24 hours in Paris.

Camille Wathle, House of Travel’s own resident Parisian, suggests culinary and cultural gems in the City of Lights.

BREAKFAST

Linger over a croissant.

Bonjour! Greet the day with a freshly baked croissant, baguette or pain au chocolat. It’s impossible to go wrong — There are no bad boulange- ries in Paris! If I really must choose favourites, I’d say Café de Flore (172 Boulevard Saint-Germain) is iconic and I love the brunch at Les Bonnes Soeurs (8 Rue du Pas de la Mule). We Parisians love peo- ple watching from the terrace of a café. It’s a fantastic way to take in our beautiful city.

MORNING

Admire the view from Montmartre.

Try to beat the crowd with an early morning visit to icon- ic Parisian basilica SacréCoeur . Then create valuable belly space for lunch with the walk up to Montmartre, a hefty hill on the Right Bank and the perfect place to get extraordinary views over the city. (Don’t worry, there’s also a cable car to the top.) A few cobblestone streets away, stroll through historic Place du Tertre , where local artists sell their work.

LUNCH

A classic French bistro.

Head to Poulette (3 Rue Étienne Marcel), a charming traditional bistro with gorgeously tiled Belle Epoque interiors that will take you back in time. Try the plat du jour (daily special) or a croque monsieur (a hearty, melty ham and cheese sandwich).

EARLY AFTERNOON

Stroll a park and sample le Louvre.

Stroll through one of Paris’ iconic parks: My favourite is the stunning Jardin du Luxembourg, which began as a royal residence in 1612, but of course Les Tuileries, in front of le Louvre (Rue de Rivoli), is equally gorgeous. Afterward, call into the museum to see Paris’ treasured art. A central landmark of the city with its bold glass pyramids, le Louvre houses masterworks like da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

TEA TIME

Éclair heaven.

Break for something sweet and find the nearest L’Éclair de Génie (14 Rue Pavée and other locations) for the best handcrafted éclair you’ll ever taste. An absolute must in Paris, they are works of art. Taste a classic like butter salted caramel or fresh strawberry. In fact, it’s maybe better to have more than one.

DINNER

First an ‘apéro.’

Ease into the evening with an ‘apéro,’ usually a kir (delicious crème de cassis topped by white wine) with pâté and a charcuterie board. Then arrive late for the full brasserie experience at Le Bouillon Chartier (7 Rue du Faubourg Montmartre), an iconic spot founded in 1896. You’ll find all the French classics like soupe a l’onion and boeuf bourguignon.

LATE AFTERNOON

Window shopping in le Marais.

This hip, iconic neighbourhood is the perfect place to admire Parisian style in tiny boutiques, stop into funky independent bars and discover tiny museums like the Musée Victor Hugo (6 Place des Vosges), where the writer lived.

LATE

A stylish nightcap.

Treat yourself to a last tipple in one of the city’s bustling bars. I like to end the day at Le China (50 Rue de Charenton) in Bastille. With red walls, dark wood panelling and a classic checkerboard floor, it feels like you’ve landed in “Midnight in Paris.” Bonsoir! ■