10 top things to do in Paris, France

When visiting Paris for the first time, you’ll probably want to see the classics like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Notre Dame. However, Paris has so much more to offer and we’re here to help you discover all of it! The city of lights is full of amazing museums (yes, multiple), iconic monuments (not only the Eiffel Tower) and beautiful buildings (not only the pyramids of the Louvre). It is impossible to see everything in a short trip (probably not in a lifetime), which is why we have made a selection of both the classics and the hidden gems that are crucial when visiting Paris. Here are 10 top things to do in Paris!

1. Eiffel Tower at night
2. Sainte-Chapelle
3. Montmartre
4. Le Moulin Rouge
5. Champs-Elysées Avenue
6. Musée du Louvre
7. Opera Garnier
8. Musée D’Orsay
9. La Galerie Dior
10. Speakeasy L’Epicier
Paris Museum Pass
Where to stay in Paris

1. Eiffel Tower at night

A trip to Paris wouldn’t be complete without visiting the Eiffel Tower! This iconic monument, known as the Iron Lady, is one of the most visited in the world. If it’s your first time, we suggest buying a ticket to access the summit or the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. But whether it’s your first visit or your fiftieth, we highly recommend seeing the Eiffel Tower at night. As soon as it gets dark, the Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes every hour, and it’s pure magic! No matter how many times you’ve seen it, you never get tired of the sparkling Iron Lady. The best part? It’s completely free and can be admired from miles away.

Pro tip
For a truly unique experience, consider having lunch at Madame Brasserie inside the Eiffel Tower. The three-course meal features a starter, main course, and dessert. You can even add champagne or wine to your meal!

2. Sainte-Chapelle

One of the most beautiful hidden gems in Paris is Sainte-Chapelle. The chapel is famous for its gothic stained glass windows, which is simply stunning to see and really takes you back a couple centuries into the “dark ages”. A visit during a sunny day makes it even more impressive, when the sunlight shines through the colorful stained glass. It is one of the most dazzling chapels we’ve ever visited. If you only have an hour to kill, spend it here.

See if there’s availability to visit Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie on your dates.

3. Montmartre

The Montmartre neighborhood is one of the coziest neighborhoods in all of Paris. You can stroll here for hours, each corner has its own charms or little café where you can rest and do some sightseeing, or grab a quick coffee. Some famous spots and “must-sees” like the Sacré-Coeur and La Maison Rose are located in the Montmartre area. The Sacré-Coeur is one of the most iconic monuments in Paris, and with good reason. At the top you can find one of the most beautiful panoramic views of Paris. There even are panoramic “traffic signs” that indicate what monuments you’re able to see which allows you to take the best pictures.

Next up is La Maison Rose, known by the Netflix series “Emily in Paris”. La Maison Rose is actually a restaurant where you can come for lunch or, like us, just to take some photos before opening time! The restaurant opens at 12 PM (noon), so if you arrive before that, the place will be empty!

Looking for more fun things to do in Montmartre? Check out this blog post from Plan For Me Dani. Don’t miss number 5 – it’s a real gem!

4. Le Moulin Rouge

The world’s most famous cabaret, Le Moulin Rouge, is located in the 18th arrondissement. Known as the birthplace of the modern can-can dance, Le Moulin Rouge has hosted legendary performances by stars like Ella Fitzgerald, Elton John, Frank Sinatra, and Liza Minnelli. If you’d like to catch a show, be sure to book your tickets in advance since they sell out fast! Keep in mind that the tickets can be quite pricey, so it’s something to consider when planning your visit.

Check to see if there’s availability for a Moulin Rouge cabaret show on your dates.

5. Champs-Elysées Avenue

Things to do in Paris: Champs-Elysées Avenue

Some window shopping at the Champs-Elysées Avenue is a must do when in Paris. It is known for its luxury stores like Louis Vuitton and Chanel, but you can also find any other major chain here (like Starbucks, Five Guys and McDonalds). You can also find more affordable brands here like Adidas, Nike and Zara so there’s something for everyone. There even is a Disney Store and when we visited, a temporary Stranger Things pop-up store was there as well! Beauty and jewelry lovers will also get their money’s worth here with stores like Sephora and Tiffany & Co.

One of the most important national monuments in France is also located here: the Arc de Triomphe. For some dazzling panoramic views over Paris, make sure to go up to the top of the Arc de Triomphe.

Buy your Arc de Triomphe rooftop tickets here.

