A Parisian gargoyles keeps watch over the City of Light

Even before Dan Brown had people itching to follow the Da Vinci Code trail, Paris wasn't exactly lacking in visitors.

The City of Light is the world's favourite, home to iconic sights such as the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Notre Dame and the Champs Elysées.

And then there's the museums: the Mona Lisa-housing Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the space-age Centre Pompidou… though to escape the crowds, you could check out cutting-edge contemporary art at the Palais de Tokyo or the exotic displays at the newly-opened Musée du Quai Branly instead.

If you're not too cool for a bit of open-top sightseeing, a cruise down the Seine on a bateau-mouche is an enjoyable means of getting your bearings.

For an exquisitely-wrapped piece of Paris to take home with you, work the floors at department store Galerie Printemps, browse the boutiques in the Marais district or splurge at the ultra-luxe stores on Place Vendôme.

To refuel, you're never far from a bistro or café, though the current fashion is to head to the city's north-east for 'le brunch', where you can also skim stones Amélie-style at the Canal St-Martin.

The Palace of Versailles

If you need a break from the city, head into the countryside to explore the many chateaux, the most spectacular being the Palace of Versailles. Built at enormous expense for King Louis XIV, this palace is filled with golden staterooms, glittering crystal chandeliers and the stunning Hall of Mirrors. The extensive grounds feature well-maintained gardens and elaborate fountains.