Paris Vacations

Paris in springtime lives up to its reputation: Flowers bloom, cafe culture returns, hotel rates soar. But with a bit of planning, you can find good hotel deals. Summer is peak season, and social calendars fill with festivals and open-air events (many free) -- so be sure to plan well in advance.

Paris gets a makeover in fall: new movies, new fashions and that gorgeous crisp in the air. Fall is low season, and cheap hotel rates in Paris abound.

Winter gets a bad rap; with so many museums, cathedrals and cozy cafes in Paris, November and December might be just your style. Christmas markets start in late November and early December, and the City of Light takes illumination to a whole new level.

How to buy bread in Paris? Look for the longest lines. At Poilane, that's around 4 p.m. when it's fresh out of the oven. And chocolate? Richart, near the Musee d'Orsay. (Go for the liqueur-filled).

Bring your petits enfants on official kids days: They can meet the animals, put on clown makeup, practice tight-rope walking and lunch with the artistes.

Get in early or after 1:30 p.m. to avoid the crowds. Juveniles Lavinia and Legrand Filles et Fils in the Opera district are among the finest.

Dine at this gem located across from the Pompidou. Order the beef stroganoff and cream of lentil soup. For dessert: everything.

Most churches have free musical performances, from classical concerts to organ recitals. Regular concerts are held in St-Julien-de-Pauvre, St-Germain-des-Pres, Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle.

You can photograph it, climb it, drink wine near it and kiss under it. One lady loved it so much she married it. Nearby: Quai Branly Museum, the Champ de Mars Gardens, lots of hotels.

These Gothic masterpieces, located a few blocks apart, are steeped in sacred beauty. Discover flying buttresses, relics and artwork inside Notre-Dame. Jewel box Sainte-Chapelle sparkles with thousands of religious scenes depicted in 15 stained-glass windows.

Get your art fix from Mona Lisa to the Michelangelos and Winged Victory to the Louvre Pyramid. Stroll the still-thriving old market district Les Halles nearby.

This bohemian nook has eccentric Paris character to spare with its easel-and-artist filled square (Place du Tertre), Moulin Rouge and hilltop Sacre-Coeur basilica. Mustachioed master Dali's Espace museum is nearby.

Take the Batobus down the Siene (buy a day pass for hop on/hop off privileges), where you can stop at Notre-Dame, Musee d'Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, Hotel de Ville and the Louvre.

Medieval stomping grounds of Latin-speaking clergy, this arrondissement is filled with French etceteras: Sorbonne, St-Germain, Cluny Museum, and bistros galore.

Climb the Arc de Triomphe for glittering views of L'Etoile. Settle the score between a sweet tooth and eye-candy cravings at nearby Laduree.

Even the art-shy swoon at Gates of Hell, The Thinker, The Kiss and the setting here. Laze in the sculpture gardens and write postcards.

Named after Louis XIV's confessor, this French cemetery is filled with serene beauty. Visit the interred here: Oscar Wilde, Maria Callas, Gustave Dore, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrisson.

Though it's not technically in Paris, missing Versailles is still a real non-non. Catch your reflection in the Hall of Mirrors, and see a world of silks, murals, ostrich plumes and regal glitz.

Considered one of the most romantic (and romanticized) cities in the world, it’s hard to ruin a Paris vacation. While some may argue over whether or not the French are rude to those who don’t speak proper French, most visitors agree that this French capital of more than 12 million people is enchanting, otherwise it wouldn’t be the top destination in the world. Known as a center for art, architecture, culture, fashion, music, literature, and intellectual and educational pursuits, it’s easy to see why it’s called the City of Light. The Metro subway system makes getting around a breeze, but walking through arrondissements is how you’ll experience the real Paris. You won’t even have to worry about stepping in dog droppings as steep fines have eliminated the problem. Make your way to the top of the Eiffel Tower to see the lay of the land below. Then stroll the banks of the Seine, linger at an outdoor café, window shop along the Champs-Elysees, peruse sidewalk bookstalls. Shop for bread, cheese, charcuteries and wine in Les Halles or another of the city’s many markets, then find a quiet spot in a nearby park or garden and feast upon one of the best meals you’ll never have to cook. Finish the afternoon with a visit to Notre Dame and premium ice cream from Berthillon on the Ile Saint-Louis. Of course you won’t want to miss dining in Paris’ fine restaurants, which boast the second-highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the world.

AOL Travel’s Paris Guide

AOL Travel's Best Paris Hotels