6. Musée du Louvre

A classic that’s a must on your Paris list is Musée du Louvre. The Louvre is famous for many reasons, with the Mona Lisa being the most iconic. It houses an extensive collection of sculptures, paintings, drawings, and much more. To make the most of your visit, we recommend purchasing timed-entrance tickets for the Louvre in advance and arriving as early as possible. This way, you’ll have plenty of time to explore without the long wait times for those without tickets. The museum is massive, so make sure to allocate enough hours to see everything!

Pro tip
Everyone waits in line in front of the big, glass pyramids. But a less busy entrance can be found near the underground shopping mall of Place du Carrousel. You can enter the mall by the stairs situated North and South of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel. Using this entrance will take you to the upside down pyramid that was featured in The Da Vinci Code bestseller by Dan Brown!

7. Opera Garnier

One of our favorite things to do in Paris is visiting Opera Garnier, a true architectural masterpiece. This stunning opera house, with its blend of Baroque, Palladian, and Renaissance styles, is beautiful from the outside, but the real magic happens inside. We explored this place on our own and booked our Opera Garnier tickets in advance through GetYourGuide, but if you want more details, a guided tour might be the way to go. Walking around here feels like stepping back into the 19th century – every detail is simply stunning!

Fun fact
Some scenes from Emily in Paris were also filmed here. Did we already mention we have an “Emily in Paris” fan over here? 😳

8. Musée D’Orsay

Musée D’Orsay is one of the largest art museums in Europe. The museum has a rich collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art, and is well-known for its giant clock. Here you can find some masterpieces of Monet, Cézanne, Van Gogh and many other famous painters. We strolled around hours over here. There are so many rooms and floors that you can easily spend an entire day here! The building itself is also very impressive. The museum used to be a former railway station and that’s where the giant clock stems from. Museum lovers MUST visit this place, as it’s a really unique museum that exhibits some rare pieces of art.

See if there’s availability to visit Musée D’Orsay on your dates.

9. La Galerie Dior

Enter heaven for all fashion lovers when visiting La Galerie Dior. Located in a small street just off the Avenue de Champs Elysees, it is the first museum of the Parisian fashion house and definitely worth a visit (even for guys, as Kelvin very much enjoyed his time here!). The first thing you see when you enter, is a magnificent staircase, surrounded by countless classics, such as the the Iconic Dior Saddle Bag. As if this were not already impressive enough, these objects are arranged in a beautiful color palette, making for an outstanding overall picture that orders the items by color (just like a rainbow). You can look at this for hours, it’s really breathtaking.

The visit doesn’t start with the stairs, however, because you (have to) take the elevator up and begin the history of Dior there. Along the way you can see some masterpieces by Christian Dior, the dresses we saw there were one by one stunning. They also show the evolution and experimental designs of the bottle of the perfume Dior J’adore. This was wonderful to see because it gives a rare insight into the mind of a genius. The best part is that a ticket for La Galerie Dior costs just €14, what you get in return is more than worth it! If you’re into luxury fashion brands, La Galerie Dior truly is a must do.

10. Speakeasy L’Epicier

Things to do in Paris: Speakeasy L’Epicier

If you are looking for the coolest hidden bar in Paris, you should definitely visit L’Epicier. At first glance, this looks like some kind of night store, but nothing could be further from the truth. Pulling one of the items on the shelf (discover which one yourself, we won’t spoil the experience) allows you to open the door to the speakeasy. We had already seen some videos online that pointed us in the right direction, but we must admit that we still spent several minutes looking for the opening. 😂

Behind the door you can find an oriental bar with multicolored lamps, road signs as tables and even swings to sit on! The bar has two floors, it isn’t that big or spacious but this is just what makes it cozy. The staff here are sooo friendly and the cocktails are just perfect! Each cocktail is presented in an original way. We even ordered one that came in a tea pot (Ceci n’est pas du thé, anyone?). You also get some “oriental appetizers” like olives, which is very nice. L’Epicier is highly recommended for anyone who wants to enjoy a nice cocktail in a charming setting.

Paris Museum Pass

If you’re planning to visit multiple attractions in Paris, it’s a great idea to get a Paris Museum Pass for 2, 4, or 6 days. This pass gives you access to a wide range of museums and attractions, including the Arc de Triomphe, Centre Pompidou, Musée d’Orsay, Musée de l’Orangerie, Musée du Louvre, and Sainte-Chapelle.

It’s even better if you’re 25 or younger or a student. Most attractions in Paris, like museums, chapels, and monuments, are free for you. Just be sure to do your research ahead of time so you’re prepared if they ask for identification.