From From the Left Bank cafe habitué to the naughty Paris of Pigalle's red-light bars, Paris is all things to all men. One of the great art repositories of the world, Paris harbours a pretty illustrious artistic pedigree, listing Renoir, Picasso, Monet, Rodin and Manet amongst it's most prized. Despite its antiquities, the city's cache of modern and contemporary art is no less fervent and can be found across of scores of smaller museums across the Marais and beyond.

With iconic postcard views and wicker-chair-lined terraces, Paris's cuisine is second to none. Ranging from humble boulangeries, to cosy neighbourhood bistro to a triple-Michelin-starred flavour of the month, the city boasts a varied food scene of tradition and contemporaneity in equal parts.

Shopping is equally scintillating. Browse emerging and established designers in resplendent department stores, scour vintage shops and flea markets, and scan the bankside dark-green bouquiniste stalls for rare editions.

"To know Paris is to know a great deal." - Henry Miller