Paris is a city of the senses, the home of the flâneur and – famously - the City of Light. You can try to build a fantasy city of romance in your mind, but it won't come close. Paris is the incarnation of urban paradise, a collage city of secret streets, sensuous smells, and sensational style. The city is divided into twenty arrondissements; each district has its own unique allure. From the regal relics of the first and second arrondissements to the Eiffel Tower in the seventh and the residential hum of the seventeenth, Paris is a city of villages.

The best way to experience the French capital is to get lost there. Although taxis, trains, and buses are reliable, the quickest and most enjoyable way to get around is via the city's bike-share scheme: Velib; hop on and hop off, divert down deserted cobbled streets or freewheel down an open promenade.

Some attractions are essential destinations for any traveler. Shoot up The Eiffel Tower for a truly unforgettable view of Paris' skyline; pause at the peak for a glass of champagne at the bar. Then cross the River Seine onto the Rive Droite and find the world-famous Champs Élysées at the end of which stands Napoleon's Arc de Triomphe, built to commemorate the victory at Austerlitz against a joint Austro-Russian army. If you've resisted the urge to drop into one of the luxury shops that line the Champs Élysées, carry on east towards Place de La Concorde, passing the Louvre, with its instantly recognizable glass pyramid. Keep walking towards Île de La Cité beside Île Saint-Louis, until you see the unmistakable facade of Notre Dame Cathedral. Although a fire in the Spring of 2019 caused significant damage to the medieval Cathedral, it remains one of the most enchanting Catholic monuments in the Western world and re-opens this December, in time for the holidays.

Once you've seen the essentials, it's time to fall deep into the Parisian way of life. The Latin Quarter – or fifth arrondissement – is perhaps the most subtly beautiful. The narrow, cobbled streets offer a glimpse of medieval Paris; this is the district least affected by dramatic and controversial urban renovations in the nineteenth century. To shop with the locals for produce from French farmers, pop down to Rue Mouffetard, where each morning stalls heave with fresh fruit, vegetables, and – of course – cheese! For the best fromagerie in town, we recommend Androuet, where you can sample hundreds of cheeses from all over the country.

Food remains a central tenant of Parisian life. Vitally, good food must also be paired with exquisite wine. Over one hundred Michelin stars are floating around Paris, and ten restaurants have three each. It's not so much about finding a brilliant restaurant as choosing which one to go to. Everybody has their favorites, and there's nothing more satisfying than chancing upon a culinary gem down a quiet side street. Having said that, for the finest of food, Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen is arguably one of the best restaurants in France. Housed in an elegant building set in the Jardins des Champs-Élysées, overlooking the most beautiful avenue in the world, it's the epitome of a great French restaurant, with its luxurious setting, and superb French cuisine.

The Marais district is full of delicious old-school cafes, bistros, and bars for a casual bite with the locals. Try Le Bistrot du Maquis, set up by chef André Le Letty, formerly of the Anacréon. This gem of a restaurant specializes in Parisian bistro classics. Try the pressed ox cheek in crystallized lemon, veal kidneys in mustard, roast hake, or the house specialty, pressed duck served in two stages.

For luxury hotels, look no further than the central districts, where opulence and glamour beam from every corner. Hotels such as Le Bristol preserve the districts' prestigious French tradition. However, this is far from your only option, and many enjoy the quainter authenticity of smaller hotels in the picturesque district of Saint-Germain or Montmartre. If quiet and chic is what you are looking for, take a walk along the quaint paving stones of a street known as "the passage of the witch's rock" in Montmartre, and you will find the Hotel Particulier, a grand guesthouse that artfully fuses modern design into traditional Parisian architecture.

Paris is the birthplace of haute couture, where shopping is taken very seriously. When packing an extra suitcase for your newly discovered gems, shop like a local and start your journey at exclusive Parisian boutiques. One of our favorite haunts is LECLAIREUR Hérold, a luxury design, art, and lifestyle concept store. With three shops in Paris, these meticulously curated boutiques are credited with discovering the latest and greatest. The thrill of LECLAIREUR Hérold comes from the unexpected of finding some quirky labels, JAKE BLACK and Casablanca, next to the grand design masters' Paris runways.

If you're searching for sartorial enlightenment, stop by Husbands boutique, named after John Cassavetes. This boutique is the very definition of style. Founded by Nicolas Gabard, it blends the charm of classic tailoring with casual staple pieces to suit a contemporary sensibility. Spread across two floors, the store is decorated with vinyl records from Roxy Music, Joy Division, The Smiths, and the bedroom encounter in Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The Palais Royal is a short stroll from the Louvre. Its peaceful, enclosed lush garden is surrounded by classic 17th-century buildings, cloister-like arcades, and contemporary boutiques, making it a favorite with the locals of the 1st arrondissement. Make like a local and bike through the tree-lined walkways of the Palais Royal to view France's most iconic Baroque architecture, then drop in at Rick Owens, Pierre Hardy, or the Rianna+Nina boutique.

For centuries, Paris has been setting the standard for culture. Art is at the forefront of this ever-changing city; whether it's the Louvre, the Pompidou, Palais de Tokyo, or the Bourse de Commerce and Art Basel, Paris always has something to offer.

If you want to scratch the surface of Paris' contemporary art gallery scene, start in the Marais area before crossing the river on the Île de la Cité and finish up in the Quartier Latin. Some of our favorites are Galleria Continua, Almine Rech, Perrotin, and Kamel Mennour.

There are too many sights and suggestions to mention. Embracing the cosmopolitan essence of Paris is key, so escape and explore, find your own Paris, and create memories imagined by many but felt by only you.