Paris Holidays

Not many cities can rival Paris in the culture stakes. Its hundreds upon hundreds of museums, monuments, and gardens mean no two trips here are the same. Come face-to-face with that iconic Mona Lisa smile at the Louvre. Kick back in the Champ de Mars park after dark to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle. Or, dip into bohemian Montmartre to shop for art, sip coffee at an outdoor café, and catch a cabaret show at the Moulin Rouge.

For a city so big on sights, Paris is surprisingly compact. You can actually walk from the western outskirts to the east in just a couple of hours on a Paris city break. A good starting point for a – slightly shorter – stroll is the Arc de Triomphe. From here, you can wander all the way along the Champs Élysées, past the Tuileries Gardens and the Louvre Museum, all while sticking to the same pedestrianised avenue. Alternatively, hop-on-hop-off boats glide along the Seine. And, Vélib’ bike stations on every corner make it easy to whizz around on two wheels.

All throughout the year, Paris’ calendar of events is full to the brim. Bastille Day is the big one. On this date in July, there’s a parade along the Champs Élysées and fireworks at the Eiffel Tower, to celebrate France’s independence. For the Nuit des Musées, in May, the museums stay open all night and let visitors in for free. Then there’s the June Fête de la Musique, when tunes from free, open-air concerts echo through the streets.

A 40-minute train ride from the centre, Disneyland Paris needs no introduction. While Parc Asterix, a little further on, deals in family-friendly shows and rides. For a more grown-up theme, head to one of the nearby palaces. The Château de Versailles is home to the famous hall of mirrors, which Charlize Theron struts through in the Dior perfume TV advert. Château de Vaux-Le-Vicomte is a little more understated, and hosts romantic, candlelit dinners in its perfectly preened gardens.