The ultimate, most French, way to explore Paris is by foot. France’s capital is a pedestrian’s paradise, with its vintage trinket markets lining The River Seine, fruit and flower carts on street corners and endless lanes to meander among. Peruse the fashion boutiques, book stores (especially Shakespeare and Company), and pull up a typically Parisienne chair outside a café to enjoy a spot of people watching, as the locals do.

Say yes to escargot pastries and croissants (we suggest you head to the quintessentially Parisienne Du Pain et des Idées for the best in buttery baked goods), éclairs, locally produced cheeses and, of course, crusty baguettes. Pick up a basket full of Paris’s finest picnic provisions, and savour all the flavours this food-and-wine-centric city has to offer.

After the sun has set, Paris really lights up. Not only does its iconic monuments become sparkling light shows – we’re looking at you, Monsieur Eiffel – but its antique street lamps provide an ambient glow throughout the city. Late to rise, late to dine and late to sleep, Paris’s residents are semi-nocturnal and its bars and restaurants remain open well into the night.

It would be near-impossible for first-time visitors to Paris to escape without taking a peek at some of its grandest, albeit crowd-attracting, historical landmarks. And, although it’s always a good idea to visit these awe-inspiring structures – think The Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and Notre-Dame de Paris – it’s the restaurants designed to attract tourists that are best left unvisited. A further stroll away from the monuments, teamed with a little research, will help travellers uncover the city’s genuine, contemporary French food scene. It would be rude not to.