48 Hours in Paris

Day One

Skip the hotel breakfast and head to the right bank and the wonderfully cool Fragments Espresso Bar in Le Marais to jump straight into the local cafe scene. Everything here is homemade and seasonal, and the wholesome breakfasts are served all day so it doesn’t matter when you arrive. Afterwards take a 5-minute walk down the Rue de Béarn to see the pretty gardens, beautiful architecture and fountains of the Place des Vosges — Paris’ oldest square. Those with an interest in classic French literature should stroll through the door of number six, place des Vosges to see the former house of Victor Hugo. Otherwise choose from another local museum: Musée Picasso, Musée Cognacq-Jay, Musée Carnavalet, or Maison Européene de la Photographie.

Lunch

Stroll towards the river and cross Pont de Sully for views of Notre Dame. Then promenade along the riverbank to explore the cathedral or continue onwards to the elegant Fontaine Saint-Michel. For lunch, splash out at the 3-Michelin starred Guy Savoy (the chef who trained Gordon Ramsay) at the Monnaie de Paris for some of the city’s best cuisine, or instead opt for a traditional no-frills Parisienne Brasserie like Brasserie Le Nesle, and grab a seat on one of the outdoor tables to indulge in a touch of post-lunch flânerie.

Stroll up the riverbank and take a look at the open-air book shops (bouquinistes) before exploring the Musée d’Orsay to see one of the world’s largest collections of impressionist arts — all housed in a stunning Beaux-Arts railway station. A slightly more macabre attraction can be found if you stay in Monnaie and walk through the delightful backstreets to the Musée d’histoire de la Médecine that contains a wonderful if a slightly dark collection of historical medical instruments and arts.

Evening

Book a table at the atmospheric La Bourse et la Vie in the 2nd arrondissement — where Chef Daniel Rose cooks up French bistro classics with a contemporary twist and for a modest cost, or try something a little different at Mokonuts, where chef Omar Koreitem creates singular dishes with an international flair, each inspired by his Levantine roots. If you’re looking to splash out then eat at Alain Ducasse’s sumptuous Plaza Athénée restaurant instead.

Day Two

Wake up bright and early to avoid the crowds at the Louvre, otherwise, you’ll spend the whole day queueing. Then stroll down the elegant Jardin des Tuileries and pop into the Musée de l’Orangerie to see 8 of Monet’s Water Lilly murals. Next, stroll past the Egyptian Obelisk in the Place de la Concorde before walking down the Champs-Élysées. Alternatively, take the Metro from Concorde to George V to climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe for stunning vistas of the city, or depart at Bir-Hakeim to go straight to the Eiffel Tower for vertigo-inducing views of Paris and beyond.

Lunch

If you’d like to have lunch (or dinner) at Le Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower, you’ll need to book well in advance, but it’s worth it for Chef Frédéric Anton’s phenomenal tasting menus and the views of Paris’ skyline. Alternatively, try Chez L’Ami Jean and their delicious salted-caramel rice pudding that’s made the spot a firm favourite with locals and tourists alike. Afterwards, take the Metro to Mabillon and stroll alongside the flower beds of Le Jardin du Luxembourg. Or if the weather isn’t playing pétanque, continue to Denfert-Rochereau and descend into the atmospheric, bone-filled labyrinth of the Paris catacombs.

Dinner

Take the funicular to Montmartre and reserve a seat in Chez La Mère Catherine (one of Paris’s oldest restaurants) on the bohemian Place du Tertre. Here French classics like Onion Soup and frogs legs are served atop tables dressed in red and white gingham, in one of Paris’ most iconic locales. After dinner, watch the artists and performers in the square while waiting to see the breathtaking spectacle of the Eiffel Tower shimmering and sparkling with light at the top of every hour.