10 Best Things to Do in Paris

The Eiffel Tower, an iconic symbol of Paris, stands majestically on the Champ de Mars, attracting millions of visitors with its panoramic views of the city. The wrought iron lady – a tower is feminine in French – is a must-see if you come to Paris. With a height of 1,063 ft, 3 storeys and a 674-step staircase, it certainly can't go unnoticed.

You'll find a Michelin-starred restaurant and a macaron bar on the second floor, and a champagne bar on the third floor. Its worldwide fame makes the Eiffel Tower a crowded place, and you should be aware of scam artists roaming the area. It’s also a good idea to book a ticket online beforehand if you want to get to the top by lift.

Champs-Élysées Avenue, one of the world's most famous and elegant boulevards, stretches for almost 2 km between Place Charles de Gaulle and Place de la Concorde. It’s famed for its stylish restaurants and cafés, luxury boutiques, big-brand stores and theatres.

Go to the top of the Arc de Triomphe on Place Charles de Gaulle to get a stunning view of the tree-lined avenue and of the Voie Triomphale—the Triumphal Way. The street forms a straight line between the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, the Obelisk of Place de la Concorde and the Grande Arche of La Défense.

Arc de Triomphe is undoubtedly one of the most iconic monuments in Paris. Inaugurated in 1836, the mighty structure was originally built to commemorate Napoleon's 1805 victory at Austerlitz, and today stands as a tribute to the French soldiers who lost their lives fighting in World War I, the Napoleonic Wars and the French Revolution.

The imposing 50-metre structure sits at the western end of the Champs-Élysées in the center of Place Charles de Gaulle. Inscribed on the Arc's walls are the names of all France's wartime victories and its generals, and underneath the structure lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It's possible to climb the Arc's 280 steps for breathtaking views of the Paris skyline.

The Louvre in Paris, a historic monument and one of the world's largest art museums, is renowned for its vast collection spanning from ancient civilizations to the 19th century, including the iconic Mona Lisa. Everything feels grand and over the top at this former royal palace, now the most famous French art gallery. From paintings to sculptures, and from archaeological finds to drawings, The Louvre has 35,000 works of art plus over 350,000 objects on display.

The Louvre’s permanent collections cover an area of 60,600 square metres. A good hint to make the most of your day is to get a map and an audio guide at the ticket desk before starting your exploration of one of the most impressive museums in the world.

The Jardin des Plantes, nestled in the serene Latin Quarter, offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of this magnificent City of Light. It’s one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, dating back to 1635. Today, this grand Parisian park is home to a vast collection of plants from around the world, including many rare and endangered species.

You can enjoy a moment of peace in the beautifully landscaped gardens or visit one of the educational attractions such as the Galerie de Géologie et de Minéralogie or the National Museum of Natural History. This amazing park also includes a zoo with over 1,000 animals. The gardens are open to the public for free.

Montmartre is one of the most picturesque districts in the city. It’s a quaint neighbourhood that feels almost like a village in a big city, with charming streets and a bohemian atmosphere. Built on a hill, it has the splendid Sacré-Coeur Basilica as its centrepiece, overlooking the city with its stunning Romano-Byzantine architecture.

Renowned for an artistic scene that attracts myriad painters, musicians and writers, Montmartre is a pretty active area at night. You’ll find nightclubs, live music venues and, down the hill on the southwestern side, the world-famous cabaret show at Moulin Rouge.

The Seine is the 5th longest river in France and its course through the centre of Paris offers you the opportunity to see many of the most notable monuments of the city from a different angle. Bateaux Mouches (meaning ‘fly boats’), long and thin open excursion boats, take you to view the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the Town Hall, and many more places of interest on cruises that last slightly more than 1 hour.

A cruise on the Seine allows you to appreciate the beauty of the Parisian architecture along the riverbanks. If you really want to indulge yourself, a dinner cruise is worth the extra cost as the monuments are even more beautiful when illuminated at night.

Located in Marne-la-Vallée, 32 km east of Paris city centre, Disneyland Paris is a must-visit for families. The 20 sq km park is home to a huge number of rides and attractions inspired by Walt Disney’s characters and franchises, including Star Wars and Marvel. Enjoy themed roller coasters, a haunted house, a pirate ship and more.

The park also has over 50 restaurants and 7 hotels on site. You can even play a round of golf at the 9-hole and 18-hole Golf Disneyland courses.

The Palace of Versailles is not exactly in Paris as it’s about 20 km southwest from the city centre. A symbol of the absolute monarchy that ended with the French Revolution in 1789, the palace is now a museum and one of the most visited historical sites in France. It was entirely restored to the appearance it had during the 17th century, so you really feel like you’ve travelled to the past when walking through the Hall of Mirrors or in the King’s Apartment.

The gardens that surround Versailles are also an impressive illustration of jardin à la française—French-style gardening. You can lose yourself for the day in Versailles Palace, as a good choice of restaurants and snack bars are available right next to the park.

Vine-growing and wine-making in Paris dates back to the Roman Empire. Even though it might not be as renowned as the nearby Burgundy and Champagne vineyards, at The Clos Montmartre, you can visit a vineyard and sample a wine produced in Paris itself.

The Clos Montmartre is a 1,550 square metre vineyard a mere 300 metres from the Sacré-Coeur Basilica. It produces a decent Gamay/Pinot Noir wine. You’ll find a celebration of it at a yearly event in October, the Harvest Festival of Montmartre.