19 BEST Things to Do in Paris + How to | 2023

You know you need to see the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Versailles, but this round-up also shows you how to do them in the most exclusive line-skipping ways. On top of that, we’ve included free attractions and must-see parks such as the Luxembourg Gardens which is magical at one particular time of the day. These are the top things to do in Paris from the people who know the city best!

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Pro Tip: Planning what to do on your trip to Paris? Bookmark this post in your browser so you can easily find it when you’re in the city. Check out our guide to Paris for more planning resources, our top Paris tours for a memorable trip, and how to spend a weekend in Paris.

Top 19 Things To Do in Paris

19. Indulge at a Great Wine Bar

It’s no mystery that the libation of choice in France is the nectar of the gods: wine. When I was in Paris, I found a small interesting wine bar known as Chez Nous and fell in love with it. Why?

First of all, they don’t feature a menu. You tell the waiters what you’re looking for and your budget and they go to work. They have a great wine selection and plates that will make your taste buds come alive. The food and wine are from all over, not just France, which makes for a very eclectic sit-down.

You may be a wine connoisseur or new to the world of wine—either way, this is a great option. They’ll walk you through couture wine options, which could turn you onto a new producer you hadn’t heard about. I consider myself a wine snob and was shocked when I did not recognize the three wines we tried, which is the way I like it!

Address: 10 Rue Dauphine

Not ready to book a food tour? Check out our Paris Guide for more resources.

18. Visit the Palais Garnier Opera House

Paris’ opera house is an awe-inspiring monument that is largely skipped over by tourists. Built during the mid to late 1800s, it isn’t hard to understand why this was the place to be seen at the height of its popularity. The interior of the opera house is filled with rich decoration and excessive ornamentation—think gold everywhere!

Guided and unguided tours are available, but if you really want to learn all the history of this amazing place, make sure to stick with a guide. Who knows, you might even catch a glimpse of the famous Phantom of the Opera.

Address: Pl. de l’Opéra

17. Walk Through Place des Vosges in Le Marais

Place des Vosges is one of the most beautiful squares in Le Marais or even Paris. If you heard someone describe it as a, “small park completely enclosed by four walls of houses that look exactly the same as one another,” you may not really want to go there!

Obviously, you could describe it much better than that. They aren’t just houses that look exactly the same as one another, they’re some of the most beautiful buildings in all of Paris. If you happened into this square without knowing anything about it, you’d most definitely know you were somewhere special.

Address: Pl. des Vosges

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Paris Guide for more resources.

16. Visit the Beaches of Normandy

The beaches of Normandy and Pointe du Hoc bunker are synonymous with World War II and visiting them in-person puts things into perspective. The beaches are in no way “close” to Paris. Considering their importance, however, many people make the pilgrimage if they have an extra day in Paris.

It is around a 3 hour drive and there are lots of things to see along the way including some pretty amazing cider (beer) breweries. We offer a great full-day trip to the “D-Day” beaches of Normandy, which includes transportation and lunch. You’ll visit Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc, and make a stop for cider! We also offer this as a private tour with an additional price tag!

Address: Omaha Beach | Utah Beach | Pointe du Hoc Bunker

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our best Paris tours to take and why.

15. Visit Daniel Buren’s Columns in Palais Royal

Ever heard Jack Johnson sing that famous line, “pave paradise and put up a parking lot.” Well, Paris must have an extended version, “after you put up a parking lot call a famous artist and make it a monumental modern art installation.”

Would a park full of trees be more beautiful? You decide when you go to Paris and visit Palais Royal. Inside there is a courtyard, free to enter, where you’ll find 260 marble-painted columns. It’s a cool site and definitely an interesting photo!

Address: Galerie de la Cour d’Honneur, 2 Rue de Montpensier

Our Best Versailles and Paris Louvre Tours

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Paris Guide for more resources.

14. Dive Deep into Impressionism at the Musée d’Orsay

In any other city, the Musée d’Orsay would be the must-see mega attraction but in Paris, the Louvre undoubtedly casts a shadow! That said, visiting this impressionist gallery may be the highlight of your entire trip. Why?

