Enlarge Photo

Whether it’s your first or 40th visit to Paris, a cruise on the Seine is a delightful way to see the city with minimal effort. My favorite cruise line is the Vedettes du Pont-Neuf; it uses smaller boats and departs from a convenient mooring on the Île de la Cité. Tip: Don’t bother with a dinner cruise; the food’s lousy and the service is rushed to squeeze the meal into the time allotted. Métro: Pont-Neuf.

Enlarge Photo

Paris’ latest neighborhood rejuvenation project has a style focus, and though its official opening is scheduled for September, Les Docks, as it has been dubbed, has already become a hot spot for cool hunters. Architects Dominique Jakob and Brenda MacFarlane have transformed a warehouse dating from 1907 into the city’s new Cité de la Mode et du Design. Think of it as Paris’ version of New York’s meatpacking district in the 1990s.

The hip bars and showrooms have yet to open (there are rumors of a Le Baron nightclub arriving in the fall), but the stylish set have already made the trek to see two fashion exhibits: a retrospective on Comme des Garçons and a survey of works by Cristobal Balenciaga. The former showcases an all white collection of the avant-garde Japanese designer’s creations, while the latter offers a splendid contrast displaying historic costumes and textiles from the 18th and 19th centuries collected by Balenciaga as well as his designs from the 1940s, ‘50 and ‘60s. Through October 7. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-6pm.

More Photos (4)

A private cruise on the Seine is an elegant way to see the legendary monuments of the City of Lights, celebrate an occasion and enjoy joie de vivre. This company has a fleet of eight luxury boats with teak decks and elegant interiors. New this summer are special gourmet menus and wine dinners aboard Don Juan II by celebrated chef Guy Krenzer.