Paris travel guide

The new Eurostar connection from St Pancras in London has made Europe’s “City of Romance” even more accessible from the UK. Go for the day or a long weekend to enjoy its monuments, museums and some of the best food, drink and shopping in the world.

Food and drink

Paris is home to no less than 10 three-Michelin-star restaurants with celebrated chefs including Alain Ducasse and Joel Robuchon. But just because a restaurant fails to have a star doesn’t make it bad. The much-lauded Alain Senderens famously rejected the accolade for his restaurant Senderens, while fine dining in cafés, bars and even on the street in Paris is ubiquitous. And with it comes some of the world’s best wine from 11 grape-growing regions across the country, including Burgundy, Bordeaux and the ever-effervescent Champagne.

Fashion

Chanel, Yves St Laurent, Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton… if you love clothes then you’ve come to the right place! From haute couture and prêt-à-porter on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Avenue Montaigne and Boulevard Saint-Germain, to world-renowned department stores Printemps and Galeries Lafayette, various fleamarkets and vintage boutiques, there’s something for every taste and style. Jewellery, handbags, shoes, perfume and beauty products also line the shelves with specialist shops devoted to all. Whatever you choose, you also get the pleasure of buying it in one of the most glamorous cities in the world.

Museums and monuments

Art lovers flock to Paris for its outstanding museums and galleries. Some of the most famous and must-see include the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Orangerie Museum, Pompidou Centre, Musée d’art Moderne and museums devoted to Picasso and Rodin. But there are also hundreds of smaller galleries taking the thriving art scene to greater heights and are definitely worth checking out. Indeed, the city can appear as a work of art in itself with the Champs Elysées, Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower providing well-known landmarks. The opulent Château de Versailles is also only half-an-hour train ride away.