The capital of France

Paris is the capital of France and the second largest city of Western Europe; the river it straddles, the Seine, also has two islands, situated in the oldest part of the city. Renowned for its modern art and breathtaking scenery a short stay in Paris is the ideal location for a romantic weekend break; most people promise to return as so much they wanted to see will have been missed.

It is renowned for its wonderful Gothic inspired buildings and street markets; the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre must not go unmentioned. Traveling through the city of Paris can be very enjoyable; the underground train system or Metro can take you to anywhere within the city and is simple to use.

The Eiffel Tower at over 300 meters tall and is a magnificent steel structure; it can be seen throughout most locations around the city. Illuminated at night it dominates the city's skyline; it is possible to take organized tours which tell the story of the Tower and the history of France.

On your Paris trip ensure you add the famous Champs Elysees to your list of places to visit; you can see beautiful shops, sit and drink coffee from the many cafes or have a meal in a first class restaurant. This is an ‘up-market' area that attracts thousands of tourists each day; the exclusive five star hotels situated in this more select part of the city might be out of most visitors' price range.

The world famous Louvre museum is in this city; with over 300,000 wonderful artistic works, you simply cannot see all of it in one day. On a Paris short stay vacation it would be easy to spend entire weekend here; with so many visitors (around eight million), sometimes it can be difficult seeing some of the famous works. What makes Paris special is the number of artists that have been attracted to this great capital; chances are that you will have the opportunity to see a number of famous paintings whilst you're visiting.

Paris is also the home of the equally famous Arc de Triomphe which Napoleon had constructed in the early part of the 19th century; the names of his generals engraved upon it to honor them and his troops. It also features an observatory to take in surrounding views; it can be found in Charles de Gaulle Place at the intersection of twelve avenues including the Champs Elysees.

Obviously, these are not the only places to visit; but these should certainly not to be missed because many offer regular guided tours, some at little or no charge at all. On your short say in Paris you will only see a small sample of what is available for a visitor; a longer break here will be necessary if you really want to experience everything this wonderful city has to offer.