Why Visit Paris?
Paris is always a good idea. The French capital is one of the most romantic cities in Europe and one of the world’s most visited cities.
There are endless reasons to visit Paris repeatedly: it is a beautiful and cultural city, very walkable, with great sights, and it has been a source of inspiration for many writers, artists, and filmmakers. ‘Paris is Always a Good Idea‘, Audrey Hepburn said. But why people love Paris so much? Why visit Paris?
As a local in Paris, I am lucky to enjoy the City of Light all year round through its different seasons, events, and moods. I like to play the explorer in my city and wander around the districts of Paris, from the most touristy to the most popular, with the amazed eyes of the enamored stroller.
There’s always familiar air through the streets of Paris, which is never quite the same or quite another. Between a postcard panorama and the inhabitants’ reality, the eternal Paname, in perpetual motion, is constantly evolving, keeping the living traces of its history in its heart of stone.
If you wonder why Paris is the best place to visit or why you should go to Paris, this article is for you. Below, I share what I love most about Paris – the top 10 reasons to visit Paris – completing the list with beautiful shots by fellow travel bloggers.
Because Paris is Always a Good Idea ♥
NB: This post is dedicated to N. Thanks for your courage and effort in becoming a Parisian!
TIP: Check out this list of the best Paris gifts for Paris lovers!
Seasons in Paris
What is the best time to visit Paris? All the seasons in Paris have their charm, and if you can visit the city more than once, try to do it under different seasons for a different Paris experience.
In Spring, the exuberance of flowering trees and cherry and apple trees’ beauty are all sweet promises.
Summer is the craziest season in Paris, the high season when everybody wants to come, and the locals can’t wait to leave. But summer is also the season of the best festivals, apéritif drinks on the terrace, and nights under the stars.
In autumn, Paris returns to tranquility and can cuddle its guests. The fall foliage in Paris parks is something to see, while the natural light playing on the other of the stone is exceptional.
When winter and the winter holidays come, Paris’s streets are all lit up to reveal their enchantment.
The River Seine, Paris’ Most Beautiful Avenue
The River Seine (La Seine in French) is Paris’ most beautiful avenue and one of the main reasons to go to Paris. The River Seine winds its way through the heart of Paris, bisecting it from east to west. It is the origin of the city, and Paris’s development is uniquely tied to the river.
A stroll along the Seine’s banks on a sunny day is a wonder: majestic historical buildings reflected on its waters, the typical Parisian rooftops, the bridges of the Seine, each one with a unique style . . . But also the iconic bouquinistes, improvised picnics by locals dangling their feet over the water, and even a crazy beach area in the summer!
At sunset, take a Seine night cruise to enjoy the City’s top monuments’ nocturnal revival: magical atmosphere guaranteed.
Beautiful Architecture
From Roman times to the Middle Ages, from the Haussmannian creations to the contemporary buildings, Paris’s architectural richness is anchored in the form of contemporaneity that goes beyond the idea of a city-museum.
Paris also offers visitors an interesting game of architectural contrasts that can only enhance its beauty: Pei’s pyramid in the Louvre’s classic courtyard, the ultramodern Centre Pompidou in front of Gothic Saint-Merry Church, or the Musée du Quai Branly at the foot of the Eiffel Tower are only a few examples.
Next time you visit Paris, watch it from above to admire the city’s landscape and its architectural blend. During the day, several landmarks offer breathtaking panoramic views of Paris, such as the Eiffel Tower, Tour Montparnasse, or Arc de Triomphe. At night, admire the city’s skyline from some of the best rooftop bars in Paris, cocktail in hand, and gazing across the lights and landmarks that define the city.
With such magnificent architecture and views, it’s no wonder that Paris is on everybody’s Europe Bucket List!
GOOD TO KNOW: Why is Paris also known as ‘The City of Light’ or ‘City of Lights’? This is because, in the past, it was a famous center of education and ideas. Also, Paris was one of the first cities to adopt street lighting. In 1828, Paris started lighting the Champs-Elysées with gas lamps.
The Capital of Haute Couture and Fashion
Paris is always a good idea, also for great shopping. Thanks to fashion designers like Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, or Yves Saint Laurent, Paris is today the capital of haute couture and fashion.
There is great shopping in the city, especially in the famous Golden Triangle of Paris (Champs Elysées – Avenue Georges V – Avenue Montaigne). The most prestigious international labels display their best creations.
More modest budgets will prefer the Grands Boulevards with its huge Art-Déco shopping malls or the streets of Le Marais, with their trendy shops and vintage shops.
Paris is a Cultural City
If you like arts and culture, you will quickly understand why Paris is the best place to visit. Paris is a source of inspiration for cinema, literature, music, but it also inspires the most cultured visitors with its artistic and cultural program.
The city counts 153 museums, with worldwide known names like the Louvre Museum or the Orsay Museum. If you are looking for more peaceful places to cure your thirst for art, other museums like the Modern Art Museum or the Musée des Arts et Métiers are also interesting.
