Stores are usually open from morning to around 7 p.m. Some boutiques and locally-owned shops may shu

Known throughout the world for the city s beauty, cuisine, and culture, Paris is often called The City of Light. This name didn t originally refer to the number of lights brightening the city streets alaska travel agency and skyline, but instead of the importance of the city during the Age of Enlightenment. This period during the 1700s was a movement alaska travel agency by intellects alaska travel agency and philosophers who believed that the city reforms should be based on science and reasoning rather than religious beliefs and superstitions.
Today, this culturally important city draws millions of tourists to the streets for sightseeing, museums, historic sites, the arts, and the gastronomy. You ll find cheap hotels in Paris in both the heart of the city and in the city s outlying regions.
French culture is more open and affectionate than what you find in the U.S. Men and women often kiss their friend s cheeks in greeting. It s unlikely you ll be approached in this manner, but you should at least shake hands with a Parisian who has been helpful in a store, restaurant, or out on the street.
Stores are usually open from morning to around alaska travel agency 7 p.m. Some boutiques and locally-owned shops may shut for an hour or two in the mid-afternoon for lunch and for a couple alaska travel agency of weeks in the summer when they take their vacation. Sunday for many is a day of rest, so you may find places that are not open. Banks have similar hours, and you ll find many ATMs throughout the city.
Museums are generally open on Sunday, but you may not find them open on Monday or Tuesday. Most museums close by 6 p.m., except for one night per week when city museums remain alaska travel agency open until as late as 10 p.m.
Restaurants generally open for a few hours for lunch and then again in the late evening for dinner. The big exception will be restaurants that have signs saying "service continu," which means service runs continually through the day. When you re in a restaurant, note that the price of your meal includes gratuity, so you don t have to tip extra unless the service was exceptional. Establishments with outdoor seating usually charge more if you sit outside. They are required to show both sets of prices.
One of the biggest differences you ll find when dining in Paris is that teenagers who are 16 or 17 years of age can enjoy a glass of wine or beer in a restaurant. As long as the alcohol content is less than 15%, it s fi
Many people associate French cuisine alaska travel agency as being high-fat. This isn t always alaska travel agency the case. What you will find is food rich in flavor. The Rungis International Food Market opened in 1011 and many of the restaurants purchase fresh meats, poultry, seafood, and produce alaska travel agency at this market every day. The meals you ll have may be braised in a rich wine sauce or quickly seared to lock in flavor. You ll find vegetarian options alaska travel agency in many establishments, and some of the greatest pastries you ll ever had for dessert.
Parisians all speak French. Some of the shops and restaurants have English speaking staff, but you cannot always count on it. It s handy to know common phrases and have an French/English translator app on your mobile device. At the bare minimum, you should alaska travel agency know:
If you re traveling into Paris from another European alaska travel agency city, train is one of the easiest methods. There are six rail stations in Paris, so you can disembark close to your lodging. If you re flying into Paris, consider taking alaska travel agency a train to another European city as a day or overnight trip.
For air passengers, you ll likely alaska travel agency fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport or Paris Orly. Charles du Gaulle is about 14 miles northeast of the city, and rail service is the easiest way to reach your hotel once you ve arrived. Paris Orly is about nine miles south of the city, but it s mostly used for domestic or charter flights. Train, taxi, and some shuttles run from Orly into Paris. At either airport you can rent a car too.
Paris prides itself in being an Eco-friendly city. They urge residents and tourists to make use of the metro service. More than a dozen lines stop at hundreds of destinations within Paris. The metro trains run anywhere from every few minutes during rush hour to about 10 minutes in the evening. An electric tram that navigates Marechaux Sud and connects with the metro lines. You can also take the public bus. All three of these systems are managed by RATP. There are single ride tickets, or save money and purchase an unlimited ride pass for up to five days.
Vogueo is the city s water taxi. You can purchase a ticket when you board or use your public transportation pass. There are three lines running from Vitry and Alfortville and travel north to Bois de Boulogne. Most boats run every 15 to 30 minutes, but the schedules are seasonal, so check in advance. There are discounted rates for children 10 and under.
