Table of Contents
- What Paris Is Actually Known For
- The Iconic Landmarks – And the Honest Take on Each
- Paris Museums – A Practical Guide to What's Worth Visiting
- The Best Neighbourhoods to Explore on Foot
- Seine River Cruises and Boat Tours
- Paris Walking Tours – The Case for Having a Guide
- The Best Views in Paris
- Free Things to Do in Paris
- Day Trips From Paris
- Practical Paris – The Stuff That Actually Helps
- What to Eat and Drink in Paris
- The Honest Summary – What's Worth It and What Isn't
- A Few More Things to Do in Paris
Paris is one of those cities that's almost impossible to do badly. Whether this is your first visit or your fifth trip to Paris, you could wander into the wrong arrondissement at the wrong time of day and still end up with a great croissant and a view that makes you want to cancel your flight home. But there's a real difference between a rushed city break and actually getting under the skin of the French capital – and a lot of visitors waste two or three days ticking off famous sights that don't quite deliver, while completely missing the spots that would've made the whole thing.
So this isn't another mirror of every other things to do in Paris list. We've broken it down by what's genuinely worth the time, what's pretty good with a bit of planning and what you can honestly skip – along with better alternatives when something falls short. Whether you're visiting Paris for a long weekend or planning a longer stay, this is where to start.
What Paris Is Actually Known For
Paris has been the cultural capital of Europe for centuries – and that's not just a tourism-board talking point. The French capital is home to some of the most important art in the world, food culture that's shaped how people cook globally, and an urban layout that's basically a walking museum. It's got Monet, Van Gogh, Picasso and Louis XIV all in the same postcode, more or less.
What makes visiting Paris genuinely different from other great European cities is the density of it. You can walk from a medieval island fortress to a 19th-century opera house in 15 minutes. You can eat a three-euro pain au chocolat outside a Michelin-level boulangerie. That layering – history on top of history on top of daily life – is what people mean when they say the city has a feeling to it. And yes, the famous landmarks live up to the hype – most of them, anyway.
The Iconic Landmarks – And the Honest Take on Each
The Eiffel Tower – Paris's Most Famous Landmark, and How to Do It Right
The Eiffel Tower is the most famous landmark in Paris – probably the most famous landmark in the world, full stop – and yet a lot of people come away from it a bit flat. Not because it's disappointing, but because they didn't quite plan it right.
Gustave Eiffel built the Eiffel Tower in 1889 as a temporary structure for the World's Fair (it was supposed to be torn down after 20 years), and the city's been quietly grateful it never happened. The second floor gives you a better view than the summit for a lower price, and the queues are shorter. If you want to see the Eiffel Tower as a silhouette against a sunset sky, you're better off watching from Trocadéro Plaza across the River Seine – it's free, you've got space to breathe, and the angle is better than anything from the tower itself.
Another good spot to see the Eiffel Tower is the Champ de Mars – the long park that stretches south from the base of the tower. Bring a picnic blanket, some food and a bottle of wine, sit on the grass, and you've got one of those Paris afternoons that's so much fun it almost feels like a cliché. It costs nothing and it's far more relaxed than queueing for the lifts. The Champ de Mars is also one of the best places to see the Eiffel Tower light show at night, when it sparkles for five minutes on the hour after dark.
Practical note: Timed-entry tickets sell out weeks ahead in peak season. Book online before your trip to Paris – showing up without a booking and expecting to walk on is a real way to lose half a day.
The Louvre Museum – Allow More Time Than You Think You Need
The Louvre Museum isn't just a gallery – it's a former royal palace covering 60,000 square metres of exhibition space. The Musée du Louvre holds over 35,000 works across its collection, and trying to “do the Louvre” in an afternoon is a bit like trying to read a library in a lunch break. It's worth going in with a plan.
The must-see anchors are in the Denon Wing: the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. But honestly – the Richelieu Wing and the Napoleon III Apartments are far less crowded and just as impressive. Most visitors pour into Denon, which means the rest of the building's practically yours.
