The City of Love, the City of Lights, Arts Capital, Fashion Capital, Gourmet Capital... Paris has been given many names for a reason: the capital of France offers something attractive and exciting for every traveller. Paris has it all, from lavish palaces and world-class art pieces to breathtaking futuristic architecture. According to some tourism surveys, Paris is the most popular tourist destination in the world. This is probably due to the fact that Paris attracts travellers with very diverse interests: from gourmands and fashionistas to art lovers and history buffs.
Although French people, especially Parisians, aren't particularly well known for their hospitality and acceptance of foreigners, and they often can't or simply refuse to speak foreign languages, it is interesting to point out that 14% of population of Paris are actually foreigners. Frankly, Paris without the foreigners would lose much of its charm as foreigners inevitably contribute to the cultural diversity of the city, which makes travel to Paris even more attractive.
A week in Paris is merely enough to explore the most popular attractions and museums. A classic sightseeing itinerary in Paris would include at least Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Louvre Museum. However, less popular sights in Paris are less crowded and thus more pleasant. You will feel the real atmosphere of Paris only without jostling for space with hundreds of other tourists.
Paris is one of the largest cities in Europe. Central Paris has around 2.2 million inhabitants, greater Paris another 10 million. Paris stretches over a very large area. However, most tourist attractions of Paris are scattered around central Paris and are easily accessible by short metro trips, on foot or even by Vélib bicycles, an exciting way to travel around Paris for only €1.70 per day. We are not surprised that Vélib bicycle service has become an instant success story - not only it is fun but it can also save a lot of money, as €1.70 is about the price of a single trip on Paris metro.
Paris is quite an expensive city but with a little bit of inventiveness you can save money not only on public transport but on sightseeing too. If you plan to visit several sights and museums, save money and time spent in the queues by getting the Paris Museum Pass. Paris Museum Pass holders can visit more than 60 museums and other tourist attractions in Paris for free. On top of that, they can use dedicated entrances to many museums, such as the Louvre, which really saves time.
Nevertheless, Paris is not only about the museums. Take your time to explore the side streets of Paris and feel the pulse of the city. Sit at a traditional café and watch the world rolling by, sipping coffee and munching on a freshly baked croissant. Frankly, we found coffee in Paris lousy and outrageously expensive, but some of the pastries we have tried were outright heavenly.