Welcome to Paris
Paris
With upwards of 12 million inhabitants, the greater metropolitan area of Paris is home to almost 19% of France’s total population (central Paris counts just under 2.2 million souls). Since before the Revolution, Paris has been what urban planners like to call a ‘hypertrophic city’ – the enlarged ‘head’ of a nation-state’s ‘body’. The urban area of the next biggest city – Marseilles – is just over a third the size of central Paris.
Paris has a timeless quality, a condition that can often be deceiving. And while the cobbled backstreets of Montmartre, the terraced cafés of Montparnasse, the iconic structure of the Eiffel Tower and the placid waters of the Seine may all have some visitors believing that the city has been here since time immemorial, that’s hardly the case.
The good taste capital
Paris is knowed worldwide as a capital of gastronomy; there is an endless range of flavours: tasty country dishes, Mediterranean specialities, recipes from all over the world, a galaxy of cold meats and cheeses, creative desserts… Restaurants, bars, brasseries, tea rooms, ice cream parlours, open-air cafés or pubs invite gourmets from all over the world to a real culinary feast.
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Practical information
Climate and weather conditions
When the summer season is at its height, rest and relaxation and “joie de vivre” bask in the sun, on the café terraces, in the parks and on the “beaches” by the Seine. Picnics abound and gourmets melt for the best ice cream in Paris. During the summer, daily highs are an average of 68°F / 20°C, and you can expect some rain.
Time zone
France is in the Central European Time Zone. Central European Standard Time (CET) is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+1).
Tipping
Service & Tax is included in the price. It is however customary to tip in restaurants, bars and when paying for taxis. As a general rule tipping between 5 - 10% is acceptable.
Electricity
The France, like most other European countries, has 220V AC, 50Hz and uses two- or three-pin plugs. Visitors from the UK will need an adaptor for electric appliances, whereas North Americans need a transformer in order to use their 110/125V appliances.
Emergencies
Telephone the emergency number 112. This number is intended for serious situations when somebody’s life is in danger. This number will connect you to the fire services, police and ambulance.