Paris

Go on a self-drive holiday to Paris, also known as La Ville Lumière, the City of Light, and discover the metropolis and its vibrant urban organism, which is hard to compare with other big cities and something completely unique. Being Parisian is something special, no matter where you come from. Try it for yourself and become part of the vibrant city of cities. Organise a car holiday to Paris and set off on your own adventures in the brilliant metropolis that is also a capital, an art centre, a think tank, progressive and multicultural.

Paris is absolutely unbeatable for charm, impressive buildings, street life, boulevards, cafés, restaurants, museums and, not least, art. There's a lot to see in Paris, for young and old alike, and then there's the Tower! The Eiffel Tower is and always will be an experience, and the kids will certainly enjoy the trip up the tower to enjoy the view of Paris. It's also very special to be able to see this unique piece of architecture up close - it doesn't get much more French than that.

Children will also love the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, a huge playground with a stream, a suspension bridge and a gazebo on the hill for children to play and have fun. The Parc Zoologique, also known as the Zoo de Vincennes, is a super experience with five biozones, a greenhouse and forest area where great efforts have been made to provide better conditions and space for the animals and to promote the protection of endangered species - certainly a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Les Catacombes is another exciting experience, with a 300km network of underground tunnels some 20 metres beneath Paris. There are also public burial chambers containing the bones and skulls of the approximately 6 million people who have found their resting place in the catacombs, which also include several celebrities from the French Revolution's reign of terror such as Danton and Robespierre. A guided tour is definitely recommended, and remember that the temperature is around 14°C so a warm jumper is recommended when you head down into the depths.Another very family-friendly museum is the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature, which exhibits a collection of trophies brought back to France by explorers who have travelled around Africa and other exciting continents. The old building is a real treat, crammed with fascinating treasures from faraway lands. Watch out for the stuffed polar bear on the hook! And speaking of stuffed animals, Maison Deyrolle is a really entertaining visit. There's a wealth of stuffed animals here, all for sale, and I hear there's even a stuffed unicorn. But there's not much space and it's full of glass, so you have to be very careful.In the 18th century, a French doctor turned both animals and human bodies inside out for educational purposes. They're all on display in the Musée Fragonard and it's both exciting and, for some, perhaps disgusting. Then you've been warned.Another great experience for kids is Disneyland. Drive yourself in your own car to the big theme park just outside Paris and have a great day out. Meet the famous Disney characters in a fairytale of experiences that the kids are sure to appreciate and never forget!

The famous museums are scattered throughout Paris and the surrounding area like pearls on a string. There are the unbeatable favourites like the Louvre and Musée d'Orsay, the Army Museum & Hôtel des Invalides and the Centre Pompidou. But there are also the lesser-known museums like the Musée Rodin, dedicated to the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. The Musée Carnavalet, another little surprise, offers a fascinating insight into the city's very dramatic history. The Musée Carnavalet's permanent exhibition is housed in two beautiful Renaissance buildings, the Hôtel de Carnavalet and the Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau. Take a tour of the beautiful rooms with their Baroque interiors, free of charge. Also visit the beautiful cathedral, Notre-Dame, and finally make your way past the Sacre-Coeur in Montmartre, where you can enjoy views over most of Paris and an essential place to pause and let your senses take over. A slightly different form of tourism, but no less interesting, is to pay a visit to the Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise, the famous cemetery with permanent residents such as Frédéric Chopin, Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, or drive yourself to the Cimitière du Montparnasse, where Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Samuel Beckett, among others, have found their final resting place.

All roads lead to Paris, and so does the gastronomy, which lives in a perfect balance of new trends and classic treats. Paris offers the best delicacies France has to offer, so indulge in gastronomic experiences and give your taste buds a treat. Find out more about food in Paris on the many websites available on the subject. Les Philosophes and Café Trama are restaurants that certainly come recommended, but other good choices include Aux Bons Crus and Le Rigmarole. Regional cuisine is very popular in Paris, so try the wonderful Provence cuisine at Restaurant Baieta. You can also combine a visit to the museum with a trip to the Marché des Enfants Rouges, named after an orphanage that was on the site around 1500. Today, a mix of international scents wafts up from the very popular food market, which offers a wide range of specialities from every continent on the globe.

Enjoy the experience of driving around Paris in your own car and become part of the car culture, especially around the Champs Elysee. Have the perfect Paris self-drive holiday, combining city breaks with excursions to the idyllic towns outside Paris and of course Versailles, or Chateau de Versailles as it is known in French. Enjoy a self-drive trip to the City of Light with the whole family.