The city’s artiest night of the year – la Nuit Blanche (White Night) – is back, with a trail to follow along the Seine (i.e. super close to our hotels) created by the avant-garde museum Palais de Tokyo. There are 40 projects near the river, and many more throughout the city.

Here’s all the info.

What a genius idea to have the Nuit Blanche follow the love story of fictional character Polyphile, and let the story unfold as you walk from art piece to art piece.

In 12 chapters, inspired by a 15th century book, you’ll live through his adventures and discover his quest, with the first six chapters spanning from Gare de Lyon in the east to Pont Neuf in the centre of town, followed by the last six chapters that will take you all the way to the suburb of Issy-les-Moulineaux (should you so wish).

Some installations look very interesting (and this is just a small selection from a huge choice):

– A video and photos by Erwin Olaf at Hôtel de Ville
– Abraham Poincheval living on a platform 22 metres up at Gare de Lyon
– A spectacular installation by Christian Rizzo at Hôtel Dieu
– The dancers of the Crazy Horse performing in the garden of the Petit Palais
– A giant techno dancefloor on the Pont des Invalides…

Although it can sometimes be difficult to know where to start or where to go with so much going on, this year things have been simplified. There’s a free app to help you, a pink line on the pavement to follow and a very clever interactive Instagram map. Just click on the area you want to know about.

And if you don’t want to walk everywhere, métro lines 1 and 9 will be running all night, with trains every five minutes. They’re even free from 2.15-5.30am!

The 2016 Nuit Blanche is happening all over Paris during the night of Saturday 1st October

Website: www.nuitblanche.paris

Facebook: facebook.com/NBParis

Twitter: twitter.com/NBParis – #NuitBlanche

Instagram: instagram.com/nuitblanche2016