Moving to Paris

Believers flock, nearly 50 million every year, to see if the Paris of their dreams is the same Paris that those who live there love so well. It is the capital of France and a truly global city which hosts the headquarters of thirty-seven Fortune 500 companies, and any number of global humanitarian and economic organizations. The City of Lights urban area is Europe's biggest city economy after London, and produces over a quarter of France's total GDP. Expats will find a plethora of options for both work and play.

Expats moving to Paris will find it one of the easiest cities in the world to navigate. The city is divided into twenty arrondissements (districts) each of which are given a number. Paris is fairly flat with the only major landmarks the Seine River, which bisects then curls and caresses the city, and the low hill of Montmartre.

The Paris climate is pleasant, seldom peaking above 25C in summer and seldom dropping below freezing in winter. The summer months in the city are tourists season, and almost out of nowhere there are bustling masses of foreigners. There are hundreds of restaurants in Paris which celebrate the French culinary culture. Many of these will be highly priced. Opting for a set menu or meal of the day (plat du jour), can cost as little as €15, whereas a dinner in a tourist trap restaurant will cost upward of €70. Museums in Paris often have specials.

Expats moving to Paris will find the public transport in Paris is excellent with an extensive system of buses and trains. There is also a bicycle system in place called Velib and is available the city. The city is bicycle and pedestrian friendly and a car in Paris is a luxury that only businessmen and status seekers desire. 

Hemingway said, “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast.” For those who wish to dine at this finest of tables, Paris will provide a multitude of tastes and delights enough to satisfy even the biggest of appetites.