The allure of Paris is legendary, and for good reason. Here is a detailed list of things to do in Paris. Seductive sidewalk cafes, glittering boutiques, world-class museums, endless activities, and a legendary restaurant scene, let Paris become a model for urban runways. Don’t expect to see them all on your first visit unless you plan to spend at least a week here. Such as strolling the Champs Elysées, dining at alfresco cafes, admiring the view of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, saying hello to the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, and taking a day trip to the Palace of Versailles.
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EPIC THINGS TO DO WHILE VISITING PARIS
These top the list of the best things to do in Paris, but there are also neighborhoods worth exploring and new food to try. Let’s explore these best places in Paris and also share with your friends.
1. Climb up to the Eiffel Tower
No building symbolizes Paris more than the Eiffel Tower. There are only a few buildings in the world that evoke the same sense of awe, wonder, and romance as the Eiffel Tower. For many, a trip to Paris isn’t complete without a visit to this iconic landmark.
The Eiffel Tower has three floors: the first floor, the second floor, and the top floor. Both the first and second floors are accessible by elevator and stairs. The only way to visit the top of the Eiffel Tower is by taking an elevator.
If you want to treat yourself, there is a champagne bar on the top floor (third floor). Or just enjoy the breathtaking views from an altitude of 276 meters. Every night, 20,000 strobe lights mounted on the tower provide beautiful effects for five minutes every hour.
Plan your visit with our Eiffel Tower guide, which explains your ticket options, how to avoid long lines and several unique dining experiences at the Eiffel Tower.
2. Go Shopping
One of the best things to do in Paris is to go shopping. Whether you want to shop in a multi-level shopping mall or stroll along picturesque streets lined with boutiques, you have options.
Located in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, Le Bon Marché is a high-end shopping mall topped by a fine-dining restaurant, the Grande Epicerie.
Galeries Lafayette is an upscale French department store. Even if you’re not in the mood for shopping, it’s still worth a quick visit. It’s gorgeous inside, with colorful stained glass ceilings and ornate balconies.
3. Louvre Museum
The Louvre is the largest art museum in the world. The building was once the residence of French kings, including Louis XIV. During the French Revolution in the 18th century, the Louvre was converted into a museum.
If you want the cheapest and most efficient way to visit the Louvre, follow our Louvre Walking Tour. Purchase your tickets in advance online or use a museum pass to visit the highlights of the Louvre.
The Louvre is huge and you can spend several days here. However, you only need an hour or two to see the highlights (Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Wings of Victory).
4. The Wall of Love
The Wall of Love is a 40 square meter wall decorated with enameled lava tiles with declarations of love written in 250 different languages. The Wall of Love, also known as Le Mur des Je T’aime, is a giant blue wall with “I love you” written in 250 languages. It’s free to visit and worth a quick visit if you’re in the area. It is located next to the Abbes metro station.
Created in 2000, the wall is the result of a collaboration between artist and musician Frédéric Baron and calligrapher Claire Kito. This installation is full of symbolism. When you look closely, you’ll notice bright red shapes on the surface of the wall. Each one represents a small part of a broken heart.
The artists wanted them to symbolize how humanity is divided by a lack of love. Additionally, walls are often a symbol of division and isolation. Here, however, the wall becomes a solid support for a beautiful expression of love—the way humans connect and overcome boundaries.
5. Visit Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery is one of the most famous and most visited cemeteries in the world. While the Cimetière du Pere Lachaise in east Paris may not be as famous as the Eiffel Tower or the Arc de Triomphe, its celebrity graves, memorable statues, lush landscaping, and photo-worthy cobblestone alleys make it one of the top Paris attractions and the most visited cemetery in the world, it attracts approximately 3.5 million visitors each year.
Pere Lechaise is free to visit, but if you want more of an experience, you can take a guided tour. This tour lasts 2 to 3 hours and allows you to see the final resting places of celebrities such as Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison, and Chopin.
6. Walk Along The Champs Elysees
There’s a reason the Champs Elysées is called “the most beautiful avenue in the world.” Visited by 300,000 people every day, the Champs Elysées is one of the most popular attractions in Paris. It is one of the most famous streets in the world, stretching from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. Along the way, head to Laduree for macarons, another must-do in Paris.
