Even it’s one of the most well-known tourist destinations; it never becomes overrated because it’s the City of Light. Because, well, Paris.

“A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of Life.”

Thomas Jefferson

And I wholeheartedly agree with what you’ve said. Paris, France, is where you can find everything about life; art, history, war, love, fresh scent, lively fashion, rich cuisines, crisp pastries, Cherry blossoms, and more. Paris has a lot to offer for you.

Many things can be introduced to tourists here, not simply the Eiffel Tower – which, by the way, is a must-see location- and you are no exception. For this reason, we want your time in Paris to be one to remember.

This page will provide you with a complete guide to everything there is to do in Paris, France. You’ll also learn where to stay, eat, and what to do while you’re there, as well as other often asked questions that everyone, including you, has before visiting this stunning city.

Feeling curious?

Okay, let’s dive deeper.

Pro Tip: This list should include the Cathédrale Notre-Dame as one of the top places to visit while in Paris. However, due to a recent fire in the structure, the cathedral is closed until further notice. In any case, if you’re there, check if you can visit the Cathédrale Notre-Dame. It is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Paris.  

Places and Things You Should not Miss in Paris

1- Your First Stop Should Be the Best: Musée d’Orsay

Location:1 Rue De La Légion d’Honneur
How to get there: Two minutes’ walk away from Musée d’Orsay bus station
Price: Around USD 16
Now, you are feeling confused! Definitely, you now are wondering?

Why didn’t I start with Paris’ most iconic landmark, the Eiffel Tower?

I can tell you why, on TripAdvisor, this location ranks as Paris’s top tourist destination. The Musée d’Orsay offers access to one of the world’s most beautiful and priceless works of art. Even if you’re only in town for the day, don’t miss the museums.

Why do you visit Musée d’Orsay?

This museum display, which dates from 1840, brings together some of the most remarkable works of art in the history of French art. It will keep you occupied as you look around the wonderful galleries.

For one thing, it’s an architectural marvel with its golden-carved ceiling and domed domes within, as well as an amazing structure on the Seine River’s banks outside.

Once you enter the Musée d’Orsay, you can be confused:

“Am I doing something wrong? Is it a museum or a railroad here?”

Musée d’Orsay, once a sleepy little gem in the heart of Paris, is now a sought-after tourist destination.

Things to do there:

• Taking a tour of the museum to see the incredible artwork on display there.
• Going to the bookshop to pick up your favorite Paris-related books to make your trip even more enjoyable and memorable.
• Discover the backstory of each object on the show by asking for an audio guide.
• Visit the hotel’s restaurant for a meal or a drink.
• Don’t be afraid to take photos since they are allowed inside.

Things not to do there:

• Food and drink are not permitted inside the galleries of the Musée d’Orsay, except for water. It’s only permitted in specific, clearly marked zones.
• Selfie sticks aren’t allowed.
• If you are fascinated by art, you could spend more than 3 hours inside, so watch the time if you are planning to visit other attractions.

Pro Tip: The Musée d’Orsay offers free admission on the first Sunday of every month. To save your money on other days, you can purchase a $20 ticket and get access to another museum, the Musée de l’Orangerie.

2-  Get Stuck to Meticulous Details: Palais Garnier

Location: At the corner of Scribe and Auber streets
How to get there: Two minutes’ walk away from Opéra metro station
Price: Around USD 13 for an unguided tour inside the house, including any temporary exhibitions.
If you decide to make your visit to Paris luxury and brimming with sumptuous palaces, you should head to Palais Garnier, the national opera house of Paris. It is also quite simple to get there, just take a metro train and at Opéra station, descend.

With the mood of medieval extravagance, the 19th century Palais Garnier is a place where it’s hard to stop saying, Wow!

Why do you visit Palais Garnier?

Designed with a royal style in mind, the interior of Palais Garnier is fully decorated with gold ceilings, gold columns, and impressive gold chandeliers coming with perfectly handcrafted ornamentation.

