Introducing Paris
Paris has all but exhausted the superlatives that can reasonably be applied to any city. Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower have been described countless times, as have the Seine and the subtle (and not-so-subtle) differences between the Left and Right Banks. Yet, what writers have never been able to even slightly reflect is the grandness and magic.
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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. You’ll be back. Trust us.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
- Skip the line for the Eiffel Tower
- Combine your love for chocolates and cakes with your passion for Paris
- See the highlights of France in 9 days
- Free entry to the best attractions with the Paris Pass
Last updated: Jan 17, 2013
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Need a bit of retail therapy? There’s nowhere better to go than Paris, particularly as the sales start this January....
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Make it happen
Our Top Picks For Paris
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1 Paris' highlights
What not to miss in the quintessentially romantic city.
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2 Paris in the springtime
Whether you’re a first-timer or are back for more, these suggestions will make you fall in love with Paris this spring.
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3 A perfect day in Paris
Got 24 hours in the perfect city? Here's how to make the most of it.
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4 Hidden flavours of Paris
Our food experts lead you to the French capital’s best steaks, freshest baguettes, its most welcoming bars and secret street markets.
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5 Shopping à la Parisienne
Paris’s reputation as a shopper’s paradise is not exaggerated. Its endless and endlessly diverse retail opportunities live up to the hype.