Ile-de-France is the name of the region that contains the capital city of Paris and all its surrounding departements. Undoubtedly the most visited of all the areas of France, Ile-de-France is also one of the wealthiest, home to most major companies, government and many of the leading figures in French public life. As well as the attractions of the culturally significant and picturesque city of Paris, there are other areas of interest in the surrounding regions, such as the Disneyland Paris, the Palace of Versailles and several areas of natural beauty should you feel the need to escape the noise and bustle of the city.
Many of the monuments in Paris are world famous but there are so many to choose from that it can be difficult to decide which ones to squeeze into your schedule. The queues at the Eiffel Tower are often very long, so climb the original stone staircase at the Arc de Triomphe instead for your panoramic view over the city – and your photos will include the Eiffel Tower! The area around the Sacre Coeur church, Montmartre, is great to visit at night, when the cafes and bars around the artists' square really come to life. Try and take some time to sit at one of the pavement cafes on the Champs Elysees and watch the crowds of people passing by. Drinks are expensive at these venues, so make yours last. If you enjoy art galleries then you could feel spoilt for choice in a city like Paris. The Louvre may be the most famous, but the modern art gallery, the Musee d'Orsay, has the more beautiful paintings, including many by Van Gogh, Monet and Manet, and fewer crowds too.
The Palace of Versailles is a popular day trip from Paris and can be reached easily on the suburban train line. The opulent palace is filled with priceless works of art, exquisite furniture and the hall of mirrors is even more amazing when you realise how expensive they were at the time the building was being designed. The best thing about Versailles, however, is the large garden; a mixture of laid-out parks, lakes and fountains, and wild woodland. You could easily wander the grounds for a few hours, never mind the palace itself. Children will only be interested in one thing when they hear Paris mentioned; Disneyland. Easily reached by public transport, the park also has its own hotels and European alternative to US fast food, as well as all the usual attractions you would expect from a Disney resort. Cheaper tickets can be bought if you go on an evening, and make sure you stick around for the nightly fireworks show.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Ile de France? Then below is a selection of gites in Ile de France and villas in Ile de France that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
