Tourist information on Paris, France

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, one of the most important cities in the world and is an important centre for fashion, finance, tourism and entertainment. It is located on the River Seine in the Ile-de-France region of northern France and has a population of around 2.2 million. Paris is one of the most popular of tourist destinations, attracting 45 million tourists each year, more than half of whom live outside France. The city derives its name from its early inhabitants, a Gaulish tribe known as the Parisii, although it was known as Lutetia during the Roman era. The Gallic word parisio means: working people or craftsmen. In Parisian slang, the city is referred to as Paname, but it is better known as la Ville lumière, or the City of Light, in reference to its reputation as a centre of ideas during the Enlightenment.

Paris is divided in 20 administrative districts or arrondissements. The city's highest point is Montmartre (130 m), which has long been associated with artists and is home to the Sacre-Coeur Basilica. Its most famous thoroughfare is the Champs-Élysées, which connects the Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe and is a major shopping street. The city's most important shopping centre is Les Halles, built on the site of an important meat and produce market. The Latin Quarter on the Left Bank has attracted writers, artists and philosophers and is considered the educational and cultural heart of the city.

Paris has many historically important landmarks, which include the 12th-century cathedral Notre-Dame de Paris (located on the Ile de la Cité), the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower (built by Gustave Eiffel for the Universal Exposition of 1889) and the Louvre Palace, which houses one of the most important art galleries in the world. Paris' many public parks and gardens include the Jardin des Tuileries (situated near to the Louvre), the Jardin de Luxembourg (on the Left Bank) and Parc Monceau. The city's two large opera houses are the Opéra Garnier and the modern Opéra Bastille. Its most prestigious hotels are the Hôtel Ritz (on the Place Vendôme) and the Hôtel de Crillon (on the Place de la Concorde).

The most visited landmark in Paris is the Eiffel Tower, which attracts six million visitors each year. The most popular museum is the Louvre, which houses Da Vinci's Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo statue. The Musée d'Orsay contains the world's largest collection of impressionist art. The city has hosted the Olympic Games twice so far, in 1900 and 1924, and boasts several world class sporting venues, including the Stade de France. Paris' impressive public transport system includes the Metro, which has 300 stations, and a light rail network having four lines. The city is served by two international airports: Orly Airport in the south and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, near Roissy-en-France.