Top Things to Do in Paris

By Katie Sagal

Paris is one of those destinations on practically everyone’s must-see list. From its rich cultural history and vibrant modern scene to sumptuous cuisine and fine wine, it’s no wonder that Paris is a beloved vacation spot. Of course, we don’t always have two weeks to spend in Paris, and our trips have to be tailored to accommodate a briefer stay.

If you’re looking to visit Paris and hope to see the best of the best, check out our list of the top things to do in Paris. We’ve selected a few of the must-do attractions for Parisian visitors, ranging from popular museums and cultural attractions to free public monuments, gardens, and more.

Our top things in Paris list includes:

  • Disneyland® Paris
  • The Louvre
  • Paris Bus Tour
  • The Eiffel Tower
  • Arc de Triomphe
  • Seine River Cruise
  • Champs-Élysées
  • Versailles
  • Sacré-Cœur
  • Latin Quarter
  • Trocadéro Gardens

Disneyland® Paris

Image of Nature, Night, Outdoors, Lighting, Sky, Purple, Art,

Come and experience the magic and wonder of Disneyland® Paris!

This is a must for your family trip to Paris. You'll be transported into this whimsical world of classic characters and enjoy a day of total magic. What's more, the parks are dotted with awesome rides, rollercoaster and experiences, and you can also catch stunning shows with yoru favorite characters.

This year the park celbrates it's 30th Anniversary, and extra special surprises are in store for visitors, notably the magnificent nightly fireworks spectaculars at Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

Don't miss out!

Image of Car, The Louvre

One of the best museums in the world, hands-down, is the Louvre. It’s not only among our favorite museums in Paris, but it also has a little bit of everything for all those interested in arts and culture.

With multiple different departments to explore—ranging from Egyptian antiquities to Renaissance painting and beyond—there are practically endless galleries to roam through. For more information about the Louvre, check out our helpful guide.

Paris Bus Tour

It’s easy to urge you to check out the top sights in Paris, and less simple for you to figure out how to do so. Fortunately, a convenient hop-on hop-off Paris Bus tour is available via Big Bus. It helps you get familiar with the city’s most famous sites, range through different neighborhoods, and develop a sense of how everything fits together.

And while Parisian mass transit is easy to use, with a bus tour you can appreciate the sights as you traverse the city!

Image of Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Boat, City, Car, Eiffel Tower, Landmark, Tower, The Eiffel Tower

Paris’ most famous landmark is the Eiffel Tower. It’s been a monument to the city and the country for generations and is among the most recognizable structures across the globe.

Don’t miss out on your chance to ascend to the top of the tower, or check out the restaurants on the lower levels. Or, for a budget-friendly option, bring some bread and cheese and have a picnic beneath on the Champs de Mars for free.

Image of Traffic Light, Car, Arc De Triomphe, Landmark, Arc de Triomphe

Situated at the western end of the Champs-Élysées, this is another of the city’s most famous landmarks. The Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile is known for its signature design, with twelve avenues radiating out from the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle.

The monument itself is designated to commemorate those who fought in the French Revolutionary War and Napoleonic Wars, with a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from WWI beneath.

Image of Boat, Water, Waterfront, Cathedral, Church,

Seine River Cruise

Running through the heart of Paris, the Seine River is a prominent part of the cityscape that visitors won’t want to neglect. Happily, it’s easy to explore the riverbanks and bridges of Paris on a leisurely river cruise. Choose from narration in over 14 languages as you glide past top sites like the Pont Neuf bridge, Notre Dame Cathedral, Musée D’Orsay, the Eiffel Tower, and more.

Champs-Élysées

One of the most famous neighborhoods in Paris, the Champs-Élysées combines all the charm of historical Paris with the convenience of a modern shopping paradise. Visit stores ranging from the most selective and elusive of boutiques to mainstream brands at a variety of price points.

Whether you’re hoping to come home with a perfect souvenir or just do some window shopping, this is one of the most-see areas in Paris.

Image of Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Housing, Person, Adult, Male, Man, House, Versailles

Arguably among the most opulent royal residences in the entire world, the Palace of Versailles is unquestionably among our top things to do when visiting Paris.

Between the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, the exquisite Royal Opera, and the extravagant royal apartments, there’s practically no surface in all of Versailles that isn’t covered in some precious material. Warn your friends about your forthcoming Insta series!

Sacré-Cœur

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris is a gorgeous white church that’s one of the most popular landmarks to visit in all of Paris. It’s located at the top of a high summit and the climb to get up to the basilica itself is part of the experience.

The unique Romano-Byzantine architecture style also separates the Sacré-Cœur from many of the other Catholic churches in the city, including Notre Dame.

