18 Very Best Things to Do in Paris

Looking for fun things to do in Paris? Don’t forget to check out this list of the very things to do in Paris, France.

Paris definitely lives up to being the city of cities and the city of love. The French capital has it all – and even more!

In Paris, you’ll find countless impressive sights, charming neighborhoods, beautiful architecture, and impressive art. You can also find lots of chic cafes and restaurants! Or how about just enjoying the absolutely amazing Parisian vibe? Well, it’s safe to say that Paris has something for everyone.

If you’re planning a trip to Paris, hang on a little longer. Here’s a list of the very best things to do in Paris, France.

 

The best things to do in Paris:

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1. Eiffel Tower

Visiting the Eiffel Tower is definitely the very best thing to do in Paris. Most people know the Eiffel Tower, even if they haven’t been to Paris yet. With a height of 321 meters, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world at its opening in 1889.

In fact, it wasn’t intended to be a permanent building. Yet the Eiffel Tower still stands today and has become one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Before ascending the dizzying heights, remember to step under the tower to look directly up at the impressive building.

You can visit three different floors of the Eiffel Tower using a lift. Another option is to settle for the stairs to the two lower floors. From the top of the Eiffel Tower, there are seriously some outstanding panoramic views of Paris! On a cloudless day, you can see 67 kilometers away. Impressive, right?

Annually, the Eiffel Tower is visited by about 7 million people and the queue is notorious for being insanely long. In fact, you could risk queuing for hours! Therefore, I strongly recommend skipping the queue by pre-ordering tickets for the Eiffel Tower.

Oh, and by the way, every night the lights in the tower are turned on with a beautiful light show every full hour. The Eiffel Tower is truly one of the best things to do in Paris!

 

2. Trocadéro Gardens

The Trocadéro garden is officially called the Jardins du Trocadéro and is a large open garden in Paris. It was created for the world exhibition in 1937 and consists of a beautiful green area.

The most remarkable thing about the garden is that it’s home to the largest fountain in Paris. In the evening, the large fountain is beautifully lit. The reason why the Trocadéro garden is one of the very best things to do in Paris, however, isn’t due to any of the aforementioned.

Instead, it’s because the garden is located on the opposite bank of the Seine than the main attraction in Paris. When visiting the garden, you’ll get one of the most incredible views of the Eiffel Tower. Maybe it’s even the very best view!

 

3. Champs-Élysées

Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a 1.9-kilometer-long world-famous boulevard in Paris. It’s especially known for its insanely expensive designer stores such as Chanel, Gucci, and Cartier. You’ll also be able to find plenty of car shops, sidewalk cafes, theaters, sports shops, and much more.

The greatest feature of the Champs-Élysées is the magnificent Arc de Triomphe. Don’t worry, I’ll get into that later! If the Champs-Élysées seem familiar, it may be because you’ve seen the world-famous boulevard in Tour de France. In fact, this is exactly where the end of the famous cycling race takes place.

 

4. Arc de Triomphe

At the end of the Champs-Élysées stands the Arc de Triomphe, one of the most popular must-see sights in Paris. This impressive edifice was erected by Napoleon as a tribute to the French army.

Under the Arc de Triomphe lies the tomb of the unknown soldier. Here, an eternal flame burns in memory of the fallen soldiers during World War I. The Eternal Flame is brought to life every night at 06:30 PM. Enjoy the view from a distance or head to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. From here, there’s a great view of the surrounding area from a height of 50 meters!

Be aware that the roundabout around the Arc de Triomphe is often called the world’s busiest roundabout. Thus, it’s a really bad idea to try and cross the road. Instead, use the underground passage at the end of the Champs Élysées.

 

5. Louvre

The largest and perhaps most famous museum in the world lies in the heart of Paris. Of course, this is none other than the Louvre, best known for Leonardo da Vinci’s world-famous painting of Mona Lisa. In addition, the world-famous Venus from Milo sculpture is also on display at the Louvre.

The museum is divided into eight different departments with paintings, sculptures, antiques, handicrafts, and more. The Louvre is so big that it’s impossible to see it all in a single day. Rumor has it that if you’re looking at every single work of art for six seconds … well, then it will take you more than two weeks to see it all. The museum is that big!

