Paris: Tips

Art on Tour A handful of guided English-run tours (€5; 1.5 hours), led daily at the Louvre, are a fantastic way to uncover some of the most reputed pieces on display. Meeting point & tickets in the museums Hall Napoléon

Bargain Time Serious shoppers should considering coordinating their visit with the soldes--major biannual sales usually held in January and July.

Late Warning Have cab fare handy if you’re going to be out late: the métro stops running between 12:30am and 1am (hours vary according to station) – and doesn't start up again until 5.30am.

Not So Fast Note that lunch can be as big an affair as dinner, so budget in extra time for restaurant dining. For fast eats check out cafes serving soups and sandwiches and street-side crêpe and sandwich stands.

A La Francaise You'll be amazed at the reception you'll receive with a few French words – a well-placed bonjour and merci works wonders with Parisians, who, for the most part, know enough English to meet you the rest of the way.

Strike-out The Paris métro system is clean, fast, and remarkably efficient – when it’s not on strike. Most are announced days in advance so ask your concierge to keep you posted, and know that it’s rare that all lines are affected.