Paris is usually named the "most romantic capital," and people can effectively see and experience the love in its many visitor areas. Though there is much more in Paris than the Eiffel Tower or the Notre Dame Cathedral. Listed below are a few elements which you should know and we may do when we go to France's capital.

"The City of Light"

This name granted to the capital of France actually arises from "Ville Lumière," a reference not just to the innovative electric lighting scheme applied in the roads of the capital of France , but also to the reputation and feeling of "enlightenment" that the town obtained throughout the time of "La Belle Époque," the Parisian golden age of the late 19th century. It was then when Gustave Eiffel's famous tower was erected, and also the very first Métro line, and the creation of parks.

A multi-ethnic past

Paris experienced a substantial growth as a multi-ethnic city from the 1970s with the increase of new immigrants coming from all around the planet, particularly among French-speaking areas, including most of northern and western Africa together with Vietnam and Laos. These immigrants brought their food and music, both of which are of prime interest for a large number of visitors.

Migration actually continues in Paris until now, with a clear increase of immigrants coming from Latin America in the 21st century, bringing along with them the "taquerias" (which were difficult to find in Paris even in the 1990s), the appearance of the chili pepper, and Samba and Salsa music that has become extremely popular in the capital (alongside Paris lounge electronica).

Currently, you will find more nationalities displayed in Paris than in New york city.

The Parisians

The capital experiences an environment like that of London or New York, with stressed, businesslike men or women. In France, the Parisians have got a reputation for selfishness and continuous hurriedness. The selfishness is also to keep with the fact that Paris is a very large town, and the tensions of capital city life can push anyone to become somewhat brusque.

Aside from that, Parisians endure regular demands from beggars, salespeople, and buskers every single day. Occasionally, they turn out to be crooks, thus naturally the Parisians get rather suspicious of unknown people demanding anything, even their time. Make sure you keep this in mind when you need to ask for directions in the Métro. A shabbily-dressed, badly-shaven, backpack-carrying, foreign-speaking visitor could be, in the Parisians' opinions, just one more person telling some dramatic life story ending with a request for money.

Politeness matters

Despite the Parisians being notoriously arrogant, Paris is observed with a high degree of respect. Even if you don't speak French, remember that courtesy is very important in daily negotiations. Even one single word in French, like "bonjour" (good morning), means a lot and we will help you with unrivalled charm; or at least, give a greeting in English. Write key words on a slip of paper or, better yet, try to remember them. Besides, keep in mind that French speak with their hands and there should be no problem.

Speak with a well-mannered

Just like in any other significant capital, Parisians usually expect those to speak quietly whenever they are in a crowded place. They are very likely to look down on individuals who chat very loudly in a train or subway car. Despite the fact that it's unlikely that anyone will say anything, this kind of behavior may mostly get you categorized as irritating and may well decrease the chance that you'll find help should you require it.

Americans, specially, are advised that they are generally believed to be ill-mannered by the French, notably as a result of individuals who talk extremely loudly in restaurants or the Métro. Keep in mind that the men or women around you are for the most part not on a holiday. They are certainly going to or coming back from work and as a result might not welcome another source of annoyance. Additionally, the great majority of the Parisian population are not at all associated with the tourism business. You are not in a holiday resort or theme park, but in a capital where individuals have to get on with their everyday life.

Speaking in English

For many people, English is a subject they needed to study in school, and would seem a bit of a chore. Men or women who help you out in English are making a huge effort, quite often a considerable one. Young those are much more likely to be proficient in English than older individuals.

Nevertheless, English language in Paris is a little more complex considering that they learn British English in the "received pronunciation," also referred to as the "Queen's English." In order to communicate in English effectively to a Parisian who studied English at school, always try and speak gently and clearly, and maybe take a little bit of a Margaret Thatcher accent, but please do not shout.

Speaking in French

Speaking French in Paris is equally confusing, as the French learned in schools in English-speaking countries is usually "written" French and it is quite different from the spoken French. This makes your "French" barely understandable by the (blank) French person. The French citizens speak their language very rapidly, swallow some letters, and make all sound like a lovely music. If a French requests you to repeat what you have said, do not feel offended. Instead, take note of words or place names.

