1pm: Essential sights

Head to Cafe Les Deux Magots (6 Place St Germain De Pres; lesdeuxmagots.fr). Similar in atmosphere to the nearby Café De Flore, this institution was once a gathering place of the intellectual elite, such as Sartre, de Beauvoir and Giraudoux. Try a croque monsieur better than any other we’ve tasted.

Continue your cycle until you reach Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge across the Seine. Stroll around the medieval streets of the Île de la Cité, which is where Paris began, back in 300BC. Marvel at the Cathédrale Notre Dame, a Gothic masterpiece with free entry. Cross Pont Neuf to the upper bank of the Seine, and now work your way back. Even if you don’t fancy joining the other 15,000 tourists who visit the Louvre daily, it’s worth walking through the courtyard of the Palace, which for centuries was the site of the French Court. Desperate to see the Mona Lisa? Buy your tickets in a department store (louvre.fr) to skip the queue.

4.30pm: Patisseries

Grab a croissant and café au lait from the Patisserie Paul stand in the Jardin du Carrousel outside the Louvre.

Stylist suggests strolling to the western end of the Jardin des Tuileries and reclining in one of the free green chairs dotted around the park, inhaling the lavender from the flowerbeds outside the Musée de l’Orangerie (museeorangerie.fr). Then from the Place De Concorde, catch the number 72 to Montmartre. It used to be a village on a grassy hill, but now it’s one of Paris’ most romantic quarters.

A trip to Paris without macaroon from Ladurée is unthinkable. Avoid the hordes of tourists who snake in front of the Ladurée store on the Champs-Élysées by using the side door to Ladurée Le bar (75 Avenue Des Champs-Élysées; laduree.fr) instead. Try the macaroon cocktails (yes really!), and tuck into an iced macaroon: chewy on the outside, ice cream on the inside.

8.30pm: And relax

Le Royal Monceau (37 Avenue Hoche; leroyalmonceau.com) is the perfect base for those looking for a truly Parisian experience. This grand hotel has a dark bar playing jaunty French music and all the old-school elegance that Paris does so well. The restaurant, La Cuisine, is an absolute must. Like eating in a modern art gallery, giant lights that look like space shuttles hang from the ceiling and the bar is made from coloured wine bottles. The duck foie gras with apple and quince, onion compote and sangria reduction is pure Paris and we loved it when the waiter gave us a choice of seven knives for our Rossini-style spit-roasted pigeon. It boasts the most helpful sommeliers we found in Paris.

Your hour-by-hour itinerary for a day of dreams in Paris