PARIS TRAVEL GUIDE

Paris is perhaps my favourite city in the world. I've been more times than I can remember and I fall in love with it more and more each time I go. The architecture, the food, the people and, most importantly, the shopping are a cut above the rest. No matter what time of year you go it is absolutely magical and there really is something for everyone. Here's a breakdown of what I think are some of the must-see and must-do things in Paris.

FOOD

Aside from the blogger hotspots of L'Avenue, Ferdi and the like, Paris is awash with great places to eat from little street stands selling crepes to full blown 5* fine dining. A personal favourite of mine is Au P'tit Grec which is a cheap and cheerful Crêperie in the Latin Quarter. They do some of the best crêpes I've ever tasted and the amount of food you get for your money is brilliant. If you have a taste for something a little more upmarket and typically French then L'Oiseau Blanc is the place for you. It can be pricey but if you go for lunch you can get the set menu for €69 per person and that comes with a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower. And for those with a sweet tooth, you don't need to look any further than Berthillion. Best ice-cream ever. That's all that needs to be said!

SHOPPING

Shopping in Paris is, as you'd expect, amazing. If goods are your thing then you are in for a treat. Rue Saint-Honoré is basically the Parisian Bond Street. All the designers you could ever imagine have shops in and around the area with Rue Cambon, the home of the original Chanel, a 5 minute walk away. La Vallée Village Outlet, a French version of Bicester Village can also be found on the outskirts of Paris where some good deals can be found. Galeries Lafayette is another place to head even if it's just to marvel at the gorgeous roof interior in the main building. Then, obviously, you have the Champs-Élysées. The home of the mothership that is Sephora and a plethora of designer and more affordable shops.

SIGHTS

Just walking through Paris alone is an adventure in itself. Everywhere you turn there are ridiculously gorgeous buildings and monuments and you can stumble across the most beautiful streets by pure luck. And better yet, they're all free to look at!  If it's views you're looking for then you will be spoilt for choice. Obviously you can head up the Eiffel Tower but the queues for that can be a bit of pain so I would head to Montparnasse Tower. It cost €17 to go up and gives you wonderful views of all of Paris. Or, you can go to grab a bite to eat in the restaurant within the Tower and be treated to brilliant food while you eat. If you don't want to pay then you can always head to the roof of Galeries Lafayette or to the Sacré-Cœur to get wonderful views for free.

Discover Walks offer free guided walking tours of Paris so if you don't feel comfortable finding you're way around or want a bit of extra information about the places you are visiting then this would be a great option. You can obviously also hire a guide from multiple outlets if you want a more personalised experience. And if walking isn't for you then you also have the option of a hop-on hop-off bus tour that will take you to most of the major sites however, the metro system is so cheap and easy to use and cuts out the threat of traffic that it is a perfectly viable option also. You could also hop on a boat and do a tour of the Seine. A lot of Paris's sites can easily been seen from the river and there is also the option to have lunch or dinner onboard. 

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES

Les Invalides & Musée Rodin

If you're an art lover then you'll most definitely love what Paris has to offer. Other than the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay is a good shout because it is simply stunning. It's an train station turned museum that houses Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art from the likes of Monet, Van Gogh and Paul Cezanne. For me, it is even more impressive than the Louvre and the building it's in is unreal. You've also got places like the Pompidou Centre, the Musée Rodin, Les Invalides and the Picasso Museum that are always good to pop in to. If you happen to be in Paris on the 1st Sunday of the month then you'll be able to get into a lot of these for free otherwise entrance will cost you no more than €20, or less if you buy a museum pass.

If you plan on heading to a few of the museums then it would probably work out cheaper to buy a pass that allows free entry to them across a couple of days. You can buy a Museum Pass for €48 for 2 days or €62 for 4 days which allows free entry into around 50 museums. The Paris Pass includes museums, a Seine boat trip, hop-on hop-off buses and metro tickets among other things for €135 for 2 days or €199 for 4 days.

So, they're my tips for enjoying a trip to Paris. Have you got any you'd like to share?