The Bois de Boulogne is the bottle of oxygen of the city, known either for its large wooded spaces—ideal for jogging—or for its late-night prostitutes and transsexuals. So unless that’s your cup of tea, avoid wandering in one of its empty lanes after 10pm.

During the day, Boulogne is the temple of entertainment and sport: you can play tennis, rent a bike, take a boat ride, bring your kid to the fun-house mirrors of the “Jardin d’acclimatation” or eat at the fancy “La grande cascade” restaurant.

There are also more intimate spots like the tiny “lac inferieur” and its restaurant, the Chalet des iles. This big pink-and-green Second Empire chalet turned ballroom—currently closed due to a fire—enjoys immense popularity during the summer, mostly due to its location: it is reachable by a minute-long boat ride and sits in the middle of a huge park, on an island (surrounded by a lake). This is the picture-perfect dinner for lovers.