Meet your guide in the early afternoon outside Gare St Lazare, Paris' second-busiest train station. Gaze up at the station's impressive, stately facade and learn about its architecture before setting off on foot through the 8th and 9th arrondissements, known for its many Art Nouveau buildings.

Discover the spectacular Art Nouveau architecture inside a traditional Parisian brasserie and soak up the atmosphere while enjoying a drink and listening to your guide. Continue on to the Palais Garnier, Paris' world-famous opera house, also known as the Opera Garnier. Marvel at the building’s spectacular structure and ornate stonework as you walk around the exterior. Built in the late 19th century, the Palais Garnier is widely considered as much a symbol of Paris as the Eiffel Tower or Notre Dame Cathedral, and its beauty continues to captivate visitors to this day.

Next, head to Boulevard Haussmann, a bustling thoroughfare named after 19th-century urban planner Georges-Eugène Haussmann, who transformed Paris from a medieval slum to a stunning metropolis with long, wide, uniform streets to bring air, light and aesthetic beauty to the center of the city. Haussmann redeveloped Paris at the height of the Art Nouveau movement — a style of art and architecture that thrived from 1890 to 1910. A reaction to classic academic art that had dominated earlier centuries, Art Nouveau was inspired by natural forms and structures, accentuated by curved lines and fluid figures.

On this busy boulevard you'll find the Galeries Lafayette luxury department store, Paris’ most famous hub for designer shopping, alongside Printemps. Step inside to be wowed by the towering stained-glass dome ceiling and gilded balconies — more reminiscent of an opulent palace than a shopping mall. Listen as your guide describes the architectural styles, techniques and technologies that combined to create this architectural masterpiece.