101 Incredible Things To Do In Paris

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Paris is definitely one of my favorite cities. I could go here over and over again. Actually I already have. But I’m always looking for new things to do. Something a little bit out of the ordinary. Sure, there are the popular tourist attractions and activities. And they’re all worth doing. But you might also want to leave the mainstream ideas to one side every now and again and try something new. Here’s a good mix of my top things to do in and around Paris.

Paris Museums

1. The Louvre, the classic Paris museum for art lovers who don’t mind battling the crowds
2. Musée d’Orsay, smaller and quieter than the Louvre but just as unique a building, and my favorite museum in Paris. Find out why here
3. Musée de Vin – exactly as it sounds, learn all about wine and even get some tastings
4. Visit the quirky museum with artworks by Spanish surrealist, Salvador Dali, at Dali Paris in Montmartre
5. While in the arty bohemian neighborhood, visit the Musée de Montmartre
6. Musée de l’Orangerie near the Louvre is another great museum if your art fix isn’t yet complete
7. Take in a piece of history at the Curie Museum, in Marie Curie’s old laboratory
8. The incredibly unique Musée des Vampires will have you reaching for the garlic and a cross
9. Rodin Museum – amazing artwork by the famed sculptor
10. Create ridiculous Instagram posts at the Museum of Illusions

Paris Outdoor Spaces

1. Spend time in the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens
2. Take a book and sit alongside the Seine on a nice sunny day
3. Feeling fit? Climb the Eiffel Tower instead of taking the elevator
4. Instagram it up on Rue Crémieux known as the Notting Hill of Paris
5. Visit Père Lachaise cemetery and search for some famous names
6. Get some moonlight reflections at the Louvre Pyramides at night
7. Smell the roses at Parc Floral de Paris botanical gardens
8. Pack an early evening picnic on the Champs de Mars and watch the lights on the Eiffel Tower come on
9. Enjoy Paris-Plages festival in the summer where you can sit on the “beach”, watch an outdoor movie and enjoy the Paris summer
10. Parc Monceau – savor some of Paris’ premier outdoor space

Historical Sites of Paris

1. Descend into the eerie human-remains filled Catacombs of Paris
2. Marvel at the Sacre-Coeur in Montmartre and attempt the hill to look down on it
3. While you’re in Montmartre, why not take a walk around the beautiful but creepy Montmartre cemetery – try and spot famous ballet star Nijinsky’s interesting grave
4. Take in the recently damaged, but still mightily impressive Notre-Dame Cathedral
5. Trace the old Bastille fortress of Paris – no longer standing but there are remains around Boulevard Henri IV where it meets with Quai de Celestins
6. Explore the Palace of Versailles, former Royal residence about an hour by transit from Paris center
7. On a history mission? Take a French Revolution walking tour around the sites of the capital
8. Visit the beautiful Sainte-Chapelle on the Île de la Cité near Notre Dame
9. Panthéon Paris – this temple is now the resting place of many great French figures like Victor Hugo and Marie Curie
10. Pay respects at the Princess Diana Memorial at the Pont de Alma where she died. The unofficial memorial is the Flame of Liberty there.

French Food and Drink

1. Get a delicious fresh crepe from a roadside cart
2. Tempt yourself by discovering all the delicious bakeries (for some pastry ideas check here)
3. Try your hand at a French cooking class
4. Have a beer in a brasserie on one of the small Parisian streets
5. Beer not your thing? You can’t leave Paris without some wine tasting
6. Eat some delicious stinky French cheese to go with that classy wine
7. Have dinner at a Michelin star restaurant – you decide if spending hundreds of Euros on dinner is worth it to you
8. Visit a chocolatier and just sample some yummy French chocolate. My must visit place in Paris is Maison Georges Larnicol. I stock up whenever I’m there.
9. Take a pastry making or macaron making class – really give in to your sweet tooth
10. Enjoy a fancy cocktail at a fancy hotel like the Hotel Le Royal Monceau Raffles hotel where I was lucky enough to stay

Paris Shopping

1. Peruse the bouquinistes along the river (that’s those wooden boxes along the walls of the river)
2. Partake in some high end retail therapy on the Champs Élysées
3. Splurge on a pair of Christian Louboutins at their flagship store (I definitely don’t regret mine – also if you’re non-EU you can claim the tax back at the airport)
4. Buy some books at Shakespeare and Company English language bookstore complete with the store’s personal stamp inside
5. Visiting in December? Paris has some really great Christmas markets along the Champs Élysées and at La Défense
6. Stock up on delectable French macarons – try Ladurée which has some amazing flavors
7. Visit the Paris flea market for some bargain shopping at Porte de Clignancourt (or at least some vintage items)
8. Sample some fancy tea at Kusmi Tea on the Champs Élysées – it’s expensive but it’s good!
9. Do some local-esque shopping at Marche d’Aligre in the 12th Arrondissement
10. Buy authentic Marseille soaps for your family and friends at La Maison du Savon de Marseille

