Travels to Paris
Paris is a city of dreams and romance, elegant architecture, fashionable boutiques, rich history, ancient streets, and boulevards. It is a city with a rich history that attracts tourists from all over the world. Paris is beautiful at any time of the year. But in different seasons it is revealed from different sides. For example, winters in Paris are good because there are fewer tourists in the city. But from the point of view of the weather, this is not the most comfortable time. In summer, Paris is beautiful, but the city is very hot. And in August, Parisians completely give the city to tourists. Spring (except for European Easter, when it is very crowded) and the first half of autumn - this is perhaps the most comfortable time to visit the French capital. The weather is mild and pleasant, and the city is not so crowded with tourists.
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About Paris
Of course, everyone has ever heard about morning coffee with croissants, evening bistros with noisy tables, the smell of roasted chestnuts on Parisian boulevards... but for someone, Paris is the echoing twilight of Notre Dame, the quiet whisper of tourists in the halls of the Louvre and the almost deserted, built-up old mansions the island of Saint Louis. For some, the capital of France is, first of all, the Eiffel Tower, a monument to the “era of steam and electricity”, and modern architects go to Paris to be inspired by the avant-garde lines of the La Defense district and the Montparnasse tower. Paris is both elitist and democratic, cheerful and sad, bright and slightly washed out by rains. Everyone has one’s own view of the city. To discover Paris for yourself, fall in love with it and leave a piece of soul in it, you need not so much - just buy tickets and book a hotel in Paris, or buy a tour to Paris and enjoy it to the fullest.
What to visit in Paris?
Come for a weekend tour in Paris without visiting the most interesting attractions like Eiffel Tower, Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe is tantamount to a crime. An ideal way to get to know the city in advance is to climb the Eiffel Tower. In addition to its architectural merits, the tower is valuable for the traveler because it provides an excellent point of view of the main districts and sights of Paris - on a clear day, from its upper-tier you can see the surroundings of 70 km. In the warm season, we advise you to go on a picnic to the Eiffel Tower. If the weather isn’t suitable for such a rest, you can just walk to it. It is quite close to the triumphal arch. It proudly rises above the Champs Elysees and is considered to be a symbol of Paris along with the Eiffel Tower.
How would Paris go without the Louvre? This huge and impressive museum is one of the most interesting places in Paris that simply cannot be missed. But keep in mind that there are 5 floors and 35,000 exhibits. You can visit it only if you have a free day for this excursion, which you are ready to devote to taking in the arts. Without any doubt, the list of standard places in Paris must be supplemented with new and unusual places. Otherwise, you just do not know the whole charm of Paris! For example, take a look at the most colorful street in Paris, take a walk around the places of musketeers or Amelie. A special place among the unusual sights of Paris is occupied by the catacombs and the legendary Parisian cemeteries. The story about the atmospheric places of the French capital would not be complete without mentioning the passages - covered shopping malls where you can go shopping in antique shops, sit in a cafe and just watch the life of Parisians.
Nightlife
Paris is the mecca of party-goers. People from all over the world come here to enjoy nightlife of Paris. Unlike the nightlife of London or New York, the nightclubs of Paris are not at all reminiscent of giant clubs in which techno music thunders on Fridays and Saturdays. On the contrary, they are usually very small, and where techno and house styles reigned supreme, they now play hip-hop, rhythm and blues and so on. Themed restaurants and cafes are very popular in Paris. Some of them bring together people of certain social groups, such as the restaurant Les Deux Magots, which in the post- war decades was considered a haven of intellectuals. Fans of music and dance also have their favorite cafes. Parisian cabarets Lido, Moulin Rouge, Crazy Horse are famous all over the world for their shows: stunning costumes, original choreography, beautiful dancers, fireworks of light, movement and music.
Shopping
Traveling to Paris is unthinkable without shopping. In Paris, there are so many places where you can exchange money for desired goods that no vacation is enough. Lovely and a little crazy flea markets, similar to small museums, second-hand and antique shops, pathos boutiques and salons, huge shopping centers and outlets, street crashes and crowds of artists can offer you a lot of things - perfumes and cosmetics, clothing, shoes and accessories, wine and food.
