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13 best things to do in Paris, France

Updated: Sep 2, 2023


Spent dreamy days in Paris and experience ‘Emily in Paris’ vibes!


Paris - City of Love and fashion!


Are you dreaming about your trip to Paris, France, or want to know what to do in Paris? We have been to Paris 4 times, stayed in different places and areas during our stay, and explored the city in different seasons. We are pretty much experiences when it comes to travel hacks for Paris.


Let’s help you find what to do in Paris during your stay.


1. Eiffel Tower:


Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic landmarks of the world. Every couple’s dream is to visit the city of love, especially the Eiffel Tower, with their lover. Start your day by exploring Eiffel Tower and find different angles to appreciate the beauty of the magnificent architecture.

Eiffel Tower in Paris
Eiffel Tower in Paris

The surrounding of the tower become very crowded during the day time. If you want to pose a perfect picture with the Eiffel tower, we suggest you come to the Eiffel tower early in the morning and get your best shot. Explore Jardins du Trocadéro and find the best spot to capture your picture with the Eiffel tower.


You can also find a perfect spot near the Eiffel to do a little picnic with a beautiful view.

Eiffel Tower in Paris
Eiffel Tower in Paris

To enjoy the city's best view, climbing up to the Eiffel tower is highly recommended. There is always a long waiting queue to go up to the tower sometimes, due to overcrowding, they even stop selling the tickets for that day.



It’s highly recommended to book your ticket in advance so you can skip the line and go to the top without waiting in the long queue.

Top of Eiffel Tower in Paris
Top of Eiffel Tower in Paris

There are three levels to go up to the tower and different prices of tickets to go up by stairs or by elevator. The tickets from the official website of the Eiffel tower sold out very quickly.


It’s better to plan your trip and ticket at least 15 days before. In our case, we tried to find the tickets online the night before our visit but couldn’t find the ticket on the official website. Then, we booked a trip from GetYourGuide


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Our tour included a ticket to the tower's second level by elevator and a cruise trip in the Seine River for Euro 59. We reached Eiffel at the starting time of the tour, and we skipped the long queue and got into the elevator.


Within a few moments, we reached the 2nd level and enjoyed the 360-degree view of Paris. There are also a few souvenir shops and restaurants there.

Eiffel Tower in Paris
Eiffel Tower in Paris

You can also find the Eiffel tower view almost all across the Paris high-rise buildings. But from where can you enjoy the best view place of the Eifel Tower in Paris?



Eiffel Tower in Paris
Eiffel Tower in Paris

Enjoy the best view of the Eiffel tower from the Montparnasse tower, a skyscraper building located in the Montparnasse area of Paris. We also stayed in the Montparnasse area during one of our stays.

View of Eifel tower from Montparnasse
View of Eifel tower from Montparnasse

The ticket price to Montparnasse tower is Euro 17, and you can book the ticket here.


2. Cruising in the Seine River:


Are you ready to cruise the Seine River and take an iconic tour of Parisian landmarks?

Cruising in the Seine River
Cruising in the Seine River

There are many landmarks located along the River. You can enjoy the beautiful view along with the audio guide and learn about the city's history. There are many boat tour companies along the Seine River, especially near the Eiffel tower, where most of the cruise starts and ends.



Cruising in the Seine River near Eifel Tower
Cruising in the Seine River near Eifel Tower

There are different open and panoramic boats, you can choose according to the weather in Paris and your preferences. It’s one of the best things to do in Paris.


We experienced a 1-hour day cruise in summer in an open boat and loved every bit of the cruise. The cruise cost us euro 17 with a guided tour. Our favorite part was even the cruise passed by the Eiffel tower. You can book the cruise online

Cruising in the Seine River at night
Cruising in the Seine River at night

We also experienced a winter night cruise with a 3-Course meal dinner in a Parisian glass-canopy boat. WHAT AN EXPERIENCE. When our cruise started, we were served warm appetizers, finger food, and French bread, followed by the main course and dessert. It was pretty cold, but we didn’t resist getting up on the top open deck.

Dinner cruise in Paris
Dinner cruise in Paris

Paris looked so magical and romantic at night, and the Eiffel tower started blinking its lights when we passed by. Being an Emily in Paris fan reminds me of Emily in Paris season 2, when they had a party in the boat and Emily’s romantic scene with Alfie.

Cruising in the Seine River at night
Cruising in the Seine River at night

Especially in summer, it’s highly recommended to take some time to walk along the River Seine and enjoy the beauty and architecture of the city.Sit randomly on the river bank and admire the beauty.



