Paris, France, For First-timers

France’s City of Light has stolen visitors’ hearts for centuries; prepare to be bowled over by some of the world’s finest bistros, grandest gardens and most exquisite architecture.

Why Go?

The allure of Paris, they say, is timeless…

What Is There to Do?

Dress up and show up. Paris is glamorous and ritzy, the home of haute couture, bohemian quarters, art treasures, historic architecture, and iconic cuisine in Michelin-starred restaurants and in cosy bistros.

Food & Drink

Le Miroir

It would be criminal to come to Paris and not spend time in pretty Montmartre, the hilly, bohemian area once notorious for its red light district that fed the Moulin Rouge. It can be tourist, so it’s a welcome surprise to find Le Miroir – a modern bistro smack in the middle of it all. It serves delightful patés and rillettes, and other well-prepared French staples.

Frenchie

Tucked down an inconspicuous alley, this bijou bistro with stonewalls and wooden tables is a classic. Frenchie is always packed and for good reason: excellent-value modern dishes prepared with just the right dose of unpretentious, creative flair. Book in advance, or try tapas across the street at the no-bookings-needed Frenchie Bar à Vins.

Ladurée

One of the oldest patisseries in Paris, Ladurée has been around since 1862 and was the original creator of the lighter-than-air macaron. Its tearoom is a top spot at which to indulge on the Champs-Elysées. Alternatively, pick up some pastries to go from croissants to those trademark macarons, it’s all quite heavenly.

Art & Architecture

Eiffel Tower

Gustave Eiffel constructed this 320 m-tall spire as a temporary exhibit for the 1889 World Fair. Luckily the Art Nouveau tower’s popularity assured its survival. Visitors can walk up to the second floor via 704 stairs. At the very top, there’s a champagne bar.

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

This masterpiece of French Gothic architecture has been the focus of Catholic Paris for seven centuries and accommodates 6,000 worshippers. Highlights include its rose windows, its bell towers, which can be climbed, and its treasury. From the North Tower, 400-odd steps spiral up to strange gargoyles and a grand view.

Centre Pompidou

The modern art collection here is Europe’s largest, but the museum is known for its radical architecture too. Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers designed the building inside out, with plumbing, pipes, air vents and electrical cables forming part of the façade. There’s a roof terrace, and, outside, Place Igor Stravinsky is fun.

MINI GUIDE – Paris, France, for First-timers

When to Go

Summers (Jut-Aug) are hot, expensive and crowded. The shoulder seasons (Apr-May, Sept) have decent weather.

Getting Around

Outdoors

The River Seine

Nicknamed la ligne de vie de Paris (the lifeline of Paris), the Seine cuts through the city centre and its riverbanks are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. On the Right Bank, east of the Hötel de Ville, walkways and cycle ways whizz past the water. On the Left Bank, a 2.5km stretch from the Pont de I’Alma to the Musée d’Orsay is dotted with bars, restaurants and floating gardens.

Jardin des Tuileries

Filled with fountains, ponds and sculptures, the formal 28-hectare Tuileries Garden, which begins just west of the Jardin du Carrousel, was laid out in 1664 by André Le Nôtre, who also created the gardens at Vaux-le-Vicomte and Versailles. The Tuileries became the most fashionable spot in Paris for parading about in one’s finery. It’s still a wonderful place to lounge in a deckchair or regroup after a trip to the nearby Louvre (Place de la Concorde; 7.30am -7.30pm winter, 7am – 9pm summer).

Basilique Du Sacré-Coeur

Sacré-Coeur is a veritable experience: the view from the terrace is one of those perfect Paris postcards and it’s said you can see up to 32km on a clear day. Ivy-clad streets climb the hill of Montmartre to a funicular that glides up to the church and white domes (metro tickets can be used). Below, musicians perform on the steps and people picnic in the hillside park (6am-10.30pm).

Sleep

Hotel du Nord – Le Pari Vélo has bikes that guests can borrow to ride around town. The hotel is quaint and well sited near Place de la République.

There’s no forgetting what city you’re in at Sublime Eiffel, where Eiffel Tower motifs adorn the rooms and reception. There are glittering tower views and a hammam.

Home to Paris’s best swimming pool in the 1930s, Hotel Molitor was abandoned in 1989, but the Art Deco complex has since been restored fabulously. The pool is heated and there’s a rooftop bar.