The gallery is home to some of the world’s greatest artists that re-shaped the canvas of the modern art scene. Influential artists like Van Gogh, Monet, Cezanne, and more are all featured in this renovated train station. There are lots of great works of art from mega-famous artists that you’ll likely recognize such as:

• Card Players by Paul Cezanne
• Bal Moulin Galette by Renoir
• Luncheon on the Grass by Manet
• Starry Night by Van Gogh

For a complete list with a description, read our article on the top things to see at Musée d’Orsay! If you want to maximize your experience, book a private Musée d’Orsay tour, which will take the guesswork out of booking and deep-dive you into the history, anecdotes, and art with a passionate guide.

Address: 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur

Not ready to book a tour? Find out how to visit the Musée d’Orsay.

13. Explore Les Passages Couverts

Les Passages Couverts are beautiful covered passageways with glass ceilings in the Galerie Vivienne department store. These were some of the first modern department stores and honestly, things have gone downhill from there.

You can walk through these beautiful works of art and window shop, which almost always leads to real shopping and spending money. For more shopping tips, read our article on the best shopping in Paris.

Address: 5 Rue de la Banque

12. Visit the Louvre with a Guide

The Louvre is the world’s largest museum and home to the very fabric of western civilization, which makes it incredibly important to society. Licensed tour guides of Paris and the Louvre study their entire lives in tribute to the great artists, sculptors, and even warlords that have molded our society.

Joining a guided tour allows you to dive below the surface of the artwork to really understand the thoughts and feelings of these world-famous artists. It adds so much to the experience of visiting the Louvre and will definitely make your trip more memorable.

Our small group Louvre walking tours have received thousands of five-star reviews and we offer them at many different price points to meet every budget!

Address: Rue de Rivoli

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Louvre Museums tour is worth it.

11. Les Duex Magots

You may pony up a little more than you wanted to for your drink, but sitting and having a drink at Les Duex Magots or Le Procope is a right of passage in Paris. Each café is on the ritzy Boulevard Saint-Germain and both are emblematic of what a french café or bistro should be.

You will immediately have something in common with almost everyone who has visited Paris as these two spots are popular! Your drinks won’t taste much different than anywhere else—but these places are more about their history and service.

Address: Les Duex Magots | Le Procope

10. Visit the Sainte-Chapelle Chapel

Sainte-Chapelle is a royal chapel built in the Gothic style. While the architecture of the building is admirable, the real star is its 1,113 stained glass windows. The windows measure 49 feet (15 meters) and depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments.

Even on a cloudy day, when the sunlight that comes through the chapel windows is limited, the stained glass is stunning. Sainte-Chapelle is only about a five-minute walk to Notre Dame Cathedral, so kill two birds with one stone and visit both beauties one right after the other.

Address: 10 Bd du Palais

9. Take a Tour of the Paris Catacombs

Did you know that underneath the City of Light there are tunnels full of bones? The Catacombs of Paris might seem a little spooky or gross, but they are a fascinating part of Parisian history.

One of the best things to do in Paris is to tour the creatively-stacked tunnels. Containing the bones of over six million people, the Paris catacombs are officially the world’s largest grave.

Going on a skip-the-line Paris Catacombs tour is your best option if you don’t want to risk waiting a long time to get in. However, if you want to go it alone, the Catacombs also offer audio guides.

Address: 1 Av. du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Paris Catacombs tour is worth it.

8. Visit Montmartre and a Vineyard in Paris

Yes, there is a vineyard in the center of Paris. Vignes du Clos is likely the smallest vineyard in the entire world and it’s right in Montmartre.

The vineyard is not owned by a rich family or a business. It is owned by the 18th arrondissement, which is referred to as Montmartre. Vignes du Clos is basically a park that produces local wine and uses the proceeds for social initiatives. It’s a beautiful way to bring the local Parisian community together around something as sacred as wine.

Address: 18 Rue des Saules

Our Best Guided Tours of Paris

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Paris Guide for more resources.

7. Eat at La Maison Rose

Before or after you pop into the tiny vineyard above, you should grab a bite to eat at La Maison Rose. The two stops combined will make you feel like you are in a small wine-producing village outside of Paris that just happens to have a killer view of Paris!

Address: 2 Rue de l’Abreuvoir

6. Explore the Parks and Gardens of Paris

A favorite Parisian pastime is to flâner, or to stroll about aimlessly. So why not use this excuse to act like a local and check out Paris’ parks and gardens?

