Explore Paris like a local

Parlez-vous français? Non? The time has come to brush up on your French because spending a weekend in Paris has just become as easy as going grocery shopping – quite literally – as Nectar points can now be used to pay for Eurostar bookings, making the French capital an easy getaway for a few days.

Now, a weekend in Paris can mean seeing the obvious, crowded and potentially very expensive tourist landmarks like the Louvre and Eiffel Tower, only to go home with the same photos your grandparents took on their last trip. But we don't want you to do that! Instead we’ve put together a few ideas on how you can experience the French capital like a local, and save a few pennies along the way.

Let’s start with breakfast, aka le petit déjeuner since it is, after all, the most important meal of the day. French people don’t grab just any old stale pastry and neither should you, so skip your hotel breakfast and get yourself to a local bakery for a freshly baked croissant or pain au chocolat. Avoid the chain stores if you can; good bakeries can generally be spotted by the queue of locals outside the store. If in doubt, get yourself to the Moisan bakery in Le Marais neighbourhood. Alternatively, you could head along to a local café to combine that fresh pastry with a café or a chocolat chaud. Want to feel like a real Parisian? Order a 'café noisette' – an espresso with a dash of cream.

• Musée Carnavalet

Let’s stay in Le Marais to check out some art. Part of the 3rd and 4th arrondissements, Le Marais is a historic district on the right bank of the Seine. It’s well worth taking a walk around the neighbourhood to have a look at its stunning historic buildings, before stopping by the Musée Carnavalet for a bit of French culture. Housed in two 16th century mansions, the Musée is dedicated to the history of Paris and has a fantastic collection of paintings and various artefacts, including some unexpected gems like Napoleon’s favourite case of toiletries and Proust’s bedroom (yes, really). If time allows, do check out the Picasso Museum which is just around the corner and also located in a Renaissance mansion.

If photography is more your thing, the Hôtel de Ville is hosting Paris Magnum, an exhibition of Paris-related photographs by famous Magnum photographers, until 28 March. Artists include big names like Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa and Martin Parr, and there are over 150 works illustrating key moments like the 1930 strikes and May '68 riots.

More food! Lunch in Paris is best enjoyed in a bistro, especially with a classic dish like steak frites. While most bistros are generally a safe bet (look for the ones with a French-only menu), highly recommended options are Café au Sauvignon, Le Bistrot Paul Bert and Le Café du Commerce. Fancy a more intimate venue for dinner? Head to the Quartier Latin for Restaurant Perraudin, on the Left Bank of the Seine. An old Parisian favourite, Perraudin serves a small but excellent and very affordable selection of traditional French dishes like onion soup, boeuf bourguignon or gratin dauphinois (potato gratin).

• Rue des Francs-Bourgeois

Shops. It’s nearly impossible to talk about Paris without mentioning shopping. Le Marais is full of shops worth checking out, especially in the Rue des Francs-Bourgeois and the nearby streets. Also check out one of the concept stores which have taken the city by storm these past few years; popular options are SoWeAre (although a bit on the pricier side), French Touche, Colette and Afwosh (short for 'after work shopping').

Sacré Coeur at dusk. The famous Basilica is located at the top of the Montmartre hill, the highest point in the city. It is where you will find the best view of the city, and hint-hint-nudge-nudge the view is even more stunning at dusk. A funicular car leads to the Basilica from the bottom of the hill, or if you’re feeling brave you can climb the 90 or so steps. Another 300 steps will lead you to the top of the Basilica dome for an even more spectacular view, but we can’t be held responsible for what will be a serious case of the shaky legs on the way down.

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