There are so many things to do in Paris, the only tricky thing is knowing where to start and how to make the most of your time there.
A foodie? Gorge on Paris’s legendary culinary scene, taking in street food and fine dining, swish cafes and Parisian patisseries. Activity lover? There is Disneyland Paris and the exhilarating Paris Catacombs.
Culture vulture? The City of Light has you covered, from must-see Paris attractions like the Palace of Versailles and the Eiffel Tower to hidden gems like cosy speakeasies and historic cinemas.
What are the best things to do in Paris?
We’ve put together our favourite classic and unique things to do in Paris. Use it to help narrow down the places you want to visit. Looking for more info to plan your whole trip? From when to go to where to stay, check out our Guide to Paris.
- The Louvre
- Centre Pompidou
- Fondation Louis Vuitton
- Marché des Enfants Rouges
- Cinémathèque Française
- Jardin des Plantes
- Château de Versailles
- Palais Garnier
- Eiffel Tower
- Little Red Door cocktail bar
- La Villette
- Cimetière du Père-Lachaise
- Catacombes
- Panthéon
- La Seine
- Petite Ceinture
- Racines Bistrattoria
- Rosa Bonheur
- Breizh Café
- Galeries Lafayette Champs-Elysées
- Notre Dame
- Disneyland Paris
- Moulin Rouge
- Supersonic
1. See the world’s most famous painting at The Louvre
The Louvre is one of the most popular Paris attractions, hosting one of the most impressive art collections in the world. Of course, the ‘Mona Lisa’ is the main highlight, but it often comes with long queues. Make sure to give yourself plenty of time if you want to explore the rest of the art on display (which you absolutely should.)
Located in the heart of Paris, many visitors know of the pyramid entrance outside the palace, so to avoid large crowds, head to the Carrousel du Louvre shopping centre, which has its own, usually quieter entrance.
There are also some excellent cafes nearby, such as the Café Mollien or the chic Bistrot Benoit, where you can enjoy a traditional French bite.
The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays but is open every other day until 18:00, except Friday when it’s open late.
KAYAK top tip: after taking in an afternoon of art, treat yourself to Onigiri (or your Japanese snack of choice) at Omusubi Gonbei and eat them at the beautiful Jardin du Palais Royal. All within walking distance of The Louvre.
2. Find modern art at Centre Pompidou
You will recognise the Centre Pompidou by its ‘inside-out’ design, with the building’s structural elements and escalators exposed on the exterior. A Paris sightseeing staple.
Inside, you’ll find the largest collection of modern and contemporary art in Europe, including works from Frida Kahlo, Marc Chagall, Piet Mondrian and more.
The Pompidou also often hosts temporary exhibitions, performances, debates and children’s workshops. It is open every day except Tuesday.
3. Visit Fondation Louis Vuitton
Fondation Louis Vuitton is an art museum and cultural centre in the Bois de Boulogne area, close to the Jardin d’Acclimatation. Sponsored by LVMH, the parent company of Louis Vuitton, it’s part of the brand’s programme to promote art and culture.
Artists that have been featured here include Jeff Koons, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol. The Foundation has also commissioned pieces by the sculptor Olafur Eliasson and the sound artist Janet Cardiff, among others.
The museum itself is a work of art – an architectural gem of glass and light designed by Frank Gehry.
KAYAK top tip: Don’t miss the panoramic views over Paris and La Défense from the rooftop terrace.
4. Get some fresh food at the Marche des Enfants Rouges
The Marché des Enfants Rouges was established in 1628, making it the oldest covered market in Paris. It’s curious name comes from the clothes worn by orphanage children, with red indicating Christian charity donations.
Located in the Marais Arrondissement, the market is open every day except Mondays. Alongside the bounty of food stalls cooking up delights from Italian to Lebanese to Japanese, there are also classic eateries.
Join the Sunday brunch crowd at L’Estaminet in the heart of the market. Or head outside to Cafe Charlot where you can stop for a proper Parisian experience. It’s a wonderful way to spend a lazy morning in Paris, but go hungry.
5. Watch a film at Cinémathèque Française
Cinémathèque Française is a non-profit film organisation that hosts film screenings of cinematic classics and retrospectives of genres, directors and actors. Home to the Musée Méliè – the Magic of Cinema collection, it pays tribute to the legendary director and special effects pioneer Georges Méliès.