Considering that the Louvre is one of the most popular things to do in Paris, I highly recommend pre-booking your tickets for Louvre. This way you avoid the long queue at the entrance.

 

6. Montmartre

In the 18th arrondissement of Paris, you’ll find Montmartre. This artist district is a major attraction in itself. Many describe Montmartre as the real Paris with artistic souls, beautiful buildings, lovely sidewalk cafes, cobbled streets, narrow alleys, and steep stairs.

Montmartre is seriously an incredibly beautiful and charming area! In fact, world-famous artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, and Dali have all lived in Montmartre.

One of the very best things to do in Paris is to get lost in the narrow streets of Montmartre. Explore the many sights and unknown places, taste classic French cuisine and enjoy the real Parisian atmosphere.

 

7. Sacré Coeur

On the hilltop of Montmartre high above Paris stands the Sacré Coeur, a beautiful Catholic church. Built in white limestone, it was completed in 1914 but wasn’t consecrated until after the end of World War I in 1919. The impressive church is clearly one of the best sights and things to do in Paris!

Climb the stairs to the church at an altitude of 130 meters, from where there are stunning panoramic views of Paris. Admission to the Sacré Coeur is free. Inside the church, it’s incredibly beautifully adorned with mosaics and statues.

You can also head to the dome of the church, from which there’s an even better view of Paris. However, be aware that visiting the dome isn’t free.

 

8. Notre Dame

On the island of Ile de la Cité in the heart of Paris, you’ll find Notre Dame. This is one of the most iconic and essential must-see sights in Paris! The Catholic Gothic Cathedral is incredibly beautiful and is a true architectural marvel!

Notre Dame was completed in 1345 after almost 200 years of work. Thus, it’s one of the oldest buildings in Paris. Most people probably already know Notre Dame from the movie and novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”.

The world-famous cathedral has also been used for royal coronations and funerals of French presidents. For example, Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned in Notre Dame.

One of the very best things to do in Paris is to enjoy the beauty of Notre Dame. Visiting the cathedral is free, but it costs a bit to get up the tower. After the violent fire in 2019, it’s unfortunately closed to visitors. However, you can still enjoy the view of Notre Dame from the outside.

 

9. Musée d’Orsay

If you’re just a little interested in art, the Musée d’Orsay is one of the best things to do in Paris! It lies in a beautiful disused station building that was erected at the World’s Fair in 1900. The beautiful building is extremely lavishly decorated.

The Musée d’Orsay houses the world’s largest collection of Impressionist art. It mainly exhibits French art from 1848 to 1914. Here you’ll find many impressive works of art by great artists such as Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, and Gauguin.

 

10. Boat trip on the Seine

The river that runs through Paris is called the Seine and is almost impossible to avoid during your trip. A boat trip on the river is one of the best ways to experience some of the must-visit attractions in Paris. Most boats sail past the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the Louvre, and many other major must-see sights in Paris.

The classic boat trips usually last an hour and include an audio guide. There are also many companies offering evening boat trips. On some of the boat trips, you’ll be able to have dinner while enjoying the romantic atmosphere of the city.

 

11. Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge is the place where the cancan dance was born. Cabaret shows with lightly dressed women, costumes, dance, champagne, and loud music have been held here since 1889. Shortly after the opening, Moulin Rouge quickly became a major source of inspiration for similar shows in the rest of Europe.

If you want to be thrown back into Parisian history, the Moulin Rouge is one of the funniest things to do in Paris. Here you’ll experience a classic and festive cabaret show with everything that belongs. However, be aware that attending a cabaret show is a costly affair.

 

12. Centre Pompidou

There are more than 250 museums in Paris, so it’s safe to say that there are plenty to choose from. One of the most popular museums in Paris is the Centre Pompidou which is also home to the Musée National d’Art Moderne. Here you’ll find one of the world’s leading exhibitions of modern art.

The Center Pompidou is named after Georges Pompidou, a former president of France. Since the building was completed in 1977, it has been highly debated due to its special architecture. It might be tempting to say that it most of all looks like a construction site. One thing’s for sure, it’s not pretty!