Image of Building, Housing, House, Manor, Luxembourg Gardens

An expansive garden/park space located in the 6th arrondissement, Luxembourg Gardens date back to the early seventeenth century when the widow of King Henry IV commissioned the space for her new residence, the Luxembourg Palace.

While the French Senate meets in the Palace, the gardens are open to the public to stroll, picnic, snap photos of the flowers, and so on. It’s a lovely place to get a sense of nature in the midst of the city.

Latin Quarter

For those in search of a little bit of culture outside the museums, the Latin Quarter is home to the Sorbonne University as well as many bookstores and cafés. Don’t miss the famous bookshop Shakespeare and Company, for one.

This neighborhood is also a good place for families to explore, featuring the Jardin des Plantes botanical gardens and the National Museum of Natural History.

Trocadéro Gardens

This massive public park is located just across the river from the Eiffel Tower, so it’s a perfect place from which to snap distance photos of this landmark. Within the park itself, you’ll find a grand fountain, plenty of enchanting sculptures, and even the remarkable Aquarium de Paris.

There are also three museums nearby: the Palais de Chaillot, Musée de l’Homme, and Musée Georges Clemenceau.

Save on Admission to Paris Attractions

Explore the top things to do in Paris with the Go Paris pass. Pay just 95 Euro for the 48-hour Paris Museum Pass, which covers admission to more than 55 different museums, chateaux, and monuments in the broader Paris area. You’ll also get access to bus tours, cruises, and other fun ways to explore the French capital.

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View of the Eiffel Tower across the River Seine
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Week in Paris

