While you'll be staying in Paris, you will soon learn about the famous tradition of the "Left Bank spirit". This is where, in the 1950s, the likes of Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus used to sit in cafés to discuss their philosophies, along with novelist Boris Vian or existentialist singerJuliette Gréco. Here, the Paris of the French Nouvelle-Vague (New Wave) of cinema lives on in charming buildings and parks like the Jardin du Luxembourg. And a youthful, cheerful crowd of students enlivens the Quartier Latin, just as it did centuries ago when the Sorbonne University was first founded.

The area is nearly saturated with historical sights, among which the Pantheon and the medieval ruins of the Cluny Abbey. When you get to boulevard Saint-Michel, Notre-Dame cathedral is just a short walk away. Before crossing the bridge which leads you there, on the île de la Cité, what about paying a visit to Shakespeare & Co.? This famous English bookshop has also served as the headquarters of many writers coming from English-speaking countries. But you may prefer working on your French with the help of some old book or vintage magazine purchased at one of the numerous stands set on the Quays along the River Seine, which sell postcards and small paintings as well.

The Montparnasse of Ernest Hemingway is also on the Left Bank. Its heart is now more modern, with shopping malls like Galeries Lafayette and megastores, though it keeps its distinctive Parisian feel. From there, you may take the metro and cross (as it rises above ground) the 15th arrondissement, the largest in Paris. It is more residential but still busy and animated.

In a few minutes time, you'll reach the Champs de Mars gardens and the Eiffel Tower.

Just because you are staying in a nice Parisian apartment with all facilities does not mean you should deny yourself the privilege of enjoying breakfast (croissant and double express, of course) in one of the elegant cafés lining Boulevard Saint-Germain. On sunny days, sitting outside is highly recommended. Another aspect of the Left Bank experience is buying fresh produce from the numerous street markets, especially on week-ends.

And if you are not confident with your skills as "Chef", you may instead pick a traîteur where refined French, Italian, Chinese and other treats are cooked for take-out. Today, Left Bank neighborhoods like Saint-Germain are home to the cutting edge of Parisian fashion and boutiques. Antique shops and galleries offer the best to those who intend to bring back home their own little corner of Paris.

Numerous restaurants, either offering traditional French cuisine and atmosphere or reflecting the ongoing cosmopolitism of Paris through quality exotic fares, line the tiniest streets. Cinemas are just everywhere. As for nearly everything else here, all you need to do is to cross a few streets... So why hesitate? Get into the Left Bank spirit!