Paris is the capital city of France. It is situated on the River Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region ("Région parisienne"). Paris has an estimated population of 2,153,600 within its administrative limits. The Paris Unité urbaine (or "urban unit") is an area of unbroken urban growth that extends well beyond its city limits, with a population of 9.93 million. A commuter belt around the same completes the Paris urban area (similar to a metropolitan area) that, with its population of 12 million, is one of the most populated areas of its kind in Europe.
An important settlement for more than two millennia, Paris is today one of the world's leading business and cultural centres, and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world's major global cities.
The Paris region (Île-de-France) is France's foremost centre of economic activity. With €478.7 billion (US$595.3 billion), it produced more than a quarter of the gross domestic product (GDP) of France in 2005. With La Défense, the largest purpose-built business district in Europe, it hosts the head offices of almost half of the major French companies, as well as the headquarters of fifteen of the world's 100 largest companies. Paris also hosts many international organizations such as UNESCO, the OECD, the ICC, or the informal Paris Club.
With over 30 million foreign visitors per year, Paris is the most popular tourist destination in the world. The city hosts numerous iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame cathedral, the Champs-Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe, the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur, the Invalides, the Panthéon, the Grande Arche and the Opéra Garnier among its many attractions, along with world famous institutions such as the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay or the Musée National d'Art Moderne, and popular parks like Disneyland Resort Paris.
Serious shoppers will want to prepare before coming, and Suzy Gershman's Born to Shop Paris, a Frommer guide, provides excellent coverage of the Paris shopping scene. For an online visit to one of the most exclusive shopping streets in the world.
In major cities, most stores are open from 10h to 19h Monday through Saturday. In the provinces stores are usually closed on Mondays and from noon to 14h or 13h to 15h daily. Some department stores remain open until 21h one evening each week. Hypermarkets can remain open until 21h or 22h. Many food shops are open at 08h, even on Sundays. On holidays most businesses in Paris and the provinces are closed, while bakeries are open only in the morning.
Bon Marché, Galeries Lafayettes, Samaritaine, Printemps, and Bazar de l'Hôtel de Ville (BHV) are a few of the great department stores that are part of the history of Paris, offering a huge variety of items for sale. They have the usual amenities for tourists: shopping helpers, translators, currency exchanges, and tax-free shopping. Most have branches in major cities outside Paris.
Virgin Megastore and FNAC are chain stores that specialize in "cultural products" such as books, music, consumer electronics, and photography equipment. They are also ticket outlets for shows and travel services.
Other chain stores specialize in cosmetics and perfumes (Séphora) and interior decoration (Habitat, Ikea).
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