Check out the 13 best things to do in Paris. See what sights and wonderful attractions the city has to offer.
1. Visiting the Eiffel Tower in Paris
Our first tip among the 13 best things to do in Paris is a classic for those who want to visit the French capital: visit the Eiffel Tower, the biggest symbol there. This postcard is located in a large garden where many people picnic and enjoy other leisure activities in the pleasant Parisian climate.
We also recommend that you visit this tourist attraction at night, when it is even more dazzling with the lights. To climb the tower, you need to buy a ticket. You can buy them in advance, which is what we recommend, as it will be cheaper and you won’t have to queue. Or you can buy them on the spot and sometimes spend longer in the queue.
We always use this website to buy our tickets and we like it very much.
2. Visiting the Arc de Triomphe in Paris
This iconic monument in Paris was inaugurated in 1836 to commemorate the victories of Napoleon, who had ordered its construction 30 years earlier. The Arc de Triomphe also houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and has the names of 128 French battles and generals engraved on it. It’s well worth stopping by and taking some beautiful photos.
Buy your ticket by clicking here.
Important tip: To make the most of your trip is to stay in the best region. If you want, see our article here that explains the best area, hotels and how to save a lot on accommodation.
3. Going to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
You can’t miss the historic Notre Dame Cathedral. This church, one of the most famous in the world, is located on Place Parvis on the Île de la Cité.
Notre Dame Cathedral dates back more than 700 years and its architecture is in the Gothic style. Unfortunately, since the fire in 2019, the church has been closed to visitors. However, it is well worth a visit to take some beautiful photos of the exterior.
4. Getting to know the Seine River in Paris
One of the 13 best things to do in Paris is to take a boat trip along the Seine River. This river passes under bridges that have marked the history of the world, such as the Pont des Arts. It also takes in other sights of the city.
Not all tourists take this tour, but we highly recommend it, which you can book here. If you can’t make it, at least a walk along the banks of the River Seine will be worth it.
5. Visit the museums of Paris
Passing through Paris and not visiting its museums is almost the same as not going to the city at all. After all, in them you’ll learn a lot about the history of the whole of France. And Paris is full of museums to suit all tastes. Here are some of the main museums the city has to offer:
Louvre Museum: this museum is the most famous and visited in the world, so we recommend that you put it at the top of your list of the 13 best things to do in Paris. Also, be sure to buy your tickets for this visit IN ADVANCE, as the queues to buy them on the spot are very long.
The Louvre Museum was inaugurated in 1793 and its collection contains more than 380,000 objects. These range from relics from ancient Egypt to modern paintings, not to mention Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Mona Lisa.
Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie: another incredible place to visit is the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, which is a great tourist spot for the family. Founded in 1986, it is the largest museum dedicated to science in Europe and is located in La Villette Park, in a building with contemporary architecture.
Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle: is considered one of the most important in France. Founded in 1793, the museum has branches in other parts of the country and in Paris, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions.
The collection of the Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle contains more than 2 million items, including objects representing the world of science, zoology, botany, society and other areas.
Musée d’Orsay: another must-see museum in France is the Musée d’Orsay. It stands on the banks of the Seine and is considered one of the most beautiful in the whole country. The museum has a rich collection of paintings and sculptures of Western art dating from 1848 to 1914.
There you will also find works by great artists such as Degas, Manet, Monet, Delacroix, Van Gogh, Gustave Courbet, Matisse, Edvard Munch, Toulouse-Lautrec and others.
Centre Pompidou: this museum is considered one of the most “avant-garde” buildings in the world and is one of the most important in France. The museum has become super popular in recent years and is home to the National Museum of Modern Art, which is recognized throughout the world for its collections of 20th and 21st century art.
Carnavalet Museum: the Carnavalet Museum is entirely dedicated to the history of France. Located in two grand mansions, the Hôtel Carnavalet and the Hôtel Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau, the museum houses incredible relics for art lovers. Here you’ll find over 600,000 items including drawings, paintings, photographs and much more.
6. Going to the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris
Paris is also perfect for those who want to take delightful walks. And one of the nicest places to walk, picnic and relax is the Luxembourg Gardens. Nearby is the grandiose Luxembourg Palace, which, even from the outside, offers a spectacular view.
7. Walking around Montmartre in Paris
Montmartre is a more secluded bohemian neighborhood in the city. There, you’ll find the well-known Sacre Coeur basilica, the Moulin Rouge and the famous Place de la Concorde and Opera Garnier. For moviegoers, several films such as The Fabulous Destiny of Amelie Poulain were filmed here.
Also, did you know that you can take a Free Tour of this neighborhood? Get your ticket here, it’s really worth it.