Paris always attracted great creators looking for inspiration and fame. Today, people can visit the work of artists like Picasso, Dali, Zadkine, or Monet in beautiful, intimate museums, or even in their original workshops.
For a more local experience, visit the Musée Carnevalet, which offers a fascinating glimpse into Paris’s history. Or explore some smaller museums like the Paris Sewer Museum or the (oh so Parisian) Perfume Museum.
Finally, don’t miss the theatres’ programs, the two opera houses, neighborhood cinemas, auteur cinemas, and cabarets. And the art & photography galleries that punctuate the streets of Le Marais offer many free exhibitions of absolute tranquility.
The City of 100 Villages
One of the reasons why Paris is the best place to visit is its capacity to wonder first-timers and more experienced visitors.
Paris is the city of the Haussmannian buildings and boulevards. Still, it is also the city of a hundred villages: flowery alleys, country villas, and bucolic dead ends are a total change of scenery and the curious walkers’ joy.
In the heart of the city of stone, try to venture off the beaten path, and you may find a Paris stuck in time, exotic and out of the ordinary. These micro-neighborhoods such as Butte Bergeyre, Mouzaïa, or the Butte aux Cailles are all wonderful places – far from the urban rush – waiting to be discovered.
The Green Spaces: Out of the City without Leaving the City
Paris boasts more than 450 parks and gardens, true verdant settings to breathe fresh air and places of happy memories.
The best parks in Paris include popular names like the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris 6 or the Tuileries Gardens in Paris 1. Still, there are also lesser-known places like Parc des Buttes Chaumont or the Promenade Plantée, waiting to be discovered. Adventurous walkers will head to the Petite Ceinture for one of the most quirky explorations in Paris.
The Café Culture in Paris
The Parisian cafe, complete with the row of round tables facing outward to the sidewalk, is something of an icon and one of Paris’s best pleasures. Even though the weather in Paris can be capricious, there will always be someone parked there with a newspaper, an espresso, or a café crème.
Parisian cafes were the meeting place of the French Enlightenment in the 17th century, and they were the stage of passionately engaging intellectual chats during the roaring twenties. People like Hemingway or Sartre made these public spaces their workplaces, and some of their masterworks were born in Parisian cafes.
What to do in a Parisian cafe? You should people-watch. Just sit on the row of tiny, round tables facing outward, order your coffee (or another drink), and take all the time you need to relax, watching the world go by.
French Gastronomy
Why go to Paris instead of another European capital? Paris and France are also well known for their cuisine. French cuisine and Paris food sound fancy, but in the end, it’s all about quality – fresh produce and creating a harmonious dish that elevates the quality of the main ingredient.
The City of Lights boasts over 70 Michelin-starred restaurants, but people with lower budgets can also have an amazing meal in a traditional brasserie or a Parisian bistro.
Food Tours are also a great way to discover a specific Arrondissement of Paris while tasting some of the city’s famous foods. Food tours in Paris usually last 3 to 4 hours and combine walking & sightseeing with gourmet breaks, so you get the best of both worlds.
All this without forgetting the French wine! Wine is one of France’s treasures; the wine regions of France produce between 7 and 8 billion bottles of wine per year! Wine-tasting tours (or just a glass in a trendy wine bar) are a great way to start a memorable night in Paris, especially if paired with a plate of cheese.
The Sparkling Eiffel Tower
Paris is always a good idea to see The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris and France. Perhaps is the Eiffel Tower what makes Paris one of the most romantic cities in Europe?
Despite all the controversy during its construction and inauguration for the World’s Fair (1889), today, we cannot imagine visiting Paris without climbing up to the Tower’s summit for some of the best views of Paris.
Since 1985, the Eiffel Tower is adorned with lights that sparkle for 5 minutes every hour on the hour. The sparkling has a reach of 80 kilometers, being this the signal for the nocturnal revival of monuments in Paris.
If you can afford it, book a hotel with Eiffel Tower views for a memorable Paris trip.
DID YOU KNOW? According to YouTube, the Eiffel Tower is one of the Most Romantic Places to Propose in the World. Since YouTube’s launch in 2005, the Eiffel Tower is always on its Top 10 Locations for Proposals in the World, only beaten in France by Disneyland Paris (!)
The Perfect Base for Memorable Day Trips
Paris is always a good idea. But the city itself was not enough; there are many interesting places to visit near Paris: historical places, natural places, or picturesque small towns in the French countryside.
There are many beautiful castles to visit near Paris, and I recommend visiting the royal Château de Versailles, or Château de Fontainebleau, while Château de Chantilly is much more intimate.
The list of best day trips from Paris includes the Mont Saint-Michel, Monet’s Gardens in Giverny, and the medieval town of Provins.
Have you visited Paris? Why is Paris a good place to visit, in your opinion?
Related content and further reads
- The most popular quotes about Paris
- Check out this beautiful list of 30 things to do in Paris
- Paris in 7 days guide
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