‘The city is upcycling its existing assets, using top landmarks as key venues’

Paris, France

As the city gears up to host the Olympic Games in 2024, all eyes are on the French capital – though not always for the right reasons. Bin strikes and bed bugs are not so appealing, it’s true, but the City of Lights has plenty up its sleeve to delight visitors in its Olympic year.

For a start, it is upcycling its existing assets, using its top landmarks as key venues: the cleaned-up Seine River will host the opening ceremony, the beach volleyball event will take place under the Eiffel Tower, fencing and taekwondo will be held under the glass dome of the Grand Palais and equestrian events will be showcased at the Palace of Versailles.

Some of the most established museums are getting in on the act, too. At the Petit Palais there is the dazzling Modern Paris (open until April 14), where visitors can peruse works from Picasso, Chagall and Tamara de Lempicka, as well as flapper fashion, diamonds from Cartier and even a Type B plane from 1911. At the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Fashion and Sports exhibition (open until April 7) tells the history of sports clothing via a spellbinding selection of outfits.

Paris is also setting the culinary agenda once again, thanks to a young generation of chefs including culinary superstar Mory Sacko. His newest opening at Lafayette’s serves up exquisite dishes that blend flavours from Europe, Africa and the American South, all set in the former private mansion – an encapsulation of the old-meets-new culture of Paris today.

How to do it

Eurostar (03432 186 186; eurostar.com) runs 14 services per day from London to Paris. Direct flights are operated by EasyJet and Air France from a range of UK regional airports.

Hannah Meltzer is a British journalist living in Paris. She writes about culture and travel and is Paris destination expert for The Telegraph.

iHaute cuisine: superstar chef Mory Sacko creates exquisite dishes at Lafayette’s in Paris