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Your travel guide to Paris, France

France

Paris, France: City of Arrondissements and the Seine

Paris consists of 20 arrondissements arranged in a spiral from Notre-Dame Cathedral, never more than 6 miles away. The Seine runs 8 miles through the city, dividing it into the Right Bank economic zone and the historically intellectual Left Bank.

Weather
Currency
EUR €
Language
Français · French
Best time
May–Sep
Timezone
CET · GMT+1
Visa
Schengen · 90/180
At a glance

Fast facts

Country
France
Region
Île-de-France
Population
Approx. 2.1 million (city proper)
Language
French
Known for
Seine River, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Promenade Plantée, historic districts
About Paris

Paris is structured with 20 arrondissements spiraling outward from the center, making navigation surprisingly direct.

The Seine River bisects the city, creating distinct cultural and economic districts on its banks.

The 12th arrondissement features the Promenade Plantée, the first elevated park of its kind, repurposed from a rail viaduct in 1994. Surrounding forests of beech and oak provide cleaner air, known locally as the "lungs of Paris."

01 · HISTORY

Place de la Bastille

Site spanning three arrondissements, important for French revolutions in 1789, 1830, and 1848.

02 · TRANSPORT

Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est

Major 10th arrondissement stations offering international train connections.

03 · NATURE

Forests of Paris

Beech and oak forests ring the city, acting as natural air purifiers for Île-de-France.

Things to do

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On the map

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Paris arrondissements, the Seine, Bastille, and Gare du Nord detailed by editors with on-site knowledge.

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