The Mona Lisa is smaller than you're expecting. You'll be in a room with 200 other people, all holding phones up, looking at a painting that's maybe 50cm across behind a barrier. It's still worth seeing – it's the Louvre Museum, after all – but set your expectations before you go in.
Free entry tip: Paris museums including the Louvre Museum and Musée d'Orsay offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month. Visitors under 18 get free entry year-round, and under-26s from EU countries get in free at the Louvre on Friday evenings.
Musée d'Orsay – Probably the Best Single Museum Visit in the City
If you can only do one museum on your trip to Paris, make it this one. The d'Orsay was a railway station until 1977, and the building itself is part of the experience – a vast, light-filled iron hall with giant clocks still mounted on the walls. Inside, it's got the world's largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist work: Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, all of it. Among all the Paris museums, it's genuinely hard to beat for the quality and accessibility of what it shows you.
The top floor – where Van Gogh's self-portraits and Monet's late work live – tends to get busy around midday. Go early or in the last two hours of the day and you'll often have the galleries almost to yourself.
Notre Dame Cathedral – Back Open After Reconstruction
Notre-Dame Cathedral reopened in December 2024 after five years of restoration following the 2019 fire. The Gothic masterpiece on Île de la Cité is one of the most famous landmarks in the world, and seeing Notre-Dame Cathedral properly – rather than just walking past – takes about 45 minutes to an hour inside.
But don't skip Sainte-Chapelle, a short walk from Notre Dame Cathedral on the same island. King Louis IX commissioned it in the 13th century to house his collection of holy relics, and its stained glass windows – 15 of them, covering nearly 600 square metres – are genuinely among the most extraordinary things in Paris. The stained glass at Sainte-Chapelle tells the whole of the Old Testament in coloured light, and the effect when you step inside on a sunny day is something most people aren't prepared for. Most visitors skip it entirely – that's a real mistake. You can do both on the same afternoon since they're essentially next door to each other.
The Arc de Triomphe – Worth the Climb
Napoleon Bonaparte commissioned the Arc de Triomphe in 1806 after the Battle of Austerlitz – though he never saw it finished (it took 30 years to build). The Arc de Triomphe stands at the top of the Champs-Élysées and is one of Paris's most recognisable famous landmarks, with 12 avenues radiating out from it like a star. The climb to the top is 284 steps – no lift, but it's not as bad as it sounds – and the view from the roof of the Arc de Triomphe, looking down the Champs-Élysées toward the Louvre on one side and west toward La Défense on the other, is one of the best in central Paris. Entry's around €13. Book ahead to skip the queue.
Skip the Champs-Élysées for shopping. The avenue running from the Arc de Triomphe toward the city centre is almost entirely international chains now. For actual Paris shopping, Le Marais or the covered passages of the 9th arrondissement are far more interesting – and you won't be spending money on things you could buy at home.
Sacré-Cœur Basilica and Montmartre – Go in the Morning
The Sacré-Cœur Basilica at the top of the 18th arrondissement has genuinely one of the best free viewpoints in the city from its steps. But the real reason to explore Montmartre is to spend a couple of hours wandering the neighbourhood around it – the steep streets near Place du Tertre, the old vineyard (Paris's last functioning one), La Maison Rose. Picasso, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec all lived and worked here at various points, and that history's still present in the feel of the streets in a way you don't quite get anywhere else.
Place du Tertre just behind the Sacré-Cœur Basilica is where street artists have set up since the 19th century. It gets very touristy by midday – but in the early morning, before the crowds arrive, the square has a completely different atmosphere. If you want to explore Montmartre at its best, plan your visit before 10am. And yes, it's so much fun when you've got Place du Tertre largely to yourself.
Les Invalides and the Moulin Rouge
Les Invalides in the 7th arrondissement is often overlooked on Paris itineraries, but it's pretty important if you're at all interested in French military history – or Napoleon specifically. His tomb is here, along with a large army museum covering the country's history from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. It's a solid half-day and far less crowded than the Louvre Museum or the Eiffel Tower.
