Shopping is Paris. Chanel, Dior, Gautier and so many more designers have fashion houses here, the home of fashion, clothes, handbags and shoes. It makes a grown woman cry to think of all the fabrics and stunning designs that are just waiting to be released by Chloe or Vuitton. To be honest, even browsing is off in Paris with these huge designers. Swarms of well dressed Japanese fill up the Vuitton store on the Champs Elysées and stomping around with a sweaty t-shirt and a dog-eared map just ain't gonna cut it.

You're shopping vacation DOES NOT have to end there! Sephora, now a well known French export still meets the brief for browsing delight. The Champs Elysées offers a big store, and the beautifully arranged perfumes and make-ups are a treat in themselves. As well as Clinique and Chanel, Sephora sells many high-quality own brand items at a fraction of the price of the classics.

In terms of clothes, you can't beat the Marais district for it's second hand vintage clothing stores. Although it's one of the wealthiest and trendiest neighbourhods in Paris (with high end shops such as Zadig and Volaire and Comptoir des cotonniers) it also has brilliant cast off shops. You really need to have a poke around the streets for these, because they disappear and re-appear depending on stock. Even if you can't find any, a trip through the Marais and past the Jewish bakeries make for some perfect, sticky, mid-morning treats, and it's pretty amazing to look at a way of life that has managed to survive here despite the occupation of the Nazis. Sombre plaques adorn the streets of the Marais, highlighting where those who fought in the resistance were shot.

Paris' open air flea markets are another great place to rummage for jewellery and vintage designer labels. Saint-Ouen flea market is one such place: so unknown was this market in the past, that it used to be possible to walk away with 1920's Chanel or paintings by old masters. Things have definately become more touristy, and it's best to visit on a weekday to avoid the inevitable throngs of crowds hunting down lalique broaches. To reach it, take the metro towards Porte de Cligancourt: for some cheap Parisian transport, become a fat person when going through the metro turnstiles by hugging the person in front of you. It's a fail-safe way of getting two fares for one on the underground.

For lunch, nothing can beat a baguette, some cheese and some fresh sausages from the market to take to sit in a nearby park, to build up your sustinance and continue shopping.

If you feel like a trip to Paris isn't complete without visiting a ballet, opera or theatre, and don't feel like shelling out on the literally hundreds of pounds it can cost for a box, don't despair. If you head to the box office about 15 minute before a show starts, there are often one or two left over unfilled tickets. It's unlikley that they'll be together, but it's all about getting a slice of Parisian culture for as little as 5 Euro a ticket. For the most opulent experience, head towards Palais Garnier, which, according to it's website has the most 'impressive staircase in the world'. How interesting.