Paris

At more than 105 square kilometres, Paris is both the capital and the most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,175,601 people as of 2018. Paris is the capital and largest city of France, with an estimated population of 2,175,601 residents as of 2018. (41 square miles). As a financial, diplomatic, and commercial hub, as well as a fashionable destination for foodies and art lovers since the 17th century, Paris has long been one of Europe's most important centres of culture, science, and the arts. According to official estimates, Paris has a population of 12,174,880 people, accounting for about 18 percent of France's total population in 2017. The City of Paris serves as the regional and provincial capital and administrative centre of Île-de-France, often known as the Paris Region. A total GDP of €709 billion ($808 billion) was generated in the Paris Region in 2017. Following Singapore as the most expensive city in the world, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's Worldwide Cost of Living Survey in 2018, Paris was the second most expensive city in the world behind only Zürich, Hong Kong, Oslo, and Geneva, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. An other source rated Paris as the most expensive city in the world in 2018, ranking it in the same league as Singapore and Hong Kong.

Located at the heart of Europe's transportation network, Paris is home to a number of international airports, including Paris–Charles de Gaulle (the second-busiest airport in Europe) and Paris–Orly (the busiest airport in the world). The Paris Métro, which first opened its doors in 1900 and now serves 5.23 million people each day, making it the second busiest metro system in Europe behind the Moscow Metro. Gare du Nord is the world's 24th busiest train station, although it is the busiest station outside of Japan, with 262 million passengers passing through it in 2015. Because of its museums and architectural monuments, Paris is particularly well-known: the Louvre, with 2,677,504 visits in 2020, maintained its position as the world's most visited museum, despite the lengthy museum closures caused by the COVID-19 virus in 2015. It is the collections of French Impressionist art that have earned the museums of Orsay, Musée Marmottan Monet, and the Musée de l'Orangerie their fame. European modern and contemporary art is represented by the biggest collection in Europe at the Pompidou Centre Musée National d'Art Moderne (National Museum of Modern Art). The Musée Rodin and the Musée Picasso are two museums in Paris that house the works of two famous Parisians. Paris' historical area along the Seine in the city centre is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; notable monuments there include the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris on the Île de la Cité, which is now closed for renovations after the fire that occurred on April 15, 2019. Some other popular tourist attractions in Paris include the Gothic royal chapel of Sainte-Chapelle, which is also located on the Île de la Cité; the Eiffel Tower, which was built for the Paris Universal Exposition of 1889; the Grand Palais, which was built for the Paris Universal Exposition of 1900; the Arc de Triomphe, which is located on the Champs-Élysées; and the hill of Montmartre, which is known for its artistic history and the Basilica of Sacré.

The COVID-19 virus caused a 73 percent decrease in the number of tourists to Paris in 2020, as assessed by hotel stays, compared to 2019. The number of international tourists has decreased by 80.7 percent since the beginning of the decade. It is anticipated that museums will reopen in 2021 with restrictions on the number of visitors permitted at a time and the need that visitors wear masks.