Paris, city and capital of France, is situated in the north-central part of the country.

Paris, the capital of France, is often called La Ville Lumière (meaning ‘The City of Light’), however, beneath this bustling European city of 12 million people, lies a dark subterranean world holding the remains of 6 million of its former inhabitants. However, only around one mile of this area is open for public exploration. The rest is deemed to be unsafe, and hence, is illegal to visit. Visitors are first greeted with a sign at the entrance of the ossuary, which reads 'Stop. This is the empire of death. If you are looking for a thrill in your trip, this is the perfect match for you!

Thirty-seven bridges cross the Seine river within the city boundaries. Some are just for pedestrians or trains, most carry motor-traffic and two bridges carry all three. Bridges have spanned the Seine since well before 100 BCE. Three existing bridges were erected in the 1600s and the newest was opened just ten years ago. The Pont des Arts - is probably considered the most romantic bridge in Paris. Linking the right bank, near the Louvre, and the left bank a few meters away from the Pont Neuf. Lovers used to have a tradition: you had to lock a padlock with your name and your lover’s name on it on the bridge to make your love last forever. Sounds romantic right?

King Clovis was the first king of France, and the founder of the country as well. He changed the power structure of tribes, banishing local leaders and uniting the people under one single ruler, making kinship hereditary for his successors. His brilliant military tactics, policies and religious devotion enabled him to conquer the region of Gaul, making Paris the capital city in 508 after the fall of the Roman Empire. In 508 Clovis established Paris as the capital of the kingdom.

The climate in Paris is temperate and is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean: it is cold but not freezing in winter, and pleasantly warm in summer; however, it receives some continental influences, so it can sometimes be very cold in winter and hot in summer. The best time to visit Paris is from mid-May to mid-September; in particular from mid-May to late June, when the days are long, nature is in bloom and there is a low risk of excessive heat.

The official language of the country is French. But in the parts of the city that see the most tourists, people will understand and talk to you in English. Regional languages are also spoken like dialects of German and Celtic languages.

The Euro is the official currency used in Paris, France. Planning to pay with a combination of cash, credit or debit cards, and traveler's checks can be the best strategy when visiting the French capital. Here's why: ATM machines are not always readily available in some places in and around Paris, so relying solely on cash may lead to trouble.

Electrical outlets in Paris usually deliver power at 220-240 volts. It is much stronger than most North American sockets, which usually deliver 110-120 V. Power plugs in France have the particularity of being male and female at the same time. In most countries, plugs only have prongs and sockets are only receptacles for those prongs. However, electric plugs have 2 prongs and a receptacle in France. If your power plugs do not match this shape, you may need an adapter. However, an adapter only solves the shape issue; it does not change the voltage. So you may need to use both an adapter (which enables you to plug your appliance into the different style of socket) and a converter (which allows it to run on the different voltage).

Paris is the center of art, fashion, food and architecture. As one of the world’s leading cultural centers, it is home to many cultural icons like museums and monuments. French people love music and the opera and Paris has some of the largest opera houses in the country. When it comes to fashion, Paris is the home of haute couture and the starting point of all trends. The French are really proud of their food and Paris’ food represents many regions and cultures. The festivals celebrated in Paris are Bastille Day, Parc de la Villette (the open-air cinema event), Bois de Boulogne that features outdoor theatre performances, film and music festivals, etc.

If you are getting to Paris by plane you will arrive at one of the three airports serving the capital. Both Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly Airports handle international and European domestic flights with the smaller Beauvais airport offering flights from 'Low budget' carriers.

If you are getting to Paris by train from London you will arrive at Paris Gare de Nord station, one of six main stations serving the city. Depending on where your departure is you will arrive at one of these six mainline Paris city stations.

Needing some ideas of things to do and see while in Paris? Here is a list of some MUST SEE items while visiting Paris!

For museum lovers, Paris is a dream come true. The challenge is choosing which museums to see and how much time to spend in museums, since there is so much else to see and do in this beautiful city. There are around 130 museums in Paris, France within city limits. There are Historical Museums, Personal Art Museums, Free Museums, Museums for the City of Paris, Museums of International Culture, Science Museums, Museums for Kids, Museums that are Monuments, Modern Art Museums, Special Focus Museums, Church Based Museums, Decorative Arts, Alphabetical List of Museums and Special Exhibitions.

The Louvre Museum is the most famous museum in the world. There are also many ways to get lost into it too! The best way to visit the Louvre Museum, first of all, not to enter by the pyramid entrance! It is constantly incredibly crowded and the queues are extremely long! Buy your ticket before going to the museum, so that you won’t have to wait in a super long line at the security entrance and in a ticket line inside the lobby. Parisians invade the museums during weekends, especially during Sunday afternoons. So, if you want to avoid the Parisian crowd, schedule your visit on a weekday Morning. The Louvre Museum is open every day at 9 am and closes at 6 pm.

No trip to Paris is complete without paying a visit to the Eiffel Tower, the city’s most iconic landmark, but tourists will also want to make a point to stop by and enjoy the incredible art collection in the Louvre, one of the world’s most famous art museums featuring art by the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, and many more. You will want to take in everything around you through your eyes and not a camera, so while you are in the city of love, you should take advantage of the benefits a vacation photographer can provide to make your holiday more enjoyable. I highly recommend having a personal photographer when you travel to Paris for a hassle-free trip.