Compiled by FatPassport's travel experts

Ah, Paris. A veritable Who’s Who of famous landmarks and world-renowned sights. The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs d'elysee, the Moulin Rouge...and that’s just your first day! The city is bristling with things to do and see, from the obvious to the obscure. Whatever your interests, whatever your weaknesses, Paris can oblige.

Some of the world’s most iconic buildings are found here – I.M. Pei’s Louvre, Garnier’s Opera House, Eiffel’s tower, Nouvel’s Arab Institute. The city is also a model of urban planning, with tree-lined boulevards, plazas and squares, and parks ranging from mere yards to multiple acres.

If you’re feeling reverent, you can see some of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world: Notre Dame; the exquisite Ste. Chapelle; Sacre Coeur perched above the city; and the Pantheon, final resting place for France’s most honored citizens. Reverence of a more secular nature can be found at Cartier and Louis Vuitton along the Champs d'elysee, or you can hit Place Vendome with your gold card for a visit to Chanel.

Those seeking edification will find enough museums to keep busy for years. There are Rodin sculptures, Impressionist art, Greek statuary, Abyssinian artifacts, surgical instruments, perfume – just about anything you can name. Then there’s the Louvre; with a collection of close to 400,000 objects including the famed Mona Lisa, it could keep you occupied from the moment you land until the moment you leave.

Paris can accommodate any budget, from the exorbitant to the non-existent. Those with sufficient funds can stay in some of the world’s most luxurious accommodations, eat the finest food in existence, or drop a month’s rent on a handbag. On the other end of the spectrum, backpackers, students, and nomad hippies can sleep in 10-person dorms, eat on street corners, and join a drum circle in Parc de la Villette or wander the many cemeteries in search of Jim Morrison or Serge Gainsbourg for free. Mid-range accommodations can be scarce, but if you’re willing to stay farther away from the center, there are more options.

Paris can also accommodate any trip length. You can spend a romantic weekend relaxing, eating, and wandering. You can spend a week hitting the big attractions, or spend a month learning how to eat fire with the kids hanging out on the Seine or seeing every painting in town. The only thing that will never happen is running out of things to do and see.

The city has family-friendly activities as well. Parks are everywhere, many with playgrounds and rides. EuroDisney, just outside the city, brings the joys of Disneyland with a French flavor. You can torment children with educational activities such as a tour of Victor Hugo’s home, a trip to Napoleon’s tomb, and an up-close look at real gargoyles at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Harry Potter devotees can even pay a visit to the house of Nicolas Flamel. But be aware, Paris is a city, and a sometimes seedy one. Certain areas are decidedly inappropriate for families, and you probably shouldn’t bring the kids to, say, Place Pigalle, unless you’re in the mood to have a very adult conversation with them.

Speaking of adult conversations, Paris has a thriving nightlife. There’s always something going on: plate-throwing at Greek bars in the Latin Quarter; thundering house music in the gay clubs of Les Halles and Le Marais; musicians and tango dancers along the Seine; cabaret shows in Pigalle.

The city is easily walked and there’s so much to see en route that walking never feels like a chore. Bicycles are convenient and can be rented in many places. If you get tired or want to venture farther afield than feet or two wheels can manage, Paris has one of the most comprehensive public transit systems in the world. With the city and surrounding suburbs amply served by a combination of Metro lines, RER trains, heavy rail, buses and trams, you can get anywhere cheaply, quickly, and easily.

All that walking (not to mention all the stairs) does mean that it might be tough for seniors or people with limited mobility. The solution to this? Money. The pricier the accommodations, the more likely it is there will be an elevator, and paying for cabs and limos is decidedly easier on the knees than schlepping up and down to the Metro.

Every season offers different charms. Winter is cold and sometimes snowy, but hard to beat for romantic charm and there’s always a warm café to duck into. Spring brings perfect weather and isn’t quite as crowded as the summer months. Summer is the ideal time for social activities, with several festivals and holidays, such as Bastille Day and the Fete de la Musique, and many free activities, including concerts and outdoor movies. Fall’s smaller crowds and cooling weather make it perfect for a quiet, relaxing vacation.

Rumors of French rudeness are greatly exaggerated. Many of the locals are friendly and curious, especially those of the younger generations. You don’t need to speak French, but it does help sometimes and it’s a nice gesture, even if all you can do is make the most basic attempt. But you’ll almost always find someone who speaks English in the city, and if not, the universal language of pointing and pantomiming is spoken everywhere.

You'll need to ensure that you have plenty of headroom on your credit card limits, as Paris is an expensive city. However, it's one of the world's very best and rare is that traveler who does not fall in love with this wonderful city.