20 Best Things to Do in Paris

Paris is a city that defies checking off a list. You could spend a lifetime here and still find new courtyards, new bakeries, and new art. But if you don't have a lifetime, you need a plan.

Here is our curated list of the 20 absolute best things to do in the City of Light, mixing the non-negotiable icons with the local secrets that give the city its soul.

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The Big Icons (Yes, they are worth it)

1. The Eiffel Tower (La Tour Eiffel)

It’s a cliché for a reason. But don't just look at it.

• Best View: Go to the Trocadéro at sunrise (7-8 am). The sun rises behind the tower, and the square is empty.
• Picnic: In the evening, sit on the Champ de Mars grass with wine and cheese to watch it sparkle. It sparkles for 5 minutes at the start of every hour after sunset.

2. The Louvre

The world's largest art museum. It was a fortress, then a palace, now a museum.

• Strategy: Don't use the main Pyramid entrance (the lines are huge). Use the Carrousel du Louvre underground shopping mall entrance or the Porte des Lions (if open).
• Must see: The apartments of Napoleon III (insane opulence) and the foundations of the medieval castle in the basement.

3. Arc de Triomphe

Commissioned by Napoleon. It stands at the center of the "Star" (Étoile) of 12 radiating avenues.

• The Climb: You can climb to the roof. It offers the best panoramic view of Paris because it is the only high point that includes the Eiffel Tower in the skyline.

4. Sacré-Cœur Basilica

The white wedding-cake church on top of the Montmartre hill.

• The Vibe: The steps in front are a gathering place. At sunset, musicians play, people drink beer, and the view over the city rooftops is magical.

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Art & Culture (Beyond the Louvre)

5. Musée d'Orsay

Housed in a stunning Beaux-Arts railway station built for the 1900 World Fair.

• The Art: This is the home of Impressionism. Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, Renoir. If you love color and light, this is better than the Louvre.
• Photo Op: The giant clock faces on the top floor that act as windows looking out over the Seine.

6. Musée de l'Orangerie

Located in the Tuileries Garden.

• The Highlight: Monet’s Water Lilies (Nymphéas). They are displayed in two oval rooms designed specifically by Monet to bathe the viewer in nature. It is a peaceful, almost spiritual experience.

7. Palais Garnier (The Opera)

The setting for The Phantom of the Opera.

• The Interior: It makes Versailles look subtle. The Grand Staircase and the Grand Foyer are dripping in gold, marble, and chandeliers. You can take a self-guided tour without seeing a show.

8. Shakespeare and Company

The most famous bookstore in the world.

• History: It was a gathering place for the "Lost Generation" of writers. It’s chaotic, stuffed with books, and famously has beds tucked between shelves where "Tumbleweeds" (aspiring writers) can sleep for free in exchange for working in the shop.

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Hidden Gems & Walks

9. The Covered Passages (Passages Couverts)

In the 19th century, before shopping malls, Paris built glass-roofed arcades.

• Galerie Vivienne: The most elegant, with mosaic floors.
• Passage des Panoramas: The oldest, now full of philately (stamp) shops and great gyozas.

10. Promenade Plantée (Coulée verte)

Before New York had the High Line, Paris had the Promenade Plantée.

• What is it: A linear park built on top of an old railway viaduct in the 12th arrondissement. It lifts you 10 meters above the street, walking through bamboo tunnels and rose gardens.

11. Rue de l'Abreuvoir (Montmartre)

Often voted the prettiest street in Paris.

• See: The "Pink House" (La Maison Rose) and the bust of Dalida. It captures the village feel of Montmartre perfectly.

12. Saint-Sulpice

Often overlooked for Notre Dame, this massive church in Saint-Germain is spectacular and houses huge Delacroix murals.

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Foodie Experiences

13. Eat a warm Baguette Tradition

Go to a bakery, order "Une Tradition, s'il vous plaît" (not a classic baguette, a tradition is higher quality).

• The Ritual: Rip the end off (le quignon) and eat it while it’s still warm on the street. It’s mandatory.

14. Drink Hot Chocolate at Angelina

Located on Rue de Rivoli.

• The Drink: Their "African Hot Chocolate" is so thick you can stand a spoon in it. It’s practically melted chocolate bar with a side of whipped cream.

15. Picnic along the Seine

The banks of the River Seine are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• Do: Grab a bottle of Rosé, some Comté cheese, and sit by the water's edge on the Île Saint-Louis or near the Pont des Arts. Wave at the tourist boats.

16. Marché des Enfants Rouges

The oldest covered market in Paris (1615).

• Eat: It’s a food court. The Moroccan stall (Tangine) and the Japanese bento stall are legendary.

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Day Trips

17. Palace of Versailles

The ultimate symbol of royal excess.

• The Hall of Mirrors: 357 mirrors facing windows overlooking the gardens.
• The Gardens: Rent a golf cart or bike to explore the massive grounds (800 hectares). Don't miss Marie Antoinette’s "Hamlet," a fake rustic village where she pretended to be a peasant.

18. Giverny (Monet’s Garden)

An hour from Paris by train.

• See: The actual Japanese bridge and water lily pond that Monet painted hundreds of times. It looks exactly like the paintings. (Open Spring-Autumn).

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Shopping

19. Le Bon Marché

The oldest department store in the world and the most chic. It’s on the Left Bank. It feels less frantic than Galeries Lafayette. The food hall (La Grande Épicerie) next door is a museum of gastronomy.

20. The Bouquinistes

The green metal boxes attached to the walls of the Seine riverbanks. They sell used books, vintage posters, and prints. They have been there for centuries and add to the romantic atmosphere of the river.

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Practical Tips

Paris is a city that rewards curiosity. Turn down the side street. Push open the heavy wooded door (if it's not locked). Try the cheese that smells like feet. Profitez-en!