Other works of art are popping up all over the opera, showcasing the charming art of the 19th century.

If you ever get the chance to see a performance in the Palais Garnier, take it. You’re about to witness one of the most amazing things you’ve ever seen in your life. The display hall provides a world-class theatre experience.

The combination of red velvet seats, a crystal chandelier, and the magnificent decoration, have all been put together to create an exceptional cultural relaxation. 

Things to do there:

• Walking around this vast building and coming up close to fabled frescoes, gorgeous interior, and other works of art.
• A guided tour will explain to you more about the location’s history.
• Taking in the opulence of Napoleon’s Imperial regime.
• Attending a gala or a concert will be an unforgettable experience.
• Taking pictures inside the Palais Garnier, but only if you paid for a guided tour of the venue beforehand.

Things not to do there:

• If you’re planning on attending a performance, do your research first by visiting the Palais Garnier’s official website and viewing the “More about the Production” page to learn more about the composers and the performers.
• No smoking, drinking, or eating is allowed within the auditorium.
• Mobile devices are also prohibited from being used throughout the show.

Pro Tip: While there is no dress code to attend Palais Garnier, some guests like to dress formally for nighttime events. So long as you’re alright with that, go ahead and try it out. Since you’re on an exploration tour, a smart casual outfit is a norm.

3- A Night to Remember for Ever: Eiffel Tower

Location: 5 Avenue Anatole France
How to get there: 8 minutes’ walk away from Bir-Hakeim metro station
Price: The gardens behind the Eiffel Tower are free to visit, but getting into the tower will cost you extra money. It changes depending on the level of the tower you are in, beginning at USD 20.

The Eiffel Tower, Paris’s renowned tourist attraction and one of the world’s most visited attractions, is now open for business. I’m sure you don’t hear many great things about the Eiffel Tower when you ask locals about the best things to do in Paris, France.

For example, overcrowding and exceedingly long lines (to get your ticket, then check your bags for security, or maybe find it just closed because of threats of potential attacks, or just for maintenance.)

Why do you visit Eiffel Tower?

I’m sure you’re now saying something like, “Oh God! I’d never go there.

No! Easy! If you don’t, believe me, you’ll be sorry afterward. Simply said, no one will believe you if you say, “I was in Paris last week.”

This type of conversation could take place:

Someone: “Wow, let’s see your photo with the Eiffel Tower.”

You: “No, I haven’t.”

Someone: “WHAT!”

You: “Yes, I’ve heard a lot of negative reviews from travelers about it.”

Someone: “What You are talking about! No Eiffel! No Paris!”

No Seriously!

Here, I’ll tell you what you do with your time at the Eiffel Tower.

Things to do there:

• Have a meal at one of the Eiffel Tower’s upscale eateries.
• Hike up to the tower’s second level and take a tour walk to learn about the intriguing and durable steel structure.
• Simply stay on the first level to learn about the tower’s history through drawings, films, interactive activities, and photographs.
• Choose to join a tour guide to hear stories and mysteries surrounding this place, including how the Mission Impossible film was made here.
• Enjoy a panoramic view from the tower while experiencing a tingling sensation mixing with exhilaration.

Things not to do there:

• It would be a huge error if you did not purchase your ticket in advance and use the online option unless you enjoy waiting in enormous queues for 3 hours.
• Never go to the top of the tower without extra jackets or coats unless you enjoy shivering and wasting this incredible moment by looking for anything to keep you warm.
• Please don’t go to the Eiffel Tower on weekends; it would be over overcrowded, even in the off-season.

Pro Tip: The Eiffel Tower is open until midnight, so you may have a choice whether to visit in the morning or at night.

We highly recommend visiting the tower at night if you want to have a romantic moment with your spouse or propose to your girlfriend in such a chic and spectacular setting.

Lovely!

