a day in town
In Paris, most of the action takes place along the banks of the rivers in small, neatly-designed neighborhoods that each have their own unique characteristics. Its easy enough to navigate on foot between the many parts of town, so make sure you're wearing your walking shoes.
To get your bearings, or perhaps to squash your fear of heights, head straight for the top of the landmark Eiffel Tower. You'll get a panoramic view of the entire city, making it easy to plot your movements and get your head around the mind-boggling town planning. Alternatively, the roof of the famed Notre Dame is another top vantage-point to plan your next move.
You'll need to stop at least once for coffee, and a great place to get your caffeine hit is amongst the Medieval architecture of the Marais district. From here its only a short stroll to the up-market boutiques and world-class design around rue Etienne Marcel.
A visit to Paris would only be fleeting if it didn't involve a visit to the Louvre, housing arguably the worlds best collection of renaissance artwork including the intriguing smirk of Leonardo Da Vincis Mona Lisa. And if after all that, your art itch isn't scratched, check out the stunning Musee d'Orsay and the Mus?e Rodin for more classic works.
Although you can cover a lot of ground in a day in Paris, you'll soon realise that it's only the beginning of a life-long love affair.
