Things to do in Paris

Things to do in Paris

Paris is a classic for a reason. The Eiffel Tower rises over the river, its iron frame lighting up just as café crowds settle in for the evening. Along the Seine, tourists thumb through the bouquinistes’ weathered paperbacks while queues snake around the Louvre’s glass pyramid. Notre-Dame’s bells still carry across the island, and the buskers of Montmartre keep the steps of the Sacré-Cœur alive. Shoppers wear down the Champs-Élysées pavement on their slow approach to the Arc de Triomphe, or lose track of time inside the former railway hall turned Musée d’Orsay. From river walks to rooftops, every turn in Paris will give you another reason to come back.

Unique things to do in Paris

• Climb the Eiffel Tower stairs: Skip the lift and take the slow way up. Feel the rivets underfoot as the grid of Paris stretches wider with every iron landing.
• Cruise the Seine River: Paris slowed down on the water, as bridges gleam, street lamps flicker to life, and every bend shows off another postcard view.
• Louvre Museum: Catch the glass pyramid in the morning light, then head inside to see 35,000 works, from Greek sculptures to Renaissance portraits.
• Descend into the Paris Catacombs: Step underground into tunnels lined with centuries of Paris history. It’s calm, cool, and very eerie.
• Take a French pastry class in Saint-Germain: Learn how croissants are folded and baked from scratch. You’ll finish with your own warm pastry and a new respect for butter.

Best Paris attractions to see

• Musée d’Orsay: Once a Beaux-Arts railway station, Musée d’Orsay is now home to impressionist masterpieces by masters like Monet and Renoir. Don’t miss striking a pose by the giant clock.
• Arc de Triomphe rooftop: It’s 284 steps to the top, but the payoff’s pure perfection, with avenues radiating out like spokes, and traffic looping in controlled chaos.
• Sainte-Chapelle: Fifteen-metre stained glass that turns sunlight into endless colours in the heart of Paris.
• Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur: Sketchbooks open in Place du Tertre, buskers tune up on the steps, and the view from the dome runs clear to the city’s edge.

Best Paris day trips and tours

• Versailles Palace and Gardens: All mirrors, marble, and manicured lawns. Wander the royal apartments, then step outside to the vast landscaped gardens.
• Champagne Region day trip: Descend into cool chalk tunnels where bottles sleep in rows, then taste the fizz poured by the very hands that made it.
• Giverny and Monet’s house: See the famous painter’s dream made in real life. With its green shutters, water lilies, and a garden so calm you half expect brushstrokes to appear midair.
• Loire Valley castles: Turrets, vineyards, and small towns that smell faintly of river mist and fresh bread. It’s worth the early start and the long lunch that follows.
• Disneyland Paris: Hop on an RER and swap metro tunnels for fairy lights. Big rides, small snacks, and fireworks that add a magical finish to a family day out.

Budgeting for things to do in Paris

Paris prices can swing from croissant crumbs to royal chandeliers in a blink. A climb up the Eiffel Tower stairs will set you back about €15, while a Seine cruise starts somewhere near €25. Museum entries like the Louvre or Musée d’Orsay sit between €15 and €25, and day trips to the Champagne region can push past €150 once you factor in trains and tastings. But for every big-ticket moment – a pastry class in Saint-Germain, a rooftop climb at the Arc de Triomphe – there’s a free counterbalance: parks, river walks, and sunsets that cost nothing. Mix boulangerie lunches with one or two guided tours that truly earn their price tag.

Free things to do in Paris

• Walk the Jardin du Luxembourg: Locals play chess under chestnut trees while children sail toy boats across the pond. A classic Paris afternoon for the price of nothing.
• Follow the Promenade Plantée: A green walkway built on an old railway viaduct, stretching from Bastille to the city’s edge.
• Wander Père Lachaise Cemetery: Quiet lanes wind between ornate tombs and familiar names, like Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, and Edith Piaf.
• Explore Parc des Buttes-Chaumont: A hilly park with cliffs, bridges, and a temple lookout that most tourists miss. Bring a picnic of pastel-coloured macaroons.