Let your hair down in France's colourful capital on short breaks to Paris, a city that oozes flamboyant fashion, oh là là cuisine and chic café culture.
Paris' patchwork of arrondissements, or districts, spreads out from the meandering River Seine. At the centre of it all, the tree-lined Champs-Élysées avenue leads to Napoleon's grand Arc de Triomphe and the manicured Tuileries Gardens. When you spot the chalky white dome of the majestic Sacré-Coeur cathedral and Moulin Rouge cabaret's iconic windmill, you know you have arrived in the bohemian artists' quarter, Montmartre. Swanky Marais' mansion-lined avenues host the steel and glass, space age Georges Pompidou Centre.
Best of Paris city breaks for...
- Active types: You get the best Paris panoramas when you climb the 704 outdoor steps to the second level of the 300m Eiffel Tower. Catch your breath with a glass of sparkling rosé in the top-floor champagne bar.
- Romance: It's love at first sight when you step into the elegant French Baroque Louvre museum and see the sultry Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo goddess of love. You'll want to say “je t'aime” on Paris city breaks in front of Canova's lovey-dovey Cupid's Kiss statue.
- Free & cheap: Get a free feel for grand French Gothic architecture at Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral. You can giggle at funny-faced gargoyles and peek into Esmeralda's cell on your climb to the north and south towers.
- Shopping: Parisian-chic seeps from the ornate balconies and 33m glass-dome roof in the sophisticated Galeries Lafayette department store. Real fashionistas stay 'on trend' at super-cool catwalk shows here every Friday.
- Families: Little princes and princesses love meeting cuddly, life-size cartoon characters at Disneyland Paris. Stay amused for hours in this fairytale wonderland with fairground rides and fancy-dress parades.
Getting into Paris from Charles de Gaulle Airport
- Once you have collected your bags it's easy to hail a taxi at the arrivals terminals. The ride to central Paris takes around 50 minutes.
- RER local trains leave Terminal One's station and transport you to central Paris-Châtelet les Halles station in less than an hour.
Getting around on weekend breaks in Paris
- Public transport: It's a breeze to get around on the 14 colour-coded lines of the Paris Métro. Pick up a standard “t+” ticket to cover standard trips on the Métro, RER zone one routes, trams and buses.
