Want to plan a romantic getaway? Then think about booking a weekend jaunt to Paris. When you take advantage of last-minute travel deals, this expensive destination can actually become quite affordable.

Getting There

It takes about seven and a half hours to fly from New York City to Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport. While this sounds like a long flight for a weekend trip, the time investment might well be worth it when you land in this highly cultural city, which has earned its reputation as the capital of fine fashion, fine wine and fine food.

One of the many great things about Paris is that it offers something for almost everyone’s taste. If you want to live like the rich and famous, you’ll be impressed with the city’s selection of four-star hotels, extravagant restaurants and exclusive designer boutiques. On the other hand, if bohemian is more your thing, there are plenty of bistros, flea markets and sidewalk cafes.

The best time of year to visit Paris is in the spring or fall, when it isn’t too cold or too warm. However, you can expect airfare and hotel rates to be higher during the more popular months, and you will have to wait in longer lines at many of the main attractions during these busy tourist seasons.

What You Must See

Paris offers a wealth of well-known attractions that you mustn’t miss, even if you have only a few days to pack them all in. Here are some of the highlights that you should include in your itinerary:

• The Eiffel Tower - From the top of this landmark steel structure, which stretches 300 meters tall, you will get a great view of the rest of the city.
• The Louvre - Plan to devote the better part of a day at this prestigious museum, which contains more than 300,000 works of art, including the Mona Lisa and many other well-known masterpieces.
• Notre Dame - Be sure to admire the architecture of this grand cathedral, which draws flocks of visitors from all over the world.
• Opéra de Paris Garnier - Celebrate more than 125 years of cultural history by dressing up to attend a Parisian ballet at this famous location.
• Avenue des Champs - Window-shop at the many high-end specialty shops, including the largest Louis Vuitton boutique, that line this expensive street.
• Les Jardins du Luxembourg - Spend some down time relaxing in this large scenic park, which features a variety of statues, fountains and greenery. Best of all, admission to this park is free!

Most of these and a variety of other tourist attractions are easy to get to, either by foot or using the public transportation (Metro) system.