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Paris Attractions and Sightseeing

No other European city indulges the imagination and the senses quite like Paris. For centuries the city has cultivated a uniquely heady mix of individuality, innovation and civic pride that has inspired generation upon generation of Europe's leading thinkers, creatives and bohemians.

Paris has always embraced modernity - whether in the form of radical politics, city planning, art, fashion or food. Impressionist art was born here; Republican vigour inspired future revolutionaries around the world; Hausmann strikingly redefined city design and Parisian cordon bleu chefs have for centuries been sating the capital's demanding palates. The most precocious writers, musicians, scientists, film makers, painters, designers and architects have been following their lead ever since.

The city's cultural landmarks display an incomparable heritage: the centre of Paris is a core of legendary landmarks, monuments, museums and thoroughfares. Ancient Gallo-Roman remains, medieval and Renaissance palaces, abbeys and churches, Gothic and Enlightenment masterpieces, Revolutionary and Napoleonic monuments, modern design masterpieces - it's all here in abundance. Art galleries and museums are everywhere - close to 300 at the last count – and dedicated to all manner of esoteric subjects. Not surprisingly, the real treats are often well concealed in this city, down its quiet streets and shadowy corners, inside the quirky museums.

Traditionally the epitome of style, it has become an unwritten custom for Parisians to move quietly from one area of the city to another, creating a new centre of activity and setting a trend that often escalates and survives for a long time, sometimes many years. The focus of the latest place to be seen is often a collection of cafes, a gallery, a shopping centre or theatre. To find out where Parisians go to relax and be seen, visitors only have to ask. There is nothing more pleasing to the French than someone from foreign parts enjoying their country as much as they do. Smoking, although more widely accepted in France than in many other European countries, has recently become an issue. Expect to find no-smoking signs in many public places, although most cafes and restaurants will allow smoking in at least part of their premises.

Paris Entertainment

Naturally, café culture is ingrained in Parisian life, offering many a pleasurable hour to indulge a political debate while watching the city go by. You can find alluring cafés and bars in every Parisian district, but areas like the Bastille, Marais, Montmartre, Saint Germain de Près, Rue Mouffetard and Oberkampf-Ménilmontant are particularly notable for their lively evening atmosphere. And it’s easy to find equally authentic versions of tourist meccas such as Harry’s Bar, Café de la Paix and the Hemingway Bar at the Ritz all across the city.

The kitsch and the cool happily co-exist in Parisian nightlife: whether you want to be entertained in the glammy, Vegas-style cabaret clubs; join a trendy crowd in the city’s elegant zinc bars, or are drawn to the sensual allure of the smoky basement jazz club: it all happens late at night in Paris. French music rarely lands on the radar of English-speaking countries with the recent exception of Gallic instrumental bands such as Air and Daft Punk, pioneers of electro pop. Meanwhile, young-at-heart couples can enjoy Parisian ballroom dancing – accompanied by an accordion – at Bals Musette traditional afternoon dances.

Paris is still considered Europe’s leading city for jazz music, and world music, particularly African and Latin, is in resurgence. Classical music is not the city’s selling point, though events such as the summer classical concerts in the Bois de Boulogne’s Parc Floral, the month-long Chopin Festival at Orangerie de Bagatelle, and medieval music at Saint-Chappelle stand out.

Theatre tends to the heavweight: Paris likes to revisit the classic works from its favourite scribes such as Moliere and Racine at prestigious venues like the Comedie-Francaise, while contemporary plays don’t get much of a look in.

Decadent styling at the Opéra Garnier is 19th century Parisian architecture at its most theatrically opulent, with the marble Grand Staircase its showpiece. Ballet is still performed there, whilst more of the city’s operas are now staged at the Bastille Opéra, a contemporary architectural masterpiece with a stunning glass-facade.

Parisians are avid movie goers with over 300 cinemas serving up a stimulating selection of European and world cinema, and a little mainstream Hollywood. Tickets are often half-price for morning shows.

For weekly entertainment listings, get the weekly Pariscope (published Wednesdays and containing an English language section) and Boulevard, published every two months.

Paris Shopping

Parisian shops are the epitome of luxury, class and style, offering a vast array of boutique stores specializing in all manner of idiosyncratic goods. Devotees of fashion, jewelry, antiques, art and gastronomy have no shortage of delightful choices; perfume, cosmetics and lingerie are big business and nowhere is the creative and quirky character of the French more prevalent than at Paris’ superlative flea markets.

Many of the city’s shopping gems are tucked away in its hidden corners: locals stress that the offerings on the Champs-Elysees are no reflection of the quality and eclecticism available elsewhere.

