Anywhere But Here

:: Bourg Tibourg : In the heart of Marais, little sister to Hotel Costes, this hotel has a beautiful soul and a fabulous breakfast, with windows overlooking the Parisian streets below and is surrounded with lovely bars and restaurants : 19 Rue de Bourg-Tibourg : fr. 230 euros (180 euros for a single room w/ bath)

:: Hotel de Petit Moulin : Try this Christian Lacroix beauty, book early and get in before the fashionistas : 29/31 rue du Poitou, 4e : Tel : 01 42 74 10 10 : email : Metro: Saint Sébastien Froissard or Filles du Calvaire (line 8) fr. 190 euros

:: Hotel Belle Juliette: In the heart of St Germain is brand new and has its own spa and restaurant : 92 Rue du Cherche-Midi : 01 42 22 97 40 : fr 300 euros

If you want to stay in Montmartre then Mama Shelter (20e) and Hotel Particulier are the best picks. Walk in the footsetps of Amelie in this artists quarter begind the incredible Sacre Coeur.

:: The Collection : 33 rue de Poitou, Marais (4e) : Tu-Sa 12-7

:: Merci : 111 Boulevard Beaumarchais 3e: Tel 0142 77 01 90 : Open Mo-Sa 10-7

:: Le Petit Atelier de Paris : 31 rue de Montmorency, 3e : Tel 01 44 54 91 40 : Open Th-Sa 1-8 : blog

:: Eiffel Tower : Open 7 days 9.30am-11pm : & Notre Dame : 6 Place du Parvis Notre Dame

:: Gardens : Tuileries (1st) or Luxembourg Gardens (6th)

:: Hire a bike and discover something a little bit different : La Cite or the Institut du Monde Arabe & Mosque for a Moroccan salon de the experience 7 days 9-11.30am

:: Le Café Marly : Take café and patissiere by the Louvre's magnificent glass pyramid : 93, Rue Rivoli : 01 49 26 06 60

:: Bread & Roses : 7, rue de Fleurus, 6th : 01 4222 0606 : All-day dining M-Sa

:: Laduree : Take tea & macarons in one of their gorgeous salons : Champs Elysee (there is a bar there as well) : 16 Rue Royale 8th (nr Pl de la Madeleine) : another in St Germain : 21 rue Bonaparte : open 7 days)

:: Musee d'Orsay : 1, rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 7th : closed Mon : open til 9.45pm Thu : stay for lunch in the most beautiful room in Paris

:: Hotel Le Meurice : 228 rue de Rivoli : Tel 01 44 58 10 10 : Try the set menu for lunch at Le Meurice Restaurant or relax in the bar for a light meal at Restaurant le Dali, this hotel is a sight to behold

:: Cafe Constant : 139 rue Saint-Dominique, 7th : Tél 01 47 53 73 34 : 8.30-10.30 closed Mon :: or try a cave a manger - wine shop restaurant. Nearby is another winner in St Germain (6e) the ever popular Le Comptoir : get there early for lunch and book for dinner : 9 Carrefour de l'Odéon Saint Germain : 01 43 29 12 05

:: Georges : See the sparkling Eiffel Tower from the roof of the Pompidou Centre : Modern Art Museum by day and killer views by night : Place Georges Pompidou : Tel 01 44 78 12 33

:: Cristal Room : Galerie-Musée Baccarat : 11 place des Etats-Unis : Tel 01 40 22 11 10 : email : M-Sa : L & D

:: Chez Julien : 1 Rue du Pont Louis-Philippe : Tel 01 42 78 31 64 : it's adorable, you'll love it

:: Shop at Le Bon Marche : don't miss the Grande Epicierie (the food hall on the ground level)
38 Rue de Sevres, 7th : M: Sevres Babylon

Museums : You have to see at least one : My pick is the Musee Rodin (7th): see the thinker and the lovely gardens : 79 Rue de Varenne : closed Mon & free on Sunday

Markets : weather food or flea : Rue Mouffetard (start at Rue de l'Epee de Bois) 5e : Tu-Sa 8-1 & 4-7 : Su 8-1 :: Marche Raspail (Organic Market) : Blvd Raspail b/w rue Cherche-Midi & rue de Rennes, 6e : Su only and the best flea markets are Clingnancourt (Les Puces de Saint-Ouen) 18e : 48 rue Jules Valles : Sa,Su,M 7.30-6 and Vanves (Marche aux Puces de la Port de Vanves) 14e : Sa & Su : Ave de la Porte de Vanves and surrounding streets (don't be disheartened when the market looks like fakes and cheap clothes, keep walking til you find the real deal, you'll know when you get there.

Go to a museum without checking the opening hours, many are closed on Monday

Queue for hours : buy a museum pass

Go in August : everything is closed as Paris empties and Parisians are away on their summer holiday, September marks the 'return' of everyone into the city

Chateau du Versaille : Tel 01 30 83 78 00 : open fr. 9am : closed Mon : take a picnic and bask by the river : take the train or take join a tour

Chateau Robert : sleeps 18 : b/w Bordeaux & Biarritz & comes with a chef that cooks organic food from the gardens : yoga retreats are held here as well

Giverny Gardens - Claude Monet's waterlilies come to life : 60 min train ride out of Paris or book through the excellent France Tourisme tours : Open Apr-Nov : 02 32 51 28 21



Arrondissments:
Louvre (1e)
Bourse (2e)
Temple (3e)
Le Marais (4e)
Latin Quarter (5e)
St Germain (6e)
Eiffel Tower (7e)
Champs Elysee (8e)
Opera (9e)
Gare du Nord (10e)
Bastille (11e)
Montmartre (18e)
Belleville (20e)