Paris Activities

Those languid Parisians are now real fitness freaks (although they still manage to balance things out with a fine respect for indulgence). Gyms and fitness clubs are a penny a barrel, the parks are rife with cardio bunnies and adventure sports are trés chic.

Three days in Paris will inevitably leave you yearning for more, but at least you'll have some idea of why people go ga-ga for the place. On the first day, get up high and see Paris from above - it's a flat city and rewards the climber. Try the Eiffel Tower - it may be a cliché, but the view is still magic - or even a balloon tour. The roof of Notre Dame is a marvellous place to take the measure of the city's topography; tip your hat to the blackened gargoyles then trip downstairs for a look at the fabulous interior. Finish the day with dinner in Montmartre.On the second day, go wild over art - this is Paris, after all. Check out the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée Rodin; recover with a pastis on the Champs-Élysées before tackling the Louvre. Then enjoy a night of mirth and gaiety in the Marais.Start the third day slow, with brunch on the place des Vosges. Wander off to see the famous dead at Cimetière du Père Lachaise, then take in a concert, opera or ballet at the Palais Garnier or Opéra Bastille, or a play at the Comédie Française, before heading off on a bar and club crawl in Ménilmontant.