Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city of France, with an estimated city population of 2.04 million in an area of 105.4 km2 (40.7 sq mi), as of January 2026, and a metropolitan population of 13.3 million (2023).
Located on the Seine in the centre of the Île-de-France region, it is the largest metropolitan area and fourth-most populous city in the European Union (EU). Paris is nicknamed the "City of Light" mainly due to its leading role in the Age of Enlightenment.
Getting to Paris
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- 01Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Colloquially known as Roissy Airport, it is north of the city and is used mainly for long haul flights.
- 02Paris Orly Airport
It is south of the city and is used mainly by Air France for domestic departures, and for several international departures, mostly towards destinations around the Mediterranean.
- 03Beauvais–Tillé Airport
85 km (53 mi) northwest of central Paris, this airport is used by some low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and WizzAir.
- 04Châlons Vatry Airport
Worth seeing
Highlights are listed below. Detailed information can be found on each individual district page (click on the name of the sight).
- 01Eiffel Tower
No other monument better symbolizes Paris.
- 02Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe exudes grandeur and offers a central view of the city.
- 03Champs-Élysées
- 04Notre Dame Cathedral
Impressive Gothic cathedral that was the inspiration for Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
- 05Sacré Coeur
A church perched on top of the highest point in Paris.
- 06Opera Garnier
Masterpiece of theatre architecture of the 19th century built by Charles Garnier and inaugurated in 1875 housing the Paris Opera since it was founded by Louis XIV.
Things to do
- 01French Open
One of the four tennis Grand Slam tournaments.
- 02Paris Saint-Germain play soccer in Ligue 1
But don't head for the central district of Saint-Germain-des-Prés!
- 03Maison Européene de la Photographie
- 04Paris Opera
Where to eat
Paris is one of Europe's culinary centres, where the haute cuisine has flourished since at least the French revolution. It may however come as a surprise that Paris isn't considered the culinary capital of French cuisine; many people prefer the French cooking found in small rural restaurants, outside of the city, closer to the farms and with their focus on freshness and regional specialities.
Getting around Paris the local way
- Get inCompanies like Air Charter Advisors and Priority Jet offer access to a variety of aircraft rentals.
From Wikivoyage: Paris, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Jean-Christophe BENOIST (CC BY 3.0), Wikimedia Commons.
