Things to do in Paris

Paris is the world’s famous destination for holidays, and tourists from around the world come here to explore the real beauty of the city. A lot of things to do in Paris await tourists to explore the rich history, culture, and charm of the city. Paris always remains full of tourists because of its iconic landmarks, rich culture, and romantic atmosphere. You’ll feel the romantic vibes in the city, and that’s why it’s a favorite destination for young couples and honeymooners.

A Short Introduction to Paris

Paris is a historical and cultural city located in the north-central part of France. It’s the capital city of France and is also called the city of lights. Paris is one of the top tourist destinations not only in Europe, but in the whole world. It’s a beautiful city that preserves the rich history of France. Many historical buildings and landmarks can be seen in the city, which shows the glorious past of Paris and France.

France’s 2nd-longest river flows through the heart of the city to enhance its beauty. Sightseeing from the water is also one of the most popular things to do in Paris. The romantic feelings never fade in the city, which makes it a perfect destination for newlywed couples. Another important thing to know about the city is that it’s the fashion capital of the world. Paris introduces new fashions to the world every year through fashion weeks and shows. It’s home to many local and international fashion brands.

Best Time to Explore Paris

You can travel to Paris any time of the year, but the ideal time for tourism is from March to June, and from September to November. The weather remains pleasant and mild during the spring and fall seasons, which creates an ideal atmosphere for travelers. Paris experiences both cold and hot weather, but not as extreme as other tourist destinations like Dubai and Toronto. A moderate atmosphere makes the city easy to explore at any time.

We traveled to Paris in the spring season, just before visiting Copenhagen. We spent a whole week in Paris with the kids, which was enough time to explore the city. You won’t regret spending money and time exploring the city due to the many interesting things to do in Paris. The only necessary thing to make your Paris tour memorable is to do some research and prepare yourself accordingly.

26 Best Things to do in Paris

Paris is a dream city for travelers around the world. It’s not only a city, but a symbol of love, romance, and joy. In this city of love, many couples can be seen sharing their feelings with their partners. It’s a wonderful city to explore and spend holidays. We’ve prepared a list of things to do in Paris based on our personal experience. It’s the best guide on what and how to explore Paris for first-time visitors.

Check the list of things to do in Paris and prepare your plan accordingly:

1- Bike tour along the Seine River

It’s OK to get a taxi from Paris Airport to City Center, but taking a tour of Paris on the bank of the Seine River would be more joyful than sitting in the back seat of a car. Luckily, we got bikes from our hotel to explore the hidden gems in the streets of Paris. You can hire a bike in Paris for a day very easily. We enjoyed half a day riding on bikes around the city.

There was no guide with us to restrict us to a route, which is why we covered every street and road we wanted. Riding on a bike along the Seine River is one of the must-do things to do in Paris to experience the real beauty of the city.

2- Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

Hop-on, Hop-off bus tours are available in almost all tourist destinations, so why not in Paris? Sightseeing from the roof of the bus is adventurous and joyful. Exploring big cities like Paris on foot or by bicycle is impossible, but the hop-on hop-off bus makes it much easier and time-saving. We bought a ticket for the whole day and enjoyed exploring the major tourist attractions from the bus. It was a wonderful experience roaming and exploring around the city.

3- Experience a Vintage Sidecar Tour

We became crazy about riding on a vintage sidecar when we saw one passing by during our hop-on, hop-off bus tour. It wasn’t on our list of things to do in Paris, but we found it a unique activity that can’t be enjoyed at any other tourist destination. So, we asked about it from our hotel staff and contacted Retro Tours to book a ride. They charge according to time and the length of the tour. The sidecar was driven by a tour guide who gave us a wonderful travel experience. You should also try this amazing city tour when you come to Paris.

4- Visit the Eiffel Tower

You don’t belong to this world if you haven’t ever heard the name of the Eiffel Tower. It’s such a famous tower that its replicas can be found in Texas, Las Vegas, Tennessee, Sydney, Lahore, Prague, and many more cities in the world. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 and served as a radiotelegraph tower. Later, it became an iconic landmark of the city and one of the world’s most famous monuments. It was exciting for us to go to the top of the tower and enjoy a 360-degree view of the city.

Tourists are allowed to climb the Eiffel Tower after buying a ticket. Visiting the Eiffel Tower is always a top priority for every tourist on their list of things to do in Paris. That’s why there were big queues to buy a ticket. But thank God, we booked our tickets from the hotel to skip the queues.

