Catherine Le Nevez - Lonely Planet Discover Paris

Welcome to Paris

France's romanticised capital seduces every moment of the year. Whether you're here in the springtime, the autumn, the winter (when it drizzles) or the summer (when it sizzles!), Paris' cache of artistic treasures, chic fashion sense, exquisite cuisine and majestic monuments captivate locals and visitors alike.

No matter the season, Paris has a timeless familiarity. The Eiffel Tower's wrought-iron spire, the Arc de Triomphe standing sentinel above Paris' most glamorous avenue, the Champs-lyses, the gargoyled Notre Dame cathedral and the art nouveau cafes spilling onto wicker-chair-lined terraces are indelibly etched in the minds of anyone who's visited the city and in the imaginations of anyone who hasn't.

Paris' cuisine (the French word for 'kitchen') is renowned. From cosy neighbourhood bistros to triple-Michelin-starred temples of gastronomy, you'll find every establishment prides itself on exquisite preparation and presentation of quality produce, invariably served with wine. Enticing patisseries, boulangeries (bakeries), fromageries (cheese shops) and colourful street markets are perfect for packing a picnic to take to the city's parks and gardens.

Fashion shopping is this stylish city's forte. Paris remains at the forefront of international fashion trends, and browsing designer boutiques and flagship haute couture houses is a quintessential part of any visit. You'll also find uberhip concept stores and resplendent art nouveau department stores, along with a trove of vintage shops, flea markets, atmospheric bookshops, adorable children's wear, art and antique dealers, and, of course, gourmet food and wine shops galore.

Paris is one of the great art repositories of the world. In addition to big hitting museums including the world's largest, the Louvre, there are scores of smaller museums housing collections of every imaginable genre tangible reminders of the city's illustrious artistic legacy, which endures to this day.

Rodins The Thinker, Muse Rodin ()
PHOTOGRAPHER:JASON LOUCAS/GETTY IMAGES

Paris Top Experiences

Eiffel Tower ( )

No one could imagine Paris today without its signature spire. But Gustave Eiffel only constructed this graceful tower then the world's tallest, at 320m as a temporary exhibit for the 1889 Exposition Universelle. Luckily, its acceptance and ultimate popularity (and its usefulness as a perfect platform for the transmitting antennae needed for the new science of radiotelegraphy) assured its survival beyond the World Fair, and its elegant art nouveau webbed-metal design has become the defining fixture of the city's skyline.

LARRY BRAY/GETTY IMAGES

Sacr-Cur ( )

Sacr-Cur is a place of pilgrimage in more ways than one. Staircased, ivy-clad streets wind up the hill of the fabled artists' neighbourhood of Montmartre to the dove-white domes of Basilique du Sacr-Cur. The chapel-lined basilica crowns the 130m-high Butte de Montmartre (Montmartre Hill). Its lofty position provides dizzying vistas across Paris from the basilica's front steps and, above all, from up inside its main dome.

THOMAS RAGUSO/GETTY IMAGES