One thing you need to know to determine your skills in French is that if you understand (or at the very least sort of understand) French films without subtitles, then you can speak French like a true Parisian.

Asking for directions

When you need to ask for a direction, find someone who is not in a rush, ideally a young man or woman or a person reading a novel or newspaper in English. Greet him or her with "hello" or "bonjour," afterward start by asking if the person speaks English ("Parlez vous Anglais?"), even if he or she is reading a book in English, speak slowly and clearly--possibly writing words when needed. Please remember to smile a lot. Moreover, carry a map, since Paris' streets are intricate.

Do not stop a random man or woman in the Métro and, without a greeting, start asking questions in your own regular way of speaking English. That particular person may well depart rapidly without apoloizing.

If you speak French, don't forget two magic phrases: "Excusez moi de vous déranger" and "Pourriez-vous m'aider?" Don't hesitate to use those, even in retail stores.

The "arrondissements" of Paris

Central Paris is formally split into 20 areas named as "arrondissements," numbered from 1 to 20 in a clockwise spiral from the center of town. The districts are called according to their number. As an example, you could live in the "5th," which would be written as 5ème ("SANK-ee-emm) in French. The 12th and 16th arrondissements include sizeable suburban parks, the "Bois de Vincennes," and the "Bois de Boulogne" respectively.

Each area has its own main points of interest. For example, the "1st" is where you will find the Louvre, while the "2nd" is the place of the Paris Stock Exchange.

Navigating through Paris is very easy if you have a pocket map, the most reliable would be "Paris Pratique par Arrondissement," which you can get at any news stand.

Visit the galleries and museums and monuments with just one card

One of the best value and most convenient ways to discover the points of interest of Paris is with the "Carte Musées et Monuments, a pre-paid entry card that enable entry into over 70 museums and typical monuments in Paris and comes in two-day (30EUR), four-day (45EUR), and six-day (60EUR) denominations. This card will enable you to jump otherwise sometimes very long lines and is available from participating museums, tourist offices, Fnac , and all the main Métro and RER train stations. Nevertheless, you would still require to pay to view most special exhibitions.

Plan your museum visits

Notice that a large amount of museums and galleries are closed on either Monday or Tuesday, so check before your visit to avoid disappointment; and many ticket counters in galleries and museums close 30 to 45 minutes before closing.

Besides which, all national galleries and museums are open free of charge on the first Sunday of each month, but this can imply long lines and crowded exhibitions.

Discover the monuments

As stated earlier, every single arrondissement of Paris has something to offer in terms of infrastructure beauty. The Eiffel Tower, located on the 7th, is one of the most famous--and highest--landmarks in the the entire world. The Notre Dame Catheral, an amazing Gothic cathedral that was the inspiration for Victor Hugo's novel, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," is situated in the 4th. The 3rd is where you will find Picasso Museum, containing the artist's own masterworks.

There are also unknown but quite as great places that visitors can explore when in Paris. The Sacré Coeur on th 18th is a church standing on the highest spot of the town, and the Sainte Chapelle on the 1st is much more wonderful than the widely recognized--but gloomy--Notre Dame. The Panteon (5th) is where you would find the resting place of the great characters of the French Republic. Furthermore the Carnavalet (3rd) is a museum devoted to Paris' history; its exhibitions are continuing and cost-free.

Enjoy Paris from above

At the 9th, you can have a look at the sky from the roofs of Printemps and the Galleries Lafayette. Additionally, there is a hot air balloon at Parc André Citroen (south-western Paris) in which the public are able to ride on. It doesn't run on windy days, however.

View in-line skaters

Every Friday night and Sunday afternoon (except when it's raining), hordes of inline skaters take to the roads of the capital city on a determined route during around 3 ½ hours. Even though you do not participate, search for a café close to the route and observe these people fly by. If you prefer to participate, visit http://www.pari-roller.com.