8. Strolling through the Latin Quarter in Paris
Another well-known neighborhood in Paris is the Latin Quarter, which has countless stores, patisseries and bakeries. As the name implies, it has some very good Latin restaurants and shops. You can also find restaurants from all over the world.
9. Going to Disneyland in Paris
Among the 13 best things to do in Paris, did you know that you can also visit one of the branches of the Disney park: Disneyland Paris? Known as the Euro Disney Resort, the place has two theme parks inspired by Disney in Orlando: Walt Disney Studios and Disneyland. And as they are located next to each other, you can visit them on the same day.
However, our tip is that you set aside at least one day for each in your travel itinerary. That way, you’ll be able to visit all the attractions at your leisure and enjoy all the best the complex has to offer.
10. Tour of Versailles Palace near Paris
Our next tip among the 13 best things to do in Paris is the stunning Palace of Versailles, located in the city of the same name, 22 km from Paris. Visiting the place is a great experience for those who want to learn more about the history of France, as it was the country’s royal residence for many years.
The luxurious château has over a hundred rooms and hundreds more, covering 10,000 m². This palace displays the remarkable collection of paintings and sculptures of the Museum of French History. We’ve already told you that it’s important to book your tickets in advance to avoid the stress of queuing.
If you want to visit the castle, don’t miss the “king’s apartment” and the gallery of mirrors. And there you can wander around the majestic gardens of the Palace of Versailles, which are an attraction in their own right. They cover 90 hectares within an 800-hectare park, which is lined with countless species of flowers and plants.
As it’s a huge garden, you can hire a trolley to stroll around it or take the cheaper communal train. It’s an incredible place to stroll around and offers great restaurants.
11. Shopping in Paris
Whether you want to buy items that aren’t easy to find in your country or to buy souvenirs for your trip, you can’t miss the stores and shopping in Paris. Although Europe is not very cheap for this type of activity, it is possible to shop there at fair prices.
One place we highly recommend for shopping in the French capital is the Galeries Lafayette department store. It has many different areas specializing in men’s, women’s and children’s fashion, homeware, toys and much more. And among the brands, you’ll find Dior, Chanel, Polo Ralph Lauren and Prada, as well as other brands that are more accessible and cheaper.
We also recommend the Les Quatre Temps shopping center, which opened in 1981 and is located in the financial district of Paris. It was once considered the largest shopping center on the European continent and there you can find stores such as Apple, Nike, Forever 21, H&M, Toys R ‘Us, Michael Kors and many others.
Now, if you prefer shopping outdoors, our tip is to visit the chic Avenue Montaigne in Paris. It has designer stores such as Fendi, Chanel, Armani and Gucci and the Champs-Élysées. If you’re excited about visiting the avenue, don’t forget to take your camera and photograph the nearby Arc de Triomphe.
12. Restaurants in Paris
Don’t forget to book an evening for dinner in the capital of lovers. Among our recommendations for restaurants in the city are Georges Restaurant at 189 rue Beaubourg and L’Ambroisie at 9 Place des Vosges. Both serve delicious dishes and have a pleasant décor that makes the experience of dining in Paris even more memorable.
13. Enjoying the nightlife in Paris
In Paris, there are so many places to go out at night! The French capital has many bars and nightclubs of varying styles. One of the most interesting nightclubs in the city is Showcase, located under the Alexandre III Bridge. Another of our recommendations is Le Dandy, in the Pigalle area. The place is reminiscent of a cabaret and has a retro décor.
Now, if you want to visit the bars of Paris, our tips are the great Le Point Ephémère and the boat bar Le Batofar, which is moored on the Seine River.
Save money on your trip to Paris:
Saving money: do you want to plan your trip while making the most of your budget? Be sure to read our article on how to travel to Paris cheap, with all the tips to save the most, while still enjoying it!
Tickets: find out where to buy your Paris tickets in the cheapest and safest way – for parks, museums and ticket combos. You can save up to 40%!
Car: if you are thinking about renting one this is the best website. It compares the price at all rental companies and finds unbeatable prices. You can save up to 30%!
Mobile chip: we always use this chip. It’s electronic (eSIM), you install it instantly and you can use your cell phone’s Internet anywhere in the world.
Hotels: our article on where to stay in Paris. You will find out the best area, the hotels that we have stayed there and how to save a lot on the hotel.
Travel insurance: medical care in another country is very expensive and it is extremely important to take out travel insurance for any trip abroad. This is the website we always take out our insurance on. Reliable and at a good price.
Transfer: do you need one from the airport to the hotel? Find out here how to book and for the lowest price!
