Introduction

As the capital of France, Paris is not only the country's first city, but a département in its own right. Situated on the River Seine in the heart of the Île-de-France region to the north of the country, the 'City of Light' has a population of over 2,150,000 within the city limits.

Much of the city rests on hilly terrain. The loftiest hill, Montmartre, rises 130 metres above sea level. Split in half by the Seine, Paris is made up in part by two islands, the Île Saint-Louis and the Île de la Cité. The latter, which houses the twelfth century cathedral Notre Dame de Paris amongst other treasures, is the historic centre of Paris.

History

Paris has been at the heart of France's history as far back as the Roman era, when it was the capital city of Gaul. Historically, the city has served as something of a counterpoint to the French monarchy, which was traditionally located in Versailles. Parisians were at the centre of the French Revolution in 1789 and the 1870 Revolution, during which Paris declared its independence from the monarchy and established its own leadership in the form of the Commune.

During the twentieth century, Paris played a vital role in both World Wars. Culturally it was the epicentre for many of Europe's artistic and cultural movements. Artists from around the globe flocked to Paris, attracted as they were to its cafés, bars and exuberant nightlife.

Weather

Situated as it is in the north of France, Paris enjoys a moderate continental climate that results in warm summers and cool winters. It is liable to rain at any time during the year – the city witnesses an average yearly precipitation of 64cm.

Average temperatures in Paris

Period	Celsius	Fahrenheit
January	3	39
February	4	40
March	7	40
April	10	50
May	13	57
June	16	62
July	19	67
August	19	67
September	16	61
October	11	53
November	6	44
December	5	41

Beaches

In 2002, the Mayor of Paris inaugurated "Paris Plages", lining the banks of the Seine with white sand, deck chairs, tropical trees and parasols. Since then, the annual event, which takes place from July through to the end of August, has been ever popular.

Last year, the man-made beaches stretching from the Louvre to the Henri IV Port attracted a total of nearly 4 million people and, with changing yearly themes, additional events and over twenty different sand based sports on display, the "Paris Plages" are as good as, if not better than, the real thing. Be warned though, they can get a little packed!

Tourist sites

Paris is a city with one of the richest histories in the world, so it comes as no surprise that there are endless monuments, attractions, museums, parks and shops on offer. From the majestic architecture of the 8th arrondissement – which contains the Champs-Élysées ("the most beautiful avenue in the world"), the Place de la Concorde (site of the notorious guillotine), and the grandiose Arc de Triomphe – to the intimate and lively bistros of the Quartier Latin in the heart of the Left Bank, France's first city suits any persuasion.

Whether you wish to spend the days in the breezy Jardins du Palais Royal, admire a panoramic view of the city from the Alexandre III Bridge, or simply have your picture taken next to the Basilica of the Sacré Cœur, you will have the time of your life in the most popular tourist destination in the world. It offers everything from iconic monuments to former glories, such as the Notre Dame de Paris, the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower, to the cutting edge in cosmopolitan fashion.

Family entertainment

If all of the culture and history on offer seems a little too adult orientated, Paris also has a lot for young children and families. The most notable attraction, just to the east of Paris at Marne-la-Vallée is Disneyland Resort Paris, which is only a short drive from the city. It should be noted, however, that the park can be very busy in the summer months. During peak times, queuing for the larger rides can easily take an hour.

Beyond this, Paris has an assortment of family orientated museums, the most notable of which are the Cité des Enfants – a science and nature interactive museum for young children – and the Grévin Wax Museum, containing life sized wax models of celebrities and famous French historical scenes.

The Zoo de Paris at the Château de Vincennes is one of the largest in Europe with an excellent assortment of exotic animals. Paris is also notable for its circuses, which stop off at various times throughout the year.

Food and drink

Few places in France are better for food – particularly seafood – than Paris, with its plethora of restaurants in styles ranging from traditional French cuisine to international dishes from around the world. The city was also the birthplace of café culture and, today, the very same cafés and bistros line the sidewalks that once seated the greatest artists, poets and philosophers from around the world during the twentieth century.

There are more than 30,000 restaurants and cafés in Paris. Although prices can reach astronomical proportions, the majority of the smaller restaurants are very reasonably priced, especially if they are not in the vicinity of any major tourist attractions. There is also a wide selection of bars and clubs throughout the city.

Walking

As the most romantic city in the world, Paris provides an ideally lit backdrop for strolls along the promenade, particularly during the cool evenings. For those wishing to find a more strenuous workout, the 1665 steps of the Eiffel Tower may provide something of a challenge.

Other sports

Paris has the usual assortment of sports facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts, and gyms that would be expected of a major city. One of the most popular sports in Paris is inline skating and, every Friday and Sunday, skaters take over the streets of Paris as they travel race and jump their way down pre-planned routes. It should be noted that the routes are, generally speaking, not designed with beginners in mind.

For the spectators, Paris' major sports clubs are the football team Paris-Saint-Germain and the Rugby union club Stade Français Paris. The city will host the next Rugby World Cup final at the 80,000 seater Stade de France on October 20 2007.

Wine tasting

Traditionally, Paris was a great centre for wine making but, over the years, its vineyards died out and the city instead became a hub through which wines from more rural regions of France could be enjoyed. However, more recently, there has been something of a wine 'revival' in and around Paris.

La Vigne de Suresnes is a particularly well established vineyard and the vineyard in Montmartre is also well worth a visit. Money raised from the wine is donated to charity and they celebrate the harvest every year with a massive party.

Ease of access

Paris is served by three international airports. The largest is Charles de Gaulle International Airport (CDG), about an hour to the north-east. It is the second busiest airport in Europe after London Heathrow. EasyJet carries flights from Stansted, Gatwick and Luton to CDG.

Beauvais is located to the north of the city and is favoured by many of the low-cost airlines such as RyanAir. Orly International Airport to the south-west is reserved mainly for Air France domestic lines, although some European carriers fly in there.

Both CDG and Beauvais operate shuttle services into Paris at an additional cost.

Value for money

For tourists in Paris, entrance fees and food prices can quickly mount up. It is advisable to rent a property on the outskirts where accommodation is more reasonably priced, and try to avoid restaurants in the most 'touristy' areas – their prices can be extortionate.

The "Paris Museum Pass" is well worth checking out. It is a prepaid entry card for over 70 museums and monuments. For a 2-day pass it is €30, 4-days is €45 and 6-days is €60. For eager sightseers, this can very quickly make you quite a large saving.

Summary

Paris is the most popular holiday destination in the world and it is easy to see why. With too many monuments, museums, attractions, restaurants and cafés to ever fully explore, the 'City of Light' is a truly remarkable destination.