France is the world’s top tourist destination, and Paris is the most visited city in the world. Most tourists arrive with high expectations, but few are disappointed. Alongside its world famous landmarks and museums, the French capital’s heady mix of fashion, culture and fine cuisine promises to deliver a city break to satisfy even the most hedonistic of travellers. From budget to boutique establishments, you’ll find a wonderful choice of characterful hotels in Paris, and with our five top Paris treats you can live it up and hope that a little of that French ‘je ne sais quoi’ will rub off on you while you’re there…
Uncover local shopping secrets – Chic Shopping Paris offers a range of special tours of the city’s secret shopping spots, unveiling the places that the locals love. The company’s bilingual guides don’t work on commission, and you can choose from various tour themes such as ‘unique boutiques’, ‘made in France’, ‘chic and cheap’, ‘très tasty’ for foodies, or ‘arts & antiques’ for a look around the puces (flea markets).
Be a designer diva without paying the price – Designer seconds outlet Mistigriff stocks some of the leading names in fashion, including the likes of Dolce & Gabbana, Guess, Diesel and Miss Sixty, most of it discounted by between 25 and 85%. While you won’t be able to show off the actual label – since these are removed so you can’t try to take them back to the designer’s own shop – you will be able to get the Paris look for less. You can find the shop at 83-85 rue St-Charles, 15th (Metro Charles-Michels).
Bottle your memories – Play at being a celebrity and create your own signature scent at a Paris perfume workshop. They say smell evokes memories more strongly than any other sense, so you’ll always be able to revisit your Parisian holiday by spritzing on a splash of your very own scent. Panache Tours are just one of the companies to host such workshops, aimed at both men and women and lasting for two to three hours.
Enjoy a slap up dinner on the Seine – A moonlit dinner cruise on the Seine is one of the city’s most sophisticated evening adventures, promising delicious French cuisine, fine wine and live music. Most dinner cruises last around 2-3 hours, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the food and the views – enjoying a fresh perspective on some of the city’s most famous landmarks. ParisTrip.com offers evening dinner cruises from around 155 euros per person.
Polish up your street photography skills – Return home with some amazing photographic memories of the city by joining Better Paris Photos for an instructional photography tour of one of the most visually striking area of the city – whether it’s ‘Montmartre’, the ‘Covered Passages’, the ‘Classic Sites of Paris’, or ‘Le Marais’. Special tours can be tailor-made to suit your particular interests, all designed to give you plenty of hints and practical skills that could transform your street photography.