The Moulin Rouge in the 18th arrondissement is the original cabaret venue that gave the world the can-can, made famous through paintings by Toulouse-Lautrec. The shows run nightly and it's a genuine piece of Paris history – though it's a proper dinner-and-show evening, so budget accordingly.
Paris Museums – A Practical Guide to What's Worth Visiting
Paris museums are a treasure trove for art and history lovers – but there are a lot of them, and not all are worth a full day. Here's a practical breakdown of the ones beyond the Louvre Museum and d'Orsay.
The Rodin Museum
The Rodin Museum in the 7th arrondissement is one of Paris's most underrated afternoons. Auguste Rodin's studio and home, with rose gardens full of bronze sculptures including The Thinker and The Gates of Hell, set in a quiet corner of the city away from the main tourist circuits. Entry's around €13 and there's rarely a long wait. The rose gardens alone are worth visiting in spring.
Musée de l'Orangerie
The Musée de l'Orangerie in the Jardin des Tuileries has two oval rooms purpose-built by Monet to house his Water Lilies panels. It's a completely singular experience – nothing else in Paris is quite like standing inside those rooms. It also holds a strong collection of early 20th-century work beyond Monet. Get there when it opens if you can; it gets busier through the morning.
The Centre Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou in the 4th arrondissement is Paris's home of modern art – and pretty much the opposite of the Louvre Museum in terms of building design (all the pipes and escalators are on the outside, deliberately). It holds one of the largest collections of modern art in Europe. Free entry on the first Sunday of each month, same as other major Paris museums.
Musée Jacquemart-André and Musée de la Vie Romantique
The Musée Jacquemart-André in the 8th arrondissement is a 19th-century private mansion converted into a gallery, with work by Rembrandt, Botticelli, Fragonard and Tiepolo. Most visitors miss it entirely – their loss. And if you want something even quieter, the Musée de la Vie Romantique in the 9th is a small house museum in a courtyard, devoted to the Romantic movement in French art. Admission's often free for the permanent collection.
The Palais Garnier
Charles Garnier designed this opera house for Napoleon III in 1875 and it's arguably the most ornate building in the city – which is saying something. You can take a self-guided or guided tour during the day when there's no performance. The grand staircase, the chandelier-hung auditorium with its Chagall ceiling (added in 1964), the gilded boxes – all of it's pretty extraordinary. Tickets for a daytime visit are around €14.
The Paris Catacombs
Six million people's remains arranged in underground tunnels below the 14th arrondissement. It sounds grim – and it is a bit grim – but it's also one of the most historically fascinating things in Paris. The city ran out of cemetery space in the late 1700s, partly as a result of the upheaval of the French Revolution, and started moving remains underground. Marie Antoinette's remains passed through here; so did those of Robespierre.
Book timed-entry tickets well in advance – this one sells out consistently. And bring a jacket; it's cold underground even in summer.
The Best Neighbourhoods to Explore on Foot
Le Marais (3rd and 4th Arrondissements)
Le Marais is probably the most complete neighbourhood in Paris for a half-day wander – it's a real treasure trove of medieval streets, 17th-century mansions and independent culture. Place des Vosges – the oldest planned square in Paris, built under Henri IV in 1612 – is here, along with the Picasso Museum, loads of art galleries and some of the best falafel in Europe on Rue des Rosiers.
Rue des Francs Bourgeois runs through the heart of Le Marais and is worth a slow walk – it's lined with independent boutiques, old archways and a mix of historic and contemporary Paris. On a Sunday morning, when a lot of central Paris is quiet, Le Marais is one of the few neighbourhoods that stays lively.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter
Saint-Germain-des-Prés is the Left Bank neighbourhood where Hemingway, Fitzgerald and the whole Lost Generation crowd spent the 1920s. Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots are both still there – overpriced but worth one coffee for the context.
If you want to know where to find the best hot chocolate in Paris – the thick, rich chocolat chaud at Angelina on Rue de Rivoli (the original venue, going since 1903) is genuinely unlike anything you've had. A good second option for hot chocolate is the version at Café de Flore itself, especially on a cold morning with a seat on the terrace.