 

13. Tuileries Garden

Tuileries Garden or Jardin des Tuileries is a beautiful green oasis in the heart of Paris. This large public city park stretches all the way from the Louvre to the Place de la Concorde. It’s a favorite place to relax on one of the park’s metal chairs amidst green lawns, colorful flower beds, and sparkling fountains.

Besides relaxing in the Tuileries Garden, you can also slip past the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. With a height of 25 meters, this is the smallest of the three triumphal arches in Paris. You can also take a ride in the park’s Ferris wheel, from where there are stunning views of Paris.

 

14. Catacombs of Paris

The Catacombs of Paris are a comprehensive system of underground passages with walls decorated with skulls and bones from six million skeletons. Therefore, it isn’t exactly a thing to do in Paris for children and fragile souls.

The catacombs are the result of the relocation of skeletons from the overcrowded cemeteries of Paris in the 1780s. They’re located in an ancient limestone quarry and consist of 300 kilometers of underground passages. Yet only about 1.7 kilometers are available to the public.

Although it’s one of the most bizarre must-see attractions in Paris, it’s still a fun place to visit in the French capital. So, if you want to experience something different, this is the place to go.

 

15. Palais Garnier

The old Paris Opera House is called the Palais Garnier and is one of the world’s most famous opera houses. The magnificent building was inaugurated in 1875 and is an architectural masterpiece with extravagant decor beyond words.

With the construction of the new modern opera house in Paris in 1989, the Palais Garnier’s opera performances were relocated. Therefore, you can mainly only see ballets in the old opera today. There’s also ample opportunity to explore the Palais Garnier on a guided tour of the extravagant surroundings.

 

16. Luxembourg Gardens

The Luxembourg Gardens are officially called the Jardin du Luxembourg and are located in the center of Paris. The large gardens were originally laid out in 1612 by Queen Maria de Medicis and served as castle gardens for the Palais du Luxembourg.

Later, the gardens were transformed into a public city park to the great delight of the Parisian people. Today, the Palais du Luxembourg houses the French Senate.

Besides the majestic palace, the gardens are also filled with green lawns, colorful flower beds, sparkling fountains, and sculptures of French queens. You can also find many sports fields and playgrounds. The Luxembourg Gardens are one of the best things to do in Paris when you need to escape from the busy streets of Paris.

 

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The best things to do outside of Paris

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17. Disneyland Paris

Just outside of Paris, you’ll find Disneyland, one of the very best things to do in Paris for families. With its magical and adventurous universe, Disneyland is the most visited amusement park in Europe.

Inside the theme park, you can try out about 42 rides, visit the Sleeping Beauty Castle, meet the Disney characters, and attend magical shows. Disneyland Paris is part of a large complex called Disneyland Resort Paris and covers a huge area of ​​20,000 hectares.

Besides Disneyland Paris, you can also visit Walt Disney Studios Park. In this theme park, you can learn about the creation of movies and TV series and attend entertaining shows. If you want to visit Disneyland Paris, you can easily find buses and trains running from Paris and directly to the park entrance.

 

18. Palace of Versailles

The Château de Versailles is a huge and extravagant palace located in the suburb of Versailles just outside Paris. This huge palace of more than 18,000 square meters was built by the Sun King Louis the 14^th. After many years of work, it was finally completed in 1682.

Today, the castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is among the most lavish palaces in the world. Therefore, it isn’t without reason that Versailles is the largest and most famous palace in France! The Palace of Versailles is surrounded by an impressive and incredibly beautiful baroque garden with large green areas, sparkling fountains, and carefully landscaped statues.

The Palace of Versailles is clearly one of the very best things to do in Paris and the surrounding area. It’s simply one of those places that you cannot miss! Luckily, you can easily reach the palace by using the light rail from Paris.

 

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More fun things to do in Paris:

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If you’re interested in even more fun things to do in Paris, I highly recommend exploring the places listed below. Several of the places are also among some of the most popular attractions in Paris. Still, they just didn’t quite make the list of the very best things to do in Paris.

So, that’s all on this list of the very best things to do in Paris, France. What are your favorite things to do in Paris? What are you looking forward to on your trip to Paris? Feel free to leave a comment.

More reading from France:

• 14 Best Places to Stay in France
• 16 Best Things to Do in Nice, France

… Or read all articles from France.

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