Paris travel guide – Complete online travel guide of Paris
Paris, the capital of France, is nearly the most well-known city of the world. This is why Paris is the most visited city and a great travel destination. It has an estimate number of over 15 millions visitors per year according to 2010 statistics. It measures approximately 9.5 km “North to South” and 11 km “East to West”, with a total area of 105 sq km. City of Paris is crossed by the river Seine, which divides the city into two parts – the right side, in the north of Paris, and the left bank, in the south. The city itself has a population of 2,167,600 (2009) inhabitants, but the metropolitan area has over 12 million inhabitants. Paris and its surroundings are grouped in The Paris Region (Île-de-France). This region is an engine for the global economy and it represent more than a quarter of the gross domestic product (GDP) of France in 2010.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris summer
Paris, also known as The City of Lights, has a large history of Architecture and Art which can be seen in many historical and famous monuments scattered all over the city of Paris. The most known monuments are The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, La Madeleine, d’Orsay Museum, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur, Opera, Grand Arche de la Defense, Hotel de Ville, Moulin Rouge, St-Jacques tower, Palace Bourbon, the Luxembourg Palace, the Dome des Invalides and the Louvre Museum. Paris is rich in modern architecture as well and it finds expression in the Grande Arche de la Defense, Centre Pompidou, Opéra Bastille, the skyscraper district of La Defense, Tour Montparnasse and the glass pyramid at the Louvre museum.
What to visit in Paris?
A travel in Paris should at least include a visit to the Louvre museum, one of the most impressive and most famous museums in the world, you must get on top of The Eiffel Tower and visit Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral.
The Notre Dame Cathedral Paris
In the evening you should climb the stairs to the Sacre Coeur in Montmartre, and have a walk around the Place du Tertre which is located in front of the basilica. From here you will have a great view of Paris center especially at dawn. Also visit the Pigalle district, walk through the Latin Quarter (St Germain, Boulevard Saint Michel) and feel the atmosphere on the street in front of the Centre Pompidou. You will find there a lot of singers and artists. If you have an extra day in Paris you should travel to Versailles, the magnificent palace of Louis XIV, which is located near Paris.
Another great museum that you should not miss when traveling to the city of Paris is the Picasso Museum, where you can see art masterpieces of the great artist. You will simply love the art after you see the greatest works of Picasso.
When is the best season to visit Paris?
When panning a travel to Paris the first question is “When is the best time to visit Paris?”. In spring the weather in Paris changes very fast, with sunny and rainy days, in almost equal numbers. In summer, it’s good to know that June is a rainy month and warmer weather come in July and August. There can be very hot days (in 2003′s heat made hundreds of victims), and the humidity makes the pollution problem even worse. In autumn things change. It gets light, the weather is dry and temperate is great for visiting. In winter there is more rain than snow, but you will still feel the spirit of Christmas.
Every season in Paris seems to have its fans, but if you are visiting Paris for the fist time we recommend you Spring or mid late September. You will enjoy it.