For most people, myself included, a weekend in Paris is a dream. For many, however, it can also be a prioritization challenge: what do you see first? What can you fit in, what will have to wait for later? For those who struggle, here are a few suggestions to help you relax and enjoy everything that this magical city has to offer.

THROW THE MAP AWAY. FOLLOW THE RIVER AND JUST WALK

Even if you only have a couple of days, Paris is best explored on foot. And lucky for you, the Seine river serves as the perfect guide.

Start at L’Hotel de Ville near Ile-de-la-Cite. It puts you shoulder-to-shoulder with one of the most beloved Parisian monuments, Cathedrale de Notre Dame (yes, and if you suspect that it was the heartbreaking fire earlier this week that inspired me to reach back into my archives to write this love letter to Paris, you are right). Thanks to the heroic firefighter efforts, you can still admire its iconic bell towers before stopping by at the Sainte Chapelle just a few steps away.

Then, cross the Pont Saint-Michel over to the other side. There, you make a choice: keep walking straight, heading for the wonderfully relaxing Jardin de Luxembourg, or make a right and dip into the St. Germain quarter. You can’t go wrong.

If, like me, you choose the latter, I encourage you to explore the side streets before returning to the river. Walk along, browse the bookstands along the way and admire the views. At Pont des Arts, you can either continue towards the fabulous Musee d’Orsay and Les Invalides (and your first glimpse of the Eiffel tower), or cross back to the other side and head for the spectacular I.M. Pei pyramids at the Louvre, the beauty of the Tuilleries, and Place de la Concorde. Voila – you have just seen some of the best sights in La Ville-Lumiere!

WAIT, I THOUGHT THIS WAS A CONTEMPORARY ART AND DESIGN BLOG?

Yes! I would never want to disappoint you. Contemporary art and great design is present throughout Paris. Here are a few places to see:

Fondation Cartier. Dedicated explicitly to contemporary art, the foundation (set in a pretty spectacular building by the renowned Jean Nouvel) will always have something to spark your interest. So make the trek to Boulevard Raspail!

Centre Pompidou. Hated when it was first built, the centre has carved out its rightful place in the heart of the city and you can be sure to find great contemporary artists’ retrospectives. Right now you can explore the geometric forms of Victor Vasarely. Even if you are just passing by, you can take a peek at the fun and playful sculptures of Niki de Saint Phalle in the fountains outside.

Jeu de Paume. Tucked away in the corner of the Tuilleries gardens is one of my perennial faves, always showing great photography collections.

Fondation Louis-Vuitton. OK, the foundation can show more modern than contemporary art at times but it is worth seeing just for its intriguing and unmistakably Frank Gehry-designed building.

Once you’ve seen the big spaces, do like me and wander around Le Marais. It’s one of my favorite quartiers and it is home to many excellent art galleries. A few that are worth a visit include:

Xippas. No longer just a Parisian institution, the gallery now has outposts in Geneva and Montevideo. Stop by to see established and new contemporary art and admire how the old architecture meshes with the new at the same time.

Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac. Another good place to see contemporary art, both the art and the space dazzle here with the double-height ceilings and a glass ceiling that floods the space with light.

Marian Goodman Gallery. An outpost of a famed NYC gallery and easy to miss behind a large wooden door with only a small bronze plaque announcing its location, this project space will always give you a chance to see a new and interesting art.

Modus Gallery. Covering many contemporary artists that are likely to appeal to today’s audiences, Modus has the added benefit of being located in one of my absolute favorite places in Paris – Place des Vosges. Peruse some art (I like the work of Jenny Boot) and then sit down with a nice café-au-lait in one of the cafes in this lovely tree-shaded square.

CRAVING MORE DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE? HEAD OVER TO LA DEFENSE

The gallery outings and the Seine stroll should give you plenty to keep you busy over a quick weekend trip, but the ambitious architecture lovers may also want to hop on the subway and head over to La Defense. Here is where Paris lets go of its many architectural constraints and lets builders explore. See the imposing La Grande Arche hollowed-out glass and marble cube built by Paul Andreu, admire Alexander Calder’s giant red spider sculpture, or gaze up the brilliantly colored Le Moretti “chimney”. It’s worth a quick visit.

AMUSEZ-VOUS BIEN!