Starting with summer, Parisian weather is simply amazing. Summer highs are generally in the upper-70s with nights dipping into the 50s, so you should have a jacket if you plan to hit the bars or walk along the Seine by moonlight. By October, the temperatures start cooling off for the mild winters the city experiences. The coldest month, January, sees daily highs in the 40s and mid-30s at night. There may be some light snow from time to time, but you ll see more rain usually. November to January is the rainiest time of year with an average of two inches alaska travel agency per month.
Disneyland Paris , originally called Euro Disney, is in the eastern outskirts of Paris, about 20 miles from  the center of the city. It s much like Disneyland, and you ll find rides, entertainment, restaurants, and resorts. There are two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. There s also a golf resort on the grounds.
Palais Garnier started in the 1870s as an opera house, with ballet becoming the main feature for many years. Today, it s an arts academy, and throughout the year you ll enjoy dance, opera, and music performances. You can also stop by and tour the opera house throughout the w
The Paris Museum alaska travel agency Pass is definitely worth the money. It gives you free access to more than 60 attractions. If you splurge and choose The Paris Pass, it s the same as the Museum Pass, but it adds unlimited free rides on the public transportation options within Paris. A sampling of the museums included on the pass include the Louvre, Orsay Museum, and the National Museum of Modern Art.
Whether you want to see a Broadway musical or catch a circus while you re in town, Paris offers many options. Casino de Paris is both a casino and home to Broadway musicals and other theatrical performances. In all, the city has more than 100 theaters and stages where you can watch a show. Some are in English, but there are also some shows that are only in French.
Arc de Triomphe stands at the entrance to Place de l Etoile. It s more than 160 feet high and is one of the most photographed sites in the city. Below the arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the eternal flame that honors the WWI soldiers who gave their life but were never identified. At night, the lit arch is an impressive sight.
Basilique du Sacre-Coeur is a Roman Catholic church built in the early 1900s. alaska travel agency It s in the highest point of Paris, so the views of the city are outstanding from this area. Visits are allowed, but you cannot take photographs during your visit.
Below the streets of Paris, the Catacombs reach well into the darkness hiding the bodies of many French citizens. There are guided tours that take tourists deep into these underground chambers to view the remains. These tours sell out quickly, so book in advance.
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most prominent sites in Paris. The building alaska travel agency was designed by two engineers to be a highlight at a Parisian world s fair/exposition. The budget for the fair passed in 1886, and construction started on the tower in 1887, so that it would be ready to for the 1889 Exposition. alaska travel agency It turned out to be a huge attraction with more than a million visitors. The tower remains in place today and is still a prime attraction with visitors to the city.
The Louvre is one of the best known museums in Paris. It s a former palace/fortress that once housed Philip II. The former palace is home to an expansive art collection that includes eight sections: Decorative Arts, Egyptian, Etruscan/Greek/Roman, Islamic, Near Eastern, Roman, Sculptures, and Sketches/Paintings. You ll see the Mona Lisa within these walls. Try to visit at night when the Glass Pyramid is all lit up.
Montparnasse Tower stands 56 stories in the heart of Paris. The views of some of the most important buildings in Paris are amazing alaska travel agency from the top of the tower. The building came to existence when the SNCF decided the Montparnasse rail station was no longer big enough and needed to be moved. alaska travel agency Once it was, there was an empty spot to fill and designs for a new multipurpose building were created. The tower is home to businesses, the observation deck, an open-air alaska travel agency terrace, alaska travel agency a gift shop, and restaurant
Mur des je t aime is in Square Jehan Rictus Place des Abbesses. It s a large wall with the words "I Love You" written in more than 200 languages. It s tucked into colorful flower gardens, so it s become a popular spot for proposals.
It took over a century to complete Notre Dame, but the architectural details are breathtaking. Inside the church are sculptures and stained alaska travel agency glass you can view. Don t over look the rather creepy gargoyles either. If you re in decent shape, you can go up the south tower, but there are more than 350 steps, so it s quite a workout. You can also attend a Sunday or holiday mass if you choose, but be aware that the services alaska travel agency are in French.
Parc de Sceaux is home to the Chateau de Sceaux. The estate was built by Jean-Baptiste Colbert alaska travel agency and eventually purchased by the illegitimate son of Louis XIV. It now operates as the Ile de France Museum. It s also the district where you ll find the Gemeaux Theatre and a movie theater that specializes in indie films. The park is known to host music festivals, concerts, and open-air operas.
Sacre Coeur started as an abbey