Things to do in Paris

Paris is one of Europe’s most visited capital cities, and is unquestionably the place everyone should go to visit at least once in their lives. Steeped in history, Paris offers even the most difficult-to-please travellers a tick against almost every box on their holiday wish lists. In fact a short break in Paris can seem a bit daunting, as there's so much to do, it may well prove hard to choose how to spend your precious time in such a wonderful city. So here are a few sightseeing suggestions you might include on your itinerary. Some are obvious tourist choices, but others further down the list are less well known, but equally enjoyable, things to do in Paris.

The Eiffel Tower

One of the most famous landmarks of Paris situated in the Champ de Mars, the Eiffel tower can be seen for miles around many of the cities’ districts. The top of the three-storey construction can be accessed by lift or, for the more adventurous explorers, by stairs. For an extra injection of romance to your trip, try a night visit. After dark, the tower is lit up by hundreds of white lights, which twinkle festively once an hour.

Sacré Coeur and Montmartre

The Sacré-Coeur is the beautiful cathedral perched high on a hill above Paris in the Montmartre area. Not only is the Sacré Coeur itself worth a visit, but you get to see some stunning views across the beautiful city, and also get the chance to explore the narrow streets of Montmartre that were once the haunt of artists such as Van Gogh and Toulouse Lautrec.

Notre Dame

France’s most famous gothic construction, Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, is a foreboding and impressive building, and a perfect example of French medieval architecture. It is situated in the Ile de la Cité, surrounded by the river Seine and an enormous amount of cafes and restaurants.

Champs-Élysées

This is the main concourse in Paris, offering excellent shopping opportunities for world-famous Parisian fashion. It is also the location of the Arc de Triomphe. For many, this is a must-see attraction for a visit to Paris, although it is busy and expensive.

Moulin Rouge

Ooh la la! Cabaret shows at the Moulin Rouge take place nightly and require advance tickets, which do include dinner. But take heed, they "cancan"’ be pricey!

The Louvre

Rumour has it that spending a few minutes looking at every single picture in the Louvre would take three weeks! So perhaps try and plan your route before you go. Popular options include the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. However, these areas of the Louvre get incredibly busy, so don’t forget that there are thousands of other magnificent works of art to see. Otherwise, consider an alternative gallery with an embarrassment of riches, and take a visit to the Museum D'Orsay or the Pompidou Centre.

The Pompidou Centre

Located in what is commonly known as the Baeuborg neighbourhood, Centre Georges Pompidou is not only a modern art museum, but a cultural hub of the city. It’s a love-or-hate architectural design, but it’s worth taking the time to visit.

Walk around Le Marais

The Le Marais area of Paris is a bit of fresh air compares to the obvious busy tourist areas around Eiffel Tower and Champs Élysées. You can happily wander the narrow streets of this area and stumble upon hidden cafes and antiques shops. Unlike the Champs Élysées area, Le Marais is built more to human scale, and everything can be done on foot even crossing the road (never an easy task around Champs Élysées!).

The district Le Marais (The Marsh) in Paris is situated on the right, northern side of the river Seine. The area is very special and original and having survived the attempts of modernisation in the 19th century one can find the oldest Hôtel particuliers as well as warped houses of the workers and high old apartment houses. Le Marais is the historical centre of Jewish life in Paris and still plays a major part in the Jewish community with Jewish events taking place here and many restaurants and shops selling kosher food. Le Marais also has a very strong Chinese community and recently seen a growing gay presence with many gay cabarets, nightclubs, shops and cafés opening up. It is certainly an area worth visiting for its special atmosphere as well as sights and flair.

Marché Bastille

Of course Paris is known worldwide for its wonderful food. So why not check out a food market while you're there. Chances are you will away laden with wonderful French produce. The Marché Bastille is largest food market in Paris. It fill the central concourse of Boulevard Richard Lenoir and includes stalls with a huge range of fresh produce, from French wines and cheeses to fresh fruit, flowers and fish. The stall holders are all hugely proud of their produce and are usually happy, if not eager, for you to try a sample. The market is open from 7am on Thursday and Sundays (at the time of writing) and closes around 2 to 3pm in the afternoon. The closest metro station is Bastille.

Here's a nice little video clip we found about a visit to the Marché Bastille.

Walk along the River Seine

The river in Paris is of course very famous, and along it you'll find the Notre Dame, the famous left bank area with it's cafes and bookshops, and further along the Museum D'Orsay. Most visitors to Paris will be tempted by a River Seine cruise boat. But as a nice alternative, we suggest taking a map and walking along the river, stretches of which have a nice riverside path for you to follow. You'll be surprised at how much you can get to see and what you'll find on the way!

Visit Gallery Lafayette

Gallery Lafayette is perhaps the most famous Paris department store, well known for it's elegant designer fashions but also beautiful food and items for home and interiors. It is situated at 40, Boulevard Haussmann and is open from Monday to Saturday from 9.30 am to 8.00pm

Enjoy a Michelin Starred Restaurant

There are so many wonderful restaurants to choose from in Paris, from affordable bistros to high end fine dining. Rarely will you find yourself in a city with so many Michelin starred restaurants, and although they are of course expensive, visiting a place such as Guy Savoy, l'Ambroisie, Le Cinq, Pierre Gagnaire, Grand Vefour has to be a top priority for any gourmet and food lover when visiting Paris.