Paris really is everything you dreamed of.........replete with beauty, charm and elegance. It is a picture-postcard city enchanting in all its moods and characters and eager to show that all that you have imagined is in fact true.

If you are a first time visitor to Paris, make sure you see all the renowned attractions ………. the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe and Sacre Coeur. The Metro system is excellent, and you can see so much even in just one day. Of course, Paris will take up as many days as you have to offer her....... she truly is the most beautiful and atmospheric city in the world.

Where To Visit

The Eiffel Tower
It would be almost unthinkable to visit Paris without seeing the Eiffel Tower. This artistic masterpiece of construction was intended to be only a temporary structure. Now it is synonomous with the city and its famous profile dominates the skyline with its grandeur. Find the courage and endurance to venture to the top as the breathtaking view is one that will remain with you for many years afterwards. READ MORE

L’Arc de Triomphe
Located at the centre of ‘La Place Charles de Gaulle’, at the end of ‘Les Champs Elyssés’, this arch boasts splendid architecture in amazing detail. Make the effort to climb the tower. You will be rewarded by an enthralling view of Paris. READ MORE

Champs Elysees
The Champs Elysees has undergone a quiet renaissance in recent times. Blighted for many years by gaudy airline office signs, car showrooms, fast food cafés and other unsightly establishments of similar ilk, a serious effort has been made to improve the appearance and ambience of the city's most famous street. Part of this general makeover is due to the presence of the many upmarket hotels, restaurants and shops that have now staked a claim to this showcase location. READ MORE

Sacre Coeur
Close to the popular Pigalle area is the famed church of Sacre Coeur. Its deceptive appearance makes it look much older than its years. In fact, it was only built at the beginning of the 20th century and is actually made of concrete -- one of the first in Europe. If you can find time, climb up the tower……… the view is wonderful and has the added excitement of a rooftop walk. All very exciting. READ MORE

Montmartre
This area surrounding Sacre Coeur is magically atmospheric. Small winding streets weave their way in an almost dizzy fashion leading you on to even more undulating streets. Quaint little shops and crêperies invite you to explore, and it is hard to resist the temptation. It is easy to walk round this area for hours and still find something interesting. A must to visit is the ‘Place du Tertre’. This is filled with artists painting Parisian scenes and people, and it has a truly wonderful atmosphere.This is where you will find an artist to draw your very own portrait. Montmartre contains the house where Picasso once lived, and also the famous Metro station of Abbesses which has close to 280 spiralling steps down to the trains and is adorned with murals by local artists.

Notre Dame
Notre Dame is a cathedral on an island in the middle of the River Seine. It is famous for the hunchback that lived in one of the towers to ring the bell. The traditional view is from the front, but many people just leave it at that. If you walk round the side next to the river to the back, you will see some excellent gothic architecture including numerous flying buttresses. It is possible to climb up one of the towers and go onto the roof. This is worth it for the view, but also for the opportunity to walk up to the famous bell. READ MORE

Versailles
This is the palace about 30 miles outside Paris where Louis XIV, the Sun King, lived before the French revolution. The luxury and Baroque architecture is marvelous, and it is easy to get a sense of the splendour that once surrounded the nobility of France.

Le Louvre
This huge former palace next to the River Seine is now home to hundreds of paintings, all arranged into wings. It contains many famous paintings and sculptures, such as ‘Venus de Milo’ and ‘Mona Lisa’. If you are interested in art, you could spend weeks here and still not see everything. READ MORE

Musée Picasso
This museum near the Bastille contains many paintings and sculptures of Picasso, the famous post-impressionist artist. Although he was in fact Spanish, he lived most of his life in Paris, and this museum gives a good impression of his works.

Georges Pompidou Centre
Built by the Prime Minister Georges Pompidou in the 60s, intended to promote art and culture, this large building has very interesting architecture. The building is made out of glass, and the main escalator runs in a glass tunnel up the outside of the building. Although the building contains many forms of art, the one which attracts the tourists is the Museum of Modern Art. This post-1900 art includes works by Kandinsky and Dali. There is also a café on the top floor, from which you have a lovely view of Paris.

Musée d’Orsay
Famed museum which contains works by impressionist artists such as Monet, Manet and Van Gogh, housed in a building converted from a railway station. If you have the time, it is worth a trip, both for the famous paintings it contains and the architecture of the building.

Eating Out
Restaurants are of course everywhere in Paris offering a wide variety of enticing food. Traditional French restaurants abound. Good Italian cuisine is easily found. Indian is expensive and milder on the palatte than for most tastes. Japanese is fairly cheap -- Chinese the same -- but don't be surprised if some of the familiar varieties are not on the menu. However, it can be difficult to find cheap restaurants which offer good food at a reasonable price. If you are not prepared to spend a fortune, try choosing an area away from the very centre as restaurants do tend to exploit tourists. Most restaurants offer a set menu and this works out cheaper than buying a-la-carte dishes. In France menus are displayed outside restaurants, which make browsing much easier and saves some embarrassment on occasions.

Currency
Since January 2002, when the French said farewell to the Franc, the unit of currency has been the Euro. Euro notes and coins have now totally replaced the redundant Franc. You can change your currency into Euro at bank branches throughout France, and Bureaux de Change offices at airport, ferry and rail stations and at ATM machines using your credit card.

Crime
As everywhere else, Paris has its share of crime, including that which is specifically targeted at tourists. Pickpockets pose a persistent and widespread problem and are commonplace where tourists are concentrated. The Metro is a favourite hunting-ground for these particular thieves. That said, it is on the whole safe for visitors and you can expect to enjoy your visit without mishap. You would need to be unlucky to become a victim, but it is advisable to take sensible precautions to safeguard yourself and your property. Remember these points:-
• Don't make an obvious public display of your wealth or large amounts of money.
• Don't carry loosely secured handbags.
• Don't leave your belongings on open display in your car.
• Don't park your car at night in isolation from other vehicles; stick with the crowd.

Getting Around
Paris is separated into 20 arrondisments or districts. Most of the attractions you will be visiting will be between the 1st and the 9th. Try and be a little adventurous, as nowhere is really that far from anywhere else in Paris. The Metro is the best form of transport for the visitor. Traffic on the roads is appalling, so try to avoid the buses if possible. READ MORE

Climate and Weather
Paris has a temperate climate, but the weather is nevertheless variable with very hot weather during the summer months and some bitterly cold conditions in winter. Although variable, it is less changeable than Ireland or the UK and prolonged periods of fine or unpleasant weather can persist uninterrupted for days. READ MORE