Favourite place when you have a dayweek off?

Every year we have Le Mois de la Photo with different exhibitions all over Paris. On Saturday, I’m going to the Jeu de Paume at Sully (www.jeudepaume.org), to see an exhibition of the work of an American, Joel Meyerowitz. It’s on until January.

Later in the month, I want to see the Robert Doisneau exhibition at the Hotel de Ville (Paris en liberte, until end-February, www.paris.fr).

There’s so much on. The Beckett centenary - I’ve seen Quoi Ou (www.parisbeckett.com), and I’m going to Comedie at the Theatre des Bouffes du Nord directed by Michael Lonsdale (www.bouffesdunord.com). Cabaret, the musical, is at Les Folies Berg re (www.cabaret-lemusical.fr). I sometimes go to the Theatre de l’Odeon, where the Theatre de l’Europe puts on plays in English, as well as Russian and other languages (www.theatre-odeon.fr).

Another way to see the city?

There’s an American who does Paris walks in English. He talks about French culture around the Marais, and history around the 5th, St Germain - which I knew but still enjoyed (www.paris-walks.com).

Lunchtime treats?

The Swedish Cultural Centre is close to the Picasso Museum in the Marais and fun for lunchtime. Usually, you can get good food in museums.

Evening delights?

Two restaurants I like: La Table de Claire (30 rue Emile Lepeu, 11 me) near the Bastille, has good, quite elaborate French food, about (30 for a menu; La Villa Corse (164 boulevard de Grenelle, 15 me) is an excellent Corsican restaurant.

Is everything open all the time?

Everything will be closed on December 25 and January 1, but apart from that, yes.

Remember to bring or buy

An adaptor - I forget when I come to London.

Guides du Routard - there’s one for Paris walks and one for restaurants (www.routard.com)

Renata Rubnikowicz

FIND OUT MORE

www.paris.fr; www.parisinfo.com; Le Mois de Photo: www.mep-fr.orgdefault_test_ok.htm

How to get there

Over the Christmas holidays, Kirker Holidays (0870 112 3333, www.kirkerholidays.com) is offering three nights for the price of two at the five-star Lancaster hotel, just off the Champs Elysees. Once home to Marlene Dietrich, today it has a restaurant overseen by the renowned Michelin-starred chef Michel Troisgros. A short break costs from pound;671pp, including BB, return first-class travel on Eurostar, transfers, a Seine river cruise and 10 Metro tickets.

Price to the planet

Research commissioned by Eurostar shows that each passenger on a return train journey to Paris generates 11kg of CO2, compared with the 122kg generated by each passenger on a return flight.