"Paris wasn't built in a day," as the saying goes. It would be just as illusory to think that you can visit it for such a short period of time, as the French capital is home to incredible monuments, fabulous museums and picturesque districts.
Paris owes its name to the Celtic tribe of the Parisii who had built a fishing village on the Ile de la Cité in the 3rd century BC. Occupied by the Romans, destroyed by the barbarians, the city quickly became an important political centre when Clovis, King of the Franks, established his capital there in 508. This close and ancient link with the history of France explains in large part the city's rich heritage. Today, the capital's most emblematic monuments are less than 200 years old (the Eiffel Tower, the Sacré-Cœur) but, while walking around Paris, you will discover many traces of a sumptuous past.
You have understood it: a "real" discovery of Paris would take many days, even many weeks. Depending on the length of your stay, you will have to make choices and postpone the visit of the many sites you have not seen to another trip. During a first visit, some monuments are inevitable: the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame de Paris, the Sacré-Cœur, the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées. But also enjoy the quays of the Seine, the Latin Quarter, Saint-Germain des Prés and the Marais. As for the museum, let yourself be guided by your desires: you will inevitably find several places that meet your expectations, but among the must-see places are at least the Louvre and Orsay museums.
A city of history and culture, Paris is also a dream place for shopping enthusiasts. Between luxury boutiques (right bank: Montaigne, George V, Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Palais Royal), trendy fashion and design stores (le Marais), large retailers (Les Halles, les Grands Magasins), you will have a wide choice. In the evening, discover Paris by night after attending a theatre, dance, concert or after a good meal. Because the French capital is also the capital of gastronomy with its many starred addresses, its Art Deco brasseries, its small friendly restaurants but also all the world's cuisine.