Routinely referred to by its residents as the most beautiful city in the world, “The City of Lights” has plenty of stunning attractions to back up the claim. From elegant restaurants to romantic cafés and from imposing architectural highlights along grand boulevards to half-timbered historic buildings tucked away in medieval passages, Paris is packed with enough culture and charm to consistently wow the 25 million or so visitors who descend upon its avenues and rues every year.
While a complete list of Parisian landmarks would leave even the fondest Francophile’s head spinning, the shortlist can still seem a bit heady.
From the Tour Eiffel and the Arc de Triomphe to the jewel-box Opéra Garnier and the looming Notre Dame Cathedral, and from the wedding cake domes of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica and the neon-lit blades of the Moulin Rouge to the kaleidoscopic stained glass of Sainte-Chapelle and the imposing opulence of the Panthéon, it’s impossible to spend any time in Paris without stumbling into a world-renowned sight.
Though the museums in Paris are simply too numerous to cover in a visit much less a paragraph, the once fortified château of the Louvre, along with the elegantly refitted train-station of the Musée d’Orsay and the wacky, tube-wrapped Centre Pompidou, form the trio of behemoths to tackle first, collectively covering the better part of the entire history of world art.
Getting around the city is a cinch with its métro, one of the most efficient, foolproof, and fun subway systems on the planet. But wandering aimlessly, from quartier to quartier, living on a diet of nothing but fresh croissants and baguette sandwiches, is also a safe bet for entertainment. From painstakingly manicured parks like Luxembourg and Tuileries to the twisting old lanes of the Quartier Latin and the Marais, and from the romantic steps of Montmartre to the haute couture along the posh Champs-Elysées boulevard—with a dose of the stark modern architecture of La Défense and the post-bohemian chic of Saint Germain des Pres thrown in for good measure—few cities are as wonderful as Paris to get lost in.
Along the edge of the city you’ll find the Marché aux Puces, the world’s largest and, arguably, oldest flea market, as well the newly restored Château de Vincennes, Europe’s tallest medieval castle. A visit to the town and palace of Versailles is just one popular quick escape from all the bustle of the city, but with France’s high speed TGV trains, even cities as far away as Bordeaux, Lyon, Lille, and Nantes can be comfortably discovered on a day trip.
United offers daily flights to and from Paris' Charles de Gaulle InternationalAirport (CDG). Book your next flight to or from Paris onunited.comand find out how to earn bonus miles when you stay at any Mileage Plus partner hotel or dine at any Mileage Plus partner restaurant in the city. For vacation packages to Paris including air and accommodation, visit United Vacations.
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>Timetables to/from Paris
