Location: Paris

Its nickname is the City of Lights, but you could easily swap in love, culture, or croissants. Home to nearly one-fifth of the population of France, Paris is the fifth largest city in the European Union by population and the third most visited city in the world, annually drawing 29 million visitors.

The hearty tourism industry has helped make Paris the sixth richest city in the world by gross domestic product. Upcoming events include contemporary interior design fair Maison & Objet (January), Fashion Week (February), and international art event Art Paris (March). Each year, some 900 movies are filmed at the city's iconic landmarks, among them the most visited museum in the world, the Louvre.

However, statistics show that 60 percent of visitors are there to shop. The city is home to some of the most prestigious fashion labels in the world, and established destinations such as Louis Vuitton and Colette have recently been joined by new flagships for Emilio Pucci and Ralph Lauren. This well-heeled crowd is also well-fed, with more than 70 Michelin-starred restaurants to choose from.

City navigation is based on a clockwise spiral of 20 arrondissements-or administrative districts- each with its own mayor. Meandering through is the River Seine, where leafy parks beckon. The most famous shopping streets and exclusive real estate lies within the Triangle d'Or-the Golden Triangle-bordered by Avenues des Champs- Élysées, George V, and Montaigne.

Besides great culture, shopping, food, and a thriving economy, here are just a few more reasons to love the city.

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