If you are planning to visit Europe then you must stay at least a couple of days in one of its largest cities, Paris; over the years it has become one of the most visited cities in the world. For most people visiting Paris, a short stay is often the way they first see the city; with a great deal to see and do that really a week is needed.

Visitors rush to the many wonderful buildings; the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre must not go unmentioned. Traveling around Paris is relatively easy for visitors as well as locals; the underground train system or Metro can take you to anywhere within the city and is simple to use.

You can't miss the Eiffel Tower, mainly because it's over three hundred meters high; it's visible throughout most of the city but the views from the top of this huge steel structure are even more impressive. In the evening the illumination means it can be seen for many miles; it is possible to take organized tours which tell the story of the Tower and the history of France.

A walk along the Champs Elysees is essential when you visit Paris; it will present you with many famous designer shops and good restaurants. This avenue is well worth a visit to see how the wealthy live; the exclusive five star hotels situated in this more select part of the city might be out of most visitors' price range.

This city is also the home to the renowned Louvre Museum; it houses over three hundred thousand exhibits but not all of them are ever on display at the same time. There are so many exhibits here they cannot all be viewed during a short stay in Paris; the Venus de Milo is displayed here and of course the Mona Lisa. Over the years, Paris has been home to many of the world's famous artists; chances are that you will have the opportunity to see a number of famous paintings whilst you're visiting.

Napoleon built the Arc de Triomphe, another Paris landmark; it provides visitors with a wonderful photo experience because it contains the names of every one of his generals. A little known fact is that there's a viewing observatory built into the building allowing the whole area to be viewed; including all the avenues of which it is a focal point.

We can only cover a small sample places to visit; and these major attractions are probably best viewed as part of a guided tour, some of which are actually free. It's an unfortunate fact that a Paris short stay vacation will only include some of the attractions; this article has not even discussed the topic of medieval castles and gothic churches which the city has in abundance.