Paris is an amazing destination. Millions visit Paris every year, and it’s no wonder why; the city of lights features numerous memorable attractions, outstanding dining, and a traditional flair that is hard to find anywhere else on the planet. For all these reasons, Paris is also remarkably expensive to visit.

That’s where long term apartments can come in handy. There are literally thousands of short and long term apartments available throughout the city, and generally, the longer you plan on staying, the greater your savings.

There are a number of advantages to renting an apartment when visiting Paris. First, it’s a much more authentic experience. You are actually experiencing Paris like a Parisian, up close and personal. Generally, you’ll find yourself in a charming neighborhood surrounded by cafes, restaurants, and often, a museum or other tourist attraction.

And don’t worry, renting an apartment is almost as convenient as going to a hotel. In most cases, a friendly manager is waiting to greet you and show you to your apartment as soon as you arrive. In fact, they will often offer to arrange a taxi from the airport, just to make sure you arrive in comfort.

And while the comforts of most hotels are quite appealing, apartments are usually larger and have additional amenities such as kitchens, stereos and televisions, and larger bathrooms.

It is important to have a list of requirements before you begin looking for Paris accommodation. Every apartment is unique, and not every one will be ideally suited to your personality or requirements. Keep in mind how many bedrooms you require, what type of bed you are looking for, even whether you need or want a television in the room. There is great variety available, offering every combination you might be looking for.

Apartments are a viable option whether you are staying for a week, for several weeks, or for several months. Generally, hotels rates in Paris start at 150 euros per night. That can get quite expensive over a few weeks. Apartments on the other hand, can start as low as 50 euros a night, and usually you will receive a greater discount the longer you stay.

As for which neighborhood is the best, that’s really up to you. Generally, I try to arrange accommodation within districts 1 through 5, as these are the most convenient for accessing attractions, shopping, and outstanding dining.

There are hundreds of sites dedicated to showcasing Paris apartments for tourists. Most of these site provide pictures, descriptions, and maps to show you the apartment and surrounding area. When it comes time to pay, simply use your credit card, much as you would when booking a hotel.

I do recommend to anyone planning a visit to Paris to search through online forums relating to tourism in Paris or about visiting Paris. These forums can be a great resource for answering key questions about the city, the people, the attractions and transportation. Recommendations from other people will make your visit complete.

When you visit Paris as a tourist, you want be immersed in the history, the wonderful culture, and the amazing architecture. Regardless of how long you are thinking of staying, renting an apartment in Paris will save you a significant amount of money. This will ensure you spend your time enjoying your time in Paris, instead of wondering how you will pay for your accommodation.

second largest city of Western Europe, Paris is known as the City of Lights for its well-lit displays in the late hours, which calls to visiting tourists from around the world. It is the home of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and many more vacationer attractions.

What can you see in a weekend in Paris? If you’re visiting Paris for only a short while, try these suggestions on the top hot spots. You can’t miss these!

Visiting Popular Attractions In Paris

Rising up over 300 meters tall, this steel structure, the Eiffel Tower, can be seen throughout most locations around the city. Elevators lift visiting tourists to the top to get a bird’s eye view of Paris. As it is lit up in the evening, it is one of the most beautiful sights in the entire city. Guided tours add to the thrill as you get to peek into history on how it was made and what it means to the French today.

The opera building, Opera de Paris Garnier started its history back in 1862 when its construction began. It took over ten years to complete, because an underground lake was discovered under the location and was completed in 1875. Tours and shows continue to operate through this attraction for those visiting Paris, though now mainly used for ballet performances since the construction of Opera de Paris Bastille, another distinctive entertainment tourist spot.

Visiting Museums In Paris

One of the largest and most famous museums is the Louvre of Paris, and visiting it is none other than an opportunity of a lifetime. With over 300,000 wonderful artistic works, you simply cannot see all of it in one day. An entire weekend could be spent simply gazing at the thousands of painting, including Leonardo da Vinci’s world famous Mona Lisa.

For something more exciting for children and families, try the Centre Pompidou. It not only contains a museum of modern art, but a bookstore and a library among other things. The museum, featuring the works of artists like Matisse and Picasso, holds one of the largest collections of cubist, surrealist and abstract art.

Photo Opportunities for People Visiting Paris

You don’t need to be Catholic to appreciate the majestic architecture of Notre-Dame. Its construction was made to fit a monumental scale, and plans were made to enlarge it even before the cathedral was completed. While not the biggest, it is the most famous and one of the grandest cathedrals in the entire world.

Commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, the Arc de Triomphe, it is engraved with the names of the generals that commanded his troupes. It now stands as a monument to the era and a popular photo spot for tourists visiting Paris. The Arc also features an observatory to take in surrounding views.

If you’re still looking for something that will arouse the attention of the entire family, try the Jardin du Luxembourg, a 224,500 square meter park. An octagon pond called the Grand Bassin is located in the center of the park. It is here that children can rent toy motorboats for a fun afternoon. You can also check out the puppet shows, chess games, it’s many statues and it’s two famous fountains, the Fontaine de Medicis and the Fontaine de l’Observatoire, at the north and south ends of the park.

Obviously, these are not the only tourist spots, but upon visiting Paris, these are the most popular and are certainly not to be missed. Most of these locations offer regular guided tours, some at little to no cost. Call your travel agent and make arrangements to visit these locations.