There are also a few spots that turn into beaches during summer. We didn’t have much time during our last visit, so we rented out the Bolt E-scooty and took a tour on the bank of the river. We ABSOLUTELY loved it. We covered the long distance in less time and enjoyed the Parisian vibes.


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3. Arc de Triomphe:


It’s one of the most famous monuments of Paris, located near the Champs-Élysées, the most famous fashion avenue. The Arc de Triomphe is a memorial for those who fought and died during the french revolution and the Napolean war. There’s also a Tomb for the unknown soldiers from World War I. There’s also a small museum inside the Triomphe.

Arc de Triomphe in Paris
Arc de Triomphe in Paris

One of the best things to do in Paris, France, is to climb up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe and enjoy the city's most beautiful view. We visited Triomphe around sunset time, enjoyed the blue hour, and watched the city lighting up. We also enjoyed the view of the Eiffel tour and Champs-Élysées.

View from Arc de Triomphe in Paris
View from Arc de Triomphe in Paris

When you are in Paris, Don’t only indulge yourself in tourist activities but also take a moment and enjoy coffee and the best croissant in the world in the corner street cafe and indulge in Parisian vibes.



View from Arc de Triomphe in Paris
View from Arc de Triomphe in Paris

4. Champs-Élysées:


When you are in the World’s fashion capital, how is it impossible to visit the world’s leading fashion Avenue? All the world’s leading luxury brands are located on the avenue and are considered the best shopping place in Europe.

Champs-Élysées in Paris
Champs-Élysées in Paris

There are also many fancy restaurants located on the avenue. Every year on Bastille Day, the largest military parade in Europe occurs on Champs-Élysées.


5. Roam around in Montmartre:


Montmartre is a large hill located in the North of Paris. It used to be a tiny little town back in time. It’s one of the prettiest areas of Paris and is known as historical background. Famous artists, musicians, and poets used to come here to paint and write, inspired by Paris.

Montmarte in Paris
Montmarte in Paris

The area used to be very famous for its underground nightlife and nightclubs. There are many Hollywood movies like Midnight in Paris shoot in Montmarte.



Montmarte in Paris
Montmarte in Paris

There are so many pretty cafes and restaurants and one of the most lively places in Paris. Do you want to see one of the prettiest streets in Paris? Then, you shouldn’t miss walking around at Rue de l’Abreuvoir I Montmarte.

Montmarte in Paris
Montmarte in Paris

The famous Parisian Pink house cafe ‘La Maison Rose’ is located on the street, and it used to be very famous among renowned artists, writers, and poets. Even Picasso used to visit this place.


6. Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre:


The famous white-domed Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur or The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, a three-domed church, is also in the Montmarte. It’s the most visited site in Paris after the Eiffel tower.

Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre
Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre

You can climb up the stairs from the garden below the church and enjoy the view of the beautiful city from the top.



7. Musée d'Orsay:


Paris is not only known for its fashion, and it’s also famous for its museums. There are uncountable museums in the city, but one of the best museums in Paris is ‘Musée d'Orsay’. The museum is a haven for impressionist art lovers.

Musée d'Orsay in Paris
Musée d'Orsay in Paris

Musée d'Orsay is also located on the Seine River, and there are guided and audio tours for the museum. The museum has many master piecework by different artists, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography.


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Musée d'Orsay in Paris
Van Gogh, Musée d'Orsay in Paris

The museum has work from international artists like Morisot, Monet, Manet, Renoir, and Van Gogh. You have at least required 3-4 hours to indulge in the art and praise the work of these European artists.

Musée d'Orsay in Paris
Musée d'Orsay in Paris

The ticket price is euro 16, but there is always a long queue. So, don’t forget to buy the ticket in advance from their website to avoid a long queue.



8. Louvre Museum:


How is it even possible that you visit Paris and leave without giving a tribute to the Mona Lisa at Louvre Museum?

Mona Lisa at Louvre Museum
Mona Lisa at Louvre Museum

The museum isn’t only famous for its unique art exhibits, but its glass pyramid is also very popular among tourists to tick their bucket list picture with the pyramid infront of the Louvre. It has more than 380,000 art piece collection.

Louvre Museum in Paris
Louvre Museum in Paris

Louvre Museum is one of the most visited museums in the World, so you can imagine that there is always a long waiting time at the entrance of the museum it’s advisable to buy the Louvre Museum tickets in advance to enter the ticket stress-free.