Paris Entertainment

1. Watch a Cirque du Soleil show if they are in town – I took my parents on our trip there
2. Plan your visit around a football match with one of Paris’ teams if you’re a big sports fan
3. See a cabaret show at the world famous Moulin Rouge – we enjoyed the champagne that comes with each ticket and getting all dressed up (there is a dress code). But no Ewan McGregor during this show!
4. Catch some live music at one of Paris’ many bars and jazz clubs
5. Sit in a park and listen to an accordianist play typical French sounding music – you’re never too far from one in the main areas of Paris
6. Watch the sun go down over the river for a beautiful sunset view of Paris
7. La Cinémathèque Française – learn about French cinema with the museum and film screenings here
8. Take a Haunted Paris ghost tour to learn some of the dark and supernatural history of the city
9. Visit one of the city’s hidden speakeasy bars – Moonshiner or the Little Red Door are good to check out
10. See if you can book tickets to a ballet performance at the gorgeous Palais Garnier during your visit
11. Book yourself a Paris location photo shoot with a local photographer (cheaper than you’d think)

Kid Friendly Paris

1. The ultimate kid friendly activity has to be Disneyland Paris but it is just outside of the city so you may want to plan to stay out there for at least one night
2. Visit the Aquarium de Paris which is conveniently close to the Eiffel Tower
3. Zip around the streets of Paris with an electric scooter rental – Lime is a local bike and scooter sharing app that you can use while there
4. Disneyland not enough for you? Try Parc Astérix theme park for a more typically French cartoon feel – like Disneyland this is about 90 minutes out of the city
5. Get a funny caricature picture drawn by one of the city’s many artists
6. Take the kids to see some animals at the zoo. There’s the huge Paris Zoological Park in the 12th Arrondissement or the Ménagerie at the Jardin des Plantes in a more central location
7. Visit the Grévin Wax Museum in the Montmartre district of Paris
8. Paris Miniature theme park – this one is only 35 minutes away from Paris center if you have a car but is a bit more difficult with transit
9. Ride the Promotrain around the streets of Montmartre on a 40 minute tour
10. Get your kids interested in art at Atelier des Lumières – enhancing classic art with videos and lights

City Tours

1. Take a trip on a Seine river boat cruise – you decide if you want a quick tour or something nicer like a dinner tour
2. Sign up for a walking tour of Paris led by a local
3. Sick of walking? Book a ticket on the Hop On Hop Off bus of Paris and visit all the major sites with ease
4. Indulge on a Paris chocolate tour and walk off all your samples
5. Book a cycling tour of Paris and visit a lot more than you can walking
6. Create your own walking tour of street art in Montmartre
7. Learn the mystery of the Phantom of the Opera with a guided after hours Phantom tour of the Palais Garnier
8. Call shotgun on a vintage Paris sidecar tour – helmet supplied
9. Create your own perfume for a signature scent and learn all about the process
10. Take a hidden gems tour of Paris like this one

Best Views of Paris

1. Climb or take the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower
2. Head over to Montmartre and look out on all of the city from one of the highest points of Paris behind the Sacre-Coeur
3. Take in the views of the Champs Élysées from the top of the Ard de Triomphe
4. View the Sacre-Coeur from the top floor of the Musee d’Orsay behind the clock face
5. Take a whirl on the Big Wheel Paris – a giant ferris wheel at Place de la Concorde
6. Venture a little further from the city and look out from the top of the modern Grande Arche at La Défense
7. Order a coffee (or a wine) and people watch from a sidewalk cafe
8. View all of Paris from the 56th floor of the Montparnasse Tower – it’s an ugly building but the good news is you can’t see it when you’re in it
9. Cross at the Rond-Point des Champs Élysées (carefully watching for traffic) and take a picture up the street to the Arc de Triomphe
10. Take in Paris from one of the many bridges across the river Seine

Day Trips From Paris

1. Giverny – picturesque village famous for Claude Monet’s house and gardens.
2. Versailles – Visit the former royal residence but also the cute little town where it’s located.
3. Auvers-Sur-Oise – small town with link to many famous painters including Van Gogh. Also the absinthe museum.
4. Rouen – one of my favorites. I worked and lived here for a few weeks on a school exchange program. Gorgeous cathedral and the place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.
5. Champagne – the region famous for it’s sparkling alcoholic drink of the same name
6. Bayeux – Town in Normandy famed for the tapestry depicting 1066 English invasion, as well as near to the beaches of Normandy
7. Amiens – I loved this small city with its cathedral and markets
8. Fontainebleau – just outside of Paris this area has a beautiful castle and is surrounded by the Fontainebleau forest
9. Chantilly – like the cream? You bet. Take in the historical sites, but don’t forget to savor some delicious desserts complete with Chantilly whipped cream
10. Luxembourg – That’s right, you can do an international day trip to Luxembourg City. I found the train really quick and comfortable, only just over 2 hours

Top Things to Do in The City of Light

Well if that isn’t enough to keep you busy on at least a dozen trips to Paris I don’t know what will. Don’t be afraid to try out some public transit or rent a bike. Don’t limit yourself to a couple of blocks around the main tourist sites, make sure to explore. Plan your trip wisely because although the city isn’t huge, sometimes the things you want to see are far enough apart. I’ve spent hours walking from the Louvre to the Eiffel Tower and regretting it (or my feet did). Group your activities together based on where they are. Make use of the maps of Paris and the arrondissement guides.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. What are your favorite things to do in Paris? Haven’t been yet? Tell me which of these things you’d like to try on your first time visit,