You realise this place is a little magical as soon as you step in through the door. Tucked up at the top of a period building in an area home to the best of the city's boulevards, this lovely apartment is whimsical and unique. Although it may take you a minute to catch your breath after the climb, the home makes up for its stairs with a trendy attic vibe, a lived-in feel and plenty of architectural features (think exposed rustic beams, slanted ceilings and skylights). Once you've finished exploring the home's quirky decorative pieces and jungle of houseplants, it's time to open a bottle of wine and head up to the terrace. A real oasis in the city, especially when the flowers are out in the spring and summer, from this outdoor space you can see the Eiffel Tower. If you can drag yourself away from it, and feel ready to hit the streets, rue Poissonnière, with its many casual restaurants, is just around the corner (a three-minute walk at the most) and the Louvre is a pleasant twenty-five-minute stroll.

Home truths:
*This home is on the 6th floor with no lift access and that's a lot of stairs – come ready for the free workout
*This is a characterful home with lived-in charm so you will be sharing the space with your host's belongings
*Fans are available
*One of the bedrooms is accessed across the terrace and has a low ceiling
*The ensuite is open to this bedroom – the shower's in the open, and the toilet is only separated from the rest of the room by a curtain
*If you're travelling with small children, a cot is available – speak to the host
*This home only has air conditioning in two of the bedrooms – they are portable air conditioning units rather than traditional a/c