Things to do · Paris
Things to do in Paris
World-famous museums, a river that splits the city in two and café terraces where nobody is in a hurry. These are the experiences we would put first.
Paris
The Seine splits the city in two, and almost everything you want to see is a few blocks from the river.
The coffee arrives in a small cup, the waiter is in no hurry, and at the next table someone is reading a paper newspaper. Paris has some of the world's greatest museums, but the city is best experienced between them, on a chair facing the street.
Paris is divided into twenty arrondissements that spiral out from the centre like a snail shell. Most of what you want to see lies close to the Seine. We have picked twelve experiences and put them in the order we would follow on a first visit.
Picolo's 12 best things to do in Paris
The Eiffel Tower. Take the lift to the summit, or the stairs to the second floor. Book ahead.
The Louvre. The Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and more rooms than you can see in a week.
A Seine river cruise. The city from the water, best at dusk when the bridges light up.
The Musée d'Orsay. The Impressionists in an old railway station, with a huge clock you can look out through.
Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur. Steep streets, painters on Place du Tertre and a view over the whole city from the steps.
Notre-Dame. The cathedral reopened in December 2024 after the fire, brighter inside than ever.
Sainte-Chapelle. A chapel whose walls are almost entirely stained glass. Go on a sunny day.
Le Marais. Narrow streets, Place des Vosges and falafel on Rue des Rosiers.
The Arc de Triomphe. Climb to the roof and watch twelve avenues radiate from the square.
The Jardin du Luxembourg. Green metal chairs, toy boats on the pond and Parisians reading in the sun.
A day trip to Versailles. The palace and gardens, under an hour by train from the centre.
A bakery in the morning. A croissant from the counter, eaten on the move. See our five favourite bakeries.
The Eiffel Tower and the Seine
The Eiffel Tower and the Seine cruises are practically neighbours. Bateaux Parisiens leaves from the foot of the tower, and Bateaux Mouches from Pont de l'Alma a little further east. Do the tower in the afternoon and the boat at dusk, and you get the city in two kinds of light. Read how to choose Eiffel Tower tickets and which Seine cruise suits you.
The museums: the Louvre, the Orsay and the small ones
The Louvre is so big that you have to choose. Decide on three things you want to see and treat the rest as a bonus. The Orsay across the river is more manageable, and the Musée de l'Orangerie has Monet's water lilies in two oval rooms. Here is how to choose Louvre tickets.
Evening in Paris
The tables face the street. That is where the show is.
Paris after dark
Dinner is late, and Paris becomes a different city after dark. Take a boat on the Seine, cross the Pont des Arts and eat in Le Marais or Saint-Germain. Every hour on the hour after dark, the Eiffel Tower sparkles for a few minutes. We have gathered the restaurants we like best.
Where to stay in Paris
Stay close to the Seine and you can walk to most things. Saint-Germain and Le Marais are best for cafés and evenings, the 7th arrondissement sits by the Eiffel Tower, and the 1st puts the Louvre and the Tuileries outside your door. See our Paris hotel guide.
When is the best time to visit Paris?
Spring and autumn are best, with pleasant days and long evenings. Summer is busy, and many local restaurants close for holidays in August. December brings Christmas lights and shorter museum queues.
Things to do in Paris: FAQ
How many days do I need in Paris?
Three full days cover the big sights: one for the Eiffel Tower and the Seine, one for the Louvre and the Orsay, and one for Montmartre and Le Marais. With four days you have time for Versailles. Versailles takes a full day, so do not pair it with anything else. With only two days, pick the tower, the Louvre and an evening in Le Marais.
What should I book in advance in Paris?
Book the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Versailles before you travel. They are sold in time slots and often sell out in high season. Seine cruises are easier on the day, but dinner cruises should be booked. The same goes for Sainte-Chapelle and the Musée d'Orsay at weekends. If you have a particular restaurant in mind, book that too.
What is free to do in Paris?
Notre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, the parks and the churches are free. So is a walk along the Seine and the view from the steps of Montmartre. Many museums are free on the first Sunday of the month for part of the year. Notre-Dame is free to enter, but the queue is long in the middle of the day.
Can I walk between the sights in Paris?
Yes, for much of it. The Louvre to Notre-Dame is about a 15-minute walk, and along the Seine to the Eiffel Tower takes under an hour. The metro covers the rest, with a station nearby almost everywhere. The walk along the quays past the green booksellers' boxes is one of the best in the city.
Where should I stay in Paris?
Saint-Germain and Le Marais are best for a first visit, with cafés and most sights within walking distance. For a view of the tower from your window, stay in the 7th or 16th. See our full Paris hotel guide. The 16th is quiet and elegant, but has little nightlife.