4- Let’s Treat Our Eyes with A Geuniune Art: Musée du Louvre

Location: 99 rue de Rivoli
How to get there: 3 minutes’ walk away from Musée du Louvre metro station
Price: A standard ticket is around USD 18, and an audio guide of your Louvre tour costs you USD 6.
The Eiffel Tower, Paris Opera, what else?

It’s the Louver, the remaining iconic attraction of the most visited places in Paris. One of the best sites to visit in Paris for art enthusiasts, talents to get inspired, or those interested in history is becoming a popular hub where you can see people from all over the world.

You can’t simply go back home without heading to the second largest museum in the world till this moment with a legacy collection of different kinds of artworks.

Why do you visit Musée du Louvre?

In the Louver, you will discover the most epic pieces of art, such as the most well-known painting, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, as well as over 35,000 artifacts from various eras.

With its classy glass pyramid gleaming in the heart of Paris, everything in the Louver is suitably placed to amaze you as you walk through the gate. Many visitors stated that it is impossible to see all of the exhibits in the museum in a single day.

Additionally, you will feel that you are traveling throughout the world because there are distinctive monuments from other nations and cultures.

However, if you are in a hurry or need to explore as many sites in Paris as possible, we recommend visiting the most important galleries. You can go to the halls of the Egyptian collection, European art history, and Greek and Roman antiquities.

Things to do there:

• Visit a variety of contemporary, modern, and historical art galleries.
• Plan to visit the museum auditorium, where you can hear lectures on intriguing topics related to the art on display in the Louver.
• Visit an art cinema theatre to see a fascinating film about the location’s history and how they collected items from various eras.
• If the weather is nice, take a walk around a few well-established gardens and suck in some fresh air.
• Capture excellent photographs of the Louver as well as with your family and friends.

Things not to do there:

• However, the online ticket will cost you extra money than you will pay if you choose to pay for your ticket there, but please don’t go there without having access in your hand. The waiting lines will ruin your tour before you get inside the museum.
• The first Sunday of each month is free admission to the Louver, but please avoid going on Sundays because you will feel as if the entire world has chosen to visit the museum on your day. Paying an entertainment ticket is preferable to paying nothing and torturing yourself with crowds.
• It’s not a good idea to go around the museum without a guided tour because it’s so large that you don’t know which galleries to visit, and the signs linked to artwork are scarce. You need someone to explain what you are watching.

 Pro Tip: You may get a Paris Pass, which allows you to visit various attractions, including a hop-on, hop-off bus. Plan to get this based on your budget and length of stay. It begins at USD 118.

5- Take A Deep Breath and Explore the Horror: Paris Catacombs

Location: 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy
How to get there: 1 minute’ walk away from Denfert-Rochereau metro station
Price: Around USD 17, and an online ticket will cost you around USD 22.
Because you are about to embark on an unforgettable journey, this location serves as a platform for adventure and enthralling voyagers.

Why do you visit Paris Catacombs?

To be clear, this is not a destination for everyone, as it is the world’s largest underground cemetery, housing six million Parisians. So, please don’t go there if you don’t like seeing dead people or the skulls and bones displayed to make you uncomfortable.

In Catacombs, you can see skulls perfectly arranged and preserved everywhere moved to this place between the 18th – 19th century. The smell of death is drifting across the area, but the scent of sacrifice is emanating from every nook and cranny of the site. Also, it gives you a unique experience while you are strolling down through dark and romantic tunnels.

Your journey here will be unlike any other, as you will ask yourself, “How are these folks resting in such peace?” Do they notice what is going on around them? “Are they content now?”

But don’t ignore the signs at each location; read it quite carefully to learn more about the mysterious stories of the remaining corpses. Also, please bring a jacket or something to wear because the venue is a five-story structure beneath the ground.

