| Paris, also nicknamed "The City of Light", is the | | | | museums, films, stage plays and attractions. |
| cosmopolitan capital of France and one of the most | | | | Paris is surely one of the greatest fashion centers of |
| emblematic cities in Europe. With 2.2 million people living | | | | the Western world along with New York, London, and |
| in Central Paris (some 10 million people live in the | | | | Milan. It may well be considered a shopper's paradise. |
| suburbs), it is one of the largest cities in Western | | | | While the Paris fashion scene is constantly evolving, |
| Europe. Located in the north side of the river Seine, | | | | the major shopping centers and malls tend to remain |
| Paris has a well-established reputation of being a | | | | unchanged. High end fashion, style and couture can be |
| beautiful and romantic city, cluttered with historic | | | | found in the 8th district. In summer, you may |
| associations and vastly influential in culture, fashion, art, | | | | window-gaze the boutiques along Canal St-Martin, or |
| fine food and classy design. Paris may well be | | | | go shopping along the impressive arcades of the |
| considered the most popular urban tourist destination in | | | | famous Palais-Royal. |
| the world nowadays. | | | | On the mostly Jewish neighborhood Le Marais, many |
| If you are looking for a wonderful and | | | | shops are open on Sundays. Here, the stores are |
| all-encompassing experience in sightseeing, you should | | | | intimate and specialized, offering the typical "Parisian" |
| try the Paris Museum Pass, a convenient and best | | | | style clothing and accessories. There is no doubt you |
| valued pre-paid entry card that will give you access to | | | | will find something along each street and boulevard, it is |
| over seventy museums and attractions. But beware, | | | | always well worth the look. The Babylone |
| most museums and galleries are closed on either | | | | (Métro line10 and line 12) area is also a great |
| Mondays or Tuesdays - check ahead so you are not | | | | shopping ground. The area dwells some of the most |
| stuck with a missed attraction. The Louvre's fantastic | | | | recognized fashion houses like Chanel, Jean Paul |
| collection will not be available on Tuesdays while you | | | | Gaultier, Versace, and many more along smaller |
| won't be able to see the impressionist artists at Orsay | | | | private boutiques with handmade clothing and shoes. |
| museum on Mondays. Take this into consideration | | | | When you stay at a Paris vacation rental, you will |
| when setting up your visits and itineraries. | | | | enjoy the familiarity of the true Parisian atmosphere. |
| If you are on a budget, consider visiting national | | | | You can go out and visit your local pastry shop, get a |
| museums on the first Sunday of the month, this day | | | | baguette and comfortably have breakfast in your own |
| they are all open and free of charge. However, this | | | | studio or flat. You can then take a hike to one of the |
| may mean long lines and crowded exhibits. If you are | | | | many public parks, go sightseeing around the |
| planning to travel on or around Easter week, be aware | | | | neighborhood and then take a casual lunch in one of |
| the city is going to be really crowded. People have to | | | | the many bistros and cafes. The nightlife is |
| queue up at the Eiffel tower for several hours before | | | | unsurpassed, with many different ethnic clubs, bars and |
| making the ascent. You can always pick up a copy of | | | | lounges that make this a truly multicultural, multicolored |
| 'Pariscope' or 'Officiel des spectacles', these are | | | | city for everyone. |
| weekly magazines listing all concerts, art exhibitions, | | | | |