Three new ways to enjoy gay Paree!

Freya Godfrey, Commissioning Editor at Culture Trip, fell in love with Paris after a school exchange trip and has returned countless times. Here are her top tips for finding something to suit every taste and budget Panoramic paradise

A trip to Paris isn’t complete without making your way to the top of the iconic wrought–iron Eiffel Tower. If you’ve got a head for heights and fancy a challenge, skip the queues (and knock €15 off your ticket fee) by taking the stairs up to the second floor. While there are many steps to climb – 674 to be exact – you’ll be rewarded with views of the city’s sweeping skyline.

Roam like royalty

Covering 25 hectares, the 17th Century Luxembourg Gardens is a great spot on a sunny day. Once a royalsonly stomping ground, members of the public can now spend hours strolling its winding paths, formal terraces, chestnut groves and manicured lawns, while seeking out the 106 statues dotted throughout.

Off-beat eat

Enjoy French cuisine with an Asian twist at Le Petit Marché in the fashionable Marais district with dishes such as caramelised duck breast served with roasted bananas and figs.

Gaze at grandeur

Though currently covered in scaffolding, Notre Dame Cathedral is still worth a visit – even if only from the outside – with its iconic rose windows, stone gargoyles and biblical sculptures.

Sample the street art

La Petite Ceinture is an abandoned railway overgrown with more than 200 species of colourful flora, all set against vivid graffiti and street art. The perfect antidote to the bustling city.

Shop ‘til you drop

Paris is a vintage lovers’ delight with its array of secondhand and retro stores. Rue Des Martyrs is a lovely little street brimming with gourmet food stores, florists, and independent shops. If you’re on a tight budget, try Les Puces de Saint-Ouen

– the world’s oldest and largest flea market – situated on the outskirts of the city, perfect for antique jewellery, furniture, old books, records and vintage clothes.