Paris Attractions & Ile-de-France
There is an endless amount of things to do for your Paris vacations. Paris France is one of the most beautiful and great cities of the world which conjures visions of sophistication, drama and romance.
Every year, millions of visitors experience its magic as Paris has both grandeur and coziness.
Although the city is massive, it is easy to get around the compact
city
center and all areas of Paris either on foot or with the highly
efficient Paris Metro public transportation system.
While the public transportation system is excellent, Paris is the
perfect city to explore on foot, walk up and down narrow cobblestone
passages and wide boulevards, meander through the streets and discover
unexpected pleasures on your Paris Vacations.
Take a Paris map with you and you won't get
lost.
You need time, patience and good pair of walking shoes or sandals to discover the many secluded walkways and treasures on your Paris vacations.
If you wander far from your hotel, you can easily take the Paris Metro back.
Paris is divided into 20 districts called Arrondissements, and these numbers also form the postal codes for the city. You will see them on addresses, and they’re reasonably well marked on your Paris map.
Understanding the layout of the city will help you find your way
around
more easily and make your walks and travels on your Paris vacations in and around the city more enjoyable. For more travel tips see Paris Airports and Paris Travel.

You may also notice that many Paris locations are described as being either on the Rive Gauche (Left Bank) or the Rive Droite (Right Bank). This refers to the areas on each side of the Seine River.
The left bank is south of the Seine River (bottom half of the Paris map), and the right bank is north of the river (top half).
I have arranged this travel guide by featuring the Paris
arrondissements and have listed the most famous and popular places to
visit in each district for your Paris vacations.
Click on each Arrondissement (District) to discover the best places to visit in Paris. Note the postal codes begin with 75001:
On their first Paris vacations, new visitors are eager to visit the all the best know sights such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Pompidou Centre, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysées and Montmartre but some of the most memorable sights can be found off the well-worn tourist path.
There are so many extraordinary places in Paris and by exploring the
city you will discover what you love the most.
Apart from its sheer physical beauty, the choice of restaurants and bistros in Paris, cultural events, shops and boutiques, and entertainment, there are so many unique Paris attractions, that any trip to the city of light is guaranteed to be an exhilarating and stimulating experience.
Wander around anywhere in Paris and if you need to grab a bite to eat,you will easily find wonderful boulangeries, grocery stores, romantic restaurants and charming bistrots.
There is an incredible variety
of culinary delights you can experience on your Paris vacations.
Select fresh bread, pastries, fruits and vegetables, gourmet cheeses,
meats and wine at the open-air markets, or enjoy a mouth-watering crepe
freshly prepared in front of you at a crepe stand.
Delectable, delicious pastries are artistically showcased in grand window displays of Parisian bakeries.
The Paris Museum Pass is a pass you purchase at a small flat fee which provides free admission to about 60 national Paris attractions, museums and art galleries in the Paris area and allows you to cut through the line ups.
The City of
Light is full of great
views – and many of them are
free!
Take a walk along the River Seine. The views are
spectacular.
As you walk along make sure to look down the walkways bordering the water and you will see lovers kissing beneath the trees, fishermen patiently holding a fishing line in the water, students deeply engrossed in their books, joggers jogging and families strolling with their children.
Great Views to Explore During Your Paris Vacations are:
For more Top Picks of Paris France visit the list of arrondissements provided above.
The Seine River cruise is one of the most popular of Paris
attractions
which gives you an opportunity to see magnificent architecture,
romantic walkways and breath-taking city views.
You have a choice of
simply daytime sightseeing excursions or elegant dinner cruises. In addition to
the Seine River cruise, you can also explore the Paris locks in the
Saint Martin Canal. If you don't have time for a cruise on St.
Martin Canal, this is a great district for a leisure walk or a picnic.
For lovers of architecture, check out my page of Paris architecture to see a small but interesting collection of unique architectural photos from my visits to Paris.
Romantic Paris Vacations - Return to Great Vacations Travel Guide