Planning a holiday in Paris? First off: lucky you! Secondly, although a week may seem like a lot for a city break, there’s just so much to see and do in Paris that, in fact, seven days is just about the right length of time needed to see the sights and fall in love with the place. Remember that time spent traveling between and queueing for some of the more popular attractions adds up. So, decide which are your must-sees, remember that skip the line tickets are your friend and dive into our suggested itinerary for a week in the City of Love. Day 1: Seeing the Sights Start your break with a bang by ticking off some of the biggest hitters in town. A trip up the Eiffel Tower is essential on any visit to Paris and, with a whole week to spare, you really have no excuse not to. Climb the steps (all 674 of them!) to the second floor for one of the world’s most unforgettable workouts, or take it easy and cruise up in the great glass elevator. Afterwards, head across elegant Pont d'Iéna to the Jardins du Trocadéro with their eye-catching fountain display, then onwards to the Arc de Triomphe, where committed climbers can again take the stairs to the viewing platform up top – 284 this time, fact fans. From here, the view along the Champs-Élysées, with the Luxor Obelisk, Jardin des Tuileries and the Louvre’s glass pyramid all perfectly aligned is nothing short of remarkable. Day 2: Art and Culture We recommend picking one or other of the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay and spending an entire day in your chosen museum. These, after all, contain some of the finest art on the planet, so there’s no sense in rushing. The Louvre, with its distinctive pyramid is huuuuge – it’s estimated that it would take around 200 days to see every piece of its 35,000-strong collection so, again, it’s important to plan your must-see masterpieces (Mona Lisa, anyone?) before you go. The relatively bitesize Musée d’Orsay is set inside the beautiful former Gare d’Orsay railway station and contains some huge original station clocks as well as the world’s largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, including Monet, Manet, Degas and Renoir. If you do find yourself with time on your hands afterward, there’s plenty to do within strolling distance of both museums. Take a wander into the stunning Jardin des Tuileries by the Louvre and relax by the lakes or ride the old-fashioned carousel there. From Musée d’Orsay wander east along the Seine to shop the riverside book stalls and pause for a coffee and pastry in the boho Latin Quarter. Day 3: Gently Does It After two days of serious sightseeing it's time to kick back and slow the pace a little. Take a gentle amble through the authentic cobbled lanes of the Marais district, with its cute independent boutiques, delightful sidewalk cafés and – at the Marché des Enfants Rouges – some of the best street food in town. People-watch with a picnic in the gardens of the 17th-century Place des Vosges and while away an hour or two admiring the paintings and sculptures in the Picasso Museum. Cross one of the picturesque arched bridges to Île de la Cité. This tiny island in the middle of the Seine packs in an impressive number of big-hitting attractions including Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Conciergerie and medieval Saint-Chapelle with its extraordinary stained-glass windows. Pick up some fresh blooms at the daily flower market (which magically transforms into a bird market on weekends) and cool down with some of the best ice cream in Paris at the Berthillon store. Day 4: Shopping! Paris is an absolute mecca for shoppers, from the luxury designer names that line the broad Champs-Élysées boulevard to bargain antiques and knick knacks at the world’s biggest flea market in Saint-Ouen, just north of the 18th arrondissement. You’ll find historic 19th-century shopping arcades scattered throughout the city center. Inside, beneath elegant glass-and-iron canopies, you’ll find everything from chic fashion boutiques to watchmakers, wine cellars and old-fashioned antique stores selling unique period pieces. Passage du Jouffroy in the 9th arrondissement is one of the most popular, and features Instagram-tastic geometric tiling, an ornate stucco clock and even a tiny 150-year-old wax museum! Head to Galeries Lafayette Haussmann for high-end department store shopping beneath opulent galleries and a soaring stained-glass dome. This landmark Paris mega-mall has around 65,000 square meters of big-name boutiques to explore, plus a Decléor spa and more than 20 cafés and restaurants. Day 5: Rest and Relaxation Holidays are all about relaxing, right? And green spaces are some of the most relaxing places on the planet, yes? Great news: Paris has over 400 public parks and gardens to explore, many within short walking distance of the city’s premier attractions. Pick up a picnic from the local boulangerie and make for the Jardin du Luxembourg, where you can sit and idly watch kids sailing toy boats on the lake in front of the Palais and see locals competing on the pétanque courts. Or stroll the flower-filled gardens of nearby Jardin des Plantes, which also contains a small zoo and natural history museum. Further afield in the 16th arrondissement, you can take an old-fashioned rowboat onto the lake in Bois du Boulogne, where a forest trail and botanical garden will also help you recharge. Not relaxed enough yet? Paris also boasts dozens of excellent spas, with facilities to be found in the likes of ultra-luxe La Réserve Paris as well as the Latin Quarter’s exquisite Mosquée de Paris, with its beautiful byzantine-style hammam and leafy courtyard. Keep it zen with a champagne cruise along the Seine in the evening, admiring the city sights as the sun goes down. Day 6: Highs and Lows The Paris Catacombs surely rank as one of Paris’s most interesting – and most macabre – attractions. Here, deep beneath the unassuming streets of the 14th arrondissement lies a labyrinth of tunnels, where curious souls can come face to skull with some six million long-dead Parisians, their mortal remains displaced here from overflowing Paris cemeteries in the 18th and 19th centuries. Take the 1.5-kilometer walking route through these hushed and dimly lit tunnels for a bone-freezing experience you’ll never forget. Afterwards, shake off the chill with a quick whiz up the nearby Montparnasse Tower, where the uninterrupted 56th-floor views across Paris are considered some of the best in town. You’ll find locals to be especially effusive about these views because it's one of few vantage points in the city where you can’t see the Montparnasse Tower itself – it’s considered to be a bit of a blight on the skyline! Day 7: Montmartre No trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to Montmartre. You can easily spend a day here, exploring the maze of cobbled streets that are home to world-famous attractions including the Moulin Rouge cabaret and Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Save your legs by taking the funicular up the steep butte (hill), then find your bearings on a walking tour of the main sights. Afterwards, grab lunch in one of the adorable cafés or splash out on famous restaurants such as the Café des Deux Moulins of Amélie fame and Moulin de la Galette, part of the famous windmill immortalized in art by both van Gogh and Renoir. Then keep the arty theme going with a stroll to the Place du Tertre to have your portrait painted in the shadow of the basilica by one of the resident artists. Stroll the picture-perfect Rue des Abbesses – great for people-watching and home to the Sunday flea market where you can pick up antique bits and bobs as well as jewelry and art from local designers. And don’t miss sunset from the basilica steps where, as the sky turns pink and orange and a carousel wheels into motion below, you’ll truly feel like you saved the best for last. Save on top attractions during your week in Paris Save on admission to Paris attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
A couple walk in the snow towards the Eiffel Tower
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Top things to do in Paris in December