Beyond, it provides an excellent glimpse into the history of cinema. The collection includes more than 5,000 objects, including film scripts, cameras, costumes and sets. Like much of Paris, it’s closed on Tuesdays.
6. Get back to nature at Jardin des Plantes
Jardin des Plantes is the main botanical garden in France. Founded in 1635, it’s the beating heart of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Natural History Museum).
The 11 gardens are home to a spectacular selection of plants arranged in beautiful flower beds, along with artwork and a small zoo. It’s an excellent place to visit with kids, especially those who love plants and animals or have a keen interest in natural history.
The Jardin is open daily, but some areas such as the Alpine Garden are seasonal, so it’s best to check before you visit.
7. Get a taste for royalty at Château de Versailles
Located on the outskirts of Paris, you could easily dedicate a whole day to the Château de Versailles. King Louis XIV built this 400-year-old royal residence, famous for being the site where the Treaty of Versailles, ending World War I, was signed. Beyond its historic significance, it is a place to wander in awe at its architecture and opulence.
As the palace is home to so much history, it’s definitely a good idea to take a guided tour. Or at least use an audio guide as you explore the Hall of Mirrors and its view over the Grande Perspective.
Outside, stroll the chateau’s beautiful ornamental gardens and more intimate spaces like the Queen’s Hamlet and Petit Trianon. Pictures don’t do its scale and majesty justice.
8. Take a tour or catch a show at the Palais Garnier
Also known as the Opera Garnier, Palais Garnier is a beautiful opera house located in Paris’s 9th arrondissement. Built between 1861 and 1875 for the Paris Opera, it can seat 1,979 patrons – but you don’t have to see a show to visit the stunning building. Though, if you love opera, you should.
Made famous for its role in the ‘Phantom of the Opera’, you can tour its elaborate Foyer and grand marble-clad Grand Escalier alone or with an audio guide. Consider taking a guided tour to immerse yourself in its extraordinary history, or a private tour if you want to sneak a look backstage.
9. Go up the Eiffel Tower
A trip up the Eiffel Tower is the very definition of a ‘must see’ Paris attraction. While you might feel content to see the tower up close from the lovely park it sits in, there really is nothing like taking the trip up to one of its viewing platforms.
You can take the stairs to the first and second floors, but for truly incredible views over Paris, the River Seine and beyond, ride the lift to the top floor 276 metres (just over 900 feet) up.
Buy your ticket online to beat the queues, as they can be long on the day. If you’re heading up to the top, be sure to take some warm clothes because even if it’s hot in the streets of Paris, it’s always windy at the top of the tower.
KAYAK top tip: alternatively, Belvedere de Belleville offers beautiful views of the Eiffel Tower and the whole city.
10. Sip unique concoctions at the Little Red Door cocktail bar
Hidden behind a simple grey shop front, the Little Red Door is an award-winning cocktail bar and regular among lists of ‘world’s best bars’. Located in the 3rd arrondissement, its exotic cocktail menu is inspired by the creative scenes of Le Marais, the district it calls home.
Friendly and knowledgeable mixologists turn the process of cocktail making into a work of art. Little Red Door is also a pioneer of ‘Farm to Glass’ mixology, using locally sourced produce to create an authentic taste of Paris.
The atmosphere is welcoming and charming, with a chic interior and just enough fellow drinkers to provide a constant buzz of background chatter.
11. Combine nature with culture at La Villette
The third largest park in Paris, Parc de la Villette is home to concert venues, cultural venues and the Paris Conservatory, a prestigious college of music and dance. It stretches across 55.5 fascinating hectares that intersect nature and culture.
On its grounds, search out the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, one of the largest science museums in Europe, and its Cité Des Enfants, which is great for kids.
Elsewhere there’s an IMAX theatre, Le Zenith rock arena and many other attractions. Of course, you can also spend a pleasant hour or two strolling the park itself and find a spot under the shade of a tree, ideal for picnics and people watching.
12. Pay your respects at the Cimetière du Père-Lachaise
With more than 3.5 million visitors a year, the Père-Lachaise cemetery is the most visited necropolis in the world. Among the 400 notable people buried here you’ll find Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde, Frederic Chopin and Jim Morrison, who unexpectedly died in Paris in 1971. Today, there is a waiting list to be buried in a Pere-Lachaise lot.
