It's hard to say something about Paris that someone else hasn't said before, but that doesn't diminish the magnificence of this great city. It has something different to offer every time you look at it, and it's difficult, if not impossible, to understand this city from books and pictures. You have to be there to really comprehend.

Paris is probably one of Europe's most cosmopolitan cities. It's been a capital of fashion for centuries, and remains a great choice for shopping. You'll find the best champagnes and wines here, beautiful works of art, and fantastic scents for both men and women. France's famous royal Baccarat crystal can still be bought here, as well. However, there's more to it than that.

Paris's many icons, gardens, beautiful streets and monuments are worth a look. You'll find famous museums such as the Louvre (the Palace it's housed in was once a fortress, but was declared a museum at the time of the Revolution), as well as many other beautiful nineteenth century buildings. Older building are rare, since the previous centuries' narrow streets were demolished to make way for beautiful wide avenues.

These streets are lined with great restaurants and places to shop. The most famous include the Champs Elysees, which was a promenade in the seventeenth century, and now runs between Concorde - once the site of the guillotine and executions and now home to a lovely fountain - and the Arc de Triomphe, a monument to soldiers in the Napoleonic Wars.

Paris has often been called the city of romance, and millions of people take their honeymoons there, with plenty more coming to Paris to fall in love. The River Seine is a picturesque choice for many hoping to take a romantic cruise, plus it offers a great way to take in the sites, including Notre Dame, the most photographed site along the cruise route. Paris is especially beautiful at night, when all the city's great monuments are lit.

You can enjoy a trip to the theater, ballet or opera, fine dining, and late night clubs. The popular Moulin Rouge still holds shows, and was once the site of a well known cabaret - origin of the can can. Don't forget dinner - the city's bistros, brasseries and restaurants offer many fine examples of rich French cuisine. Paris is a magical choice for any traveler, but you have to see it to believe it.