Paris Accommodation & Holiday Apartments

There are many ways to reach your accommodation in Paris, no matter which part of the city you are staying in. Paris has two major airports, Roissy-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Paris Orly (ORL), each of offers a number of domestic and international connections. If you are flying direct from Australia to Paris you will likely arrive into CDG. From here you can catch the local RER train line B into the city, which stops at a number of train stations throughout Paris. RER train line C connects downtown Paris with Paris Orly.

If travelling to Paris from elsewhere in France or continental Europe, you will find many options for reaching the French capital by train. There are direct trains between Paris and Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Milan, and many other European cites. Within France, there is an extensive, well-run train network, including the lightning-fast TGV. You can also fly to Paris from plenty of other French and European cities. There are several budget airlines operating in Europe offering very inexpensive fares for these routes, especially if you book in advance.

Paris is a great city for foodies! Croissants are usually a traditional part of French breakfasts, and baguettes are ideal for Parisian lunches. Or visitors can sample Le Croque Monsieur, toasted ham and cheese sandwiches that originated in Paris. Steak frites, otherwise beef steak and French fries, is a meal widely included on menus in Paris. Duck confit is also a tasty French dish that consists of whole duck served with salad. For dessert, indulge yourself in a Le Paris-Brest sweet pastry, which is a circular Choux pastry with praline cream.

Your holiday apartment in Paris makes the perfect base to get out and explore the City of Light. The weather in Paris is temperate for much of the year, although it does get chilly in the winter months. From December to February, you can expect close to freezing temperatures and some rainy days, but snow is rare.

Spring is famously lovely in Paris, with the parks in full bloom, plentiful sunshine, and temperatures around 20°C. Summer can range from reasonably warm to quite hot, with recent summers seeing a number of days when temperatures exceeded 30 degrees. The city is also busy with visitors at this time of year, and the crowds can make it feel hotter.

Paris has an abundance of renowned art and cultural venues that few other cities can match. The Louvre is the largest museum of art in the world that showcases perhaps the greatest collection of art and antiquities in Europe and beyond. The Mona Lisa is its most famous painting but the Louvre displays a vast collection of paintings, decorative arts, sculptures and antiquities from many countries and civilizations.

However, don't forget there are plenty of other notable galleries in Paris. The Pompidou is one of the foremost contemporary art venues in Paris that showcases art from the likes of Picasso and Matisse. The Musée d'Orsay also includes an admiral collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art from the 19th to early 20th century era.

Paris has a thriving theatre scene within its theatre district. As a theatre founded by one of England's kings, the Théâtre Edouard VII is a theatre venue that stages shows with English subtitles. The Palais Garniein Paris is France's most renowned theatre with an extravagant interior décor. The Palais is one of Europe's finest opera and ballet venues.

Paris is a fantastic destination for families, with lots to see and do for all ages. First and foremost, the city is famous for its culture, making it a great place to introduce your children to art and history. Of the city's many museums, the Espace Dalí, Petit Palais, and Grevin Wax Museum are best for families, with plenty of kid-friendly exhibits.

Young and old will enjoy visiting the city's legendary landmark, the Eiffel Tower, and it is free for kids four and under to climb the tower. The queues can be long at this popular attraction, however, so try to arrive early to avoid waiting too long with impatient little ones. Another fun family day out can be had at the Palace of Versailles, around a half-hour train journey outside Paris, where children will delight in the ornate rooms and extensive gardens.

Bastille Day, on July 14, is a national holiday in France comparable to America's Independence Day. Paris celebrates Bastille Day with a military parade along the Champs-Elysées and spectacular firework display around the Eiffel Tower. Paris obviously doesn't have any natural beaches but visitors can still catch some sun on artificial beaches in the city during the summer. During the Paris Plages in July and August, temporary artificial beaches with deck chairs and parasols are set up along the Seine.

Paris hosts a few annual sport events. The French Open is a major annual tennis championship held at the Stade Roland-Garros in May and early June. Paris is also the venue for the climax of the Tour de France cycling race in July with the finishing line along the Champs-Élysées.