Spend a quiet morning exploring the cemetery, and you’ll see all types of grave sites, from simple headstones to elaborate monuments to small chapels. Exploring some of its 70,000 graves will give you a small but fascinating insight into the lives and deaths of the people who’ve called Paris home.
Entry is free, but opening hours do vary depending on the time of year so be sure to check in advance.
13. Go underground in the Paris Catacombs
Twenty metres below the streets of Paris, the haunting Paris Catacombs are the final resting place for millions of unnamed Parisians.
The sprawling tomb of galleries under Paris can be explored on a curated one-mile loop that takes approximately an hour. Note that you’ll need to be fit as there are several hundred steps, uneven floors and low lighting.
Converted from old quarries in the 18th century, the catacombs were used as tombs once Paris’s cemeteries became too full. Many bodies were exhumed and placed below ground to prevent a major health crisis. Skulls and bones line the walls making a walk through the Catacombs one of the most extraordinary things to do in Paris.
You can only book tickets four days in advance and as there aren’t many tours they sell out fast, so try to be flexible on what day you can go.. They’re closed on Mondays too, so plan for another day. And pack light – big bags aren’t allowed and there are no storage facilities on site.
14. Marvel at the Panthéon
Hard to miss in the Latin Quarter of Paris’s 5th arrondissement, Panthéon is an architectural masterpiece built between 1764 and 1790. Under the orders of King Louis XV, it was constructed in honour of St Genevieve who Louis believed had saved him from grave illness.
By the time it was finished, Louis was dead and the French Revolution had happened, so the new government turned it into a spectacular mausoleum.
Today it’s the final resting place of some of France’s most renowned historical figures. Including the pioneering scientist Marie Curie, celebrated novelist Victor Hugo and philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau.
From January to March and November to December (Paris low season), you can visit the Pantheon for free on the first Sunday of the month.
15. Sightsee along the Seine
The Seine stretches across northeastern France and is immortalised in paintings, photography and film. Walking or cycling along the Seine is a wonderful way to explore Paris, particularly when you first arrive.
One unique feature you’ll come across is the Bouquinistes, booksellers who sell second-hand books on both the right and left banks. This has led to the Seine sometimes being referred to as “the only river that runs between two bookshelves”.
16. Walk the tracks of the Petite Ceinture
These unused railway lines were built around 150 years ago as a public and freight transport network. They later fell out of use when the Paris Metro was built.
Today, Petite Ceinture (Little Belt) is a popular free walking route spread across several arrondissements with playgrounds and communal gardens dotted along the line. Easiest entry is at the Villa du Bel Air near Porte de Vincennes. This will give you access to the most famous part of the line in the 12th arrondissement.
Spectacular and wild, Petite Ceinture is very different from the usual Paris tourist attractions. It can get overgrown in places and some tunnels are long and dark, so if you’re up for exploring it properly make sure to go prepared and take a torch.
17. Take a trip to Italy at Racines Bistrattoria
This Michelin-starred restaurant is a culinary gem among Paris’s competitive dining scene. You may not have come for Italian food, but Racines is unique in its fusion of Sicilian and Italian recipes with the techniques of new Parisian bistros. Chef Simone Tondo calls it a ‘bistrattoria’.
Dishes are seasonal, and the sommelier team are superb at pairing wines to your dishes and tastes. Book as far ahead as possible to guarantee a table, but if you’re flexible tables can sometimes be booked at short notice.
18. See out the day with Rosa Bonheur
Rosa Bonheur is a classic Parisian guinguette – a bar or tavern – set in the beautiful Parc des Buttes Chaumont in the 19th arrondissement.
Named for the freed 19th-century female artist first decorated with the Légion d’Honneur, it translates literally as Rose Happiness! Themed around the Camargue region of southern France, it’s a great place to enjoy drinks and tapas. Especially in summer when balmy evenings bring the park to life.
The bar is open until the early hours – we recommend Thursdays for the ‘Jeudis du Rosa’ electronic get-togethers.
19. Taste the magic at Breizh Café
Think of French food and it’s only a matter of time before crêpes enter the conversation. Among the best crêperies in Paris is Breizh Café, launched and run by Bertrand Larcher, a Breton who lived in Japan.
Now with multiple outlets across Paris, the original café in Le Marais is still the best. Book ahead to ensure a table, as lines can be long.
Go hungry to savour both the savoury and sweet crêpes (there’s gluten free too) and the epic galettes, another Breizh speciality. The house brand soda is lovely but the range of tap ciders and fine wines are even better.
