Things to do
The 12 things to do in Paris
Paris is the world’s most-visited city for a reason – the density of cultural canon, food culture, and walking neighborhoods is unmatched. These 12 things span the iconic and the genuinely-lived-in, the balance that defines a great Paris trip.
Louvre Museum
The world’s most-visited museum. Mona Lisa is the icon, but the real experience is in Egyptian antiquities, the Italian Renaissance galleries, and the Napoleon III apartments.
- Why do it
- Concentrated Western art history at unmatched scale. Pre-book to skip 90-minute queues.
- How long
- 3-4 hours minimum
- What it costs
- 22 EUR online (skip-the-line)
- When to go
- Wednesday/Friday late-night opening until 9:45pm. Pre-9am is best for crowds-free Mona Lisa.
Eiffel Tower at golden hour
The 1889 iron tower. Climb to the second floor (best view of Paris) or the summit (highest view). The Trocadero across the river is the iconic photo location.
- Why do it
- It’s a cliche because it works. The hourly sparkle light show after dark is genuine magic.
- How long
- 2-3 hours
- What it costs
- 11-29 EUR depending on access level
- When to go
- Sunset hour for golden light + sparkle. Pre-book; queues are 1-2 hours otherwise.
Notre Dame Cathedral + Sainte-Chapelle
Notre Dame is reopened after the 2019 fire restoration (December 2024). Sainte-Chapelle is the 13th-century Gothic chapel with stained glass that nothing else compares to.
- Why do it
- Sainte-Chapelle’s stained glass is one of the most overwhelming visual experiences in Europe. Notre Dame is the symbolic heart of Paris.
- How long
- 2-3 hours for both
- What it costs
- Notre Dame entry free; Sainte-Chapelle 13 EUR
- When to go
- Sainte-Chapelle on a sunny day for the stained glass to light up. Late afternoon.
Musee d’Orsay
Beaux-Arts railway station-turned-museum housing the most complete Impressionist collection in the world. Monet, Renoir, Degas, Manet, Van Gogh.
- Why do it
- Arguably Paris’s most beautiful museum building, with a manageable scale and the world’s best Impressionists.
- How long
- 2.5-3 hours
- What it costs
- 16 EUR; free first Sunday
- When to go
- Thursday late-opening until 9:45pm. Closed Monday.
Versailles Palace day-trip
Louis XIV’s palace and gardens, 30 minutes by RER C from central Paris. Hall of Mirrors, the King’s Apartments, and Marie Antoinette’s hamlet in the gardens.
- Why do it
- Peak European royal opulence. The gardens are equally important as the palace; allow time for both.
- How long
- Full day
- What it costs
- 21 EUR palace + gardens (sometimes free)
- When to go
- Tuesday-Sunday opening. Tuesday-Thursday quietest. Fountain Shows on Saturday-Sunday.
Montmartre + Sacre-Coeur
Hilltop village inside Paris. Sacre-Coeur basilica with one of the city’s best panoramic views, Place du Tertre with portrait artists, and the back-street wine bars and bakeries on Rue des Abbesses.
- Why do it
- Where Paris feels like a village. Best at dawn or after the day-trip crowds leave at 6pm.
- How long
- 3-4 hours
- What it costs
- Free; dome climb 8 EUR
- When to go
- Early morning (7-9am) or after 6pm. Avoid Saturday afternoon.
Walking the Marais
The medieval-survival neighborhood east of the Louvre. Place des Vosges (oldest square in Paris), falafel queues on Rue des Rosiers, Picasso Museum, dozens of design and concept shops.
- Why do it
- Where Paris’s cool design culture lives. Best for shopping and Sunday wandering (when most of Paris is closed).
Bistro lunch
Steak frites, duck confit, escargots, French onion soup, profiteroles. A proper Parisian bistro lunch is one of the great culinary rituals.
- Why do it
- Better value than dinner. The cost-quality ratio for a midday menu (around 25-35 EUR for 3 courses) is unbeatable.
- How long
- 1.5-2 hours
- What it costs
- 25-50 EUR per person
- When to go
- Tuesday-Friday lunch. Try Le Petit Vendome, Le Bistrot Paul Bert, or Chez La Vieille.
Seine evening walk + Pont des Arts
Walk from Notre Dame along the Left Bank, across Pont des Arts (the pedestrian bridge), and up to the Louvre. Bouquinistes selling antique books along the banks.
- Why do it
- The most cinematic walk in Paris. Best at golden hour into blue hour.
- How long
- 1-2 hours
- What it costs
- Free
- When to go
- Two hours before sunset, walking east-to-west to follow the light.
Champ de Mars picnic
Pick up a baguette + cheese + wine from any boulangerie and fromagerie, then sit on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower at sunset.
- Why do it
- The most Parisian activity that’s also the cheapest. Locals do this constantly.
- How long
- 2-3 hours
- What it costs
- 15-25 EUR for picnic supplies
- When to go
- May-October evenings. Friday-Sunday is most atmospheric (and most crowded).
Marche aux Puces de Saint-Ouen
Europe’s largest flea market at the northern edge of Paris. Antique furniture, vintage clothes, mid-century design, and food halls.
- Why do it
- The serious flea market. Even non-shoppers find it visually rewarding.
- How long
- Half day
- What it costs
- Free entry
- When to go
- Saturday-Monday. Saturday is most active.
Pere Lachaise Cemetery
Paris’s largest cemetery, with Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, Chopin, and others. Cobbled tree-lined lanes.
- Why do it
- Genuinely peaceful and atmospheric, not morbid. A working-cemetery tradition in walking form.
- How long
- 2-3 hours
- What it costs
- Free
- When to go
- Weekday mornings. Bring a map (free at the entrance) or download an app.