The best hotels in Paris to see the City of Light in style

“Whoever does not visit Paris regularly will never really be elegant,” said Honoré de Balzac, one of the greatest French writers of all time. But Paris can be a daunting mini-break – so much to see in so little time, and you can find yourself drowning in a list of the city’s infinite museums, restaurants and bars. But fear not, GQ has picked the best hotels in Paris, from city institutions to upstart boutiques, so that you really do experience la crème de la crème, as the French never say. First though, here's a quick guide of what to expect from the City of Light and how to get there from the UK.

What is the best time to travel to Paris?

Paris is one of the few places you can visit (almost) all year round without finding yourself at a loss for things to do. In the summer between May and July, you can stroll along the Senne ‘til your heart’s content diving in and out of the many al fresco dining spots that line the streets around it – just brace yourself for all the trappings of the city's peak tourist season. Come the winter months, especially those in the run-up to Christmas, you can warm your cockles shopping on the Champs Élysées and Triangle d'Or. Since British and non-EU tourists are now eligible for a tax refund on their purchases, it's easier than ever to snag a bargain.

Ask any Parisian when they escape their home for cooler climes and they'll tell you that August is the month when everyone absconds to the countryside. If you're already planning your visit around every bistro and patisserie worth its sold, then be aware that many of these tend to shut their doors during the height of the summer's sweltering heat. As for a hidden gem of a month to head across the English Channel? You'll find a lot of cheap Eurostar tickets kicking around for January if you're minded to pick some up come Black Friday.

How to get to Paris?

Any airport worth its salt in the UK (and several we'd rather avoid at all costs) will offer you a flight to Paris' Charles de Gaulle airport, which famously offers direct flights to the greatest number of countries in the world. As such, it's a breeze to travel to the city centre once you've touched down with trains running throughout the day with a journey time of about 30 minutes. Given the choice, we'll always opt for a Eurostar to Pairs over a flight for the sheer convenience of being able to turn up for your train just 30 minutes before its departure, as well as the infinitely more generous luggage allowance and legroom space that's available for travellers. Of course, getting the Eurostar over an Easyjet will also help keep your carbon footprint in check.

Things to do in Paris

There's a painting of an Italian noblewoman, it's in a big glass pyramid and people still can't tell if she's smiling... Ah, don't worry, you've probably never heard of it. All jokes aside, if Paris is best known for anything in 2024, then the summer Olympics might outshine the Mona Lisa for a few brief weeks come their opening ceremony on 26 July. From the Grand Palais to the Place de la Concorde that links the Champs-Elysées with the Louvre, many of the city's landmarks have been spruced up for the occasion making 2024 a particularly good year to take in their majesty.

Since it's nearly impossible to see the best of Paris in one trip, we'd avoid the temptation to do so and allow plenty of time for sitting in the sun with a glass of something sparkling in hand. That said, if you do want to steer away from the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and Notre-Dame of it all there's plenty else to do besides. The Orangerie Museum has eight enormous murals of Claude Monet's water lilies, Harry's New York Bar invented such famous cocktails as the Bloody Maryand Sidecar while playing host to the likes of Ernest Hemingway and Coco Chanel, and the Paris Catacombs are a great place to hang out underground with the remains of an estimated six million people.