In no other arrondissement but the Marais can you find art galleries, trendy boutiques, designer hotels, funky cafés and bars off the tourist track. Plus it’s also the hub of Paris’s gay community (radiating out from Rue Vieille du Temple, along the Rue St-Croix de la Bretonnerie to Rue du Temple); and – though fading – the Jewish life. You could easily spend your entire visit to Paris in this neighbourhood, because there is that much to do, see and feel…

Restaurant tip.

• Minh Chau (10, Rue de la Verrerie, 75006 Paris): Cute little Vietnamese restaurant with specialities for a good price – also for a take-away. Be sure to save your seat, because numbers are limited!
• Le Dindon en Laisse (18 Rue Beautreillis, 75004 Paris): Reasonable prices lovely restaurant in the centre of Marais with the best duck breast in honey sauce!

Sights.

• The famous Centre Pompidou: The city’s leading modern art museum with an awesome book store where one can get lost for hours.
• Musée Picasso: A must-stop for fans, because Picasso painted some of his best work in Paris.
• Hôtel de Ville: An impressive building, housing the city’s local administration, which is especially breathtaking at night.
  
• Notre Dame: This cathedral is among the largest and most well-known churches in the world. It’s a highlight for each tourist and should be visited both during the day and at night.
  

Hotel Tip.

• Unless you’re staying in an apartment (which we did this time), Hôtel Duo (1 Rue du Temple, 75004 Paris) is a great little designer hotel right in the centre of Marais, where we stayed during our first visit to Paris.

So now go ahead and lose yourself in this neighbourhood. Explore the tiny streets, grab a falafel sandwich or simply just people-watch in a café…

One of the many vintage bar in Le Marais, Paris.

Cathedral Notre Dame is one of the most famous sights in Paris.

Cathedral Notre Dame is even more impressive during night.

Side street in Le Marais, Paris.

The façade of the Centre Pompidou in Paris is very iconic.

Hôtel de Ville at night in Paris.

Paris is indeed the perfect setting for a romantic moment because its beauty strikes you at every corner. Its elegant yet impressive architecture, the legends that stick to its iconic monuments, and the subtle combination of art, history and nature are a perfect romantic getaway spot. Yeah yeah, romance and all the crap around it is fine but (for me) it wouldn’t be a reason to travel to Paris.

I enjoyed Paris because of it’s hip quarters, stylish people and super cute little design shops. I don’t like touristy spots but even if you’re not a fan, it’s hard to refrain from visiting these … Why? Well, you can’t visit Paris and not see the Eiffel Tower!? Sure, its a totally overrated sight but if you’re there anyway, it’s still worth a look. Paris has so many famous sights and landmarks, that you’ll get to one eventually; whether you’re strolling around the heart of Le Marais or walking along the The Seine river, some impressive building will cross your way for sure. Oh, since we’re talking about the district Le Marais … be sure to take your time in this historic part of Paris. Not only because of the Hôtel Soubise or Hôtel de Sens but also because you’ll find the most amazing design shops.

I really can’t wait to visit Paris again – maybe in the fall? I’m not quite sure yet but luckily Vienna is not that far away, so a weekend trip can be arranged easily and finding flights to Paris is pretty simple too.

The Louvre Museum is one of the world’s largest museums and a historic monument and a central landmark of Paris.

The Notre Dame cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, and it is among the largest and most well-known church buildings in the world.

Erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower was initially criticised by some of France’s leading artists and intellectuals for its design, but has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

You will pass several of these kiosk when walking along the Seine in Paris.

The Ecole du Louvre, located within the Palais du Louvre, is a higher education establishment providing courses in French in Archaeology, Epigraphy, Art History, the History of Civilisations and Museology.