Arches over Lyon

A well-connected base in the 12th arrondissement, this apartment puts Gare de Lyon's metro and RER connections a three-minute walk from the door – handy whether you're heading to the Louvre or Charles de Gaulle. When the day is done, there's a living room to settle into with a dining table for unhurried grazing. The artisan boutiques of Viaduc des Arts are just five minutes on foot, and Marché d'Aligre is an eight-minute stroll – good reasons to stay in the neighbourhood a little longer.

Home truths:
* At full occupancy, two guests will sleep on the sofa bed in the living area.
* The en-suite bathroom is semi-open to the bedroom so privacy is limited.
* You won't find an oven here – though there is a microwave and a hob. We think the kitchen is better suited to prepping lighter bites than large meals.
* There is no lift in the building, and the apartment sits on the fourth floor – you'll be carrying luggage up several flights of stairs on arrival and departure.
* If you're arriving at the weekend, you'll collect your keys from the host's office near the Arc de Triomphe – factor in a short detour before heading to the apartment.