A Traveler's Guide to Paris

Paris is the capital city of France, as well as the largest French city and the fifth largest European city behind London, Berlin, Madrid, and Rome. It is one of the most heavily visited cities in the world by French citizens and tourists alike. The city has been considered the cultural center of Europe for centuries.

Paris is a very old city and as such has an incredible amount of history and culture in it. Paris was the site of the French Revolution as well as the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. There are many historical sites and museums to tour in the city, but the city also has some very recognizable landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower.

Paris is inland; however the Atlantic Ocean keeps the climate of most of France relatively mild. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter days are usually comfortably cold, with temperatures rarely dipping below freezing. Parisian winters are notoriously overcast.

One of the most visited spots by tourists to Paris is the Palace of Versailles. Versailles was built to be the home of King Louis XIV. He wished it to be the most luxurious and gaudy residence in the world. The wealth of the French monarchs can be seen as you tour the hallways and grounds behind the palace.

Within the city limits the most popular tourist spot is the Eiffel tour. Thousands of visitors make the trip to the top of the tower each year for a bird's eye view of the city. Close behind the Eiffel Tower on the list of popular tourist destinations is the Cathedral of Notre Dame. This is arguably one of the most popular cathedrals in all of Europe. It was made famous by Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. The Napoleonic Arc de Triomphe is another distinctly Parisian tourist spot.

The city is serviced by Paris-Charles de Gaulle International Airport, one of the busiest airport's in Europe and the home of Air France. The city has a very extensive Metro system that makes transportation around Paris quick and efficient.