From Orly airport
Train: The RER B4 (OrlyVal) travels between Orly and Chatelet (central Paris) in half an hour.. Trains run every eight minutes from 6am-11pm. Trains Line C2 between Orly and Invalides departs from 6am-11pm.
Bus. The efficient OrlyBus stops at Place Denfert-Rochefeau every 12 minutes from 5.45am-11.30pm
From Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport
Train. Take the RER B3 on a half-hour journey to central Paris (Gare du Nord). Trains leave every 15 minutes from 5.24am-11.58pm
Bus. The Roissy Bus leaves from the airport and stops at the Opera every 15 minutes from 5.45am-11pm
Stroll hand in hand along the Seine, climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower and exchange loving looks in a street cafe.
Thought the city of light and romance was out of your league budget-wise? Well Generator (generatorhostels.com) opens a haute hostel this month, with beds from £19 in a shared room to £38 for a private room. Based in the cool 10th arrondissement by Canal Saint-Martin, this is no dingy baclpacker joint, we're talking roof terrace with sunset views of the Sacre-Coeur, en suites, and a buzzy bar and restaurant. With Eurostar return tickets from £69, Paris is now totally affordable.
The Eiffel Tower or 300-metre tower (today it measures 324 m with the TV antenna) was erected according to the drawings of the engineer Gustave Eiffel, between 28 January 1887 and 31 March 1889 for the World Fair of Paris in 1889.
The National Centre of Art and Culture George Pompidou, commonly referred to as the Beaubourg Centre, is one of the most controversial architectural experiments ever to be carried out in Paris. Each colour of the Beaubourg Centre has its own special meaning: red stands for transport, blue for air conditioning, yellow for electricity and green for gas.
The Arc de Triomphe stands in the middle of the Place Charles de Gaulle. Napoleon had the 50m high triumphal arch built in 1806 to glorify the Empire. It was finished in 1835. It boasts superb relief sculptures, including Rude's "The departure of the volunteers" known as "La Marseillaise", Etex "The resistance of 1814" and The peace" and Cortot's "The triumph of 1810. Cast an eye over the 600 names of generals and the 150 names of campaigns and victories engraved one by one in the monumental stone.
Due to its beautiful situation on top of the Montmartre hill, the Sacre-coeur is a favourite of both the Parisians and the many tourists. On a clear day, you can see 50 km away from this basilica. In 1875, after the Franco-prussian war, a start was made on the construction of this church, which was only completed in 1914, on the eve of a new war.
The imposing Eglise de la Madeleine gives bustling Madeleine Square its name, but most Parisians know it for the gourmet food boutiques such as Hediard, Fauchon and Maille. There are also many up-market fashion clothing boutiques, particularly catering to the well-dressed gentleman.
Before the Paris metro was built in 1900, a train known as the Petite Ceinture (Small Belt) transported Parisians in a circular route through the city, connecting the major rail stations. It became obsolete by 1934 but the tracks remain in place as a reminder.
Shop. Jump on the eco-friendly bandwagon with a fashionable accessory from Reversible. Bags, lamps and even chairs are made from colourful recycled PVC advertising posters from a factory in Lyon.
Prices for the Paris metro went up again. Save money with a Mobilis day pass offering unlimited travel on metro, bus and trams.
Jussieu (5th) is the eastern corner of the Latin Quarter, dominated by the ugly modern university. But thre is also the peaceful Jardin des Plantes with its Museum of Natural History, the hightech Institut du Monde Arabe and the exotic Mosquee de Paris and its mosaic-tiled tea room and hamman.
If it is your first time in Paris, a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower, a stroll by the River Seine and a visit to the Louvre are all must-dos. If you've been there and done that, it is time to discover new places such as the flower-filled Jardin du Luxembourg, Rodin Museum, the spooky catacombs (a network of underground tunnels beneath the city) or drinking and dining in the cool Marais district.
Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore for all the chic shops like Prada, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and the ever-hip Colette. Not far away in Rue Clement Marot theere is Fashion Vintage, a tiny gem of a store where you can rummaged through vintage clothes from YSL, Chanel and Dior. A short metro ride and you are in department stores Printemps and Les Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussman.
Day trip
Chantilly. Into golfing, horse racing or polo? Head to the genteel town of Chantilly, a historic forested location, just 45 minutes north of Paris. There are several resort hotels offering scenic golfing year-round, as well as the famous Chantilly Hippodrome and Polo Club, which host prestigious events throughout the year.
Train: The RER B4 (OrlyVal) travels between Orly and Chatelet (central Paris) in half an hour.. Trains run every eight minutes from 6am-11pm. Trains Line C2 between Orly and Invalides departs from 6am-11pm.
