Paris , France (5- 10Arrondissement )

5th Arrondissement

This and the adjoining 6th arrondissement comprise the Quartier latin (Latin Quarter), a bastion of student life and higher education in Paris. Within a 100-meter (328-foot) radius around the Pantheon you'll find some of the most prestigious schools and universities in all of France. The Jardin des Plantes , Paris' botanical gardens and zoo, is at once a calm and exotic place, and the Arènes de Lutèce (remains of a Roman amphitheatre) remind us just how rich the history of Paris really is. You'll find the Musee National du Moyen-Âge in Cluny Square. As picturesque as you could possibly imagine, the quaysides double as an enthralling treasure trove of second-hand bookstalls. Come nightfall, the young crowds flock to Place de la Contrescarpe and Rue Mouffetard.

6th Arrondissement

Rue de Seine, de Buci, Mazarine and Dauphine, along with the whole area between Boulevard St-Germain and the river Seine itself, are wholeheartedly characteristic of the allure of Paris. Discover the little cafes and boutiques of the chic-intellectual district of Saint Germain des Pres , and the bars and nightspots when the sun goes down. If on the other hand you want to escape, take some peaceful time out in Jardin du Luxembourg .

7th Arrondissement

More commonly known as the quartier des ministres (ministers' quarter), the 7th district also boasts some of Paris' most beautiful monuments—the Invalides , the Eiffel Tower , the Champ de Mars—literally meaning "Field of Mars," which was originally a parade ground for cadets in the Ecole Militaire (Military Academy). Between Quai Voltaire and Rue de l'Universite, dozens upon dozens of antique dealers entice you into their shops on the Carre Rive Gauche, and if you are in an artistic frame of mind, the spectacular Musee d'Orsay is well worth a browse.

8th Arrondissement

Naturally, any visit to the 8th arrondissement has to start on the most beautiful avenue in the world—the fabulous Champs-Elysees —which extends from Place de l'Etoile down to the finishing post on Place de la Concorde . Also worth seeing is La Madeleine —a neoclassical church—and the parc Monceau —a jogger's paradise. Music lovers will find heaven in a shopping trip along Rue de Rome. Other places of interest include the Grand Palais and the Palais de la Decouverte (the Palace of Discovery), which makes the fascinating world of science accessible to all.

9th Arrondissement

Its impressive elegance makes the Opera (opera house) undeniably one of Paris' most exquisite monuments. You can take in the waxworks at Musee Grevin , and stroll through Nouvelles Athènes (New Athens) near the St-Georges metro, but this area is also characterized by large department stores, including Printemps and Galeries Lafayette .

10th Arrondissement

Running the entire length of the Canal Saint-Martin , the Quais de Valmy and de Jemappes extend either side of the water to provide one of the most delightful walks in Paris; from Rue du Temple to Place de Stalingrad you will pass many a lock and maybe the odd barge or two.