10 Paris moments: Sail the Seine, marvel at the Mona Lisa and eat in Amelie's cafe
SIT on a hidden beach on the Seine, catch cyclists cross the finish line of the Tour De France and add your 'love lock' to the city's most romantic bridge
1. Sit on a beach in the middle of the city. Watch traditional games of petanque from a deckchair in the sand overlooking the River Seine. You’ll find the summer beach on the embankment, usually used by cars, on the right bank of the city from July 19 to August 17. en.parisinfo.com
2. Discover the best view of Paris – from the steps of Sacre-Coeur. Take the funicular railway to see the city in its glory. The church is built on the highest point in Paris and you can sit on the steps and gaze at the view.
3. Get and eyeful of the Eiffel Tower, from almost anywhere. Paris is a compact city and you’ll easily spot it in the distance as you tour around. If you don’t want pay to get to the top, just make sure it’s in the background of at least one of your pictures.
4. See the last sprint finish of the Tour de France as riders speed to the end of the cycle race along the Champs Elysees past the Arc de Triomphe on Sunday, July 27. Book a weekend trip there, which includes a night in a nearby hotel with Fanatical About Sport. sportstoursinternational.co.uk
5. See the romantic "love locks" on Pont Neuf, the bridge where couples come to declare their devotion. There are now so many that, at the beginning of June 2014, the weight of all the locks caused part of the parapet to collapse.
6. Join the film set. Eat lunch in the very Montpellier cafe made famous in the film Amelie. The Cafe des 2 Moulins is full of memorabilia from the movie and offers up a tasty croquet-monsieur (cheese and ham toasty) for around Euros 8. You’ll find it on the junction of Rue Lepic and Rue Cauchois.
7. Explore the futuristic Parc de la Villette, which has modern sculptures, zany park benches and an interactive science museum. You can get there from lines 5 or 7 on the Metro. villette.com
8. Be stunned by the colours in the big, circular rose windows in Notra Dame which shine as the light flows through. You’ll find this famous Gothic cathedral on the Ile De la City.
9. Take a boat trip on the Seine. Catch the breeze on deck to cool off or opt for a romantic dinner trip. parislogue.com/boat-tours
10. Explore the biggest museum in the world – the Louvre! You’ll find the famous Mona Lisa here but, this small portrait is usually surrounded by crowds. If you don’t want to queue, feast on fresh bread and cheese and have a picnic outside in the Jardin des Tuileries gardens.
