Whether this is your first or fifty-first trip to the City of Light, the most important thing to accomplish is to figure out how to fit all of the best activities into a manageable schedule.
There is almost too much to cover with over 100 museums and galleries, ancient sites around every corner, and 20 arrondissements full of eateries, cafes, and shops that are well worth your time.
No worries, we’ve got you covered with our brief guide to the best things to do in Paris, the French capital has to offer, including the local favorites that are worth making reservations for well in advance as well as the highlights for visitors that have recently been added or renovated.
Let’s start exploring the best things to do in Paris!
Best Things To Do In Paris
Get ready to amaze while exploring the best things to do in Paris.
1. Visit the Eiffel Tower like a tourist. The Eiffel Tower is the quintessential Parisian activity, and it has earned its position as the city’s most popular tourist destination.
2. See the Centre Pompidou before it closes after five years. It is one of the best galleries in Paris, with one of the biggest collections of modern art in the world, only surpassed in size by MOMA in New York.
3. Visit the Marché des Enfants Rouges to experience the “real” Paris. Built in the 16th century and shut down shortly before the revolution, the Enfants Rouges (Red Children) orphanage is the source of the market’s name in this ancient Parisian market.
4. Experience art in two places the Musée d’Art Moderne and the Palais de Tokyo. Two museums with equally excellent offerings but quite different attitudes are located in the center of the 16th arrondissement.
5. Dine at the incredibly chic neo-bistro Septime. Since its opening in 2011, Septime’s elegant decor, which is reminiscent of a London gastropub with its worn wooden tables, blackened steel, and dim lighting, has not changed much.
6. Explore the Louvre differently. It would be difficult to feel as though you have “completed” the Louvre in a single visit given the more than 35,000 pieces on display.
7. Spend less on a party at La Station. La Station, which was only supposed to be open for six months, has been captivating us with its daring programming since 2016. It features both rock and electronic music.
8. Explore the arthouse theaters in the Latin Quarter. The 5th and 6th arrondissements, a historic hangout for Parisian moviegoers, are still home to a number of small theaters, including Le Champo on Rue des Écoles, where many of the Nouvelle Vague filmmakers congregated during the 1950s and 1960s.
9. Try the soul music and cocktails at Fréquence. Matthieu Biron and Guillaume Quenza, the proprietors of Fréquence, are as devoted to exquisite liquor as they are to Motown records.
10. Explore well-known tombs in the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise Père-Lachaise is a must-see for everyone who appreciates immersive, unique locations. It’s also really scenic, a huge, shaded maze with winding paths down the hillside and charming stone stairs.
11. See stunning art exhibits at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. Renowned architect Frank Gehry created this space, which is situated in a posh neighborhood west of Paris, to display the pieces that LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault has accumulated.
12. Try Le Clarence, the greatest restaurant in Paris. This is more than just a meal; it’s a remarkable voyage into another universe. Christophe Pelé produces an amazing meal that plays with and well surpasses expectations in this opulent mansion that is richly adorned with paneling, moldings, and velvet.
13. Visit the Cité Fertile to eat, drink, dance, and play pétanque. Come enjoy the different areas and activities, play pétanque or volleyball, participate in workshops and festivals, or just take a walk in the flowerbeds.
14. Visit Belleville’s Combat for a punchy mixology. Combat, which is situated on Belleville Hill, serves strong, well-balanced drinks. Tourists enjoy their bar nibbles, particularly the terrine, which is made by chef Rodolphe Paquin of Repaire de Cartouche and served with pain de campagne and pickles.
15. Enjoy vintage movies outside at the Parc de la Villette. The largest park in Paris, spanning 35 hectares, holds an annual outdoor film festival starting in mid-July.
16. Find keepsakes in abundance at the Merci concept store. Merci brings together a variety of leading designers and stylists on three stories in a bright structure at the end of a courtyard on the Boulevard Beaumarchais.
17. Admire the breathtaking Ovale of BnF Richelieu and immerse yourself in amazement. Everyone can now access the BNF’s magnificent Ovale chamber, which is topped by an incredible glass roof that is eighteen meters high. The finest aspect? It is completely free.
18. Visit Clamato to experience the culinary high seas. The cuisine is always sustainably sourced and varies according to the catch. You can eat mullet ceviche with butternut squash or Oléron cuttlefish flavored with chili, but watch out—like the tide, the bill can climb swiftly.
19. Visit La Laiterie de Paris to eat French cheese. Great soft cheeses like a Saint-Félicien with raw cream, a Brillat-Savarin with triple cream, or a Labat made with Breton goat milk are all produced at La Laiterie. In the city of the same name, you can also discover a Normandy camembert from Pierre’s farm, as well as cheeses from small local producers that are aged on-site.
20. Perform live at the Festival D’Automne. From American choreographer Merce Cunningham to director Robert (also known as Bob) Wilson, the festival has seen the birth of some of the biggest names in the global contemporary scene. It is a must-attend event dedicated to the performing arts in all their diversity – and their radicalism.
Conclusion
There are numerous things to do in Paris, including the Centre Pompidou, the Marché des Enfants Rouges, the Louvre, La Station, the Latin Quarter’s arthouse cinemas, Fréquence, the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, Fondation Louis Vuitton, Le Clarence, Cité Fertile, Belleville’s Combat, the Parc de la Villette, Merci, the Ovale of BnF Richelieu, Clamato, and the Festival D’Automne. These sites offer unique experiences, such as the Louvre, La Station, independent cinemas, and the Ovale of BnF Richelieu.
