Top 11 Things to Do in Paris, France

So you’re traveling to Paris? This is my favorite city in the world, partly just due to the cute cafes that exist on every corner in every neighborhood. With all the great characteristics of a city – beautiful architecture, incredible food, rich history, and top fashion everywhere you look, Paris is unlike any other city. But, of course, you already knew this, having booked your next vacation spot here. There are so many things to do in Paris so I have put together my itinerary of the top 11 things you should do when visiting the city of love. 

1. Have a Picnic on La Sienne

Along the famous river running through Paris, there are walking paths where locals and tourists alike are typically walking, enjoying live music, or having a casual meal. There are many entry points to head down from the city street level to the river, my favorite being right by the Louvre. Whether it’s for a quick snack stop or meal, this is an absolute thing to do in Paris.

Pro Tip: Pick up dinner, and then a bottle of wine from a nearby Bodega or liquor store, to enjoy on the river for dinner.

2. Spend an Afternoon in Montmartre, exploring Sacré-Coeur and Moulin Rouge

Montmartre is located in the 18th arrondissement in Paris. This district is perched upon a hill which allows for breathtaking views of Paris. Here, you’ll find lots of the best attractions in Paris. The streets are bustling with many boutique shops and restaurants before you make your way up to Sacré-Coeur. Sacré-Coeur is open every day from 6:30AM to 10:30PM and is free to enter. The newest love lock bridge is now also here after the original was removed on the Pont des Arts bridge in 2015. Last, but certainly not least, is Moulin Rouge. This area is so lively and has numerous artists drawing in the center square.

Pro Tip: Montematre has a couple pretty intense set of stairs which bring you up to Sacré–Coeur. Wear comfortable walking shoes on this day!

3. Dive into History – The Louvre, Versailles, Musée d’Orsay, and Notre Dame

Now each of these could easily be its own point on your Paris itinerary, or even a standalone article. These museums are some of the best in the world and give you the chance to see historic art like the Mona Lisa (The Louvre), Van Ghogh’s Starry Night (Musée d’Orsay), and one of the most historic European palaces (Versailles).

Pro Tip: Book your tickets in advance! Ticket lines can get extremely long during the high-season and often aren’t covered by any shade. I’d also recommend going earlier in the day to avoid the large crowds.

4. Walk Through Le Marais

One of my favorite things to do in Paris is to explore the shops of Le Marias. Walking through this lively district, you can expect to do some amazing shopping, eat gelato, and experience the liveliness of the city here.

Pro Tip: Walk to the nearby street Rue du Montiguel, where you’ll find a mostly pedestrian street of various restaurants, patisseries, and specialty shops for tea, chocolate, jams, etc. My favorite cafe here is Le Compas. For breakfast, you can get a traditional french breakfast (coffee/tea, fresh squeezed juice, and croissant/baguette with bread and jam) for just 8 euros..

5. Visit the City’s Stunning Parks – Jardin du Luxembourg and Jardin du Tuilleries

These are some of the most beautiful parks and the escape you might be looking for during the day from the typical Paris sightseeing. Jardin du Luxembourg is located in the Sixth Arrondissement, which houses the Luxembourg Palace, a couple of outdoor cafe’s, and the Medici Fountain. The second park absolutely worth visiting is Jardin du Tuilleries which you can find right behind the Louvre museum. It has incredible views of the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, and a Ferris wheel.

Pro Tip: Visit Jardin du Tuilleries around sunset to enjoy the park and its view of the Louvre during golden hour. This was one of the highlights of my past trips to Paris and made the park feel just that much more incredible.

6. Visit the Historical Café’s

There is so much history in Paris, and its cafés and eateries are not exception. These are the must-do café’s in Paris: Café De Flore, Cafés Des Magots, and Shakespeare & Co. These cafés were frequently visited by the famous Picasso, Hemmingway, and Descartes in the early 1900s.

Pro Tip: Buy the canvas tote bag from Shakespeare & Co. They are 20 euros but a great and useful souvenir to take home from your trip.

7. Seine Boat Cruise

Taking a boat cruise is one of the best ways to see a lot of Paris from a different vantage point than walking. From La Seine, you’ll get incredible views of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, and The Louvre.

Pro Tip: There are both affordable and luxury options for this. Do your research to decide which tour and price point you want to do for this excursion.

8. Arc De Triomphe and Champs-Élysées

Arc De Triomphe is the center of the city, with all the city’s avenues breaking out from this massive roundabout. The arc itself is breathtaking and offers amazing views of Paris. Find the arch at the start of Champs-Élysées, one of the largest shopping streets including the flagship Louis Vuitton store.

Pro Tip: Go to the top of Arc De Triomphe instead of the Eiffel Tower for views of Paris. I find this view of the city to be much more impressive as you see the 6 distinct avenues of the city coming out directly from where you are standing and having a view of the Eiffel Tower itself (versus not being able to see the famous tower when you are standing on top of it itself).

9. Rue de L’Univisterié and Rue Cler

Rue de L’Univisterié is arguably the best (not so hidden anymore) photo spot of the Eiffel Tower. It’s a cute cobblestone road allowing you to get the most private shots in front of the Eiffel. Make sure you take the walk over to Rue Cler after, where you can find numerous little markets and cafes.

Pro Tip: Eat at L’Éclair on Rue Cler.

10. Eat at Paris’ Top Food Spots

I can’t believe we’ve already made it to #10 on the list and haven’t yet discussed the food in Paris. This city has some of the best pastries and food in the world. These are some of my favorite “must do” spots that I think are actually worth the hype: Pink Mama, Carette, and Angelina.

Pro Tip: Make a reservation at Pink Mama and Angelina’s to avoid waiting in long queues or being turned away entirely! Make sure to order the hot chocolate at Angelina’s as this is what they are most famous for and not without reason. Read more in my Paris Cafe article.

11. Eiffel Tower

What would be a Paris travel guide if I didn’t include the famous Eiffel Tower? It is just as incredible seeing this in person as you might imagine. Visiting this monument is a uniquely different experience depending on the time of day. During the morning and afternoon, I would recommend bringing a baguette or some pastries to the grass fields surrounding it to have a picnic by the tower. At night, time your sightseeing for the twinkling lights on the top of the hour.

Pro Tip: At night, I would recommend going to Place Du Trocadero to get a view of the full tower itself from across the Sienne. There is a vibrant energy over here as it is a popular spot to wait for the sparkling lights to happen. Note that the Eiffel Tower sparkles happen for 10 minutes, on the hour, from sunset until 1:00AM.