Paris in December is sure to blow you away. The weather might be charitably described as on the chilly side – daytime temperatures range from 8°C down to 3°C. However, the mass of Christmas and New Year festivities will probably mean you won’t even realize. The beginning of December in Paris is relatively quiet when it comes to visit numbers too. So if you’ve ever wanted to wander down the snow-laden banks of the River Seine like in the movies or celebrate New Year in sight of the Eiffel Tower this is the month for you. Keep in mind that some planning is required to fully appreciate Paris in December. Some attractions close completely on Christmas Day, whilst others have reduced hours on December 24 and New Year’s Eve. If you have your heart set on a specific restaurant or cabaret show, it’s best to book well in advance. Here are just a few ideas on the top things to do in Paris in December. Absorb the festive atmosphere The City of Light certainly lives up to its name with the arrival of December. Each arrondissement (district) takes great pride in showering the dark wintry streets in festive cheer. Decorative illuminations hang from street lights everywhere, and cover the well-clipped trees and many major buildings. Public squares as far and wide as the Place de la Concorde and Place Charles de Gaulle raise the stakes further with ever more impressive Christmas trees. With dusk settling over the city from around 5PM there’s plenty of time to take advantage of the free displays. A great way to round off a day of sightseeing is with the city’s fleet of Hop-on Hop-off buses. Alternatively, swap the grand boulevards for the waters of the Seine and take in the scene with a river cruise. Evening is – surprisingly perhaps – the best time of day to pass through the entrance gates of the Jardin des Plantes in December. That’s because France’s main botanic gardens become home to giant illuminated animal installations during its Festival of Lights. The result is a whimsical Alice in Wonderland trail that won’t fail to get you in the spirit of the season. Do a little last minute shopping One of the world’s top shopping destinations whatever the season, Paris in December sees the window displays of the shops along the city’s main boulevards filled with enticing gift ideas. It takes immense willpower to avoid the temptation to step inside the likes of Boulevard Haussmann’s Galeries Lafayette. Renowned for its Christmas displays, its already-impressive multi story glass-domed atrium becomes the centerpiece. Elsewhere, all the big names – from Le Bon Marché to BHV Marais – get in on the act. The wooden chalets of the French capital’s Christmas markets are also not to be missed. In addition to stalls with handmade arts and crafts, you’ll find plenty of souvenir decorations glinting beneath the fairy lights. If you start to feel the cold, opt for a glass of vin chaud (mulled wine) when tucking into a slice of bûche de Noël (yule log). Christmas markets can be found throughout Paris from the end of November, including outside Notre-Dame Cathedral, within the Tuileries Gardens and at the La Défense business district’s La Grande Arche. Hosting the region’s biggest Christmas village, it has around 300 different stalls to check out. Join in the seasonal events The Tuileries Gardens hosts one of several family-friendly ice rinks that appear in December too. They may not have you pirouetting like an Olympic figure skater any time soon, but it’s hard not to smile whilst slipping and sliding on the ice. Another great rink can be found on the roof of Galeries Lafayette, from where there’s views across to the Eiffel Tower. On rainy days you need look no further than the Grand Palais exhibition hall. Becoming the world’s largest indoor ice rink, evening skating sessions are accompanied by live DJ sets. For shows that don’t – necessarily – require audience participation, head to one of Paris’s cabaret clubs. Often creating special Christmas shows, the most famous is the Moulin Rouge, facing fierce competition from the likes of the Paradis Latin and Lido de Paris. Should bow strings rather than feather boas be your thing, several churches have concerts in the run up to Christmas day. These include the churches of Sainte-Chappelle and Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the seventh arrondissement’s Basilica of Saint-Clotilde. Bring in the New Year in style There is, of course, a second significant celebration held in December – New Year. In some respects, a Parisian New Year celebration is much more muted than those elsewhere in the world. There are midnight fireworks, though not from the Eiffel Tower as it is often imagined. Instead, the people of Paris tend to congregate on the Champs-Élysées – closed off to traffic – for live music and light displays at the Arc de Triomphe. First though, they are sure to have enjoyed a lavish New Years’ menu at one of the city’s top restaurants. Needless to say, you’ll need to book your table early if you want to do like the locals. Restaurants with views of the Eiffel Tower are generally booked months in advance. Celebrate like an ancient Gaul at Parc Astérix Visitors who head to Paris in the winter months will usually find Parc Astérix firmly locked until the warmth of spring returns. Not so for the very last weeks of the year. The amusement park reopens its doors for the Christmas vacation period, to the delight of children of all ages. Thrill seekers can get their fill of roller coasters and water rides, with one of the largest number of any theme park in France. To make your time extra special, the park puts on four live shows for the Christmas period, alongside an ice rink, Christmas market and plenty of decorations in the style of the Astérix comic books. Ways to save in Paris in December The Christmas period goes hand in hand with spending sprees – don’t let that put you off visiting Paris in December. Not only are there plenty of special Christmas events and attractions, but also the ability to explore with Go City – saving on admission to many of Paris’s top landmarks and must-see sights.
Ian Packham
Two women enjoy a walk along the banks of the Seine
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Cheap things to do in Paris

