weeks to see in its entirety.

With antiques spanning across cultures and an enviable collection of Renaissance and Baroque art, it is unparalleled to any museum in the world. The must-sees include 2,200-year-old Winged Victory of Samothrace, Liberty Leading the People (Delacroix), the Portrait of François I (Jean Clouet), the enigmatic Gabrielle d’Estrées and one of her sisters (Unknown) and the Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci).

Musée d’Orsay

A compendium of French art and culture can be found in the Beaux-Arts railway station. Situated on the banks of the Seine, it was turned into a large art museum after being abandoned as a railway building.

Here one can find some iconic works of art by Impressionists and Post-Impressionists like Renoir (Bal du Moulin de la Galette), Cézanne (The Card Players and Apples and Oranges), van Gogh (Starry Night Over the Rhône) and Manet (Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe).

Notre Dame Cathedral

A medieval cathedral, the construction of which began in 1163 and took just under 200 years to complete, is the most famous and beloved Gothic monument in the world. Its magnificent towers rise from the eastern point of the Île de la Cité in the Seine. The cathedral took damage in the Revolution and was revamped in the 19th century by the master restorer Viollet-le-Duc.

The sculptures on the facades, including the famous gargoyles, the rose windows, stained glass, bell and the view from the towers make it worth braving the crowds. The treasury houses relics like the Crown of Thorns and one can peer into Paris’s distant past in the excavations at the Archaeological Crypt.

Arc de Triomphe

Erected to celebrate the victories and to pay tribute to the dead of the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, the monumental arch lies at the western end of the Champs-Elysées. It lies at the center of the Axe Historique, a long, straight line linking monuments from La Défense in the west to the Louvre in the east.

The arch is carved with reliefs of key episodes from the 1790s and 1800s, like the Battle of Austerlitz and Fall of Alexandria. The pillars have sculptures showing the iconic Marsellaise, a winged personification of liberty leading the volunteers, to symbolize the Revolution’s uprising. Names of military leaders too are etched on the pillars with the ones of the deceased underlined.

Where to stay

1st arrondissement

Those visiting Paris for the first time and wanting to stay near the major attractions, the lively 1st arrondissement neighborhood is the right choice. The Louvre, Palais Royal and Tuileries are in the vicinity. This district also has many English speaking people and this makes it easier to get around. A stroll along the Seine River or a bite at the casual bakeries and cafeterias nearby are some of the activities to do here.

Les Halles, 1st & 2nd Districts

Those visiting Paris for the food, Les Halles should be the area of stay. Visitors can explore the market streets or savor a delicious cuisine or also shop for top-rated French cookware.

Champs Élysées / Golden Triangle, 8th Arrondissement

Paris being the Fashion Capital, Champs Élysées is the best place for fashionistas. Visitors can immerse themselves in the glamorous world of design or check out the latest trends in designer wear. World renowned names in fashion like Dior, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Chloe, Tiffany, Valentino are all here.

Best time to visit

Paris is most crowded in July, with sizable crowds from May to September. For those wanting to avoid crowds, October to April is a good time. The temperatures are warm at that time too and Paris can be explored with lesser crowds.