“‘April in Paris, chestnuts in blossom…what have you done to my heart’, sang Sinatra. And the lyrics remain true today. The City of Light is still the city of romance.”

Visitors have been falling in love with Paris for centuries. Adored by honeymooners, its charms have inspired lyricists, writers and artists. And it’s no wonder. Lorded over by the Eiffel Tower, it’s a world of broad, tree-lined boulevards, elaborate churches and matchless art collections. Of gardens, stately monuments and intimate cafes. The smell of coffee and freshly-baked croissants in the air. And those oh-so-elegant Parisians with their understated designer suits and Hermes scarves tied with such elan. Coursing through the heart of the city is the glorious Seine, dividing it into the smart, fashionable Right Bank and the bohemian, literary Left Bank. The home of couture giants Chanel and Yves St Laurent, Paris is chic and fashionable on one side, and off-beat and intellectual on the other. While fashionistas scour its boutiques, arty types seek out the cafes of Montparnasse where writers like Ernest Hemingway and Scott Fitzgerald drank and discussed the meaning of life back in the 1920s. When it comes to discovering this city of romance, start with the big players. The Eiffel Tower is spectacular at any time, but even more so at night, when it has hourly illumination displays. Gaze at the spire and towers of Notre-Dame, sitting majestically on its little island in the Seine, and the gleaming basilica of Sacre Coeur up on the skyline above Montmartre. Then there’s the impossibly wide Champs-Elysees. Backed by the Arc de Triomphe and lined with designer stores, it’s like something out of a fashion shoot. But it’s well worth wandering off the tourist trail, too. Wander down the streets of villages like Le Marais and you’ll come across hidden squares and little cafés serving up the best pastries you’ve ever tasted. Once you’ve fallen under this city’s spell, you’ll want to come back again and again.

When it comes to top Parisian attractions, beaches don’t tend to get a mention. So you might be surprised to hear that every summer three sandy stretches appear in the city, attracting crowds from early morning ‘til midnight. It’s all part of the ‘Paris Plage’ programme launched in 2002, which transforms three waterside spots into fully-fledged beaches, each with its own theme. The biggest and most popular one stretches for 3kms beside the Seine, between Louvre and Pont de Sully, and sees the riverside highway closed to traffic and covered with 2,000 tonnes of sand. Deckchairs and parasols are set out around potted palms, and there’s a swimming pool, stage, and all kinds of activities from roller-blading to boules. The beach at Port de la Gare, by the Josephine Baker floating swimming pool, aims to draw in the brainy rather than the brawny – focusing on cultural rather than energetic activities, with art classes and books. The third – set along the Bassin de la Villette in the north of the city – is dedicated to watersports.