About Paris

The capital and the most populous city of France, Paris was first mentioned in the mid-1st century BC by Julius Caesar and has since established itself as one of Europe's oldest and preeminent centers of fashion, culture, gastronomy, and arts. Its influence is so widespread and acclaimed, that Paris’ landmarks are among the most recognizable in the world.

Over 30 million tourists visit Paris annually, putting it consistently among the top 5 most visited cities in the world year-after-year. Apart from the historical monuments, fans of Paris note that they flock to the city primarily for its atmosphere, which offers everything to appeal to your soul, mind, senses, and creativity.

Attractions and Things to Do

Few other cities can rival Paris as a feast for all your senses. Sample premier gastronomic delights as you dine in Paris’ famous sidewalk cafes. Take a romantic late-night stroll on the Seine Riverwalk, Montmartre, or the Champ de Mars with Paris’ stunning street lights illuminating your way (this is why Paris is called “The City of Light”).

As the world’s undisputed art capital, visitors can’t complete a visit to Paris without seeing the collections of the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and the Paris Museum of Modern Art, as well as taking in its architecturally rich neighborhoods, quaint bookstores, vintage shops, flea markets, or doing a little window shopping at the très chic Galeries Lafayette.

While going up the iconic Eiffel Tower will probably be the de facto highlight of your Paris tour, there are definitely no lack of interesting things to do in Paris, whether during a business trip or on your honeymoon.

Tours Available

If you're in Paris, there's no way you'll want to miss out on a trip to the Eiffel Tower. However, the queue for one of the 7 wonders of the modern world is understandably and notoriously long - 2-3 hours on average! By grabbing this Skip the Line ticket in advance, you can skip the queue and get to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower, saving you precious sightseeing time.

Looking for a more cultural tour? You can grab the Paris Museum Pass as well and enjoy free access to more than 50 different museums, including the famous Lourve Museum, and cultural attractions in and around Paris, like the Versailles Palace, and the Arc de Triomphe. Of course, like the Eiffel Tower ticket, you can skip all queues and go right in!

Getting Around

Paris is a major railway, highway, and air-transport hub served by two international airports: Paris–Charles de Gaulle (the second-busiest airport in Europe) and Paris–Orly.

Once you get to Paris, you’ll realize that the city is a pedestrian’s dream. With the center of Paris being only a couple of miles wide and walking maps easily available, taking to the streets on foot offer endless opportunities for discovery and adventure. When going longer distances, meanwhile, hop on the Métro. From any given spot in Paris, you're never more than 500 yards from the nearest station; it's cheaper than a cab and often faster, too and is pretty much the way to get around the city— that is unless you've stayed out late.

What to Eat

With an incredible 10 Michelin Three-starred restaurants in the city and a long, storied culinary tradition, there’s little wonder why Paris is considered the gastronomic capital of the world. While you can spend a fortune at restaurants like Restaurant Guy Savoy and Arpège, more affordable but no less delectable bites await as you walk Paris’ charming stone-paved sidewalks, inclduing croissants and hot chocolate at Angelina Paris, macarons at Ladurée, and a set menu at any one of Paris’ excellent bistros. Of course, never forget to order a glass of French wine with your meal—it’s a must!

Meanwhile, if you get a craving for the munchies while strolling the city, small stands selling crepes and falafels can be found all over Paris. These make delicious, cheap snacks, perfect for a cheap pick-me-up while sightseeing.

Overall

Pretty much everyone agrees that if you are to visit just one city in Europe as part of your bucket list, then Paris is it. Because no tourist worth his or her salt can go without at least one selfie with the Eiffel Tower, right? But seriously, whether you’re looking for romance, artistic inspiration, excellent cuisine, or old-world European charm; Paris has a wide range of sights and sensory delights to appeal to any kind of traveler. Don’t wait until the 2024 Paris Olympics to book your trip now!