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Paris tours and excursions

Paris tours

Driving tours

For the ultimate way to see Paris, take a tour in a patriotically coloured Citröen 2CV. Paris Authentic runs trips in the cute 1950s cars which chug round the city's attractions on themed jaunts. The 'Da Vinci Code' tour is popular, as is a romantic drive around Paris, but nothing quite compares to the 'Moulin Rouge by Night'.

Tel: +33 6 6450 4419.
Website: http://www.parisauthentic.com

Walking tours

Paris is such a beautiful city to walk through, and travelling at such a sedate pace really gives you the chance to think about what you're seeing. Walks on a variety of themes are offered by Paris Walks, including 'Hemingway's Paris', 'The Village of Montmartre', 'The Marais Circuit' and many more. Tours depart from various métro stations, which are listed on the website, and last for around two hours.

Tel: +33 1 4809 2140.
Website: http://www.paris-walks.com

Paris excursions

Disneyland Paris

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Disneyland Paris is located between the airports Roissy-Charles de Gaulle and Orly. It boasts over 50 attractions, the newest addition being the "Star Tours: The Adventures Continue" that catapults you into space. Other attractions include themed hotels, restaurants, bars and cafés, as well as shops, spas, a golf course, tennis courts, a Sea Life Aquarium and Davy Crockett's Adventure Park. Don't miss the shows, parades, special events and highlights like Disney's Halloween Festival or Disney's Enchanted Christmas. A highlight is undoubtedly the opportunity to meet your favourite Disney characters; the Disney princesses, Goofy and Mickey Mouse and many more are all there.

Tel: +44 8448 008 898.
Website: http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk

Giverny

The great Parisian painter Monet lived in countrified Giverny from 1883 until his death in 1926. Situated 80km (50 miles) northwest of Paris, the house in which he painted his last, vast water lily canvas, is open to the public as Musée Claude Monet.

Drive on the A13 from Paris to Bonnières then onto the D2+33 1 to Giverny. The train from Gare St-Lazare station goes to Vernon, from where visitors should take a taxi or bus.

Tel: +33 2 3251 2821.
Website: http://www.fondation-monet.com

Château de Versailles

No sooner had Louis XIV set eyes on his finance minister's château at Vaux-le-Victomte, had he decided to build a bigger and better one. The result is one of the grandest palaces in France, where mobs gathered to demand justice from Marie Antoinette at the height of the French Revolution. Versailles, a UNESCO site, is located 23km (14 miles) west of Paris and is easily accessible on the RER line C5 to Versailles-Rive Gauche.

Tel: +33 1 3083 7800.
Website: http://www.chateauversailles.fr
A digital image at https://illuminoto.com

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Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg

The wonderful Sofitel Paris Le Faubourg is a renovated 18th century mansion that feels effortlessly like a Parisian town house. Styled by the illustrious Didier Gomez, the rooms in this 5-star hotel are tastefully finished with Louis XV armchairs, vintage mirrors and beds you can imagine libertine lovers losing whole weekends in. Lunch and cocktails in the hidden courtyard terrace are a must too.

Hôtel Des Academies Et Des Arts

Just around the corner from Montparnasse cemetery, this neat boutique hotel offers stunning rooms and a sumptuous breakfast without the wallet melting price tag. Best of all, it feels far more like neighbourhood Paris than similarly sized spots in touristy Montmartre. The lounge area, replete with library, is a great place to kick back before heading out to one of the array of nearby brasseries for dinner.

Le Bristol

There’s luxury accommodation and then there’s Hotel Le Bristol Paris. From marble-panelled powder rooms to its regal 1,210-sq-m (13,000-sq-ft) garden, Le Bristol has been Paris’s most prestigious hotel since its inception in 1925. All services are naturally state of the art and foodies will be happy to hear its three-Michelin starred restaurant continues to stockpile accolades under the guidance of chef Eric Frechon.

Saint James Paris

The Saint James is steeped in weird and wonderful history. A one time hot-air balloon field (some still take off today) and school for France's most talented students, nowadays it is one of Paris's hottest addresses. Situated in a 19th century chateau on the edge of the city centre, rooms are a blend of belle époque decadence and modern luxury. Beyond the bedrooms, the library bar, with a terrace affording views across town, is what makes this hotel really special.

Hotel Dupond Smith

This lush Marais bolthole isn’t obscenely overpriced but will leave you feeling pampered and prepped to take on the area’s myriad coffee stops and macaroon shops. Its furniture is by Phillipe Starck and its wallpaper by Hermes. Sleek and stylish, make sure you dress the part for this classy Parisian hotel.

Ritz Paris

Situated on one of the smartest squares in the city, the Ritz Paris is the capital’s most celebrated hotel and is the very essence of luxury and discretion. The lobby gleams with marble, chandeliers and impressive floral arrangements from designer Djordje Varda, while the oriental carpets, soft to the touch, soak up the sound. It has a magnificent swimming pool and fitness room, as well as a health spa.