Top of many shoppers list for a true taste of Parisian charm are the serene, high-ceilinged 19th century arcades at Les Passages (or Galeries) between the Boulevard Montmartre and Rue St-Marc: Galerie Vivienne and Passage Colbert are particularly appealing examples and more are now being renovated.

If you are after haute couture, head for Avenue Montaigne, Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Rue du Bac; pick up the finest cosmetics and perfumes in the Opéra; jewelry at Place Vendôme and Les Galeries; shoes, bags and leather goods on rue du Cherche-Midi and rue de Grenelle. A fine selection of art and antiques can be found on rue Bonaparte, Jacob, de Charonne and du Faubourg-St-Honore, plus Louvre des Antiquaires, Viaduc des Arts, Boulevard Diderot, Carré Rive Gauche.

The city’s top department stores of Galeries Lafayette and Printemps on boulevard Haussmann are always popular; for culinary specialities try the rue Rambuteau, rue Poncelet and Place de la Madeleine. An entertaining day out is assured at the Parisian institution of Saint-Ouen, the world’s largest antique market.

January and July are good months for sales (‘soldes’); items marked ‘degriffe’ indicate designer brands being sold at reduced prices. Shop opening hours can vary considerably, though a majority are open Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 7 or 8pm, closing for several hours from midday. Markets are closed on Mondays and many Parisians take their holidays during August, leaving the city to tourists.

Note: Standard sales tax is 20.6% (though tax rates vary between essential items and luxury goods). Non-EU visitors can gain a tax refund on larger purchases - obtain a form at the relevant shop and present it to Customs on departure.

Paris Attractions

Musée de Louvre
99 Rue de Rivoli, Paris 75001
Tel: +33 1 40 20 51 51

First opened during the Revolution in 1793. With over 300,000 artworks, antiquities, sarcophagi and statues including the incredible Venus de Milo, the Louvre is a truly unmissable experience.

Champs-Elysées & Arc de Triomphe
Champs Elysées, Paris 75008
Tel: +33 1 44 13 17 17

The Voie Triomphale is an excellent place to begin a walking tour of central Paris. Napoleon's tribute to the French army, the Arc de Triomphe offers splendid views at the centre of the world's first traffic roundabout, with the Voie Triomphale and Champs-Elysées descending elegantly to the Louvre and Place de la Concorde respectively.

Eiffel Tower
Champs de Mars, Paris 75007
Tel: +33 1 44 11 23 45

The most spectacular views of Paris are witnessed from all floors of the Eiffel Tower. It is possible to walk most of the way up and around this fascinating metal structure. A lift completes the journey to the top.

Notre-Dame Cathedral
Place du Parvis Notre Dame, Paris 75004
Tel: +33 1 42 34 56 10 | Fax: +33 1 43 29 50 40

Begun in 1163 but not completed until 1361, it fell into ruin after the Revolution but was brought back to life after the success of Victor Hugo's 1831 novel. The addition of the gargoyles, spire and self-sculpture by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc remain areas of contention.

Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde, Paris 75008
Tel: +33 1 47 03 12 50

Very busy landmark square at the end of the Champs-Elysées. A true Parisian experience.

Sainte-Chapelle
4 Boulevard du Palais, Paris 75001
Tel: +33 1 43 54 30 09

One of the most important examples of 13th-century French architecture, built to house the precious possessions of Louis IX.

Les Invalides
Esplanade des Invalides, Paris 75007
Tel: +33 1 44 42 37 67

Commissioned by Louis XIV as a home for injured soldiers, one of its two churches holds the remains of Napoleon. The site also contains the Musée de l'Armée.

Sacré-Coeur
35 Rue Chevalier de la Barre, Paris 75018
Tel: +33 1 42 51 17 02

The classic lines of the beautiful 19th-century church are as much a part of the stunning Paris skyline as the Eiffel Tower.

Musée des Arts Décoratifs
107 Rue de Rivoli, Paris 75001
Tel: +33 1 42 60 32 14

Musée National du Moyen-Age (Musée de Cluny)
6 Place Paul-Painlevé, Paris 75006
Tel: +33 1 43 25 62 00

Bibliothèque Nationale
58 Rue de Richelieu, Paris 75706
Tel: +33 1 47 03 81 26

Musée Marmottan
2 Rue Louis-Bailly, Paris 75016
Tel: +33 1 45 53 3170

Musée d'Orsay
1 Rue de Bellechasse, Paris 75007
Tel: +33 1 40 49 48 14 | Fax: +33 1 40 49 48 47

Musée Rodin
77 Rue de Varenne, Paris 75007
Tel: +33 1 47 05 01 34