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? Then you can gorge on Paris’s legendary culinary scene, taking in street food and fine dining, swish cafes, and Parisian patisseries. Activity lover? There is of course Disneyland Paris but equally, you shouldn’t miss the exhilarating Paris Catacombs.
Culture vulture? The City of Light has you covered, from the must-see Paris attractions like the Palace of Versailles and the Eiffel Tower to hidden gems like cozy speakeasies and beautiful cinemas.
What are the best things to do in Paris?
With this guide, we’ve put together our favorite things to do in Paris. Use it to help narrow down the places you want to visit, but for more info on planning 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 so 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 the largest crowds, head to the Carrousel du Louvre shopping center, which has its own, usually much quieter entrance.
You can easily spend a day at The Louvre, and luckily there are some excellent cafes, such as the Café Mollien with views of the pyramid from its terrace, or the chic Bistrot Benoit, where you can stop for 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 are within walking distance of The Louvre.
2. Find modern art at Centre Pompidou
You will recognize the Centre Pompidou by its ‘inside-out’ design, with the building’s structural elements and escalators exposed on the exterior of the building making it 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 alongside many more masterpieces.
The Pompidou also often hosts temporary exhibitions, performances, debates and children’s workshops and is open every day except Tuesday.
3. Visit Fondation Louis Vuitton
Fondation Louis Vuitton is an art museum and cultural center in the Bois de Boulogne area close to the Jardin d’Acclimatation. Sponsored by LVMH, the parent company of the Louis Vuitton designer brand, it’s part of the brand’s program to promote art and culture.
Its Collection is constantly changing. Artists that have been featured include Jeff Koons, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol, as well as commissioned pieces by the sculptor Olafur Eliasson and the sound artist Janet Cardiff, among others.
The museum itself is also 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 fresh food at the Marché des Enfants Rouges
The Marché des Enfants Rouges was established in 1628, making it the oldest covered market in Paris. Its curious name comes from the clothing worn by the children of the orphanage originally located there, the red indicating it had been donated by Christian charities.
The food market is in the Marais Arrondissement and is open every day except Mondays. There you will find a bounty of food stalls cooking up delights from Italian to Lebanese to Japanese, alongside 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 movie at Cinémathèque Française
Cinémathèque Française is a non-profit film organization that hosts classic movie screenings 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 movie 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 culmination of four centuries of scientific adventure and the beating heart of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle (Natural History Museum).
Today, its 11 gardens boast a spectacular array of plants arranged in beautiful flower beds, along with artwork and a small zoo. Alive with places to explore, 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 should probably dedicate a whole day to the Château de Versailles. Built by King Louis XIV, this 400-year-old former royal residence is as well known today as the place where the Treaty of Versailles was signed, bringing an end to World War I. 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 a good idea to take a guided tour. Or at least use an audio guide as you explore remarkable rooms like the Hall of Mirrors and its view over the Grande Perspective.
Outside, take time to stroll the chateau’s ornamental gardens, the Queen’s Hamlet, and Petit Trianon. Pictures don’t do their scale and majesty justice, so you have to see it for yourself.
8. Take a tour or catch a show at the Palais Garnier
Palais Garnier, also known as the Opera 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 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 just seeing the tower up close from the park it sits in, there really is nothing like the views of Paris from high up.
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 elevator to the top floor.
To avoid queues, buy your ticket online. 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 away behind a simple gray shop front, the Little Red Door is an award-winning cocktail bar and regular on lists of ‘world’s best bars’.
Located in the 3rd arrondissement, the Little Red Door’s 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 unique drinks and 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
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 theater, Le Zenith rock arena, and many other attractions.
You can also spend a pleasant hour or two strolling the park 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 figures 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.
Atmospheric and extensive, exploring some of its 70,000 graves will give you a fascinating insight into the lives and deaths of the people who’ve called Paris home.
Entry is free to all, 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 meters below the teeming streets of the French capital, the haunting Paris Catacombs are the final resting place for millions of unnamed Parisians.
This labyrinthine tomb of galleries spreads out under much of Paris but the curated visit takes you on a one-mile loop that takes about an hour to navigate. You’ll need to be fit and able as there are several hundred steps to navigate en route, 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. Today, skulls and bones line 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 honor 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
This vast river Seine stretches across northeastern France and is immortalized 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 set up shop along the river banks to 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 but 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.
The easiest entry is at the Villa du Bel Air near Porte de Vincennes, which gives 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 even 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 is superb. It’s wise to book as far ahead as possible to guarantee a table, but if you’re flexible on times and dates, tables can often 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 hollow of 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 promises its patrons great drinks, delicious tapas, and a huge dose of bon viveur.
Open until the early hours, it’s a wonderful place to end a day of Paris sightseeing, especially in summer when balmy evenings bring the park to life. Thursdays are a particular treat 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 so is well worth booking ahead to ensure a table, as lines outside can be long.
Go hungry and you can savor both the savory and sweet crêpes (there’s gluten-free too). Be sure not to miss out on the epic galettes as well, another Breizh specialty. 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. And 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, you’ll find 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 underway and a full reopening has been confirmed for the end of 2024.
In the meantime, other areas of the cathedral have begun to open up. 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 best way to enjoy all the 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. Often busy, it’s best to book ahead although 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 neighborhood, Supersonic is one of the best clubs in Paris. It thrums out indie, rock, pop, and blues music to a throbbing crowd of 250 revelers until midnight every night of the week. Hardcore partygoers will want to wait for Friday and Saturday nights, where DJ sets run until 6:00 the following morning. 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 you may be interested in our guide to being gay in Paris: the city of love welcomes everyone.
How did we choose our list of the 24 best things to do in Paris?
The KAYAK team is spread across the world and often works remotely in the places we’re writing about. We put a lot of time into researching the Paris we’re sharing with you: visiting attractions and chatting with locals, friends, and colleagues who live and have lived there. This list is a collection of those tips.
We won’t recommend a place if we don’t think it’s great, because like every traveler, we know the disappointment of embarking on a long journey to see something truly mediocre. We want to save you from that disappointment.
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 fall are particularly lovely as the weather tends to be good and the crowds smaller.
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. To explore the highlights and most popular attractions, around four days is about right.
Is Paris safe?
Yes, Paris is a very safe city. However, as with any major city, it’s worth taking extra precautions with your belongings – especially in the touristy areas where pickpockets are commonplace.
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’ for experiencing as much of Paris as possible to the ‘Explorer’ for ticking off the major attractions. They’ll also allow you to jump the queues at certain attractions.