Celebrate Bastille Day

The celebration of the start of the French Revolution, which is held every July 14, is a crowd-drawer. The day begins with a Bastille Parade taking place on the Champs-Élysées at 10:00 a.m. and ends with the Bastille Day Fireworks, with various city-financed events in between. Make sure you arrive early to find greatest viewing places. The capital officials advise going around the gardens of the Eiffel Tower during the Bastille Day Fireworks.

Experience its various celebrations

Paris organizes a great number of festivals, each fulfilling a specified community. As an example, the capital city celebrates a "techno parade" every mid-September, with Djs and (ordinarily young) fans from all over Europe converging to Paris for a couple of days of dance. This results in a parade which leaves from Place de la Bastille and ends at the Sorbonne. Among these special festivals there are also Six Nations Rugby (February), Paris Fashion Week (March for autumn and winter collections; October for spring and summer collections), Roland Garros (also called tennis' French Open, May), and Fête de la Musique Paris (June 21)

See a movie

theatres of Paris can be perceived as the envy of the rest of the world. Big-budget Hollywood films are broadcasted in Paris generally a couple of weeks after its release in the United States; besides, do not forget its very good and artistic French films. In addition, during any given week there are at least half-a-dozen movie festivals occurring, at which people can see the whole filmography of a specified actor or movie director. In the mean time, there are quite a few older cult movies that we can see any day you want.

Most non-French movies are subtitled (named "version originale" or "v/o"). Having said that, when watching French films, it is undoubtedly a great idea to watch it with subtitles especially if your French is not enough to follow fast discussions.

To be aware of the movie program around Paris, buy a copy of "Pariscope" at newsstands.

Keep safe

Crimes in Paris are identical to most large towns, but violent offense is unusual in the heart of the town. Pickpockets are active on the train link from Charles de Gaulle Airport to downtown Paris and on the #1 Métro subway line. An usual scheme is for one crook to distract a tourist with questions or disturbance while an accomplice picks pockets, backpacks, or purse. Thieves often time their crime to coincide with the closing of the automatic doors on the Métro, leaving the victime secured on the departing metro.

Many thefts also take place in big stores like Galleries Lafayette, Printemps, and Samaritaine. Visitors usually leave handbags and wallets, passports, and credit cards on cashier counter tops during purchases, leaving your possessions easily accessible by pickpockets.

Famous visitor sites are also favorite acting areas for thieves who favor congested areas to mask their actions. Areas to beware of include the crowded elevators at the Eiffel Tower, escalators at galleries, and the area around the Sacre Coeur Church in Montmartre.

The area around the well-known Moulin Rouge is known as Pigalle. It is preferred to avoid going there after dark except if you're with a group headed for a show. Pigalle is an adult night-life area well-known for prostitutes, sex shows, and drugs. Unsuspecting travelers often have to face overpriced bar bills and are forced to pay in order to be permitted to leave. Other locations to be alert on are the Marché aux Puces flea market, the suburbs (or "banlieue") like Barbès.

The Métro is rather safe, but pickpockets operate in the stations and in the trains in particular in the vicinity of tourist destinations. If you have a handbag always make sure that it is shut down tightly. If you have a wallet in your pocket keep a hand on it while coming into or getting out of the trains. Don't bring any more money than you can afford to lose and keep it on several parts of your entire body: like on your money belt, your wallet, your shoe. When you have to get your money, do so in private.

There are newly released reports of new techniques by thieves, focusing on taxis on their way into the town from Charles de Gaulle Airport. Thieves wait for the taxi to stop in the usual traffic jam along the A1 highway and break glass windows to grab the travellers' bags. To prevent this, you may put your luggages in the trunk of the taxi or take the very secured Air France shuttle.

Do not litter

Not only this is disrespectful, but violators also have to pay significant fines starting at 18EUR. Place your trash in the numerous containers supplied by the City or the subway authority.

To conclude

As you may have understood by reading this page, there are a number of other things to watch in Paris than the classic sites like the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame cathedral. You should consider to stay at least one month in the city to immerse yourself with the culture and folklore. For sure it could be very expensive to stay this long in a hotel, thus you should consider choosing an apartment in Paris, which would be quite less costly.