Paris is devoted to making your travel dreams a reality. With so many historical monuments and attractions to offer, there is something for everyone to discover.

Hundreds of thousands of tourists travel to the city each year, so it is no wonder life in Paris is always thriving. Everyday is as exciting as the one before. Take in the aura of romance with a walk along the banks of the Seine or relax at one of many sidewalk cafés to infuse your senses with true French flavours. A tip to remember is that seating closest to the street is more costly, you can see and be seen just as well from the back row! Experience the most spectacular views of the city atop the Eiffel Tower, followed by a stroll through the Parc du Champ de Mars. Indulge yourself in a fashion lover’s paradise with a visit to the Champs Elysees where you will encounter designer boutiques and luxury shopping at its finest. Don’t miss the Galeries La Fayette, a legendary shopping experience. It truly is a place to window shop to your hearts content.

Paris is a city that holds centuries of historical culture that can be taken in while visiting the Sacre Coeur Basilica or Notre Dame Cathedral. You can admire the historical architectural designs or enlighten your mind while visiting the Louvre Museum and Musee d’Orsay among many others. After a long day exploring, your vacation would not be complete without a taste of traditional French cuisine at one of the many fine Parisian restaurants. From tantalizing tastes to historical sights, fashion forward styles to a lover’s paradise, Paris is yours to discover!

First things first, avoid driving in Paris. Take the subways which are very convenient. You can purchase a Metro pass with unlimited travel. Start off your day with a traditional Parisian breakfast of cheese on a baguette from the local boulangerie. Taking a half day bus tour will help you familiarize yourself with the city of Paris before you set out on foot to discover on your own. Centre Pompidou is a great place that showcases modern art within a creatively designed building. The Euro (EUR) is the official currency in France. Currency can be exchanged at banks, bureaux de change and some large hotels, though you will get a better exchange rate at the ATMs. Major credit cards are widely accepted, as are travellers cheques, particularly in major tourist destinations. Foreign currency is not accepted. Paris lies in the midst of the Ile de France region, which has France's lowest rainfall, however the city is known for its unexpected rain showers which can occur at any time of year. Summer temperatures are mild to warm, with occasional heat waves, while winters are very chilly with temperatures hovering around freezing point.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Rainfall (mm)	182	121	158	205	323	300
Rainfall (inches)	7.2	4.7	6.2	8.1	12.7	11.8
Min Temp (°C)	2	3	5	7	10	13
Max Temp (°C)	7	8	12	15	19	22
Min Temp (°F)	36	37	41	44	51	56
Max Temp (°F)	44	47	53	58	66	71

	July	Aug	Sept	Oct	Nov	Dec
Rainfall (mm)	237	193	66	63	83	155
Rainfall (inches)	9.3	7.6	2.6	2.5	3.3	6.1
Min Temp (°C)	15	15	12	9	5	4
Max Temp (°C)	24	25	21	16	10	8
Min Temp (°F)	60	60	54	49	41	38
Max Temp (°F)	76	76	69	60	51	46

Paris has two major airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly. In addition European “Low Cost” airlines use a third airport at Beauvais approximately an hour to the north of Paris.
All direct flights from Canada, currently use Charles de Gaulle airport (CDG). This airport is in Roissy, 23km north east of downtown Paris. The RER B train links the airport with downtown and the city’s “Metro” subway system. There are also plentiful taxis and public buses, the journey time is around 45 minutes.
Orly Airport (ORY) is 14km south of Paris, and is also accessible via RER train, on the “C” line, which runs downtown. Public buses also run and take approximately 30 minutes.
Air France run regular shuttles between the two airports. The journey time varies hugely though depending on the time of day. Off-peak it takes 30 minutes, but can be three times that long in rush hour. There is no direct rail connection. 220v, 50Hz – European “round” two pin plugs. Converters are required for Canadian appliances. The official language is French, however English is widely spoken in the more touristy areas. Non-stop flights from Montréal or Toronto take approximately eight hours. These operate daily on Air Canada and Air France. There are also year round charter flights from Air Transat, with a small Winter schedule and increased frequency in the Summer months. In addition Air Transat also operates Summer non-stop flights from Ottawa and Québec City. Embassy of Canada
Address: 35, avenue Montaigne 75008 Paris
Tel.: 33 (1) 44-43-29-00
Emergency toll-free to Ottawa: 00-800-2326-6831
Fax: 33 (1) 44-43-29-86 Time: GMT (GMT +1 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).