Paris Holidays

from £ 244 pp

Shopping on the Champs Élysées, cocktails in sight of the Eiffel Tower, gourmet dinners in traditional brasseries – holidays to Paris are as glamorous as they come.

The City of Lights – and sights

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.

Getting around town

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.

Year-round festivals

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.

Beyond the city limits

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.

At a glance

Take selfies from the top of the Eiffel Tower
Splash the cash along the shop-lined Champs Élysées
Catch a cabaret show at the glitzy Moulin Rouge

An urban beach scene

The sea is two and a half hours’ drive from Paris. But that doesn’t mean you won’t find anywhere to lay down a towel. Every summer, the city decks out its lakes and riversides with sand, sunbeds and parasols, as part of its four-week-long, free Paris Plage – AKA Paris Beach – event.
The big beach

Paris might not have the sea, but it does have the Seine. And the bank between the Pont Neuf and Pont de Sully bridges is the main setting for the city’s annual Paris Plage event. Here, you can pitch up in a deckchair and stick your feet in the sand, with a view of the Eiffel Tower peeking out over the surrounding rooftops. There are sandcastle building contests for little ones, and volleyball matches at the nearby Hôtel de Ville square.
The secret beach

The city’s artificial lake, called Bassin de la Villette, takes part in the Paris Plage summer event, setting up palm trees, sand and deckchairs for the occasion. And, unlike at the Seine, you can get out on the water here, thanks to the row, pedal and electric boats for hire. Kids’ play areas and plenty of bars and restaurants mean it’s easy to make a day of it.

Bargain Buys

Bargain buys – £
Bargain hunters will be in their element at the Marché aux Puces de St-Ouen. A total of 3,000 different vendors take up residence at this permanent flea market, where both indoor and outdoor shopping areas cover a space as big as seven football fields. Dig your way past the tacky souvenirs at the end nearest the Porte de St-Ouen metro to get to the good stuff – everything from fine art to vintage jackets are up for grabs. Don’t miss the Chez Louisette café, famous for its all-year-round Christmas decorations and in-house singer, who belts out Edith Piaf classics.
Mid-Range Buys

Mid-range buys – ££

Galeries Lafayette is to Paris what Harrods is to London. Over 100 fashion, home and beauty brands are housed under the huge store’s beautiful, glass-domed roof – including Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein. Take a break at the food court to dine at one of the 25 restaurants, or to pick up some edible souvenirs. And, round off your spree with a drink on the rooftop terrace, where you’ll have unobstructed skyline views.
Designer Buys

Designer buys – £££
Paris isn’t dubbed the fashion capital of the world for nothing. Chanel, Dior and Louis Vuitton were all born and bred here. You’ll find all three, plus a lot more haute couture, on and around the capital’s famous avenue, the Champs Élysées – where you can shop ‘til you drop in sight of the iconic Arc de Triomphe. British fave, Marks & Spencer, makes an appearance here, too, along with a Disney store and a fancy macaron shop called Ladurée.

Laid-back evenings

Laid-back evenings

Being the cultural hub that it is, Paris offers plenty in the way of concerts, cabarets and shows to get your teeth into after dark. You can catch a ballet performance at the grand Palais Garnier venue, or tune in to a classical music recital at the Opéra Bastille. The Palais des Sports is a good bet for big-name singers and theatre shows, with past listings including Norah Jones, The Bodyguard and Saturday Night Fever. Then there’s the windmill-fronted Moulin Rouge, where you can head for a dose of sequins, feathers and can-can dancing.
Lively evenings

Lively evenings

If you’re up for starting early, ‘after work’ is the term Parisians use to describe happy hour. So anywhere you see this, you’re guaranteed to be able to pick up some purse-friendly cocktails. At the other end of the scale, Café Marly – next to the Louvre Museum – is a pricey yet super-sophisticated spot for a tipple. For drinks with an unobstructed view of the Eiffel Tower, make tracks for the terrace bar of the Les Ombres restaurant. And if all night dancing’s what you’re after, there are lots of clubs that stay open until 5 or 6am, including the popular-with-celebs L’Arc, on the Champs Élysées.

Crêpes

While us Brits tend to save them for Shrove Tuesday, pancakes are a staple in the Parisian diet. Go for a savoury option, with a filling like ham and cheese. Or, treat your sweet tooth to one that’s slathered with Nutella.
Croissants

You can’t go to Paris without tucking into a buttery croissant. You’ll find them in bakeries on almost every street corner. Do as the French do and dunk yours in a hot cup of coffee.
Croque-monsieur

France might be famous for its baguettes, but their number one choice of sandwich is made with sliced bread. Order a croque-monsieur and you’ll be served a toasted sarnie with ham and cheese. The ‘female’ equivalent, meanwhile, comes with an egg on top.
Steak frites

Steak frites is exactly what it sounds like – steak and chips – and you’ll find it on many a bistro menu. Whatever you do, don’t ask for your steak to be well-done – it’ll result in some serious eye-rolling from your waiter.
Macarons

Macarons are France’s – more sophisticated – answer to the custard cream biscuit. Two brightly coloured, meringue pastries are sandwiched together with a creamy filling. They come in every flavour you can think of – from orange blossom to morello cherry.