Paris, France, like New York, London, and Rome, is one of the western world’s most important cultural capitals.
It is a must-see city for globe-trotting tourists – a place everyone should visit at least once in their lifetimes.
Located in northern France along the banks of the River Seine, Paris is the largest city in France with a population of 2 million in the city and 10 million more in the surrounding land.
Paris’s Museums and Cultural Sites
Because Paris has such a long history (the first permanent human habitations were founded around 4200 BC), it has many historical sites and museums worth visiting.
Notre Dame, Paris’s most famous cathedral, was built in the 12th century on the Ile de la Cite, the island in the center of Paris which was also the site of its earliest settlements.
Also on this island is the prison where Marie Antoinette waited out her execution during the French Revolution, the Sainte-Chapelle, and the Pont Neuf – the “new bridge” which is actually the oldest bridge in Paris.
For art lovers, Paris has several world-famous museums, including the Louvre – perhaps the world’s most famous museum, which holds the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo.
Other landmarks worth visiting in Paris include the Napoleonic Arc de Triumphe, the Eiffel Tower, and the Bastille.
Places to Stay in Paris
One popular budget hotel in Paris is the
Hotel Langlois, close to the Paris metro but less than $100 per night.
For less than $150 per night,
The Maxim in the city’s hip
Latin Quarter is a two-star hotel nestled amongst
Parisian cafes and within walking distance of one of the city’s open-air markets.
For high-end travelers, the Westin Paris is located in the heart of Paris, not far from
the Louvre.