5- Trocadéro Gardens

It’s a beautiful garden located in front of the Eiffel Tower, but on the other bank of the Seine River. Tourists must come here to enjoy the iconic views of the Eiffel Tower. The park is famous for hosting world exhibitions in 1878 and 1937. The garden offers lush green spaces to sit and relax in front of the Eiffel Tower. Another popular feature of the garden is its stunning fountains with 20 powerful cannons. Visiting the Trocadéro Gardens must be a part of the list of things to do in Paris, whether you’re a solo traveler or coming with your family.

6- Montparnasse Tower

Another tower in Paris is known as the Montparnasse Tower. It’s not as famous as the Eiffel Tower but offers great views of the city and the Eiffel Tower. We visited the Montparnasse Tower unintentionally, but found it a great place for photography and for viewing the city along with the Eiffel Tower. So, don’t skip it whenever you visit Paris, and enjoy the wonderful views from its rooftop panoramic observation deck.

7- Visit the Arc de Triomphe

Another famous monument in Paris, aside from the Eiffel Tower, is the Arc de Triomphe, which is 16 meters tall and was constructed between 1806 and 1836. It’s also a popular tourist spot on the western side of the Champs-Élysées in Paris. This monument is an honor to those who lost their lives fighting for France. The names of victorious French soldiers and generals are mentioned on the inner and outer sides of the monument to honor them. It’s a symbol of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.

The Arc de Triomphe is also known as the “Place de l’Étoile”. Tourists are also allowed to go to the top of the monument for around 13 euros. It looks similar to the “India Gate” in Mumbai, but it has more historical and cultural value than the India Gate. Your list of things to do in Paris won’t be complete without including the Arc de Triomphe.

8- Wander in Champs Élysées

Champs Élysées is a famous street that is visited by every tourist in Paris. The Arc de Triomphe is also located here, and it’s not the only attraction on this street. The other tourist attractions on and around the Champs Élysées include Place de la Concorde, Petit Palais & Grand Palais, Parc Monceau, and the Louver. It’s an expensive area, but still tourists love shopping here. It’s one of the best places for shopping, where you can find luxurious fashion brands.

9- Enjoy a Seine River Cruise Tour

Experience a classic tour of Paris on a cruise on the Seine River. Sightseeing from the river flowing through the center of the city allows you to see most of the tourist attractions. We also enjoyed an excellent cruise tour and found it much better than sightseeing by taxi. It’s a fun experience that you shouldn’t miss during your trip to Paris. Paris looks more beautiful from the water, and you will surely agree with me after enjoying a cruise tour. 

The cruise tour isn’t only a sightseeing tour, but also offers dinner at night. Couples prefer to get on the cruise at night to have dinner with their loved ones. “The Blue Diamond” is the best company that offers cruise tours, lunch, and dinner on the Seine River. Must include a lunch or dinner on the cruise in your list of things to do in Paris if you’re coming with your family.

10- Meet Mona Lisa at the Louvre

The Louvre is one of the oldest and most visited museums in the world. It’s located in the north of the Seine River in central Paris. The museum is famous all over the world due to its vast collection of antiques, artworks, and other masterpieces. It’s home to some of the most famous masterpieces, including the painting of Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. Mona Lisa is one of the most discussed, most written about, and most visited paintings in the world. You definitely won’t want to miss viewing it in person at the museum. So, visiting the Louvre Museum should be a must-do thing on your list of things to do in Paris.

11- Wander in the Catacombs

It sounds scary that there is a place decorated with human remains in Paris. It’s a tunnel 20 meters in depth and preserves the skulls and bones of six million people. History books say that there was no space left for the dead in the late 17th century. So, they used underground passageways to place the dead bodies. Please note that Paris has a 300 km long network of subterranean passageways, and only a small portion of it contains human remains. It’s not the only attraction featuring human remains. You can visit similar places when visiting Rome, Italy, Kudowa-Zdrój, Poland, and Prague, the Czech Republic.

Tourists are allowed to visit the area where all human skulls and bones are placed on one another, which creates an artistic design. To see this place, you should buy a ticket in advance because a limited number of tourists can go inside the tunnel at a time. To experience something unique and exciting, you should include it in your list of things to do in Paris. But it’s one of the things not to do in Paris when you’re traveling with kids.