Things to do there:

• Discover a very unique decor that helps in highlighting millions of bones and skulls that will blow your mind.
• It’s an unusual sight to see in Paris, and it’ll give you a glimpse into the other side of the City of Light. It may even alter your perspective on life.
• Get acquainted with the essence of freedom by knowing the history of the French Revolution.
• Take a human tour guide to where King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette’s corpses are buried.
• Check out Citadel De Mahon, which has been skillfully created between other exhibitions in the underground.

Things not to do there:

• Wearing any shoes that are suitable for walking for a two km-long area. Sports shoes are the best.
• Wearing summer clothing is not a brilliant idea. In these deep vaults, you’ll need to stay warm.
• It’s a bit of a terrifying tour, so your kids might not enjoy it. If your children are over the age of six, you can show them images of the destination and let them decide whether or not to go.

Pro Tip: We highly recommend taking a guided tour rather than an audio guide. The experienced guide will assist you in reaching galleries that you would not be able to visit on your own. You should also be aware that it may be a little pricey.

6- Have a Break… Have a Walk at: Champs-Élysées

Location: Avenue des Champs Elysees
How to get there: 2 minutes’ walk away from Franklin D. Roosevelt metro station
Price: Free access.
It sounds like I am missing an essential concept of being in Paris.

Yes, you are right. Fashion. The City of Light is also known as the City of Fashion. Paris is home to several well-known fashion houses, including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Pierre Cardin, etc.

It’s a never-ending list of high-end brands. Okay, let me ask you a question.

Have you seen the Netflix series Emily in Paris? Did you enjoy it as much as I did?

You, of course, did. The majority of the series’ outdoor shots took place on the Champs-Élysées.

Why do you visit Champs-Élysées?

It’s one of Paris’ most famous streets, featuring a mash-up of eateries and opulent fashion boutiques.

You can definitely feel a livelier vibe when strolling along the tree-lined boulevard and the magnificent building that decorates the end of the street, the Arc de Triomphe.

It’s very different from the other tourist attractions; it’s more artsy and has a more upbeat atmosphere.

There is something you should be aware of when planning a trip to any destination. If you want to get the most out of your vacation experience, you should live like a native. And you’ll feel like a Parisian on the Champs-Élysées.

Furthermore, if you happen to be in Paris during a particular event, such as Christmas, this site typically transforms into a huge festival.

Light blubs, attractive decorations, and impressive Christmas trees everywhere will ensure that you have a good time in every nook and cranny because the city of Paris does not lack for amusement.

Things to do there:

• Indulge in an unforgettable shopping experience at unique boutiques.
• Attend events at one of the theatres to experience French art and culture.
• Dining in one of Paris’s trendy restaurants with a view of the lovely neighborhood.
• Visit the Stamp Market to learn about the intriguing stamps that date back thousands of years.
• Taste French bakery and patisserie at one of Paris’s oldest shops, which opened in 1862, Ladurée

Things not to do there:

• Shopping here will break your budget; therefore, please avoid these upscale boutiques if you do not want to set a budget for purchasing products.
• On weekends, especially at night, the street is packed with locals as well as tourists. So plan to go early in the morning.
• Most are closed on Sundays and public holidays, but you may still have fun photographing in this prominent location.

Pro Tip: One popular tourist attraction that can’t be missed is Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris. Have your tour walk and get closer up to Luxor Obelisk and the Big Wheel; both are landmarks of France.

7- Worth Visiting for Relaxation: Luxembourg Gardens

Location: Rue de Médicis Rue de Vaugirard
How to get there: 3 minutes’ walk away from Luxembourg metro station
Price: Free access.
The Luxembourg Gardens are unquestionably one of the best things to do in Paris, France, where you can discover a muse in the huge planted gardens, as well as an artificial pond, cave, and fountain.

Why do you visit Luxembourg Gardens?

These gardens cover a large area of 250.000 m2 and are separated into French and English gardens.

If you’re visiting Paris with your children, this is the place to be. The Luxembourg Gardens become the most suitable spot to stay in because you can let your children run and play without concern.

