Quick verdict: Paris in 2026 means post-Olympics infrastructure upgrades, restored Notre-Dame (reopened December 2024), and rare moments where iconic sights are less crowded than 2019. This guide ranks 15 experiences worth your time. Built across 5 personal Paris trips.
The 15 best things to do in Paris
Notre-Dame Cathedral (Reopened)
Reopened December 2024 after 5-year restoration. Free entry to nave. Book online for crypts + towers (8 EUR). Visit Tuesday-Thursday for shorter lines.
Eiffel Tower
Best photographed from Trocadero plaza or Champ de Mars lawn. Climb stairs to 2nd floor (12 EUR, no line) or take elevator to top (30 EUR). Book sunset slot online.
Louvre Museum
World’s largest museum. Beat the Mona Lisa scrum by entering through Carrousel mall (less crowded). Friday nights stay open until 9:45pm with fewer crowds.
Musee d’Orsay
Impressionist masterpieces in former train station. Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, Cezanne. Less crowded than Louvre. Combined ticket with Orangerie.
Montmartre + Sacre-Coeur
Hilltop bohemian neighborhood. Sacre-Coeur Basilica (free entry), Place du Tertre artists, Moulin Rouge. Walk up the 222 steps for free or take funicular.
Versailles Day Trip
One of world’s most opulent palaces. 1-hour RER C train (each way). Book online + audio guide. Visit gardens (free), Hall of Mirrors, Trianon estates.
Seine River Cruise
Bateaux Mouches or Bateaux Parisiens day cruises. Sunset cruises with dinner ($75-150). See Eiffel + Louvre + Notre-Dame + Orsay from water.
Latin Quarter + Pantheon
Roman ruins, Sorbonne University, Shakespeare + Company bookshop. Pantheon: tombs of Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Marie Curie. Climb dome for views.
Marais District + Place des Vosges
Medieval mansions, Jewish quarter (best falafel at L’As du Fallafel), boutique shops, Picasso Museum. Sunday: most shops open, Marche des Enfants Rouges food market.
Sainte-Chapelle
Gothic chapel with 1100 square meters of stained glass. Smaller than Notre-Dame but more dazzling glass. Visit on sunny afternoons for maximum color.
Catacombs of Paris
6 million skeletons in ancient quarry tunnels under Paris. 1km underground walk. Cool 14°C year-round. Books out 1-2 weeks ahead in summer.
Champs-Elysees + Arc de Triomphe
Walk from Place de la Concorde to Arc de Triomphe. Climb the 284 stairs for panoramic Champs-Elysees view. Skip the chain restaurants.
Pere Lachaise Cemetery
World’s most visited cemetery. Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Chopin, Edith Piaf tombs. 110 acres of garden-style burial monuments. Get a map at entrance.
Canal Saint-Martin
Tree-lined canal with iron footbridges, vintage shops, Sunday brunch culture. Less touristy than central Paris. Hire a kayak ($25/2 hours) for canal cruise.
Macaron Tasting at Pierre Herme
World’s best macarons. Multiple Paris locations. Try seasonal flavors (Ispahan rose + lychee is iconic). Compare with Laduree across the street.
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