The glittering skyline of the City of Lights will be instantly familiar to almost every traveler. After all, Paris is the perfect backdrop to any romantic getaway—a magical locale to meander through, making new discoveries at every turn.
Braving the crowds to eyeball the Mona Lisa at the Louvre or Monet’s Poppy Field at the Musée d’Orsay is essential for even the most art-averse. After a busy day of gallery touring, head to the iconic Shakespeare and Company bookshop to pick up a tome or two – perfect for delving into on a bench along the pretty Canal Saint-Martin. When the sun sets, aim for the burlesque ground zero of the Moulin Rouge in once-sleazy, now trendy Pigalle, before nabbing a drink at the hidden dive Orphée – if the notoriously mercurial doorman will let you in, that is.
Eating-wise, market stans should make for Le Marché Popincourt in the 11th arrondissement, with its streets lined with artisanal grocers; or, if you prefer your food prepared for you, stop by one of Pierre Sang Boyer’s eponymous, no-menu French-Korean joints, the stone-cold classic brasserie Bouillon Chartier in Montparnasse, or one of the Marais' brilliant falafel joints.
As for the best views of the French capital, climb all 272 feet of Sacré-Cœur, the basilica at the top of Montmartre’s butte. It’s Paris’s highest point after the Eiffel Tower, and a perfect place to drink in this utterly radiant city.
Paris is a cinematographer's dream. No city is more dazzling in the sunshine or sexier in the rain—or, better still, lit up at night.
French photographer Aurélien Vialatte offers a different perspective of the race
