Highlights
Out and about
Inspired by the Boboli Gardens in Florence, the Jardin du Luxembourg’s green metal chairs provide an ideal perch to absorb the beauty of this wonderful city, while the Marais is an enchanting quarter of aristocratic stone mansions – saunter along Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, take a detour along Rue de Sévigné, cross to Place des Vosges (home of Victor Hugo of ‘Les Misérables’ fame), or wander through Hôtel de Sully’s delightful courtyards. Don’t miss an outing to Château de Versailles (12 miles from the centre), showcasing magnificent formal gardens and an opulent Louis XIV palace, laden with frescoes, marble, mirrors and gilt – the €400m restoration programme should end in 2020.
Food
Like shopping, food is taken seriously in Paris, with art-nouveau cafés and wicker-strewn pavements playing a big part in the cityscape. Watch locals fill baskets in tempting patisseries, boulangeries and fromageries, or visit the colourful Marché Bastille, filled with fruit, vegetables, meat, shellfish, cheeses and seasonal specialities. The dining scene in Paris is famous around the globe and every establishment in town, whether a small neighbourhood bistro or triple-Michelin-starred palace, prides itself on quality ingredients and impeccable presentation. Enjoy fine dining in our hotels or step out along swish boulevards and find a menu just for you, paired with top-class French wines, of course. Ask your concierge for up-to-the-minute recommendations.
Music & Entertainment
Nightlife in Paris is extremely varied, combining trendy, high-brow bars serving classic cocktails, elegant salons decked with panelling and twirling waiters, über-cool rooftop lounges with city views, labyrinth nightclubs with pumping music, and dimly-lit cafés down narrow backwaters, oozing ambience. The ornate Palais Garnier remains unrivalled for a glamorous night out – the interior drips with gilt, marble and red satin, providing a splendid setting for opera and ballet productions. Or, treat yourself to a VIP dinner and show at Moulin Rouge, a Parisian extravaganza of bubbles, food and feathers at the famous Féerie show.
Landmarks
The Eiffel Tower has symbolised Paris since 1889 and it’s worth a trip to the top – go at night for shorter queues and twinkling, 360-degree views. Other iconic landmarks include lamplit bridges spanning the Seine, the Arc de Triomphe watching over the splendid Champs-Elysees, the Notre Dame cathedral with its quirky stone gargoyles, and the stunning Sacré-Coeur atop Montmartre – another spot for breath-taking panoramas of Paris. These classic examples of Parisian architecture have been joined by cutting-edge newcomers such as the Centre Pompidou, the Cité de la Mode et du Design, magnificent vertical gardens by Patrick Blanc, and the wonderfully wonky glass creation by Frank Gehry, Foundation Louis Vuitton.
Galleries & Museums
Paris boasts an unrivalled portfolio of galleries and museums. The famed Musée du Louvre is home to a staggering 35,000 pieces to contemplate, including the ‘Mona Lisa’. Visit the beautiful mansion and rose-filled gardens of Musée Rodin, location of sculptural masterpiece ‘The Thinker’. Admire rich collections from Oceania, Asia, Africa and the Americas at the river-side Musée du Quai Branly, or discover the sensational impressionist art at Musée d’Orsay, originally an old rail station. For more modern collections, experience the contemplative, expressionist music and sound at Foundation Louis Vuitton, an evolving assembly of artworks from the 1960s to the present day, or explore the contemporary art at the pipe-clad Centre Pompidou.
Shopping
Birthplace of ‘haute couture’, Parisians are synonymous with style and love to shop, especially for clothes. The city trailblazes international trends and there is a plethora of designer boutiques from upcoming and long-established stylists. Spend hours in glamorous flagship houses like Louis Vuitton on Place Vendôme, the home of Chanel on Rue Cambon and the Dior boutique on Avenue Montaigne. You’ll also find unique concept stores, fantastic homeware shops and dazzling art-nouveau department stores, like Galeries Lafayette – book a personal shopper for a spree on handpicked pieces, or head to the gourmet emporium for foodie delights. For more artisan shopping, explore Paris’s flea markets, vintage shops, antiques, wine caves and more!