Paris: City Guide, weather and facts galore from Answers.com Mobile

Paris

Location: On the Seine River in France
Language: French
Currency: the Euro (€): €1 is divided into 100 centimes or cents.
- Notes: €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200 and €500.
- Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 cents; €1 and €2.
Should you tip? In France, all posted prices include tax and service (the latter is around 15% of the total price). However, if the service has been particularly good, you may wish to leave an additional amount as a tip. As a general rule in France, a tip is about 5 to 10% of the total bill.
Airports:
- Roissy/Charles de Gaulle International Airport is Paris' largest airport, located about 25 km (15 mi) northeast of Paris.
- Paris-Orly Airport is located 14 km (9 mi) south of Paris. It has two terminals, Orly-Sud (Orly-South) and Orly-Ouest (Orly-West).

A Quick Look

Paris dates back to the third century BCE, when it was a fishing village called Lutetia Parisiorum, named for the Gallic tribe of Parisii. The area was conquered by Julius Caesar in 52 BCE. The name was changed to Paris by the fourth century CE, and, when Paris' count Hugh Capet became King of France in 987, Paris was elevated to be the country's capital.

Today, Paris boasts a population of over two million, and, as France's capital and largest city, it is the cultural, financial, intellectual and political hub of the country and, perhaps, of all of Europe.

It's called the City of Light: more than 275 monuments, hotels, churches, fountains, bridges and canals light up in Paris every night.

Since distances are short in Paris and the density of places of interest is high, the best way to see Paris is by just walking around. You can also combine walks and metro rides. Think about finding a hotel in central areas like the Luxembourg, Notre-Dame or Saint-Germain des Près districts.

Don't Miss

There are special passes that allow entrance into a number of the top tourist sites in Paris for a reduced fee. An MP3 key, with spoken tours of many of Paris' most popular sites, can also be purchased. Check out: Paris Info: City Pass

Following is a selection of some of Paris' most popular tourist sites:

Tour Eiffel (Eiffel Tower) — One of the world's most recognizable sites, many Parisians were first horrified by what they thought was an ugly, industrial-looking eyesore.

Arc de Triomphe (Arch of Triumph) — The world's largest triumphal arch was conceived by Napoleon I, and took some 30 years to build.

Notre-Dame de Paris (Notre Dame) — A masterpiece of gothic architecture and construction, the cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of Paris.

Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) — The basilica was completed in 1914 and was dedicated to the Sacred Heart.
Musée Du Louvre (Louvre Museum) — Originally built as a fortress in the twelfth century, the Louvre is one of the world's foremost museums of art.

Les Invalides — a complex of buildings that includes French military museums and monuments, a hospital, a retirement home and a church.

Centre Georges Pompidou (Pompidou Center) — France's main cultural center includes the National Museum of Modern Art/Industrial Design, the public information library (BPI), exhibition galleries, cinemas, show and concert halls, and a contemporary music research center (IRCAM).

Musée d'Orsay — Opened to the public in 1986, the museum exhibits 19th century paintings, sculpture, furniture, objets d'art and photography.

Montmartre — Paris' highest hill, Montmartre is the city's artists center.

Moulin Rouge — One of Paris' most famous cabarets, it is the home of the French cancan.

Paris Opéra/ Opéra Garnier — Designed by architect Charles Garnier, the Paris opera house opened to the public in 1875.

Champs Élysées — the road that connects the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde.

Panthéon — a burial place for France's most honored dignitaries, housing the tombs of Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Victor Hugo, among others.

Sorbonne — One of Europe's most respected and important institutions of higher learning, the Sorbonne refers both to the University of Paris and to the first college established in what became the university.

Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower) — France's tallest skyscraper.

Best Time to Visit

In general, high season is considered to run April 1–October 31 and low season November 1–March 31.

Museums and public monuments are likely to be closed on January 1 (New Year's Day), May 1 (Labor Day) and December 25 (Christmas Day).

Getting Around

Paris Metro: Paris' underground rapid transit system, consisting of 14 lines, operates from about 5 a.m.–1 a.m, daily. Metro passes cost €1.40 or 10 (a "carnet") for €10.90. The pass is valid for two hours and can be used anywhere on the metro or in Zone 1 of the RER. Passes good for a week, a month or a year are also available. The Navigo pass is a type of smart card which can be reloaded monthly or weekly.

RER: Express transit system connecting Paris to its suburbs. Five lines run from about 5:30 a.m.–1 a.m; check schedules to confirm the time of the last train. Since the trains don't stop at every station on their line, be sure to check the chart in the station to determine which train you need, and make sure you see the designation on the front of the train before boarding.

Bus: schedules vary on weekdays, Sundays and holidays, and in the evenings. Late night buses travel between the suburbs and the Châtelet bus terminal, operating 1 a.m.–5:30 a.m.

Prices are subject to change.

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