Among the city’s most manicured and impressive gardens are the Tuileries Gardens next to the Louvre museum and the Luxembourg Gardens in the sixth arrondissement (featured photo). This is definitely one of the more romantic things to do in Paris but it can be anything you want it to be.

If you’re looking to escape fellow tourists, head to the Buttes Chaumont park in northeastern Paris, where locals go to enjoy great views of the city and relax. Paris takes great pride in its green spaces and considers them gems, so taking some time to enjoy them is definitely one of the best things to do in Paris. Check out our post on the top gardens and parks in Paris for more options.

Address: Tuileries Gardens | Luxembourg Gardens | Buttes Chaumont Park

5. Take a Trip To the Château de Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is undoubtedly one of Paris’ most visited attractions for good reason. While revolutionaries might have ousted the last kings and queens of France, we’re glad they left this magnificent piece of architecture unscathed.

Retrace the footsteps of historical figures like Marie Antoinette and admire the grandeur of the former royal palace. In the Hall of Mirrors, beautiful chandeliers reflect in over 300 mirrors.

When you visit the palace, make sure you visit the enchanting Gardens of Versailles. The meticulously-manicured gardens occupy a total area of almost 2,000 acres. Destinations like Versailles are brimming with history, gossip, and stories.

Check out our Versailles small group tour for a great tour at a great price. The line at Versailles is also crazy long for at least eight months of the year, so you’ll appreciate the skip-the-line access. See our posts on the top things to see in Versailles and how to visit Versailles for more inspiration.

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if a Versailles tour is worth it.

4. Walk Through Montmartre

Sometimes described as a village because of its winding streets and small-town feel, Montmartre is a neighborhood in Paris perched on a hilltop in the northern part of the city. Make sure you pay a visit to the Sacre Coeur Basilica, an often-overlooked religious monument.

Rather than mapping out every detail of your visit, get off at a nearby metro station (Anvers or Abbesses) and wander your way through the streets of Montmartre. This is the best way to get a feel for this charming neighborhood. Our Paris in a Day tour covers Montmartre as well as Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower.

Address: Sacre Coeur Basilica

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our best Paris tours to take and why.

3. Join a Food Tour in Paris

Paris is one place where you should definitely indulge in local cuisine. You might have heard people say that bread tastes better in France, and it’s not a myth. Food is the key to every culture and the French believe they know the key to food.

Their belief may or may not be true, but their passion for the culinary arts is unmistakable and definitely admirable. You can witness this for yourself in many ways, but we believe the best way is to join a food tour—and ours is the best!

Why? We have tested many food tours in Paris and most did not enter a single restaurant. Our food tour goes to 4 or more locations and includes a sit-down dinner, crepes (salty), and a wine and cheese bar, which is really cool! Not to mention it’s in the trendy Le Marais district of Paris! Take a look at out our Le Marais food tour in Paris. Also, check out our article on the best Patisserie in Paris.

Not ready to book a tour? Check out our Paris Guide for more resources.

2. Stroll through a Parisian Food Market

One of the best things to do in Paris is to take in some of the local culture by visiting a neighborhood market. Located in the upper Marais neighborhood, the Marché des Enfants Rouges is Paris’ oldest covered market.

If an outdoor market seems more up your alley, visit the Marché d’Aligre in the 12th arrondissement. This bustling market offers pretty much anything you can think of, and behind the market, there are multiple specialty food stores that are fun to explore.

While our Le Marais food tour does not go to a vegetable market, it does take you through most of the quintessential French dishes. Oysters, cheese, crepes, a hot entry, and more! Wine and champagne included!

Address: Marché des Enfants Rouges | Marché d’Aligre

1. Watch the Eiffel Tower Twinkle at Night

Pretty much everyone will plan to see the Eiffel Tower at some point during their trip to Paris. And while it might seem obvious that the Eiffel Tower lights up at night, did you know that every evening the Eiffel Tower twinkles for five minutes every hour on the hour?

It’s a magical sight, and it’s even better when you’re standing close to the tower. The time the ‘twinkling’ starts depends on the time of year you’re visiting, since it begins after sundown.

You’ll hear exclamations of “ooh!” and “ah!” when the twinkling begins—it will take your breath away! We also run tours of the Eiffel Tower with a Siene river cruise included.

Not ready to book a tour? Find out if an Eiffel Tower tour is worth it.