Paris has a reputation for being très cher – very expensive. But, au contraire, it doesn’t have to be. There are a huge number of fun things to do which don’t cost the earth. If you’re heading to the City of Light on a budget – and even if you’re not – check out these cheap things to do in Paris. You won’t regret it! Feel like a local Budget travelers are likely to find themselves in the further reaches of the Paris suburbs, meaning potentially expensive taxi fares to the world-famous landmarks dotted on and around the River Seine. However, as you might expect, there are a variety of cheaper alternatives. Not only that, but some can become attractions in themselves. A great addition to trips aboard a Hop-on Hop-off sightseeing bus are the city’s public buses. Route 89 takes in the sights of the Latin Quarter, including the Panthéon and Jardin du Luxembourg. The north-south route 69 incorporates the Bastille, Louvre, Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral. When the sometimes-fickle Paris weather holds, one of the most charming ways to explore Paris is by bike. The bike-sharing stations of Vélib’ are located across greater Paris. A mix of pedal and hybrid electric cycles, they have rates starting at just €1 for 30 minutes use. Whilst covering 41 square miles, the majority of Paris’s major landmarks are centrally located, making an afternoon stroll an excellent way to absorb the city’s atmosphere. So why not wander along a portion of the Seine, or follow the Champs-Élysées from the Arc de Triomphe towards the masterpieces of the Louvre? Check out the markets You’re unlikely to discover a lost artwork by Monet or Degas among the stalls of Saint-Ouen flea market, located in the same neighborhood as the Sacre Coeur and Moulin Rouge. But even if you don’t, a bit of friendly-haggling with the stallholders can still get you a bargain. One of the largest flea markets in the world, stalls hold everything from vintage fashion to diamond bracelets. There’s no better place to discover Parisians’ love of food and fine ingredients than the oldest covered market in Paris. Founded in 1628, the Marché des Enfants Rouges – or Market of Red Children, after the orphanage of the same name – is a great place to pick up some freshly-baked bread or a bunch of flowers. Should it get your stomach growling, there are also a good selection of cafés and restaurants, many of whom use produce direct from the market’s stalls. Thursdays and Sundays sees another market appearing in the park to the north of Place de la Bastille. In addition to groceries, there’s also a good number of tempting objet d’art and other trinkets you’ll wonder how you ever lived without. Discover the city’s green spaces No list of cheap things to do in Paris should be considered complete without mentioning the city’s array of parks and gardens. Among one of the best is the Jardin des Plantes botanic garden. Largely formal in style, there are few better places for a romantic walk, whilst the small zoo’s collection of animals is sure to enthrall the kids. It’s easy to forget about the city beyond once inside Parc Monceau too. Created by the Duke of Chartres in 1778 as one of the world’s first public parks, it contrasts with the Jardin des Plantes because of its informal English landscaping style. But for a park like few others, head to the Promenade Plantée, also known as the Coulée verte René-Dumont. Similar to New York’s High Line, but opened a full 15 years beforehand, this elevated park gave a long-abandoned railway viaduct a new lease of life as an urban oasis. Take in the views In a city without the skyscrapers of New York or London, the Eiffel Tower has been the main vantage-point for citywide views since it was first erected in 1889. But for views of the Iron Lady herself you’ll need to turn your attention to the opposite end of the Champ de Mars and the Tour Montparnasse (Montparnasse Tower). Although its observation tower is not the cheapest thing to do in Paris, the bar on the 56th story has equally beguiling vistas plus lively conversation for the cost of a drink. Paris is also an excellent place to grab a street-side cup of coffee or plat du jour as you watch the world go by. If you’re keen to break through the frosty exterior some Parisians exude, many bars host a happy hour. Usually sometime between 5PM and 8 PM, just look for the advertising boards outside. Grab a bargain It’s unlikely you’ll have such luck with the stores of Rue Faubourg du Saint-Honoré outside of January or July, but there are several ways to feel a million dollars without having to splash that sort of cash. For instance, top department store Galeries Lafayette hosts regular 30 minute fashion shows curated by some of the biggest names in the industry and complete with catwalk models. Elsewhere, Shakespeare and Company has been supplying the English-speakers of Paris with reading material since 1951. As well as the new books you would expect, you’ll also find a treasure trove of secondhand tomes and also a free reading library. Would-be authors can even stay the night in exchange for helping out – it’s been estimated that more than 30,000 people have stayed since the store first opened its doors. Seeing Paris on a budget Just because you have a budget to stick to doesn’t mean you have to miss out on Paris’s big-ticket attractions. It’s possible to fully explore with Go City – allowing you to save on attraction admission and expensive overseas credit card charges without having to say goodbye to flexibility. Together with our recommendations for cheap things to do in Paris, Go City can help create an unforgettable vacation. You can stay up to date with all the latest tips by connecting with @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook.
Ian Packham

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