It would definitely be great if you came to Paris in the spring. The weather will be beautiful, the flowers will be in blossom, and the sun will rejuvenate your mind and soul.

Walking on the tracks lined with trees and lovely, well-designed trees, you may have the masochistic delight of bringing your coffee or Pepsi and sitting with your book to appreciate the enchantment of nature.

If you plan on spending most of your time relaxing and meditating, it’s also an excellent spot to be. You may listen to birds tweet and smell the sparkling aroma of the garden from here.

Otherwise, if you want to experience an authentic slice of Pair’s life, sit in one of the chairs around the pond. In this way, locals spend their weekends unwind and get away from the hustle and bustle of the metropolis.

Things to do there:

• Just stay relaxed in peace and clear your mind while viewing the power of nature.  
• Take a stroll through the grounds, looking at the fountains, statues, and floral gardens.
• Keep your kids entertained with marionette and puppet shows.
• Have a meal at one of the notable restaurants to experience the French cuisine, like Treize au Jardin or Café Pavane.
• Pushing wooden boats through the Luxembourg Gardens’ enormous artificial lake.

Things not to do there:

• Dogs are not allowed in most parks inside the Luxembourg Gardens.
• However, the Luxembourg Gardens opens every day from 7:00 am to 1 hour before sunset; the garden sometimes closes between 4.30 pm and 9.30 pm if the weather is fickle.
• Food is allowed inside parks of the Luxembourg Gardens, but please keep the area clean and dispose of your trash in the provided plastic containers.

Pro Tip: There are no admission fees to the Luxembourg Gardens. However, access to the kid’s area, which includes a playground and restrooms, costs roughly USD 3 for each child and USD 2 for adults.

Common Questions of Paris

What are the top things to do in Paris for lovers?

Coming to Paris with your lover is a brilliant idea; here’s how to make the most of your time there:

• A night walk around the Arc de Triomphe would be a romantic experience.
• Take a stroll down The Pont des Arts bridge. At night, the view from here is breathtaking.
• Take a picnic in the rain in the park beneath the Eiffel Tower.
• Luxembourg Palace and Gardens are also ideal for couples; just avoid attending on weekends.

What should I know before going to Paris?

• Most places in Paris are bustling, especially during the summer vacation and on weekends; invest in online tickets.
• Please don’t buy anything from the streets; it could be tricky to steal your money or costly.
• If you dump your cigarette on the street, you could face a fine of roughly USD 100.
• Avoid eating at restaurants in popular tourist destinations because they are excessively pricey.
• Learn some simple words in French. French people will appreciate you more when you show appreciation to their language or culture. “Merci” or “bonjour” is fair enough.

What are free activities I can do in Paris?

• Visit one of the most prestigious charuch in Paris, Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
• The Cathedral de Notre Dame is free, but we hope to be available for visiting so soon.
• Explore Trocadéro Square, located on the other side of the Seine to the Effiel Tower.
• Get a walking tour of Montmartre’s bohemian streets.
• Go up to the Printemps Rooftop Cafe and Terrace for a bird’s-eye view of the French capital.

How many days should I spend in Paris?

It takes at least three days to fully appreciate Paris’s architectural, natural, and historical splendors. You can also stay for a week to get the complete Paris experience.

What are the best things to do in Paris for a one-day trip?

To make it happen, you should pick places located next to each other. We recommend going to the Eiffel Tower (just walk around, don’t even think about getting in the tower.)

Then you can quickly head to the Arc de Triomphe, take a snap with the building, or maybe eating ice cream. And you might need to take a break to rest your foot, so visit the Palais-Royal Gardens.

Now, you can say clearly” I have been in Paris!” and it was just a one-day trip.

Plan to buy your plane ticket to Paris, but don’t leave your home until you’ve read our Complete Guide to a Fantastic Vacation in France.

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