20. Shop at Galeries Lafayette Champs-Élysées department store
The Galeries Lafayette department store is a French icon. Although it operates its flagship store on Haussmann Boulevard, it more recently opened a new store on Avenue des Champs-Élysées. No visit to Paris is complete without a stroll down its most famous avenue to see the spectacular Arc de Triomphe and peruse its many shops.
Spanning four floors of a majestic Art Deco building, there are hundreds of men’s and women’s brands, foods, perfumes and more mixed together across each floor. The goal is to create a completely fluid experience, where you pick out your new party clothes one minute and try some fresh pastries the next.
21. Inspect the damage at Notre Dame
On the night of 15th April 2019, Paris suffered one of its greatest architectural tragedies with the fire that ravaged the historic Cathédrale Notre-Dame. Renovations are well under way and a full reopening has been confirmed for the end of 2024.
In the meantime, other areas of the cathedral have begun to open. Both the Archaeological Crypt and Pont au Double pedestrian bridge that links Notre Dame to the Left Bank are open to the public.
There are also regular free multilingual guided tours around the cathedral that give a unique insight into its history and current state. Departing from the statue of Notre Dame in Cathedral Square, check dates for a tour in your language and expect it to last about an hour.
22. Meet Mickey at Disneyland Paris
You’ll need at least a couple of days to get your teeth into the European outlet of Walt Disney’s fantastical theme park. Sure to go down well with the kids, the only way to navigate Disneyland’s many rides and attractions is to go all in, although you can also book day tickets with a shuttle direct from Paris.
If possible, stay in one of the many themed hotels on or near the site and take advantage of the package deals that are included. One of France’s most popular tourist attractions, be prepared for long queues on the bigger rides.
23. Take in a show at the Moulin Rouge
The ultimate Paris party since 1889, Moulin Rouge is still a decadent and adult night out. Book a dinner for 19:00 sharp at the Féerie Revue show and watch 80 artists dance their way through a thousand feather costumes culminating in the legendary French Cancan. Book ahead to avoid disappointment.
KAYAK top tip: night owl tickets to the later 23:00 show are often available on shorter notice.
24. Dance the night away at Supersonic
In a converted warehouse in the Bastille neighbourhood, Supersonic is one of the best clubs in Paris. It thrums out indie, rock, pop and blues music to crowds until midnight every night of the week. If you really want to party, DJ sets run until 6:00 the following morning on Friday and Saturday. Get there early and entry is free.
Be sure to check the extensive record shop next door to top up your vinyl collection.
Already in love with all things Paris? Then we have plenty more to keep you entertained. Our guided tour of the best museums in Paris is great for art lovers while our guide to the best food markets Paris should keep appetites sated and bellies full. Bon appetit!
How did we choose our list of the 24 best things to do in Paris?
There are a lot of us at KAYAK, but did you know we’re spread across the world and often work remotely in the places we’re writing about?
Many of us are digital nomads. As a team we put a lot of time into researching the Paris we’re sharing with you: visiting attractions ourselves, chatting to locals, friends and colleagues who live and have lived there, twisting their arms for those special places beloved by locals in the know.
We won’t recommend a place if we don’t think it’s great, because like every traveller, we know the disappointment of embarking on a long journey to see something truly mediocre.
Visiting Paris: FAQs
Do I need a car in Paris?
No, Paris is a brilliant city to walk, with many guided tours. The public transport system is also excellent, with extensive bus routes and the Paris Métro.
When is a nice time to visit Paris?
Paris is beautiful no matter what the weather and has plenty of things to offer throughout the year. Spring and autumn are lovely as the weather tends to be good but there’s also something magical about Paris at Christmas.
How long should I spend in Paris?
There are enough things to do in Paris that you could stay for weeks and not get bored. If you want to explore just the highlights and most popular attractions, around four days is about right. And if you’re going just for a weekend, our Paris City Break weekend guide has you covered.
Is Paris safe?
Paris is a very safe city. However, as with any major city, it’s worth taking precautions with your belongings – especially in the most touristy areas where pickpockets are common.
Does Paris have tourist passes?
Go City has a range of Paris passes that can save you money on attractions, transport and food. They range from the ‘All Inclusive’ to the ‘Explorer’. The city pass is also a handy way to jump the queues at certain attractions.