12- Sacré-Cœur on the Montmartre Hill

In the northern neighborhood of Paris, there is a high place called Montmartre, and the Sacré Coeur is a church on it. It’s one of the favorite places in Paris for tourists to view the city. The church is beautifully designed and shows the cultural heritage of the city. Entry to the church is free, which makes it one of the best free things to do in Paris. Grassy grounds around the church offer you the best place to sit and relax. The streets on Montmartre hill are clean and perfect for enjoying performances by local artists. You’ll definitely enjoy spending time in Montmartre.

13- Experience the local Street Food

Paris isn’t only known for fashion and historical monuments; it’s also a paradise for food lovers. It’s famous for offering a wide variety of street food for those who love to enjoy French food. Macaron is the most popular French food that can be found anywhere in Paris. Ladurée’s Macarons are the best, but McDonald’s offers macarons that are on another level. The other must-try street food in Paris includes Croque Monsieur, Crêpes, Falafel, Socca, Marrons Chauds, Churros, and many more. Following is the list of the best areas to explore local street food:

• Le Marais
• Canal Saint Martin
• Montmartre
• Quartier Latin
• Marché des Enfants Rouges

14- Visit Paris Disneyland

Never consider a trip to Paris with kids complete without a visit to Disneyland. It’s a huge amusement park that is famous among children all around the world. Our kids were so excited when we told them that Paris would be our next destination, and the main reason behind their excitement was Disneyland. We reached there easily by train and found this place full of tourists from around the world. Multiple ticket options are available at Disneyland, from which you can choose the best option for you. Visiting Disneyland is one of the compulsory things to do in Paris with family and kids.

15- Explore Notré-Dame Cathedral

Another Cathedral Church you should explore in Paris is located on a small island in the Seine River. It was closed after a fire in 2019 and still hasn’t reopened. It means the cathedral cannot be explored from inside, but you should go there and explore its beautiful surroundings. You can pass through the famous Love Bridge (depending on your route) when traveling to the island where Notré-Dame Cathedral is located. It’s a beautiful church, but you can skip it if you’re short of time.

16- Visit the famous Love Bridge

There is a bridge over the Seine River, which is called the Love Bridge. It’s a hot spot for young couples and lovebirds. Couples set up padlocks in the grills of the bridge and think their love remains alive until the padlock remains locked. The local administration keeps the grills cleared by removing the locks because these padlocks add excessive weight, which can damage the bridge. It’s a great romantic place to visit, and you must include it in your things to do in Paris list if you’re a newlywed couple.

17- Explore Musee d’Orsay

Paris also has more than one museum, just like Copenhagen and other historical cities in Europe. Musee d’Orsay was once a display space for living artists, but it turned into an art museum where famous paintings are exhibited. It’s a great place to explore French art created between 1848 and 1914. The world’s famous artwork by Claude Monet, which is known as the Water Lilies Paintings, is also placed here for exhibition. The other artists whose paintings are displayed in this museum include Degas, Manet, Van Gogh, and Renoir. Visiting Musee d’Orsay is one of the important things to do in Paris for historians and art lovers.

18- Visit the Versailles Palace and Gardens

The Versailles Palace and Gardens are one of the most beautiful attractions in Paris. Both the palace and the gardens consist of around 2000 acres. It’s a big place to explore and nearly impossible to cover within a day. However, the garden is divided into different parts, which makes it easier to explore. It’s a lively example of the French Royals dating back to the 18th century.

The palace has become one of my favorite places in Paris due to its beautiful architecture and artworks. Probably, it’s the 2nd most visited place by tourists in Paris after the Eiffel Tower, with more than 10 million visitors annually. It means visiting the Versailles Palace and Gardens must be part of your list of things to do in Paris.

19- Go to the Luxembourg Garden

It’s called Jardin du Luxembourg in French and is another beautiful garden located in Central Paris. Despite being located in the center of the city, it offers a peaceful and relaxing environment to visitors. The garden is divided into two portions, which are the French Garden and the English Garden. A big pond and a geometric forest separate one part from the other. It’s a great place to sit, relax, and see the colorful flowers, big trees, and lush green grass. You should include a morning or evening walk in the Luxembourg Garden in your list of things to do in Paris.