Just south, the Latin Quarter around the 5th arrondissement is where Paris's oldest university streets run. It's quieter and more residential than Saint-Germain, good for wandering and finding a terrace for a coffee without the tourist pricing that comes with being right on the Boulevard Saint-Germain.
Canal Saint-Martin (10th Arrondissement)
The Canal Saint-Martin area is where a lot of younger Parisians spend their weekends. Iron footbridges, shaded canal banks, independent coffee shops – it's a pretty different feel from the main tourist circuits. If you want to understand the French capital beyond the postcard version, a couple of hours around here will do it. And on Sunday mornings when the roads close to traffic along the canal banks, it's one of the nicest free things you can do in Paris.
Belleville and the 19th/20th Arrondissements
Belleville is one of Paris's most genuinely multicultural areas – North African, Chinese and Vietnamese communities mixed with artists and a growing food scene. The view from Parc de Belleville over the French capital is one of the best free panoramas in the city and almost nobody goes there. If you've seen the famous sights and want to spend a morning somewhere that feels actually local, this is it.
The Covered Passages
Paris had over 150 covered shopping arcades in the 19th century and about 20 still survive. The best ones – Galerie Vivienne, Passage des Panoramas, Galerie Véro-Dodat – are in the 2nd and 9th arrondissements and feel genuinely time-frozen. They're free to walk through and most people visiting Paris have no idea they're there.
Seine River Cruises and Boat Tours
A River Seine cruise is one of those Paris activities that seems touristy right up until you're actually on the water – and then it's pretty hard to argue with. The River Seine runs through the very centre of Paris for about 13km, and a lot of the city's most famous sights line its banks. Seeing them from the water gives you a completely different perspective than walking past on the street.
Daytime River Cruises
A standard daytime river cruise covers the central stretch of the River Seine, usually running from near the Eiffel Tower east toward Notre Dame Cathedral and back. You'll float past the Louvre Museum's riverside façade, the Musée d'Orsay, Île de la Cité and some of Paris's finest bridges including Pont Alexandre III and Pont Neuf. Most daytime river cruises run about an hour and cost around €15–17 per adult. Commentary's available in multiple languages.
It's a good option for first-time visitors who want to orient themselves in Paris early in the trip – you see the layout of the city from the water before you start walking the streets, which genuinely helps with understanding where everything sits relative to each other.
Seine Dinner Cruises
A dinner cruise on the River Seine sounds like something only tourists do – and it pretty much is – but it's also one of the genuinely memorable things to do in Paris. Gliding past Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum and the lit-up bridges at night while eating is hard to beat for sheer Paris theatre. Budget around €75–100 per person for a decent dinner cruise with food included. Book ahead, especially for Friday and Saturday evenings.
Canal Boat Tours
For something a bit different, canal boat tours along the Canal Saint-Martin in the 10th and 19th arrondissements are quieter and more local in feel than the main River Seine route. You go through locks and under iron footbridges in a part of Paris that most visitors on standard cruises never see. Tours take around 2.5 hours and are worth it if you've already done the main river cruise and want more of the French capital's waterways.
Free Views From the Seine Bridges
You don't need to book a river cruise to enjoy the River Seine – some of the best views in Paris are free from the bridges themselves. Pont Alexandre III (with its gilded statues and lamp posts) and Pont Neuf (the oldest bridge in Paris, despite the name) are both worth crossing slowly at dusk, when the lights along the river come on. It costs nothing and it's genuinely one of the more memorable free ways to spend an evening.
Paris Walking Tours – The Case for Having a Guide
A lot of what makes Paris extraordinary isn't visible unless you know what you're looking at – and a good guided tour changes that pretty dramatically. A Paris walking tour through Le Marais, for example, will show you medieval plague walls buried inside modern apartment buildings, courtyards you'd never find on your own and French Revolution-era details on buildings you'd otherwise just walk past.
Free walking tours (tip-based at the end) run daily in Paris covering areas like Montmartre, the Latin Quarter and central Paris. They're a genuinely good way to get oriented at the start of a trip. A paid guided tour of the Louvre Museum, a food-focused guided tour of a Paris market, or a French Revolution walking route through Le Marais will generally go deeper than the free options and are worth it for a specific interest.
