Variously known as the city of light and love, Paris is nevertheless a bustling metropolis with one of the world’s largest city GDPs. It is also the world’s number one tourist destination, with visitors flocking year-round to hotspots such as the Eiffel Tower, the cathedral Notre Dame de Paris, and the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe and of course the Four Seasons Spa.

With all this activity, one could be forgiven for wondering whether Paris might be a little headache-inducing. For those who know where to look however, the city offers a wealth of opportunities for a little R&R including the Four Seasons Spa and many other rare sights!

Night walk along the Canal Saint-Martin

The 4.5m-long Canal Saint-Martin connects the Canal de l’Ourcq to the river Seine. The 19th century waterway is dotted with tree-shaded quays and iconic iron footbridges, making it one of the most pleasant walks in the city. If walking seems a little taxing, take time out in any one of the nearby shabby-chic bars and quirky cafés.

Four Seasons Spa George V Spa Paris

What better way to forget the stresses of city life than with a spa? One of Paris’s very best can be found at the Four Seasons hotel on Avenue George V called the Four Seasons George V Spa Paris.

Voted ‘Best Spa 2012’ by readers of Conde Nast Traveller, the Four Seasons Spa harks back to the days of Louis VIV in terms of luxury – indeed, one of its treatments is called ‘A Stroll to Versailles’. Lasting for two-and-a-half hours, the treatment incorporates orange blossom in a body scrub, facial and massage. This spa is definitely on my bucket list or as I like to say my Goblet List!

Visit the Jardin des Tuileries

Sandwiched between the Louvre Museum and the Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries Garden has been used by Parisians to meet, celebrate promenade and relax since the 19th century.

Visitors can expected to see works of modern sculpture by Moore, Rodin and Dubuffet, as well as fountains, manicured lawns and plenty of places to sit and watch the world pass by.

Learn the language

Studying French in France is a wonderful way to become more intimate with the city’s charms. Being surrounded by the language will help you to get immersed in it – widely recognised as one of the best ways to learn – and what’s more, by studying French you will quickly get more out of the city’s attractions than if you don’t understand the language. Paris has a number of language schools offering classes to those who wish to study French at a gentle pace. You will have a lot of schools to choose from and the most important factor in your decision should be what style of learning suits you best. Providers such as ESL Languages combine small class sizes with a central location. That means they are easily accessible and you will be sure to have the attention of your teacher for as much time as you need.

Tour in Montmartre

In its time, the Montmartre district in northern Paris was home to some of the world’s most famous artists. Salvador Dalí, Amedeo Modigliani, Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Vincent van Gogh all had studios in the area, which was also famous for having one of the few vineyards in the Ile-de-France region.

Organised tours exploit both of these attributes, taking visitors on a sedate journey through Montmarte where they learn more about its artistic heritage and sample some wine in the process.