Louvre Museum in Paris
Louvre Museum in Paris

If you plan to visit more museums in Paris, we suggest buying a Paris museum pass. By using the pass, you can access up to 50 museums in Paris and the surrounding: There are 48 hours, 96 hours, and 144 hours pass, and you can find more details here



9. Pont Alexandre III:


The Pont Alexandre is one of the extravagant bridges of Paris which connects the Champs Elysees with the Eiffel Tower. The bridge has numerous sculptures and pillars with-winged horses and lamps.

Pont Alexandre III in Paris
Pont Alexandre III in Paris

It’s such a romantic experience to cross the bridge and look at the Eiffel tower and Grand Palais. The bridge also looks so magical at night on the boat cruise trip in the Seine River.

Pont Alexandre III in Paris
Pont Alexandre III in Paris

Pont Alexandre III in Paris
Pont Alexandre III in Paris

10. Moulin Rouge:


The famous red windmill in Paris hosts the most magnificent dance and theatre performances every night. It’s also located in the Montemarte area. The history of Moulin Rouge takes back to the 19th century, the birthplace of the modern form of Can-Can dance.



Moulin Rouge in Paris
Moulin Rouge in Paris

Musical dance entertainment is very popular among visitors from around the world. You must book your tickets in advance to get Moulin Rouge Paris Tickets.


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11. Le Marais:


Are you looking for a place where you can experience French traditions? Then, you shouldn’t miss your visit to the neighborhood of Le Marais. It’s a very trendy cobblestone street with beautiful architects. .

Le Marais
Le Marais

This place isn’t only popular among tourists, but Parisian also visit the neighborhood to enjoy shopping and good food

Le Marais in Paris
Le Marais in Paris

12.Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris:


The famous two-tower cathedral of Notre Dame is located near the Seine river. Due to a fire, the cathedral was burnt on April 15, 2019. It’s still under construction, but you can still visit the cathedral from the inside.



Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris

13. FlyView Paris


One of the must things to do in Paris for young adults or children would be to enjoy a FlyView Paris Experience. It’s a 360-degree virtual reality experience with headsets propelled by your jetpack. You can enjoy flying over France like a bird. Enjoy the unforgettable ride of Paris, Mont-Saint Michel Abbey, and Mont Blanc.


Check out the tickets here.



How to travel within Paris:


Paris gets very crowded during the daytime. Instead of taking a taxi or Uber, we prefer to take the local public transport as it’s highly efficient and well connected to different areas. You can download the Bonjour RATP app to check your local Metro and bus connections. You can also find the Paris Metro Map inside the app. You can use it to buy tickets. But there are always ticket machines at every metro station. You can easily buy the ticket. If you are traveling a lot by Pubic transport, then I would recommend you buy a Paris day ticket or a 2-day ticket.


How to reach Paris:


Paris French Capital, is highly accessible from all over the World. It has the International Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, one of the busiest airports in Europe. If traveling within Europe, don’t hesitate to take the SNCF train. It’s one of the most comfortable high-speed trains. During our 4th visit to Paris, we only took the flight once.


You can also take Eurostar from London to Paris, which takes around 2:30 hours.


If you are looking for cheap buses, you can also book Flixbus or check out www.omio.com to compare the fares between flights, buses, and trains.


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Where to stay in Paris:


As we had been to Paris 4 times, we stayed in different Hotels in different areas. Here are a few suggestions to plan out your stay in Paris.


Pullman Montparnasse:


It’s located in the Montparnasse area, which is located in the city's center. It’s highly accessible by public transport and near the SNCF train station and St-Germain-des-Prés, Les Ateliers Gaîtéthere.

Pullman Montparnasse
Pullman Montparnasse

There are so many nice restaurants and cafes located nearby. The hotel also has a lovely Skybar with a beautiful view of the city and the Eiffel Tower.


Ibis Styles Paris Bercy:


The hotel is near the Gare de Lyon train station in Bercy Village, a little outside the Paris center. It will be a good and affordable option if you prefer to live in a peaceful place a little away from the city.


Ending note:


Regardless of how many times you visit Paris. Spending a weekend in a beautiful city is always a nice idea. Paris never disappoints us. It always comes up with new surprises. Among all the sparkling of Paris, we can't deny that you need to be extra conscious about your belongings in the city. There are many pickpockets in the streets of Paris, especially in public transport.





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