The Best Views in Paris
| Viewpoint | Cost | Why It's Good | Best Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc de Triomphe roof | €13 | Classic Champs-Élysées axis, both directions | Late afternoon |
| Montparnasse Tower | €19 | Only Paris panorama that includes the Eiffel Tower in the skyline | Sunset / night |
| Sacré-Cœur Basilica steps | Free | North Paris view, great light in the morning | Early morning |
| Trocadéro Plaza | Free | See the Eiffel Tower straight-on, no ticket needed | Any time |
| Champ de Mars | Free | Spot the Eiffel Tower from below, great for picnics | Afternoon / evening |
| Parc de Belleville | Free | Full city panorama, very few tourists | Evening |
| River Seine bridges at night | Free | Pont Alexandre III and Pont Neuf are extraordinary lit up | After dark |
The Montparnasse Tower gets a bad reputation because the building's pretty ugly from the outside. But it's the only major viewpoint in Paris where you can see the Eiffel Tower as part of the skyline – all the other viewpoints are at the same height or too close. If you want that city-wide panorama that includes the tower, the 59th floor of Montparnasse is your best option.
Free Things to Do in Paris
Paris is expensive – but there are actually loads of free things to do here that are proper attractions in their own right, not consolation prizes for budget travellers. Here are the best ones.
- Luxembourg Gardens (6th arrondissement) – One of the best parks in Europe for a free afternoon. The Luxembourg Gardens are ideal for picnics, people-watching and sitting in the iconic green metal chairs around the fountain. Genuinely one of the quintessential Paris experiences.
- Jardin des Tuileries – The formal garden between the Louvre Museum and Place de la Concorde. The Musée de l'Orangerie is at the western end, so it's easy to combine a visit to the park with the museum.
- Parc des Buttes-Chaumont (19th arrondissement) – One of the most interesting parks in Paris – hilly, with a lake, a suspension bridge and a rocky island temple in the middle. Far less crowded than the main tourist parks.
- Place des Vosges – Paris's oldest square, built in 1612. The red-brick arcaded architecture is completely different from anywhere else in the city. Free to walk through any time.
- Père Lachaise Cemetery – Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison, Frédéric Chopin and a lot of French history, all in one place. It costs nothing and it's genuinely atmospheric.
- First Sunday free entry at Paris museums – Many Paris museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month, including the Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre Museum and the Centre Pompidou. If your trip to Paris lands on one of these Sundays, plan your Paris museums day around it.
- The bouquinistes along the River Seine – The green wooden stalls selling second-hand books, prints and maps along the riverbank between Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre Museum. Been there in various forms since the 16th century.
- A free walking tour (tip-based) – Most major Paris neighbourhoods are covered by free guided walking tours running daily. A solid way to start any Paris visit without spending money upfront.
Day Trips From Paris
Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is about 40 minutes by RER C train from central Paris – and it's one of those places that's genuinely hard to prepare for. Louis XIV rebuilt it between 1661 and 1710 to be the most impressive royal residence in Europe. The Hall of Mirrors, the State Apartments and the gardens covering 800 hectares fill a full day. The gardens are free on most weekdays. Go early, aim for the Trianon palaces in the afternoon and you'll still be finding new things by the time you head back.
Giverny and Monet's Garden
Giverny is about 90 minutes from Paris by train and bus. Claude Monet lived and gardened here from 1883 until his death in 1926, and the garden he created – including the famous lily pond and Japanese bridge – directly inspired the Water Lilies series at the Musée de l'Orangerie. Being in the actual space is a completely different experience from looking at the paintings. Only open April to November – book tickets in advance, as it sells out on summer weekends.
Reims and the Champagne Region
Reims is about 45 minutes by TGV and worth visiting for two reasons: one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in France (where French kings were crowned for centuries) and the champagne houses. A French wine tasting in the chalk caves under the city, with millions of bottles ageing around you, is genuinely one of the more memorable ways to spend an afternoon. Épernay, 30 minutes from Reims, has the Avenue de Champagne – a single street where a French wine education by tasting is hard to beat. For anyone interested in French wine, it's a pretty essential excursion from Paris.
Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris is about 40 minutes from Paris by RER A train and it's genuinely worth knowing about if you're travelling with kids – or if you're just a Disney person. It's the only Disney park in Europe and one of the most visited attractions in the entire country. The journey from central Paris is easy and keeps things balanced if you've got mixed ages in your group.
Bois de Vincennes
The Bois de Vincennes on the eastern edge of Paris is the city's largest park – with lakes, a château, a Buddhist temple and a racecourse all within it. It's a good half-day from the city centre if you want to get out of the tourist corridors without actually leaving Paris. The rowing boats on the lake are pretty relaxed, and the Vincennes Zoo is one of the better zoos in France if you're travelling with kids.
Practical Paris – The Stuff That Actually Helps
Getting Around Central Paris
The Paris Metro is one of the best urban transport systems in the world – frequent, well-signed and covers almost everywhere you'd want to go. A Navigo Easy card loaded at any station is more convenient than individual tickets (single journeys are around €2.15). For Versailles, take the RER C from Paris to Versailles-Château-Rive-Gauche. For Disneyland Paris, the RER A from the city takes about 40 minutes.
For getting around the city centre on foot – Paris's central neighbourhoods are fairly compact and walking is often the best option between sights. The walk from Notre Dame Cathedral to the Louvre Museum is about 25 minutes and takes you past Sainte-Chapelle's stained glass exterior, the River Seine banks, the bouquinistes and the Jardin des Tuileries. It's a better way to see Paris than taking the Metro between every stop.
Where to Stay – Luxury Hotels and Practical Options
Paris has luxury hotels in just about every arrondissement, but the most useful base for a first visit is somewhere in the 1st to 8th arrondissements – you're walking distance from the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Luxembourg Gardens. The 7th arrondissement in particular puts you close to the Eiffel Tower, the Rodin Museum and Les Invalides, and it's quieter than the more tourist-heavy areas around the Louvre.
What to Book in Advance
| Attraction | Advance Booking? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower | Essential (weeks ahead in summer) | Timed entry – no walk-up during peak months |
| Louvre Museum | Recommended | Skips queues; free first Sunday of month |
| Paris Catacombs | Essential | Sells out consistently |
| Musée d'Orsay | Recommended | Timed entry; free first Sunday of month |
| Versailles | Recommended | Can get very busy without a reservation |
| Giverny | Essential (April–October) | Sells out on summer weekends |
| Palais Garnier guided tour | Recommended | Check performance schedule – some days no daytime access |
| Seine dinner cruise | Recommended | Especially Friday and Saturday evenings |
| Disneyland Paris | Recommended | School holiday periods sell out fast |
Paris by Season
| Season | Pros | Cons | Worth Knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (March–May) | Luxembourg Gardens flowering, mild weather, Giverny opens | Can be rainy in March | Best time for rose gardens at the Rodin Museum |
| Summer (June–August) | Long evenings, outdoor dining, all excursions running | Peak crowds, highest prices | Book the Eiffel Tower weeks ahead |
| Autumn (Sept–Nov) | Fewer crowds, good light, lower prices | Giverny closes end of October | September is probably the best overall month for visiting Paris |
| Winter (Dec–Feb) | Christmas markets, quieter Paris museums, lower prices | Shorter days, cold | Paris museums are much quieter – great time for Louvre and Versailles |
What to Eat and Drink in Paris
The city's food culture deserves its own guide. But a few anchor points to start with:
- Croissant and café au lait at a proper boulangerie counter (not a café terrace) – this is the actual Parisian breakfast and it's usually about €3–4 total.
- Hot chocolate – the thick, rich Parisian hot chocolate at Angelina on Rue de Rivoli (going since 1903) is the best hot chocolate in the city by most accounts. A close second for hot chocolate is the version at Café de Flore in Saint-Germain. Worth having at least once when visiting Paris – especially on a cold or rainy afternoon.
