Paris: Your guide to what to see and do in the City of Love

With its captivating combination of grandeur and timeless style, it's no wonder the French capital Paris is known as the City of Love

Stay:

What do you want from a Paris hotel? Dazzle and devastating elegance, of course. And nowhere fits the bill quite like Le Bristol. Coco Chanel and Marilyn Monroe have sashayed through its marble-clad lobby. Pinch-yourself pretty in champagne-hued limestone, with ornate balconies and crystal chandeliers, its charming suites afford heart-stopping views across the city. A handsome swimming pool resembles the prow of a yacht and leads out onto a sun deck; outside in the courtyard gardens, you may spot the hotel's resident Birman cat, Fa-Raon, prowling around the flower beds. Le Bristol is iconic yet entirely unpretentious - c’est magnifique!

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Taste:

Headed by Thierry Marx, the Camelia has dishes to match its incredibly sophisticated design – such as melt-in-the-mouth crab with tom kha broth, mango and parsley. Maison Plisson on Boulevard Beaumarchais is just right for a light lunch, and after dark, make a beeline for Candelaria, a dimly-lit drinking den hidden away inside a tiny taqueria.

Indulge:

Fashion houses line rue Saint-Honoré, while emerging designers occupy the independent boutiques of Le Marais. For vintage shopping, the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen has rare gems aplenty. Wind down afterwards with the Caviar Lift Facial at Spa Le Bristol by La Prairie, or slip into a silk kimono for a blow-dry at Christophe Robin's jewelbox-like salon in Montorgueil.

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Explore:

© Photo: Getty Images

From its grand avenues to its cobbled lanes, Paris is beguiling - and best explored on foot. Take in the lush Jardin du Luxembourg, geek out on contemporary art at the soaring Frank Gehry-designed Fondation Louis Vuitton, or get to know the ultra-hip Pigalle neighbourhood at the foot of Montmartre. After dark, enjoy the Seine's lamplit bridges and the Eiffel Tower's glittering light display.

Trip details:

Rooms at Le Bristol begin at €910 (around £765) room only; visit lebristolparis.com. Eurostar runs services from London St Pancras International to Paris Gare du Nord with one-way fares starting from £29; visit eurostar.com.

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