As the world’s unrivalled capital of fashion for more than 200 years and counting, there’s nowhere quite like Paris during Fashion Week. The city effervesces with shows, parties and performances throughout the intense catwalk days.

London or New York can feel so vast that their fashion weeks struggle to make their mark on the city–but the fashion spotlight transforms the French capital. From the throngs flocking to the unrivalled luxury of Rue St Honoré in the West to the underground fashion raves that pop up around the vibrant North East, the atmosphere is unlike any other. And with some of the best food in the world to fuel you on your way, there’s no better time to discover Paris at its most vibrant.

Walk the city of lights

Paris is more than manageable on foot. A stroll along the Seine is essential, but if you’re looking to do it the French way, head North East.

Parc de la Villette

Parc de la Villette is a grassy expanse at the edge of the city with a range of cultural events and open-air film screenings throughout the summer. Just south is…

Parc des Buttes Chaumont

Parc des Buttes Chaumont’s lakes, lawns and an Indiana Jones-style temple set at the top of a winding path make it a popular place for a stroll. Attracting a younger crowd, it’s the ideal place for a picnic, or a bottle of French wine—available for only a couple of euros in the local supermarché. If parks aren’t your thing, stroll along the…

Canal de l’Ourcq

Canal de l’Ourcq is one of Paris’ hidden gems. Vintage shops, cafés and bars aplenty line the waterfront, all with stunning views and an edge that more established fashion haunts lack.

Eat yourself happy

If you go to Paris and don’t eat some of the best meals of your life, you’ve done it wrong. For traditional French cuisine at its very best, head to....

La Marine

Near trendy Canal St Martin you’ll find La Marine. This bistro offer some of the best steak you’ll find—at a price that won’t leave you skint. It's more than worth a look in. For something lighter, there’s ...

Marché des Enfants Rouges

This heaving market with food from all over the world is unmissable. And during fashion week, it’s also where you’ll find some of the world’s most beautiful people. It’s the ideal place to grab lunch, kick back and people watch the Parisian way. (Top tip: The Bento boxes at the small Japanese restaurant tucked away at the back are some of the best you’ll find in Europe.)

Culture Française

While the better-known Musée d’Orsay and Louvre can get extremely busy, Paris offers endless cultural alternatives.

MEP - La Maison Européene de la Photographie

La Maison Européene de la Photographie has some of the best photography exhibitions in the world, while the….

Institut du Monde Arabe

Institut du Monde Arabe is a vast cultural hub offering an insight into France’s complex and convoluted relationship with the Middle East. For a more interdisciplinary space, check out….

La Bellevilloise

La Bellevilloise is an Arts & Cultural centre in 20th District of Paris. It serves some of the best coffee in Paris along with a dizzying array of art exhibitions, film screenings, dance and musical events. It’s one of the more relaxed and experimental spots in the city, and all the better for it.

Paris after dark

While the postcards might make Paris look sleepy, the residents know otherwise. This is particularly true during fashion week when you can start the night with drinks at one of Paris’ many bars...

Khayma Rooftop

Kayma Rooftop at Generator Paris has a cool rooftop bar in the city, or on chillier nights, head to...

Bar Ourcq

Bar Ourcq along the Canal for cheap pints and great views. If you’re after something wilder, Saint-Denis just outside Paris’ ring-road is full of DIY spaces and raves, or keeping within the city...

Alimentation Generale

Alimentation Generale is a bar that turns into a club with a wide selection of nights, from electro vibes to Afrobeat. Some of the most fun, however, is in the various parties that whirl through the city such as…