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Introducing Paris
Well informed, eloquent and oh-so-romantic, the ‘City of Light’ is a philosopher, a poet, a crooner. As it always has been, Paris is a million different things to a million different people.
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Paris has all but exhausted the superlatives that can reasonably be applied to any city. Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower – at sunrise, at sunset, at night – have been described countless times, as have the Seine and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences between the Left and Right Banks. But what writers have been unable to capture is the grandness and even the magic.
Paris probably has more familiar landmarks than any other city in the world. As a result, first-time visitors often arrive in the French capital with all sorts of expectations: of grand vistas, of intellectuals discussing weighty matters in cafés, of romance along the Seine, of naughty nightclub revues, of rude people who won’t speak English. If you look hard enough, you can probably find all of those. But another approach is to set aside the preconceptions of Paris and to explore the city’s avenues and backstreets as if the tip of the Eiffel Tower or the spire of Notre Dame wasn’t about to pop into view at any moment.
You’ll soon discover (as so many others before you have) that Paris is enchanting almost everywhere, at any time, even ‘in the summer, when it sizzles’ and ‘in the winter, when it drizzles’, as Cole Porter put it. And you’ll be back. Trust us.
Make it happen
- check out our complete range of Paris guidebooks
- book Lonely Planet reviewed and recommended hotels in Paris
Ready to go? Skip the queues and get straight to the good stuff with these recommended offers and tours:
- get free entry to the best attractions with the Paris Pass
- Let the good times roll with this Eiffel Tower, dinner and Moulin Rouge adventure
Want more? We can recommend day trips and excursions, cultural and themed tours , and transfer and transport options
Last updated: Nov 9, 2009
Tips & articles
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Love factually: classic love
8 February 2010
The cliche holds because it’s true – Paris with its gothic, dim-lit, river-fed, cobblestoned...
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Best places to walk your dog
14 December 2009
Paris, France The City of Lights earns top marks for its motorised pooper-scooper, the moto-crotte (literally...
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Best things to do in 2010
27 November 2009
Rest up while you can, dear travellers, because 2010 is going to be an action-packed year! Total eclipse...
Paris
Recommended things to do & see
- Entertainment (60)
- Restaurants (59)
- Shopping (41)
- Sights (142)
- Hotels & hostels
Our Top Picks For Paris
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1 Eiffel Tower
Is the queue worth it? Yes, it is! Grab a 360-degree panorama over Paris from the tip of the city's iconic spire. Night-time viewing is highly recommended - the queues are shorter then too.
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2 Patinoire de l’Hôtel de Ville 18 Dec-6 Mar
From early December to early March, twirl on the free outdoor ice-skating rink in front of Paris' town hall (skate hire extra).
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3 Musée d'Orsay
Marvel at the incomparable collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art at the waterfront Musée d'Orsay
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4 Jardin du Luxembourg
Unwind with the locals in one of the city's most beloved parks, dedicated to the children of Paris by Napoleon.
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5 Centre Pompidou
Enjoy the collections and the spectacular rooftop views at the Centre Pompidou, the world's most successful art and culture centre
Related Groups
Our favourite Paris Blogs (beta)
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In and Out of Barcelona By Train
Blog: Green Earth Guides ~ Traveling Naturally - 10 February 2010
Barcelona and Madrid are the two main train and plane hubs in Spain. I have found myself living on either side of Barcelona the last two winters and so have used the Barcelona trains extensively. Below are a few tricks and tips I have learned that should be useful to travelers entering or leaving Barcelona by train.
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Sweet Week 2: Comme a la Maison
Blog: I Prefer Paris - 10 February 2010
I wrote in my original post about Comme a la Maison that I was so enamored with the hot chocolate, that I dismissed their pastries.Not wanting to rob my readers of a pastry opportunity, I came to my senses and...
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Local Goods and Fun on the Streets of Paris
Blog: Green Earth Guides ~ Traveling Naturally - 9 February 2010
