The Île-de-France Region includes 1,281 towns and eight departments. It also includes the administrative centre of the region and country’s capital – Paris. Île-de-France is the most populated of France’s mainland regions and one in five births in France takes place in this area.
The climate in the Île-de-France is quite similar to that of England however it has warmer summers, milder winters and less rain.
Île-de-France is the most visited tourist destination in the world and it’s easy to see why. The city of Paris offers visitors a vast array of sites, history, magnificent splendour, shopping extraordinaire, culture, gastronomy, architecture and art. Not only that, encircling Paris is an area of historic splendour and extravagant chateaux including the Chateau de Versailles, Chateau de Fontainebleau and Chateau de Chantilly.
There are many reasons to visit Paris, for some it’s a romantic venture and takes in the Eiffel Tower, a boat ride on the Seine, Notre Dame, Mont Martre; for others it’s the fashion and shops of the Champs Elysees. For more yet it is the art of the Louvre, the Pompidou centre and Musée d’Orsay; or it could be the restaurants which offer such a wide choice of the best of French food, pavement cafés and people watching.
Getting around in Paris is not difficult, walking anywhere means that visitors see more but the City’s underground train system – the Metro, is easy to use and very cheap. The Seine River affords the opportunity to travel by boat and it’s an excellent way to see the sites and soak up the atmosphere.
The capital city of France has a rich array of art collections, museums, theatres, churches, restaurants, chic hotels, and cool bars. By day a city of contrast, old and new, full of charm and character; by night the streets are alive with colours and vitality as the theatres, nightclubs and shows have their turn to dazzle.
Things to do in Île-de-France
Visit the Chateau de Fontainebleu and the Chateau de Chantilly.
Go to the opera, the ballet, a show.
Take a day time cruise along the Seine and see the sites in comfort or a night time cruise and be wowed by the city lit up at night.
Shop until you drop on the Champs Elysees and stop for a coffee at a pavement café to people watch or have hot chocolate and macaroons at Ladurée.
Take time out and visit Disneyland Paris for some enchantment and magic with the family.
Have tea or a glass of champagne at the George Cinq hotel and marvel at the uber luxurious lobby (the hotel spends about 1$m on flowers each year).
