Don't be put off by the masses of punters shuffling in and out of Paris' mega-museums; it would be a shame to leave the city without venturing inside the Louvre or the Musée d'Orsay. Be smart about it. Contrary to popular belief, early mornings are always the busiest; go at lunch or a couple of hours before closing time. Choose one wing or collection at a time. Or, after an early dinner, take advantage of the nocturnes; most museums have late openings once or twice a week until 9 or 10pm.

Paris website

This hip, arts centre feeds the mind with exhibitions, cinema and live concerts; and the body with lip-smacking, French cuisine. Listen to hot young bands over a plate of Boeuf Bourguignon, salmon with roasted courgettes or lamb with Provençal vegetables. Or opt for a quieter meal and a spot-on mojito cocktail in the romantic courtyard. On Sundays there's an array of delicious sweets and savouries at the €25 brunch buffet. Reservations recommended.

Where: 7-9 rue Francis de Pressensé, 75014 Paris, (Metro: Pernéty), +33 (0) 1 45 40 07 50

L'Entrepôt website

Open: Daily 9am-12am (until 1am during concerts)

Cost: €25 for Sunday brunch; €35 for à la carte

It's been going for years, but Batofar is still the place to go in Paris for techno fans. On a boat that is permanently moored, you won't go sailing down the river, but you will dance till dawn with a bunch of very up-for-it Parisians.

Where: Opposite 11 quai Francois Mauriac, 75013 Paris, (Metro: Bibliothèque François Mitterrand, Quai de la Gare), +33 (0)1 53 60 17 30

Batofar website

This romantic hotel has an elegant designer edge with fabrics by Lelièvre and Kenzo, furniture procured at antique fairs, and modern luxuries in all rooms (including wifi and flat-screen TV). You eat breakfast in a bistro-style salon, a bow to Saint-Germain's bohemian past, and a complementary aperitif is offered to all guests on Tuesdays and Fridays. That's the life!

Where: 105 rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris, (Metro: St-Placide or Montparnasse), +33 (0)1 53 63 25 50

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Only in Paris does a department store stock hundreds of labels coveted by hordes of frenzied shoppers, yet retain a boutique-y vibe. Le Bon Marché (meaning cheap, though that's not entirely true) is a rive-gauche institution nestled in a chic metal frame. There's also a cosmetics department, men's clothing and a gorgeous home deco section. Just can't get enough? The Galleries Lafayette and Le Printemps are only a Metro ride away.

Where: 24 rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris, (Metro: Vaneau or Sèvres Babylone), +33 (0) 1 44 39 80 00

Le Bon Marché website

Open: Mon-Wed 10am-7.30pm; Thu 10am-9pm; Fri 10am-8pm; Sat 9.30am-8pm

Visit the Pantheon, Le Temple de la Nation, a shrine to the heroes of France. A very moving experience. You will also see Foucault's Pendulum which is a scientific masterpiece. Well worth the time. Ursula Steiger, Canterbury

If you know you will be returning to Paris you can keep any unused Metro tickets for your next trip. This will save you queuing for tickets when you reach Gare de Nord. Caroline Lee

The Jardin des Plantes was my salvation in Paris - as the scorching summer day becomes the sultry summer night, take yourself for a quiet wander around this peaceful garden. Lee Sachs-Turenne, Horsham

We went to Le Bar Sans Nom in Bastille (rue de Lappe); it has been a fashionable area for years (for somewhere less mainstream, try Oberkampf) but this bar is anything but! Embrace the slightly damp smell and mismatched furniture, enjoy yourself, and you may even end up getting free drinks from Madame. Or, maybe that was cos we'd already bought so many! Jess, Beccles

I love Chez Marianne for a quick, inexpensive meal. Choose from a big list of mezze, and everyone can try a bit of everything. They also have a deli at the end of the restaurant so you can create your own picnic. Don't forget the mint tea at the end! Siwi, London

Where: Chez Marianne, 2, rue des Hospitalières-Saint-Gervais, 75004 Paris, +33 (0) 1 42 72 18 86, (Metro: Hôtel de Ville)

You can buy your RER ticket day pass in London, so you are not fussing with euros in Paris. So convenient! Tiara Warlop

This building is phenomenal, inside and out. The actual building is in a mouchariya style with lenses which get smaller and larger to adjust the amount of light entering the building. It's a sanctuary for all culture vultures (like me), with exhibitions on Arab-Islamic art and science; a panoramic view of Paris on the top floor; a museum shop filled with little middle eastern novelties; and the sweetest mint tea I've ever had! Definitely worth a visit. Nikoo Aziminia, London

Metro: Jussieu

You don't have to tip cab drivers and you can also flag them in the middle of the street. Helen Varn