Paris

Romantic, elegant, sophisticated and stylish. These are all clichés that many travel writers can’t help but use when describing France’s capital city.

While the argument can certainly be made that those descriptions are accurate when selling Paris to tourists, it is deserves more than the aforementioned stereotypes.

The big question you should ask yourself on arrival is: ‘where do I start?’. Do you aim to tick off some of the big-ticket tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and Arc de Triomphe, or explore the quieter, less trodden areas of the city and discover where the locals spend their time?

Paris has a really special atmosphere, in part because of the countless historic buildings that line the streets and create a blend of modern and classical architecture, with nods to the medieval, Roman and renaissance eras.

Its culinary culture is another major aspect to Paris. Parisians as a whole have high standards when it comes to dining. Away from the major touristy areas independent bistros and cafes serve up the best that French cuisine has to offer, paired, of course, with local wine. Those with a sweet tooth in particular will feel at home when sampling food from its countless brasseries and patisseries.

But Paris isn’t always at its best when experienced through the prism of its coffee stops and fine-dining establishments. Paris rewards tourists who wish to see the sights at a pace, with its versatile transport system and concentration of monuments, shopping streets, art galleries and museums in its centre.