Attractions

There is a wealth of attractions on offer to visitors during a visit to Paris, and many will first head for the Eiffel Tower, perhaps the most iconic structure in the whole of France. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1898 for the Universal Exhibition, and a trip to the top takes you 324 metres up, from where unsurpassable views of France's capital are available. The Eiffel Tower is always busy so be prepared for a wait - especially in high season.

Next on the must see on a trip to Paris list is a trip to the Louvre, the most famous art gallery in the world, and home to the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. The Palais du Louvre was rebuilt on a 13^th Century fortress in the 16^th Century to be used as a residence for the Royal family. After the revolution it became a national museum, in 1793.

The Arc de Triomphe is a monument located at the centre of the Place de l'Etoile, erected in memory of French war victims, as well as providing a reminder of French victories on the battlefield. Les Invalides is a quarter of the French capital which features museums and monuments relating to military history too, and this is situated close by.

An area known as Montmartre is also recommended a visit during a trip to Paris. Montmartre is located on a hill, and is famous for being the artistic centre of the capital, having been home to numerous renowned artists - Picasso, Van Gogh, Modigliani and Dali all had studios here. The French quarter has also been used as a film set for many films, because of its quaint cobbled streets leading to the spectacular Basilica the Sacre Coeur at the summit.

The Paris metropolitan area is also home to one of the largest theme parks in Europe - Disneyland Resort Paris, which is located in Marne-la-Vallee. Plus, the magnificent Palace de Versailles - home to French kings and queens- should be visited during a trip to Paris.

The Centre Pompidou is a fascinating piece of modernistic architecture, which never fails to delight visitors. First opened in 1977 the centre features more than 50,000 contemporary works of art in the Musee National d'Art Moderne which takes up the 4^th and 5^th floors- plus there is a huge public library housed within the building.

Sainte Chapelle is another memorable attraction which is best visited when the sun is out, since this shows off its exquisite stained glass to its best effect. The chapel is situated inside the walls of the Palais de Justice - Law Courts - and is one of the most beautiful churches in Paris. Queues can be long so it pays to get here early - or late, if in winter.

Events

Spring Fashion Week takes place in March, presenting designers with an opportunity to show their ready to wear, or 'Pret a Porter' collections to the world.

Sports fans will want to be in Paris in May for the French Tennis Open - a tournament which features the world's best tennis players who battle for the title on clay courts for two weeks.

The French national holiday is Bastille Day on the 14^th July, a day which commemorates the storming of the Bastille at the time of the French Revolution. There are lots of spectacular events including the Bastille Parade which takes place at the Champs-Elysees. The Bastille Day Fireworks display is a real treat for visitors, with spectators gathering around the Champs du Mars - the gardens of the Eiffel Tower to watch.

The Cinema en Plein Air is an annual outdoor cinema festival which takes place at the Parc de la Villette, during July , and features Europe's biggest inflatable screen.

The Tour de France, the world's most famous cycling race has a varied route each year but always ends on the last Sunday in July at the Arc de Triomphe.

Leisure and Recreation

Paris is difficult to beat if you are after a night of culture - if opera is your thing then there is the Opera Bastille, which opened its doors in 1989, the Paris Opera and the Chatelet Theatre Musical de Paris, all of which show large scale operatic productions. The Cite de la Musique offers a varied programme of contemporary music including jazz, chansons and music from around the world. Classical music can be found at the Theatre de Champs-Elysee and the Theatre Musical de Paris, and for theatrical productions the Comedie Francaise and the Theatre National del la Colline are recommended.

Paris has long been at the forefront of fashion and is many shoppers' idea of heaven. All the top designers can be found here from Dior, Givenchy, and Jean Paul Gaultier who has his own store close to the Bastille. The eighth arrondissement features the avenue Champs-Elysees, avenue Montaigne and the Faubourg St Honore which all offer some of the most elegant designer boutiques in the world. For a less ostentatious shopping trip the main department stores are situated on Boulevard Haussmann, where Les Galeries and Au Printemps can be found.

Weather

Springtime in Paris has been long touted as the perfect time to visit, but in reality you are just as likely to get stuck in a shower at this time of year as any. Paris is located in the Ile de France region, which is prone to unpredictable weather, but the average yearly temperature is mild at just 12 ^o C. Winter temperatures are on average around 2 ^o C and in summer around 19 ^o C, however it is not unknown for temperatures to reach 30 ^o C and more during a particularly hot summer, or drop below freezing.

Getting There and Around

Paris is served by Charles de Gaulle international airport and d'Orly which both have good transport links into the centre of the city. Orly is 12 miles south of Paris and has two terminals, both of which operate a free shuttle service into Paris. Charles de Gaulle is 20 miles northeast of the city centre, in the suburb of Roissy and a free shuttle service links all three terminals with railway stations for transport into the city centre.

Getting around Paris is easy by metro which is fast and efficient and provides links between every part of Paris. The bus service is slow in comparison due to the traffic, and can be a little complicated to work out the various routes. Paris is also perfectly accessible on foot since the main attractions are no more than 7 miles apart.

Top 6 Free Things to do

1. The Jardin du Luxembourg offers formal terraces, green lawns and chestnut groves in a 23 acre park which is a popular place for Parisians and visitors alike. The park has six tennis courts, an orchard and aviary as well as an Ecole do'Horticulture or gardening school in the pavilion. The park is situated in the 6^th Arrrondissement .

2. Montparnasse Cemetary contains the tombs renowned artists and writers including Baudelaire, Guy de Maupassant, Samuel Beckett and photographer Man Ray, as well as Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir. There are some over the top tombstones as well as pretty scenery to be found here. Open from 8am until 8pm - metro stop Edward Quinet.

3. La Basilique du Sacre-Coeur (Sacred Heart Basilica) is reached by a series of wide steps and is located in Montmartre. The domed tower offers fabulous views over the city of Paris, and the crypt contains an interesting collection of relics. The park at the base of the church is an ideal place for a picnic. Open daily from 6am until 6.30pm.

4. The Rodin Museum is free to enter on the first Sunday of every month, and features works by the famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin. Works on show include 'The Kiss', and 'The Hand of God'. Opens 9.30 am until 4.45pm.

5. The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is another attractive park which covers 57 acres of land between Belleville and Gare du Nord. Visitors can enjoy the plentiful wildlife as well as hire some skates and take a tour around the skate trail. Open dawn 'til dusk.

6. Musee Picasso is free for under 18s and is open 9.30am until 6pm, closed on Tuesdays. The museum which is housed in a 17^th Century house is located in the centre of Paris and features some of Picasso's best known works.

Money and Costs

French currency is the Euro which is divided into 100 cents and has seven different notes with denominations ranging from 5 to 500 - all of different sizes and colours. Visitors will find plenty of ATMs (known as DAB s or Distributeur Automatiqe de Billets) in Paris which take major credit cards - although there is usually a charge of around three Euros for withdrawing money. Money can be exchanged at post offices, banks and bureaux de change.

Under French law all restaurants, cafes and hotels must include a service charge which is usually between 12 and 14% of the bill. Taxi drivers will expect to be tipped though, and a figure of around 5% - 10% is usually the norm, while the fare is generally rounded up to the nearest euro.