7. Canal Saint-Martin
Paris’ canals were built in the early 19th century and have become a vibrant part of the city. Canal Saint-Martin is a small waterway lined with boutiques and cafés. This area is more popular with locals. So if you are tired of the tourist crowds, you can escape here for a quiet afternoon and have dinner in one of the cafes.
After exiting the metro station, walk along Rue de Lancry towards Canal Saint-Martin and then along Quai de Valmy, where the colorful Antoine et Lily store facades set the tone. Enjoy the lively atmosphere of small bars and bistros along the canal.
8. Visit Angelina, Paris
Angelina is one of the best places in Paris to enjoy hot chocolate and French pastries. If there was an institution in Paris as dedicated to la dolce vita as Angelina, I’d love to know about its existence. Angelina is one of the most famous teahouses in Paris, founded in 1903, and still amazes customers and loyal customers today.
Its most famous (and busiest) location is on Rue Rivoli near the Louvre. Angelina also has a café inside the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles. These places tend to be less busy, and the Louvre shop offers a special pastry that can only be found there.
9. Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe sits at the top of the Champs Elysées. From the top of the arch, you can enjoy one of the best views in Paris. Overlooking the Champs Elysées, the Louvre, La Défense, and the Eiffel Tower on the rooftop. At night you can see Paris (and the Eiffel Tower) sparkling…a beautiful view.
The Arc de Triomphe was commissioned by Napoleon in 1806 to celebrate his victory at the Battle of Austerlitz.
There is no doubt that everyone who comes to Paris on vacation wants to take a great Instagram photo in front of the most famous arch in the world.
10. Palais Garnier
The Palais Garnier is one of the most important buildings in Paris. It is the world-famous Paris Opera House. Operas and ballets are performed here, and the opera house was the filming location for the book and musical The Phantom of the Opera. The interior of the Opera House is opulent, opulent and breathtakingly beautiful. During your tour, you can visit the opera house or watch a show.
11. Visit the Panthéon
The Pantheon is a monument in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France. Located in the Latin Quarter, this building was originally a church and was used as a mausoleum for French citizens after the French Revolution. Victor Hugo, Voltaire, Jean Rousseau, and Emile Zola are all buried here.
The best part of visiting the Pantheon is climbing the steps to the dome, known as the “Balcony of Paris” because of its 360-degree views of Paris. Overlooking the Latin Quarter, Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, and Luxembourg Gardens.
When visiting the Pantheon, you can take a look inside the building. Look at Foucault’s Pendulum in the center of the nave.
12. Watch the Sunset at Trocadéro
There are different things to do in Paris, and this is one of them. Trocadéro, home to the Palais de Chaillot, is an area in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, France, across the Seine River from the Eiffel Tower. The Palais de Chaillot is located on the same site and is home to several museums.
The wide terraces of the Trocadéro are one of the best places to photograph the Seine and the Eiffel Tower. It gets busy all day long and even more so at sunset, but it’s a great place to photograph the Eiffel Tower and the colorful night sky.
13. Shakespeare and Company
Shakespeare and Company is an independent English bookstore located on the banks of the Seine, opposite Notre Dame Cathedral. The Shakespeare Company was founded in 1919 at another location by American Sylvia Beach.
This bookstore was frequented by writers such as Hemingway, Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein, and Ezra Pound. The first store closed in 1941 during the German occupation of France.
In 1951, George Whitman opened a second bookstore, and famous writers also visited there. In 1964, his bookstore was renamed Shakespeare and Company, and this is the Left Bank Bookstore that people still patronize today.
14. Paris Pont Alexandre III
This is the most luxurious bridge in the city. The Pont Alexandre III spans the Seine and connects the Grand Palais to Les Invalides and is decorated with nymphs, cherubs and golden statues. You may recognize this bridge from movies such as “James Bond: A View to a Kill” and “Midnight in Paris.”
15. Catacombs of Paris
The Catacombs of Paris are by far one of the most underrated attractions you can visit in the city. If you’re interested in dark caves, history, and weird phenomena, this is the place for you.
If you want to do things in Paris city, this sport is only for you. Twenty meters beneath the maze of galleries, visitors will find an ossuary containing the remains of millions of Parisians. This unique location recalls Parisian history and invites visitors to embark on a timeless journey.