Paris shops are usually open daily except for Sunday. The first customers are usually launched from 10:00, most stores close at 19: 00-20: 00, some supermarkets are open until 21:00. Convenience stores are quite difficult to find. Most shops are closed on Sunday. Small souvenir shops are open 7 days a week, the price of their goods varies greatly from place to place - the same keychain with the Eiffel Tower in Montmartre can cost four times less than near the original.
Sales in France are regulated by the state and take place twice a year, as in almost the rest of Europe. Each sale lasts a little over a month, but sometimes stores on their own initiative extend this period. The maximum that discounts reach is 80% closer to the end of sales.
Good to know
Airlines: Several airlines operate to Paris from any part of the world, including the USA, Europe, etc. We will always offer you the flights to Paris at the best prices.
Airport: Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Distance from Airport: about 1 hour (35 km)
Language: French
Timezone: Central European Time Zone
Population: Around 2.1 mln
Passport: Valid passport or visa is mandatory
Tourist visa: Not required for stays under 90 days
Currency: Euro
Tipping: Not included, but encouraged to give 5 = 10%.
Tourist tax: Varies from 0.20 € (for 1- and 2-star campsites) to €4 (for palaces) per person and per night + an additional legal tax of 25% to the amount concerned.
Water: Tap water is safe to drink in Paris
Electricity: Like in all France the power plugs and sockets are of type E. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz
Things to do in Paris
The capital of France is really the most popular city among tourists - Paris is fashionable and longed-for by shopping enthusiasts; it is luxurious and sophisticated for architecture lovers. The majestic shape of Notre Dame de Paris, the eternal charm of the streets of Montmartre and the unique atmosphere of Parisian bistros have been inspiring travelers for more than a century.
Paris is multifaceted and grandiose. The rich history of the city is captured in the facades of the Conciergerie and memorable bas-reliefs of the Arc de Triomphe. Gourmet French cuisine awaits gourmets in Michelin-starred restaurants. Museums and galleries in Paris are real treasures, where priceless works of art are stored.
Besides classical arts in the Louvre, you can study contemporary art in the center of Georges Pompidou. This is a five-story exhibition complex, consisting of numerous exhibition halls, a library, a cinema and art workshops. It has long been recognized as one of the most significant sights of Paris. It attracts visitors not only with a rich collection of contemporary art but also with its appearance - all communications, stairs, and elevators are located on the outside, which gives the building a futuristic look. In addition, from the roof of the Center Pompidou offers magnificent views of Paris.
How to spend evenings in Paris? Attend the cabaret “Moulin Rouge”. This is the focus of the city’s nightlife, its true spirit, in which incredible expression is hidden. Moulin Rouge has existed since 1889, and since then this show has not lost its popularity. In the colorful cabaret performances, you can see the real Paris - sensual, artistic, free and even a bit lecherous. Tickets are sold out in advance, and on the eve of the holidays, they are not available at all. Mind it!
If you plan family vacations in Paris, Disneyland is a must-visit for you. This amusement park is located 32 km from the French capital. It has long caught up in popularity with its older American counterpart. Amusement rides, colorful scenery, themed zones, as well as fairy-tale characters walking among visitors create an atmosphere of magical reality from which one does not want to return to ordinary life. The memories of visiting this amazing place will remain in your memory for a long time.
3 Facts about Paris
1. The Eiffel Tower was supposed to be demolished 20 years after the construction. But first radio antennas were installed on it, and then the construction began to attract crowds of tourists to the city - then the talk of demolition finally came to an end.
2. Paris has different nicknames, but the most famous of them is the “City of Lights”. This popular nickname was given to the city not only because a large number of intellectuals and creative personalities living and creating in the city, but also because Paris was one of the first cities in the world to receive street lighting.
3. Initially, Paris was extremely labyrinthine, houses were randomly scattered throughout the city. But in the 19th century, Haussmann’s perfection radically changed the whole city. To keep the avenues and streets straight, he demolished many houses, resulting in having 12 avenues in Paris.
