Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France. The city of Paris, within its administrative has an estimated population of 2,193,031 (2007),but the Paris metropolitan area has a population of 11,836,970 (2007), and is one of the most populated metropolitan areas in Europe.

Paris has been an important settlement for more than two millennia and today ranks as one of the world's leading business and cultural centres and major global cities. In 2010 Financial Times ranked Paris among the three most important and influential cities in the world, among the first three "European cities of the future" – and among the top ten cities in the world in which to live. Paris also ranks among the ten greenest European cities in 2010.

Paris and its region are the most popular tourist destination in the world. The city and region contain numerous iconic landmarks, particularly the Eiffel Tower, as well as world-famous institutions and popular parks such as the Louvre, the Moulin Rouge, Notre Dame de Paris, the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur, Disneyland Paris, etc.