Paris
The city of endless light
Paris needs no introduction, but it still surprises you: morning espresso on a zinc bar, Impressionists glowing in the Orsay, the Eiffel Tower sparkling on the hour. Between the grand boulevards and crooked Montmartre lanes, the city makes ordinary moments feel cinematic.
How long to stay?
One or two days is a greatest-hits sprint: the Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro at golden hour, a dash through the Louvre, a climb to Sacré-Cœur, then strolling the Tuileries and Place de la Concorde.
Romantic, elegant and a touch self-assured. Cafe terraces are for lingering, fashion is a way of life, and beauty is taken seriously. Equal parts museum-grand and neighborhood-intimate, depending on which street you turn down.
Le Marais offers medieval lanes, galleries and nightlife; Saint-Germain brings literary cafes and chic shops. Montmartre is bohemian and hilly, while the 7th puts the Eiffel Tower on your doorstep.
Buy timed-entry tickets online well ahead for the Louvre, Orsay and Eiffel Tower to skip brutal queues. And remember: many museums are free on the first Sunday of the month.
Late spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) bring mild weather, blooming gardens and lighter crowds. August empties of locals; midsummer is busy and warm.
Two main airports serve the city: Charles de Gaulle and Orly, both linked by train and bus. International high-speed trains arrive from London, Brussels and beyond into the central stations. The Metro covers the rest.
French is the language; a greeting of 'Bonjour' opens doors. The currency is the euro. A small service is built into restaurant bills, though leaving a little extra for good service is kind.