Time Out - Paris in 48 hours

Day 1 From Marais Mansions to Midnight Munchies

9AM Start the day on the Right Bank with an awesome croissant from the hugely popular Moisan, an easy stroll from the beautiful 17th century place des Vosges. The Marais is abuzz with culture, shops, bars and, in its imposing hotels particuliers, important cultural institutions: take your pick from the Musee Carnavalet, Musee d'Art et d'Histoire du Judaisme or the Maison Europeenne de la photographie. Shoppers meanwhile, will find rich pickings in the streets leading off the main shopping thoroughfare of rue des Francs-Bourgeois.

NOON From the Marais, head across the Seine via the Pont de Sully to the Institut du Monde Arabe, which holds a fine collection of Middle Eastern art and a rooftop cafe with fabulous views down the Seine. (Other wonderful panaoramas in Paris include the summit of the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont and the Sacre-Coeur, although the latter is worth saving for dusk.) After a wander along the Left Bank to lunch in the back room at La Palette, a classic cafe, meander along the stone quays that border the Seine and leaf through tatty paperbacks at the riverside bouquinistes, before ducking into the Musee d'Orsay for an impressionist masterclass.

4PM From here, either hop on a boat tour or explore the islands. Snag an ice-crea, from Bertillon on the Ile St-Louis, before popping over to the Ile de la Cite to visit the Memorial des Martyrs de la Deportation and Notre-Dame.

9PM Evenings starts with aperitifs. Join the sociable crowd on the terrace seats at Le Bar du Marche and watch the Left Bank people-traffic pass by over a kir and a light supper. Then cross the river to hip newcomer the Chacha Club in Les Halles. Post-dancefloor hunger pangs can be satiated at welcoming bistro La Poule au Pot, open till 6am.

Day 2 Paintings, Park Life and Bistro perfection

9AM If you'd like to see the Louvre, now's the time: early, before the crowds have descended (and preferably not on a weekend). Otherwise, cross the Pont des Arts and head south through the narrow Left Bank streets to the city's oldest church, Eglise St-Germain-des-Pres, followed by coffee at Les Editeurs. Then stroll down to the Jardin du Luxembourg, pull up two green chairs (using one as a footrest) and size up the park life. The adjacent Musee National du Luxembourg hosts world-class art exhibitions.

NOON From here, hop on the metro to Jacques Bonsergent. Amble along the tree-lined Canal St-Martin, crossing over its romantic bridges to explore little shops and waterside cafes and maybe stopping at caec a vins Le Verre Vole for a plate of charcuterie de Jemmapes. There are plenty of boutiques in the area, alongside kitsch merchants Antoine et Lili. For a swift demi near the water, head to friendly Chez Prune, before catching the metro to Alma Marceau.

5PM Modern art lovers should make a point of visiting the wonderful collection at the Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris; it's a neighbour to the Palais de Tokyo, a dynamic contemporary art space. From here, you can walk to the Champs-Elysees and take a night-time hike up the freshly renovated Arc de Triomphe to see the lights of the avenue stretching into the city.

8PM Head back to the Palais de Tokyo and relax with an expertly shaken cocktail at the hip bar with its terrace overlooking the Seine. Then head up to Les Halles for supper at Gregory Lemarchand's hot new loft-style bistro, Frenchie, next to rue Montorgeuil.