Travel Guides: All Countries / Europe / France / Paris-Ile-de-France / Paris
 |  | Destination Guide : Paris |
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| | | City of romance |  | Why go on holiday to Paris?
Enchanting, impressive and grand, the streets of Paris are lined with famous landmarks including the Pompidou Centre, l'Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.
Romance is paramount - along the River Seine or in the gastronomic delights of French cuisine. Art lovers will be in their element with some of the world's great galleries to drool in and fashionistas can revel in the best designer wear.
Disneyland Paris is within easy travelling distance.
How much does it cost?
Paris has never been easier to get to, thanks to low-cost air travel and the opening of the Channel Tunnel.
There are lots of offers so prices will vary considerably but as a rough guide, expect to pay from £200 upwards per person for a three-night weekend break in a three-star hotel with air travel. A trip on Eurostar to Gare du Nord in the heart of Paris costs from roughly £70. You can also book hotel room accommodation through Eurostar - so keep an eye out for special offers. Flights cost from £50 and hotels from £20 a night.
When should I go?
Paris is best in spring, and the public parks are a riot of colour, although autumn can also be pleasant. In August, most Parisiens leave the city so many places are shut. The busiest time for tourists is June and July.
The yearly average temperature is 12C (53F) but it can drop below zero in winter and go as high as the mid-30Cs (90Fs) in August.
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| | | Seine riverboat trip |  | What should I do when I'm there?
Paris has a wealth of wonderful places to visit including the Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre and Musee d'Orsay museums, Sacre Coeur and Notre Dame cathedrals, and a host of lovely parks and gardens.
The best way to visit them is on foot, as the city is relatively compact. Make sure you don't miss out on a Seine riverboat trip around Ile de la Cite.
What makes a good day out in Paris?
Spend a day exploring the Marais district, home to many pre-revolutionary buildings (previously the home of the French court).
Have lunch in the pleasant cloisters of the Place des Vosges (where Victor Hugo lived) and visit the Picasso museum. The Carnavalet museum is also fascinating and tells the story of the history of Paris.
Or go to St Michel metro and walk along the Seine, cross to Ile de la Cite and Notre Dame then go through the Latin Quarter, stopping to visit the Pantheon where French greats including Voltaire, Victor Hugo and Emile Zola are buried.
What excursions can I enjoy from Paris?
Disneyland Resort Paris is 32km east of the city and the best way to get there is by train. Alternatively there is the Parc Asterix, 36km north of Paris, where you can visit the famous village and characters from the French comic series.
For culture, visit Versailles or the equally lovely Fontainebleau. Or take a trip to Monet's house and gardens at Giverny.
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| | | Classic cafe culture | | Where's good for nightlife?
It's virtually impossible to sample the richness of the Parisien entertainment scene without first buying Pariscope or l'Officiel des Spectacles guides.
For cabaret, the Moulin Rouge is a must and there are also plenty of good clubs and discos. For culture vultures the opera, ballet and classical music is all top-notch. The Latin Quarter has oodles of bars.
What's the food like?
Paris offers a fantastic choice of French and international cuisine. However there are many brasseries which serve reasonable but uninspired dishes and it's best to try some of the side streets.
In the Marais, restaurants along the Rue de Rosiers, the old Jewish quarter, serve kosher specialities from North Africa and Israel and Montparnasse abound with creperies. Salons du the (tea rooms) are all the rage and serve fantastic cakes and pastries - not cheap but tres chic. The most famous include Fauchon (place de la Madeleine), Dalloyau (Fbg St Honore) and Mariage Freres (Rue du Bourg Tibourg - metro Hotel de Ville). Cafes (pricey) to be seen in include Les Deux Magots and Cafe Flore, both in St Germain de Pres where Sartre, Hemingway and Picasso hung out. Berthillon on the Ile Saint Louis has ice-cream to die for.
What should I buy?
There are shopping options to suit all tastes and budgets, from the ultra-chic and expensive Avenue Montaigne to the flea markets on Marche d'Aligre or Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen (metro: Porte Clignancourt).
Browse the bouquinistes stalls along the Seine for prints, second-hand books and magazines including old copies of English film and rock music magazines - a goldmine for collectors.
The major department stores are Printemps, Galeries Lafayette and La Samaritaine. Check out Fauchon at Madeleine - the Fortnums of Paris - for gorgeous treats to bring home.
What is there for children to do?
Aside from Disneyland Paris and Parc Asterix outside Paris there are sail model boats (for hire) to enjoy as children have for countless generations in the Jardin du Luxembourg. You can also enjoy puppet shows and ride Shetland ponies here.
The Cite des Sciences Et de l'Industrie (metro Porte de Villete) includes a great hands-on section demonstrating scientific principles for kids from one year up.
Tourist office
The French Government Tourist Office, 178 Piccadilly, London W1V OAL. Call 09068 244123 (60p a minute).
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| | Available rental properties in Paris |
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| |  | | La Truanderie
Formerly the Markets was a large market feeding all Paris. It is now a shopping centre. It shelters the largest metro and RER station in the capital.
|  | | Les Halles
Formerly the Markets was a large market feeding all Paris. It is now a shopping centre. It shelters the largest metro and RER station in the capital.
|  | | Rousseau Palais Royal
Though the small quartier of Palais Royal and Louvre is best known for the world's best known art museum, the Musée du Louvre, theTuileries quartier i
|  | | Studio Palais Royal Molière
Though the small quartier of Palais Royal and Louvre is best known for the world's best known art museum, the Musée du Louvre, theTuileries quartier i
|  | | Etienne
Renovated at the end of the 1980's, the district around rue Montorgueil is an extension of Les Halles, between the church ''Saint Eustache'' and rue E
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