Things to do

-Museums. The Louvre in 1st is essential, and considered one of the foremost art museums in the world. Among its massive collection of pieces from a wealth of cultures and periods is da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The Musee d’Orsay displays impressionist art by C zanne, Degas, van Gogh, Monet and others. And these two are just the tip of the iceberg.

-Shopping. Paris is a dream shopping destination – especially when it comes to luxury fashion. Place Vend me, Rue Saint Honor and Avenue Montaigne have long been synonymous with brands like Chanel and Dior. There are other location to suit less expensive tastes, like the trendy Marais area, Saint-Germain and rue Saint Andr des Arts, known for its elegant caf s.

-Sightseeing. The Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Catacombs, Sacr Couer and Notre Dame Cathedral are just a few of Paris’ instantly recognisable landmarks. No visit to the city would be truly complete without taking in at least a couple of these sights – you’ll never forget the views of Paris from atop Mont-Martre or the third level of the Eiffel Tower.

-River Seine. The city’s main river is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in its own right. There are a number of companies offering the famed bateaux mouches tours by day or night, offering a fantastic vantage point from which to view famous monuments like the Notre Dame Cathedral on le de la Cit .

-Events. Together with national holidays, there’s something on at all times of year in Paris to cater to all tastes – if you’re in to sport then the French open is on in May, and Rugby’s Six Nations spans the month of February. Meanwhile March is Spring Fashion Week and the Rock en Seine Music Festival takes place at the end of August.

Weather in Paris

Paris has a climate that is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf Stream. This makes conditions mild for most of the year. Winters are cool, without extreme lows and daytime highs that tend to reach between five and ten degrees in December and January. Sunshine is a little scarcer at this time of the year and conditions are damp. Spring and autumn weather is moderate and changeable, with both warm spells and cold snaps bringing unseasonable conditions. Arrive at a Paris holiday home in summer and the weather will be pleasantly warm, with daily highs reaching the mid-20s or more in July and August.

Travel to Paris

As you’d expect for such a modern urban centre, Paris has a an intricate transport network. There are almost 60 bus lines in the city, connecting every part of the centre and suburbs. The metro system has been around for more than a hundred years and has 14 lines, most of which reach out into the suburbs. Visiting a Paris city apartment could make use of the recently introduced cycle hire system, V lib’, which has a fleet of 20,000 bikes across the city. The two primary international airports for Paris are Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to the northeast and Orly (ORY) to the south.

If you are looking to secure temporary accommodation for two or three months, HomeAway offers a diverse range of short term rentals in Paris located all across the city and its suburbs.