Parisian monuments are famous around the world, as are their museums. One cannot visit Paris without stopping at the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe, Center Pompidou, Cite des Sciences at de l'Industrie and the Musee d'Orsay.
These six major attractions draw a massive 23.5 million visitors per year between them. Of these, the Eiffel Tower is most popular drawing an amazing 6.2 million visitors in the year 2002. You will be rewarded with a stunning view of the city if you take the lift to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
The Louvre was established in 1793 and it holds Leonardo de Vinci's "Mona Lisa." It is easily recognized by its famous glass pyramid and it saw 5.7 million tourists through its doors in 2002.
The Center Pompidou is a center of modern art, cinemas, concerts and children's activities. The Cite des Sciences at de l'Industrie is an extensive hands-on science museum and the Musee d'Orsay has one of the best Impressionist art collections in the world.
There are a number of other attractions that are worth visiting as well when you are in Paris. The Notre Dame Cathedral and the Grande Arche de la Defense are wonderful. It is a treat to see the fountains in the Tuileries Gardens or to spend time in the Jardin du Luxembourg. If you have time, a day trip to visit Chateau de Versailles is a fascinating excursion. The extravagant palace and its grounds, built by Louis XIV is a sight to behold.
Paris is a cosmopolitan city with a vibrant life. It is full of cafes and clubs, as well as pedestrian markets and underground shopping complexes. You can find modern buildings, as well as older architectural delights. It is quiet and romantic, as well as loud and vibrant. Whatever you are looking for in Paris, you are likely to find it.
Due to its vast appeal, Paris welcomes huge numbers of visitors to its city every year. You can choose to stay in any of approximately 75,000 rooms in up to 2,000 different hotels. If you prefer a more private option to a hotel, you can choose an aparthotel or a rental apartment. You can stay in a youth center if you are traveling on a budget or stay in a camp site if you are happy to be slightly out of the city.
When deciding where to stay, you will need to look at the different atmospheres of each of Paris' arrondissements (neighborhoods). Some arrondissements may be quiet, while others are rowdy, some are safer than others, some are more central than others and some contain more monuments than others.
If it is your first time in Paris, you may be best off finding holiday accommodation in one of the more central arrondissements as it will allow you to walk to many of the attractions.
