"The inexhaustible capital" Paris by sarahandgareth

Paris really is one of those cities with almost limitless potential for the tourist as well as for the long-term visitor. It has an exceptionally long history - you can still see Roman architecture, as well as some of Europe's most famous modern structures, such as the Pyramid at the Louvre, or the Pompidou centre - and almost every street seems to have a tale to tell. A famous poet might have resided there, or a political demonstration might have taken place there, or perhaps an iconic movie scene was shot there.

It's the perfect city to explore on foot, too, since most of the time it's very compact: pick a neighborhood, pack a map, and explore the nooks and crannies to get a sense of the area, and to get beyond the major sights. Some neighborhoods, like Belleville or Chinatown, are all about the street life, since they have relatively few obvious visitor-stops (indeed, most guidebooks don't mention these areas at all). But contrast that with some of the key buildings and museums - you can't really say you've explored Paris without seeing the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower, or a dozen other places, close up.

And, between sights, or at the end of the day, choose from one of the thousands of restaurants. You can choose to blow your budget, or you can find a little neighborhood place with a restricted menu - where every dish is tempting!

People complain about Paris, and the Parisians, but they keep coming back, over and over, despite the complaints: there really is a 'je ne sais quoi' in the streets...