Book a Flight to Paris from €56

The Louvre Museum: The "mother of all museums" attracts 10 million visitors a year! The Parisian repository of art with the glass pyramid at the entrance houses 35,000 exhibits representing periods from the prehistoric age to the 21st century. It is impossible to see it all in one visit. Must-sees include the Egyptian antiquities, the famous Mona Lisa and the sculptural masterpieces of ancient Greece, Venus de Milo and Winged Victory (Nike) of Samothrace. Address: Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre, 0033140205317, www.louvre.fr

Notre-Dame de Paris: the cathedral represents the crowning achievement of French Gothic architecture. Building began in 1163, and its many decorative elements include impressive rosettes embellishing the façade of the church that is interwoven with the history of Paris. Decorated with splendid sculptures, it was looted during the French Revolution and was central to Victor Hugo's novel, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame". Address: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, 0033142345610, www.notredamedeparis.fr

Eiffel Tower: the most famous sight in Paris and one of the most photographed monuments in the world, it was built in 1889 by engineer Gustave Eiffel for the World's Fair celebrating the centennial of the French Revolution. Take the lift (or climb the 704 steps) to the top for a panoramic view of the entire city from 276 metres. Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 0033892701239, www.toureiffel.paris

The Musée d'Orsay: housed in a romantic railway station ca. 1900 on the Seine, it features masterpieces by French Impressionists Monet, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Manet, Degas, Renoir and many others. Address: 1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 0033140494814, www.musee-orsay.fr

Arc de Triomphe: this magnificent monument at the western end of the Champs-Élysées was commissioned by Napoleon to honour his army's victory in Austerlitz. Often called the "Triumphal Arch of the Star", in reference to the fact that 12 main avenues radiate from there, it is integral to many historical moments in Paris, such as the victory march that took place with Charles de Gaulle at the head of the procession after the city was liberated from the Germans. Address: Place Charles de Gaulle, 0033 1 55 37 73 77, www.arcdetriompheparis.com

Palace of Versailles: visit this dazzling palace of the "Sun King" and travel back to the 17th century when France was ruled by the House of Bourbon. You will be awed by the Hall of Mirrors and enchanted by the famous gardens. Don't miss out on a tour through Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette's private château. Address: Place d'Armes, 33 130837800, www.chateauversailles.fr

Ride on the Seine: board one of the familiar open excursion boats - the bateaux mouches - for a view of the most important sights of Paris from the water. The cruise can be combined with a meal or a cabaret show. Address: boats depart from the Port de la Conférence (0033142259610) and the Port de la Bourdonnais (003382501010).

Sacré-Cœur Basilica: the all-white Roman Catholic church and minor basilica dominates Montmartre hill. Building on the church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Christ began in 1876. Address: 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 0033 1 53 41 89 00, www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com

Pompidou Centre: a monumental hive of culture in Beaubourg visited by an average of 16,000 people daily! The post-modern hi-tech structure designed by Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gianfranco Franchini inspired an architectural revolution in the 1970s. Visit the National Museum of Modern Art to see the works of artists from all over the world and don't miss one of the periodic ground-breaking exhibitions. Address: Place Georges Pompidou, 0033144781233, www.centrepompidou.fr

Musée de l'Orangerie: it is well worth a visit to the museum in the Tuileries Garden to see - among other masterpieces - the awe-inspiring "Water Lilies" series (Nymphéas) painted in the early 20th century by Impressionist Claude Monet. The artist had spent 20 years observing these aquatic plants in the garden of his home in Giverny. Address: Jardin Tuileries, 0033144504300, http://www.musee-orangerie.fr

The Picasso Museum: more than 5,000 works by the leading Spanish artist are on exhibit in this elegant mansion in the Marais district. Address: 5 Rue de Thorigny, 0033185560036, www.museepicassoparis.fr

Travel to the capital of fashion to renew your wardrobe. Start off with an exploratory stroll through the famous Parisian department stores in the Haussmann, Saint-Lazare and Opéra districts. Cross over the Seine and head for Boulevard Saint-Germain on the Left Bank. Browse the windows of the haute-couture fashion houses where Hollywood celebrities now go on shopping safaris in the quartier once frequented by Hemingway and Simone de Beauvoir. On rue de Rennes, you will find boutiques with more mainstream prêt-à-porter clothing brands. In the so-called "Golden Triangle" on the Champs-Élysées, the French temples of haute-couture stand side by side with the ateliers of Italian fashion designers, famous jewellery shops and stores with brand-name sporting goods and cosmetics. Look for avant-garde clothing and accessories at the more eclectic boutiques in Marais, or unique vintage pieces in So-Pi, the abbreviation for the emerging district south of Pigalle. Create your own unique fragrance at one of the perfumeries in the city for a personalised memento of Paris.

In the capital of French cuisine and its inimitable style, it is not only what you eat that is important, but also where. In Paris, you can dine at the Eiffel Tower with the entire city at your feet, or a floating restaurant on the Seine, or under the pyramid at the Louvre, or even enjoy a little dîner at a cabaret. If you want an authentic Parisian dining experience, you should go to one of the many bistros in the city for a relaxed atmosphere, straightforward but tasty dishes and a good wine list. Or you might prefer one of the Art Deco brasseries in Place Clichy, in the Montmartre quarter, where onion soup, coq au vin, pot au feu and other classics are on offer. Sample some ice cream at the city's historical ice cream parlours on Reuilly Boulevard and on Île Saint-Louis, as well as home-made tarts and chocolates at the patisseries. Go for a drink at one of the friendly bars in Marais, or try the French wines and champagnes at the wine bars in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. The Parisian nights continue at exclusive nightspots with strict face control, film clubs, hang-outs with a retro or industrial style, dance clubs featuring famous DJs along the Seine, and trendy all-night establishments in Pigalle and Bastille.

Paris becomes the ideal backdrop for the year's top events.

• Museum Night: "See museums differently" is the slogan of the French Ministry of Culture which, one night in May, invites art-loving Parisians and visitors to experience a night-time encounter with the treasures and works of art of Paris. On this night, themed tours compete with one another for originality and atmosphere.
• We Love Green: An environmentally oriented festival held at the idyllic Park de Bagatelle, with its waterfalls, bridges and the lovely rose gardens. Live musical appearances, outdoor parties, art installations and organic foods make up this two-day event in May aimed at raising public awareness of environmental issues.
• World Music Day: Every year on 21 June, the parks, squares and other public spaces in Paris are transformed into open-air stages and the city fills with all kinds of music: classical, jazz, rock, accordion, hip-hop, Celtic, Corsican songs and much more.
• Festival Paris Cinéma: This summer festival in July features hundreds of screenings and throngs of French and foreign stars appear in the city that adores the silver screen, with 30 million people trying to get into the 374 cinemas of Paris. Parallel events include tours through areas of the French capital that have been featured in famous films.

Getting to and from the airport

Aegean Airlines lands at Charles de Gaulle International Airport, located 20 km north-east of Paris. The largest airport in Paris has cafés, brasseries, bistros, gourmet restaurants, many stores offering high-fashion items, jewellery and accessories, banks, foreign exchange desks, a post office, children's play areas and a music lounge. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the airport. The fastest way to get from the airport to the city is via the RER suburban railway, which stops at various central stations that also connect to the metro. You can also use the RoissyBus to the Opera district. If you prefer a taxi, remember that fares are quite high.