20- Visit the Palais Garnier

It’s one of the most beautiful opera houses not only in Europe, but in the world. Copenhagen has an Opera house with modern architecture, where you can go to watch live performances only. But in Paris, you can visit Palais Garnier whether you want to enjoy live opera or not. This Opera house consists of an ancient building that was inaugurated by Napoleon III in 1875. It looks stunning from both inside and outside. Many tourists come here not to enjoy live performances, but to explore the ancient French architecture. Watching live performances in this Opera house is expensive and normally attended by wealthy people.

21- Discover Panthéon

Another top attraction for tourists in Paris is the Panthéon. It’s a museum that preserves mortals of various great French personalities, such as Jean Jacques Rousseau and Voltaire. Many French artists, philosophers, and filmmakers are laid to rest in this museum, some of whom are Émile Zola, Alexandre Dumas, Victor Hugo, Simone Veil, and many more. Panthéon isn’t only famous for the personalities buried in it, but also for its ancient Roman pillars, architecture, and great history. Include it in your things to do in Paris list if you’re coming here for a few days.

22- Visit Centre Pompidou

Paris, the French Capital, is full of museums, and the Centre Pompidou is one of them. It’s a great building to explore modern French arts and designs. The museum’s most significant art collections are from the 19th and 20th centuries. The beautiful building of the museum was built in 1977, and now it’s known as the center of modern French art. It’s a must-visit place for tourists interested in exploring modern arts and designs.

23- Explore the Saint-Chapelle Cathedral

It’s a beautiful, worth-visiting church located on the Île de la Cité island. The church is designed in the Gothic Style, which is a very famous European architectural style from the 12th century. The colorful appearance and historical value of the church capture the attention of every tourist traveling to Paris. More than 1100 stained glass windows give a stunning look to the church. Visiting Saint-Chapelle Cathedral should be a part of your list of things to do in Paris if you are keen to discover the real beauty of the Gothic design.

24- Visit Père Lachaise Cemetery

Don’t miss a chance to explore the biggest cemetery in Paris and visit the graves of Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Frederic Chopin, and many other celebrities. It’s the most visited cemetery in Paris by tourists, with more than 3.5 million visitors per year. Visiting the Père Lachaise Cemetery is one of the best things to do in Paris, as it offers a clean, peaceful atmosphere and a chance to see the graves of famous musicians, writers, and other personalities.

25- Enjoy Shopping in Paris Markets

A trip can never be complete without shopping for both solo and family travelers. Paris, as we know, is the fashion hub for the whole world. So, there are many big fashion brands located in the city. You should buy dresses, purses, perfumes, and other fashion accessories whenever you get a chance to visit Paris. Below are the famous markets from where tourists can shop:

• Champs Élysées
• Le Marais
• Les Halles
• Avenue Montaigne
• Rui de Rivoli
• Montmartre (for handicrafts and local artworks)

26- Visit the Canal Saint Martin

Apart from the River Seine, there are some other waterways in Paris, and the Canal Saint Martin is one of them. It’s a beautiful canal built by Napoleon in 1802 to arrange water sources for the people of France. Nowadays, it’s the best site to hang out in the French Capital. Walking and riding on the bike along the canal bank was a wonderful experience for us. You should also add it to your list of things to do in Paris for a wonderful and adventurous experience.

Tips for a memorable trip to Paris

We made our Paris trip more joyful and memorable by getting some know-how about the city before arriving. It made our trip free of unnecessary tensions and hurdles. As a frequent traveler, I’d love to share some tips with you to help you enjoy your tour perfectly, wherever you are going. Below are the tips to make your trip full of joy:

• Confirm hotel booking in Paris in advance.
• Book hotels in Paris that have a good reputation and are located in an ideal area.
• Choose your dresses and other items according to the atmosphere of your destination.
• Use public transport instead of private cabs to save money.
• Hire a professional guide, especially when you’re with your family.
• Visit the top tourist attractions like the Eiffel Tower and, Arc de Triomphe first and then go for other things to do in Paris.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Paris is the Capital city of France, famous for its iconic landmarks and other tourist attractions. It’s one of the top 10 cities in Europe for tourism. The romantic city of Paris is known for its cultural and historical value as well as its modern lifestyle. It’s home to many fashion brands and important showbiz personalities. Visiting Paris for fun and joy isn’t a bad deal because there are many things to do in Paris for tourists. In this article, we’ve shared our personal experience of visiting Paris to help you make your Paris trip full of joy. We hope you’ll have a wonderful time during your trip to Paris.