Paris is said to be the most romantic city in the world, and certainly one of the most beautiful. It is the capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the River Seine, in northern France. Paris has many nicknames, but its most famous is "The City of Light". Paris is located in the north-bending arc of the river Seine and includes two islands, the Île Saint-Louis and the larger Île de la Cité, which form the oldest part of the city. The ultimate image of Paris has to be the Eiffel Tower. Built in 1889 for the World Fair, it can be seen from almost everywhere in Paris. The classic view is from the Trocadéro with its great fountains below. Starting a walking tour at the Eiffel Tower means you can walk roughly west to east with some zig-zagging and end up around Notre Dame, passing most major sights on the way. One of the joys of the city is that the majority of the fabled sites are within walking distance of each other. But if walking isn't your thing, there is an excellent public transport system. Renting a bike is a very good alternative over driving or using public transport. Batobus offers a regular shuttle service between the main tourist sights and other companies, such as the famous Bateaux Mouches, offer sightseeing cruises. Finding something to eat is no problem, in Paris, you can find top-quality cuisine from virtually the world over.
Most first time visitors will be surprised at how many images of the city they have absorbed already - Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe and of course the Sacré Coeur. The Arc that Napoléon intended as a celebration of his victories was not finished before the Battle of Waterloo. It now stands guard over the remains of an unknown solider from World War I, with the eternal flame burning under it.
The Champs Elysées was designed as part of a triumphal way out from the Tuileries and planted with elms a century before Napoléon planned his arch. To one side lies the Seine, to the other grand houses of the 18th century. Walk down from the Arc towards Place de la Concorde and look right and see the great exhibition halls, the Grand Palais and Petit Palais built in 1900 and housing museums and touring exhibitions.