Paris Things to Do

Paris is a city of the senses – sight and taste predominate. In terms of sounds, it can be filled with music or just the rush of traffic; smells can go from sublime to awful depending whether you’re standing in the food court of Galeries Lafayette or next to a busy road, and touch.. But predominantly, Paris fills the eyes and tempts the taste buds. One of the things the French are famous for are their sweet treats – pastries, cakes, and desserts – and of these, one of their most famous gifts to the world is the macaroon…

Spring is a happy time in Paris; everyone’s emerging from their winter hibernation and venturing back onto the streets and into the parks and cafes. You might need to take a jacket and scarf but the sun will be out and the flowers blooming. Some of the best places to soak up the spring sun are:

At first sight, central Paris can seem like a city crammed with buildings. Look closer and of course you’ll discover the manicured lawns and clipped trees of large gardens like the Luxembourg and Tuileries. Tucked away though are smaller stretches of greenery …

You’ll discover a delicious emal at the Maison Dalloyau house of gastronomy. France is as much about food as it is about art and when you combine the two you get the gorgeous edibles produced by Maison Dalloyau. From their famous colorful macaroons and the beautiful and delicious cakes, to that Frenchest of things, foie gras and a fricassee de champignons, these people know how to make something special with food.

Paris is a city where you want to shop. Perhaps it’s the fashionable French people you see passing the café window as you sip your café au lait. Or perhaps it’s all those Audrey Hepburn, Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Tautou movies which make us want to be equally stylish. But after those first few forays into the department stores and boutiques, it all begins to seem a bit of a burden on the credit card. So here are my top four tips for bargain shopping in Paris.

A trip to Paris wouldn’t be complete without spending some time sampling the famous breads and pastries. The Behind the Scenes of a Boulangerie : French Bakery Tour in Paris shows you how your favorite French baked goods are made AND you get to take some with you! This month, one lucky winner will win tickets for this delicious food tour–read on to find out how to enter!

Finally a dream has come true – Paris now has a bar for sleeping. That might sound lame – and many people have scoffed – but I think it’s genius.

Paris is one of the world’s top 5 favourite places in which to welcome in the new year. Not really surprising – it’s gorgeous, it’s romantic, and it has wonderful champagne. This is a city of hopes and dreams and that’s what New Year’s Eve is all about, right?

Oozing with atmosphere, Paris has long been the destination of choice for stylish shoppers, romancing lovers, and exploring for family and food lovers alike. Few wouldn’t want to spend Christmas and New Years in Paris – perfect for Christmas shopping in the chic boutiques, or wining and dining against the romantic backdrop of the City of Lights.

Where better to sample festive specialty foods than Paris? Go on a seasonal culinary adventure through the capital of gourmet food on the Small-Group Gourmet Christmas Tour of Paris. Enjoy samples, shop for gifts and more on this intimate small-group tour!