Bus. The efficient OrlyBus stops at Place Denfert-Rochefeau every 12 minutes from 5.45am-11.30pm
From Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport
Train. Take the RER B3 on a half-hour journey to central Paris (Gare du Nord). Trains leave every 15 minutes from 5.24am-11.58pm
Bus. The Roissy Bus leaves from the airport and stops at the Opera every 15 minutes from 5.45am-11pm
Stroll hand in hand along the Seine, climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower and exchange loving looks in a street cafe.
Thought the city of light and romance was out of your league budget-wise? Well Generator (generatorhostels.com) opens a haute hostel this month, with beds from £19 in a shared room to £38 for a private room. Based in the cool 10th arrondissement by Canal Saint-Martin, this is no dingy baclpacker joint, we're talking roof terrace with sunset views of the Sacre-Coeur, en suites, and a buzzy bar and restaurant. With Eurostar return tickets from £69, Paris is now totally affordable.
The Eiffel Tower or 300-metre tower (today it measures 324 m with the TV antenna) was erected according to the drawings of the engineer Gustave Eiffel, between 28 January 1887 and 31 March 1889 for the World Fair of Paris in 1889.
The National Centre of Art and Culture George Pompidou, commonly referred to as the Beaubourg Centre, is one of the most controversial architectural experiments ever to be carried out in Paris. Each colour of the Beaubourg Centre has its own special meaning: red stands for transport, blue for air conditioning, yellow for electricity and green for gas.
The Arc de Triomphe stands in the middle of the Place Charles de Gaulle. Napoleon had the 50m high triumphal arch built in 1806 to glorify the Empire. It was finished in 1835. It boasts superb relief sculptures, including Rude's "The departure of the volunteers" known as "La Marseillaise", Etex "The resistance of 1814" and The peace" and Cortot's "The triumph of 1810. Cast an eye over the 600 names of generals and the 150 names of campaigns and victories engraved one by one in the monumental stone.
Due to its beautiful situation on top of the Montmartre hill, the Sacre-coeur is a favourite of both the Parisians and the many tourists. On a clear day, you can see 50 km away from this basilica. In 1875, after the Franco-prussian war, a start was made on the construction of this church, which was only completed in 1914, on the eve of a new war.
The imposing Eglise de la Madeleine gives bustling Madeleine Square its name, but most Parisians know it for the gourmet food boutiques such as Hediard, Fauchon and Maille. There are also many up-market fashion clothing boutiques, particularly catering to the well-dressed gentleman.
Before the Paris metro was built in 1900, a train known as the Petite Ceinture (Small Belt) transported Parisians in a circular route through the city, connecting the major rail stations. It became obsolete by 1934 but the tracks remain in place as a reminder.
Shop. Jump on the eco-friendly bandwagon with a fashionable accessory from Reversible. Bags, lamps and even chairs are made from colourful recycled PVC advertising posters from a factory in Lyon.
Prices for the Paris metro went up again. Save money with a Mobilis day pass offering unlimited travel on metro, bus and trams.
Jussieu (5th) is the eastern corner of the Latin Quarter, dominated by the ugly modern university. But thre is also the peaceful Jardin des Plantes with its Museum of Natural History, the hightech Institut du Monde Arabe and the exotic Mosquee de Paris and its mosaic-tiled tea room and hamman.
If it is your first time in Paris, a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower, a stroll by the River Seine and a visit to the Louvre are all must-dos. If you've been there and done that, it is time to discover new places such as the flower-filled Jardin du Luxembourg, Rodin Museum, the spooky catacombs (a network of underground tunnels beneath the city) or drinking and dining in the cool Marais district.
Avenue Montaigne and Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore for all the chic shops like Prada, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana and the ever-hip Colette. Not far away in Rue Clement Marot theere is Fashion Vintage, a tiny gem of a store where you can rummaged through vintage clothes from YSL, Chanel and Dior. A short metro ride and you are in department stores Printemps and Les Galeries Lafayette on Boulevard Haussman.
Day trip
Chantilly. Into golfing, horse racing or polo? Head to the genteel town of Chantilly, a historic forested location, just 45 minutes north of Paris. There are several resort hotels offering scenic golfing year-round, as well as the famous Chantilly Hippodrome and Polo Club, which host prestigious events throughout the year.
Drink: Willi's wine bar. Best for regional wines. This popular venue, with art-deco frontage and polished oak bar, is as renowned for its bottle art (specially commissioned posters from different contemporary artists) as it is for its wines. There are about 250 to choose from, in particular wines from Rhone. Regions like Bandol and Languedoc are also well represented. A few New World wines are available too, as is a selection of sherries. 13 rue des petits champs, www.williswinebar.com
