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Behind Paris

Paris is a city with something for everyone. Art lovers flock to the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, fashionistas haunt Le Marais, and history buffs wander Place de la Concorde and Champs-Élysées. The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, and Sacré-Cœur are musts, but there is so much more.

Whereas many European capitals unfold themselves slowly, dolling out secret finds like a striptease, Paris has an instant charm. That said, the longer you spend there, the more you will find. While the aforementioned tourist traps and attractions get most of the ink and photo paper, it's the hidden gems that make the city memorable.

Aping Amelie at Montmartre, looking for Wilde at Père Lachaise, and trailing Hemingway and Fitzgerald through countless cafes are obligatory, but once you've checked those off the list try something novel. Lounge by the Seine; settle into the Pont des Arts for a leisurely afternoon on the river. Go for dinner atop Centre Georges Pompidou for a breathtaking view. Kick back in Jardin du Luxembourg with a friend and a snack before hitting the bars and restaurants in nearby Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Come nighttime, indulge in the Ed Banger-sponsored electro-pop renaissance.

Paris is a perennial travel epicenter, so getting in is easy. First-rate Eurorail trains link the capital with London and other centres, as do Euroline buses. Furthermore, budget airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair service hubs throughout Europe (yet, you may fly into an out-of-town airport, like Orly). Though Charles de Gaulle International Airport is slightly - and famously - bedraggled, it still services major centres throughout the world.

This seems like a no-brainer, but: Parisians speak French. While stereotypic French snobbishness is more hype than substance, do try to make an effort at pre-emptive mollification.

Paris is infamously expensive, but is still noticeably more affordable than London (thank you, Euro). As a way to experience it without breaking the bank, settle into a café. Unlike their North American counterparts (i.e. coffee chains), Parisian cafes are all-day social centres. You won't be hustled out for slowly sipping coffee, thumbing through a novel (please, not A Moveable Feast), or scribbling in a notebook all day long. À bientôt.

Restaurants in Paris

Nightclubs in Paris

Hotels in Paris

Shopping in Paris

Spas in Paris

Le Phare
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