Paris: Is any city more closely associated with love and romance? Enjoy a relaxing tour on the Seine, then go all the way to the top of the Arc de Triomphe for a breathtaking view of the city. If it's romance you desire, Montmartre, away to the north on the tallest hill in the city, is the most unabashedly romantic district of Paris, with quiet stairways, little alleys, and deserted squares.

Paris has some of the best museums in the world. Discover treasures ranging from Picasso to Paleolithic carvings. You don't have to stay inside to enjoy the art: the city itself is a masterpiece, with architecture that inspires and celebrates the human spirit.

Whether you're enjoying a picnic by the Seine in the Square du Vert-Galant, sipping coffee in a sidewalk café, or treating yourself to the world's most elegant dining, you're sure to find something you love in Paris.

Places of interest in Paris:

• Arc de Triomphe
• Le Panthéon
• Rue Oberkampf
• The Louvre
• Notre Dame
• Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris
• Musée National du Moyen Age
• Musée de l'Armée
• Marais mansions

Did you know that one of the most popular ways to see Paris is on foot? Paris à Pied offers three-hour walking tours of the Latin Quarter, the Marais, Montmartre, the heart of Paris, or the renovated glass-roofed passages that date back to the early 1800s. Groups are limited to 6 or fewer, and the price is moderate. Bicycle tours are also quite popular and can be arranged with little advance notice.

Hotel Raphael

Spectacular views of Paris await you from what has been called "the Most Extravagant and Historic Roof-Top Hotel in the World." Built in the 1930s near the Arc de Triomphe, the Hotel Raphael contains some of the most exceptional architectural and decorative features of the extraordinary rococo period. The interior setting is truly magnificent with a friendly, peaceful and dignified atmosphere.

A contrast between opulence and discretion, the Raphael is far from the noise of the crowd, although just a short distance from the Champs Elysees. The harmony of the bedrooms, the toiles marouflees, period furniture and art work will satisy the most discerning clientele. It's magnificent garden, located on the 6th floor, is at the height level as the Arc de Triomphe. From here you can also view the Eiffel tower.

The restaurant has an excellent reputation and the dark red velvet and wooden decor of the English Bar merge harmoniously with the turquoise and gold finish of the adjacent “Blue Room”. The oak and walnut panelled reception rooms boast large glass windows opening onto a terrace with sweeping views of Paris.

The spacious and superbly furnished suites and bedrooms, the immense cupboards and huge bathrooms take you back to the comfort and tranquillity of a bygone era. This is a haven of peace, splendidly decorated, where you will experience the French Art of Living.