Few cities carry the romance of Paris, and few arrivals match stepping off the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express onto the platform at Gare de l'Est, having crossed the Alps and half of Europe in polished wood-panelled carriages. Paris is a city built for wandering: the Seine loops beneath its bridges past honey-coloured limestone facades, wrought-iron balconies, and chestnut-lined avenues that have inspired painters, poets, and revolutionaries for centuries.
From the soaring iron lace of the Eiffel Tower to the hushed galleries of the Louvre, Paris rewards travellers who slow down. Its neighbourhoods each keep their own character — bohemian Montmartre, aristocratic Saint-Germain-des-Prés, the fashionable Marais with its Renaissance mansions — while its markets, patisseries, and wine bars turn daily life into something worth savouring.
Arriving by the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express transforms the journey into part of the destination itself: a slow, luxurious transition from London or Venice into the very heart of Europe, with the romance of vintage rail travel setting the tone for everything that follows in Paris.
- ✦Iconic Eiffel Tower views
- ✦World-class art at the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay
- ✦Gothic splendour of Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle
- ✦Bohemian Montmartre and the Sacré-Cœur
- ✦Day trip to the Palace of Versailles
- ✦Classic French bistro dining
- ✦Arrival aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Places to See in Paris
The Eiffel Tower
Gustave Eiffel's 1889 iron lattice tower remains the city's defining silhouette. Ascend to the summit for sweeping views over the Champ de Mars and the rooftops of Paris, or simply admire it sparkling on the hour after dusk.
The Louvre
The world's most-visited museum, housed in a former royal palace, holds the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and centuries of Western art beneath I.M. Pei's glass pyramid.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
The Gothic masterpiece on the Île de la Cité, still under careful restoration following the 2019 fire, remains one of the most storied churches in the world and a symbol of Parisian resilience.
Musée d'Orsay
A former Beaux-Arts railway station turned museum, home to the world's finest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works by Monet, Degas, Van Gogh, and Renoir.
Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur
The hilltop artists' quarter, crowned by the white domes of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, offers cobbled lanes, the Place du Tertre's portrait painters, and panoramic views across the city.
Palace of Versailles
A short excursion from central Paris, Louis XIV's opulent palace with its Hall of Mirrors and manicured gardens is one of Europe's grandest royal residences.
Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées
Napoleon's triumphal arch anchors the grand avenue running toward the Place de la Concorde, lined with cafés, flagship boutiques, and theatres.
Sainte-Chapelle
Tucked within the Palais de la Cité, this Gothic chapel's soaring stained-glass windows are among the finest surviving examples of 13th-century glasswork.
Le Marais
A historic district of narrow medieval streets, Renaissance hôtels particuliers, the Place des Vosges, and a lively mix of galleries, boutiques, and falafel stands.
Food & Gastronomy
Paris treats dining as an art form, from unhurried café terraces to Michelin-starred temples of gastronomy. A day here moves naturally from a butter-laden croissant to a lingering, wine-soaked dinner.
- Croissant and pain au chocolat — the essential Parisian breakfast, best from a neighbourhood boulangerie rather than a chain.
- Steak frites — a bistro classic pairing seared steak with crisp, golden fries, often served with a peppercorn or béarnaise sauce.
- Coq au vin — chicken slow-braised in red wine with mushrooms and lardons, a hallmark of traditional French home cooking.
- Boeuf bourguignon — a rich, slow-cooked beef stew from Burgundy that appears on bistro menus across the city.
- Escargots de Bourgogne — snails baked in garlic-parsley butter, a classic starter at old-school brasseries.
- Onion soup gratinée — caramelised onion soup topped with melted Gruyère, traditionally eaten late at night near Les Halles.
- Macarons — delicate almond-meringue confections, with Ladurée and Pierre Hermé among the most celebrated makers.
- Cheese and wine — a proper plateau de fromages featuring Brie de Meaux, Comté, and Camembert, paired with Burgundy or Bordeaux.
For a taste of everyday Parisian food culture, wander the open-air Marché Bastille or the covered Marché des Enfants Rouges, or take a seat at a zinc-topped bar for a glass of wine and a plate of charcuterie.
