Paris

Paris rewards walkers. The Right Bank holds the Louvre, the Palais Royal gardens, the Place Vendôme jewellers and the palace hotels of the 8th arrondissement; the Left Bank is for Saint-Germain's cafés, the Musée d'Orsay and the market streets of the 5th and 6th. The Marais, Canal Saint-Martin and the 11th are where the city eats and drinks now. Spring and early autumn have the best light and the most manageable crowds; July and August are warm and many neighbourhood restaurants close for les vacances. Pickpocketing around major sights and on the Métro is the main safety concern — keep bags closed and phones out of back pockets. Reservations for serious restaurants and timed museum entries should be made weeks ahead.