Lonely Planet Best of Paris

Paris monument-lined boulevards, museums, classical bistros and boutiques are enhanced by a new wave of multimedia galleries, creative wine bars, design shops and tech start-ups.

The French capital is awash with landmarks the Eiffel Tower, and Arc de Triomphe among them along with a trove of specialist museums and galleries. Creamy-stone, grey-metal-roofed apartment buildings, lamp-lit bridges and geometrically laid-out formal parks are equally integral to the citys fabric.

Contrary to its magnificently preserved cityscapes, however, la Ville Lumire (the City of Light; a moniker Paris acquired due to its leading role in the Age of Enlightenment) has never stood still, but has constantly evolved, spearheading industrial, artistic, scientific and architectural endeavours. This innovative spirit continues today, with pioneering green transport initiatives and dazzling new architectural projects that include skyscraping towers along the periphery and re-energised urban spaces, many as part of the citys ambitious Grand Paris (Greater Paris) expansion. Creativity is evident everywhere, from neobistro kitchens and cutting-edge bars to fashion ateliers and vibrant street art, plus a digital art museum in a former foundry and the 1920s former railway depot housing Station F, the worlds largest start-up hub.