- Steak frites at a classic Paris bistro – it's probably what Paris does better than anywhere else in the everyday food department.
- French wine and cheese from a cave à vin with seating – there are good ones all over Le Marais and Saint-Germain, cheaper and usually better than a restaurant for this kind of eating. A French wine tasting led by a sommelier is also one of the best activities in Paris if you're a wine person.
- A food tour – Paris has loads of food tours covering different neighbourhoods and themes, from market tours in the Marais to pastry walks in the Latin Quarter.
- Fine dining – The city has more Michelin-starred restaurants than any other in the world. If fine dining is your thing, a trip to Paris is the best possible excuse to actually book one. The 7th and 8th arrondissements have the highest concentration.
- Bouillon Chartier in the 9th has been serving French classics in the same art nouveau room since 1896 at genuinely low prices. It's the real deal.
The Honest Summary – What's Worth It and What Isn't
| Activity | Verdict | Better Alternative (If Needed) |
|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower visit (2nd floor) | Worth it | Champ de Mars or Trocadéro view for free |
| Eiffel Tower summit | Skip | Montparnasse Tower for better panorama including the Eiffel Tower |
| Louvre Museum (half day, planned) | Worth it | – |
| Musée d'Orsay | Strongly worth it | – |
| Notre-Dame Cathedral + Sainte-Chapelle stained glass | Worth it – do both | – |
| Arc de Triomphe roof | Worth it | – |
| Champs-Élysées shopping | Skip | Le Marais, Rue des Francs Bourgeois, covered passages |
| Explore Montmartre (morning walk) | Worth it | Skip at peak sunset unless you like crowds |
| Paris Catacombs | Worth it if you pre-book | – |
| Versailles day trip | Worth it | – |
| Giverny day trip | Worth it (April–October) | Musée de l'Orangerie if you can't make the day trip |
| River Seine cruise (daytime) | Worth it on a first visit | – |
| Seine dinner cruise | Worth it once | Daytime River Seine cruise if budget is tight |
| Père Lachaise Cemetery | Worth an hour or two | Free, easy to combine with a Belleville walk |
| Luxembourg Gardens | Worth it – free | Parc des Buttes-Chaumont for a quieter alternative |
A Few More Things to Do in Paris
The Canal de l'Ourcq in the 19th arrondissement is further out than most visitors to Paris get – but on a warm afternoon with flat-bottomed boats going past and converted industrial buildings along the banks, it's probably the most genuinely relaxed spot in the city. Bring food, find a bench.
Rue Montorgueil in the 2nd arrondissement is a pedestrian market street that's been a food market since the 12th century. It's a proper working street with actual regulars – not just a tourist food market. Go on a Saturday morning before midday.
The Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen up near Porte de Clignancourt is one of the largest flea markets in the world – thousands of dealers selling antiques, vintage clothing, furniture, art, records. Open Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
And La Promenade Plantée in the 12th arrondissement is an elevated park built on a disused railway viaduct, created in 1993 – about 20 years before New York did the same thing with the High Line. It runs 4.5km above street level through a part of Paris most visitors never see. Completely free and very quiet on weekdays. It's one of those spots that makes Paris so good on a second or third trip – you can walk past the street-level version for years and never know it exists. A real example of a Paris discovery that actually earns the description – one of the proper hidden gems of the city and worth saving for your next trip if the schedule doesn't allow it this time.
On the subject of Paris museums and free entry – if your next trip to Paris lands on the first Sunday of a month, you can combine the Musée du Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Centre Pompidou in one weekend without spending money on entry. The Musée du Louvre alone on a first Sunday is a genuinely different experience from a normal weekday – quieter, more relaxed, and with room to actually look at things. That combination would take most of a very full weekend but it's absolutely possible, and outstanding value for a city break in the French capital.
Planning your next trip to Paris? Alle Travel covers everything from things to do in Paris and day trip routes to walking tour recommendations and practical booking guides for museums and major sights. All prices are approximate and subject to change – we recommend verifying before you book.