What to see in Paris
The Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées are the most famous postcards. The Louvre —with the Mona Lisa— and the Musée d'Orsay, full of Impressionists, face each other across the Seine. On the Île de la Cité stand Notre-Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle, with its Gothic stained glass.
Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur keep their artists'-village feel; Le Marais mixes mansions, shops and cafés, and the Latin Quarter is the realm of students and bookshops.
When to go
Spring and autumn are ideal. Summer brings long days and lots of tourists; winter is cold but with shorter queues and the charm of Christmas lights.
Getting around
The metro and the RER go everywhere, including the airports and Versailles. Walking along the Seine and through the neighbourhoods is the best way to discover the city.
What to eat
Freshly baked croissants and pain au chocolat, cheese, boeuf bourguignon, crêpes and macarons. A coffee on a terrace is part of the experience.
Travel tips
- A sunset Seine cruise is a different way to see the monuments.
- Book the Louvre first thing or on late-opening evenings.
- Spend a day at the Palace of Versailles and its gardens.
