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Illustrations representing various things to do in Paris

The Best Things to Do in Paris

PARISIANS SHARE WHAT TO SEE & DO IN THE CITY OF LIGHT

There’s so much to do and see in Paris, it’s impossible to do it all. There are, of course, many must-see places in the city, including the main attractions like the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre, but the French capital has a whole other side beyond its famous monuments. Enjoy Paris like a local by exploring lesser-known neighborhoods, stepping into some of the city’s 100+ small museums, enjoying a wine and cheese tasting, or eating typical French food in an authentic local restaurant. Here are our suggestions for the top things to do in Paris, France.

Guided Tours, Tastings, & Workshops

Learn a new skill, express your creativity, and explore the City of Light in a new way with the help of a local. These unique activities will help you experience a different side of Parisian life, whether you’re visiting Paris as a family, traveling solo, or on a romantic getaway. Reserve kid-friendly street art tours, historical sightseeing walks, private wine and cheese tastings, French baking classes, and more.

Private & Group Tours

Guided Tours of Paris

Learn about the history behind famous Paris monuments, discover off-the-beaten-path neighborhoods…

Cooking Classes & Tastings

Paris Gastronomy Experiences

Workshops & Artsy Ateliers

Creative Activities in Paris

  • Experiences, Guided Tours
    Origins of Paris Historical Tour
    Enjoy a small-group historical walking tour in the streets of the Montagne Sainte Genevieve down to the river.
  • Creative Activities, Experiences
    Brunch & A Bag Workshop
    Spend the morning in a Saint Germain café, learning how to design and paint your own custom canvas tote. Paris-based designer Kasia Dietz will teach you her techniques for designing wearable art, sharing some examples of her work and explaining exactly how she develops and creates her designs. …
  • Experiences, Guided Tours
    See the Sights Along the Seine
    Spend a leisurely morning like a true Parisian! Your local guide Sophie will meet you for a sightseeing stroll along the Seine, telling you tales of Paris past as you make your way east to explore a historic area before ending at a popular fresh food market just in time for lunch!
  • Experiences, Guided Tours
    Paris Fashion Tours
    Spend a few hours with Paris designer Kasia Dietz to learn all about Parisian style, discover the city’s best boutiques, and meet other local designers. About the Tour As a designer who’s called Paris home for over nine years, Kasia will introduce you to shops exclusive to Paris and…
  • Experiences, Guided Tours
    Discover the Goutte d’Or
    Discover a side of Paris that most tourists never see. Frederic of TheWaysBeyond takes you on a walking tour you of his old neighborhood, La Goutte d’Or, one of Paris’s most authentic multi-cultural melting pots. Here, Parisians of dozens of different nationalities come together to share their tr…
  • Experiences, Gastronomic Experiences
    Champagne & Choux Baking Class
    Pâte à Choux or Choux pastry dough is what is used in making so many sexy French treats… Éclairs, Gougères (savory cheese puffs), Choux Salé, Chouquettes, Profiteroles (sweet cream puffs), Saint Honoré-Piece Monté (aka Croquembouche)…
  • Experiences, Guided Tours
    Gastronomy-Themed Louvre Guided Tour
    Take a tasty tour of the Louvre, looking at its artworks through an original and mouth-watering point of view! Professional local Paris guides lead you on a gastronomically themed discovery of paintings, sculptures, and other artifacts while also teaching you about the culinary customs and artist…
  • Experiences, Gastronomic Experiences
    Café Gourmand Cooking Class
    This baking class is all about exploring the thoroughly brilliant Parisian concoction – Le Café Gourmand – a wonderful coupling of a good Espresso, a pousse-café* and miniature versions of four or five French pastries. It’s a small, extravagant luxury – go on, treat yourself! *Pousse-café – a li…
  • Experiences, Guided Tours
    Discover a Greener Side of Paris
    Let locals Frederic and Nikki of TheWaysBeyond guide you through the small streets off the Canal Saint-Martin and introduce you to some of the most exciting actors and addresses on Paris’s eco-conscious scene. The Canal Saint Martin neighborhood has always attracted an eclectic crowd, …
  • Experiences, Guided Tours
    Love Stories at the Louvre
    Love is a universal feeling, but the ways of living it and representing it have changed over time and across civilizations. During this guided tour of the Louvre, professional local guides Emmanuelle, Marie, and Marie-Amandine of Ma-tisse invite you to discover some of the museum’s masterpieces d…

Parisians’ Favorite Restaurants

If you love food, you’ve come to the right city. Paris has approximately 15,000 restaurants, meaning you’ll never run out of options for places to eat. But that also means it can be tough to decide where to go. To help you choose, our curated Paris restaurant guide includes only our absolute favorite eateries in the City of Light, covering all tastes and budgets. From fine French cuisine and Michelin-starred restaurants to laid-back bistros and tasty vegetarian street food, here are our local recommendations for where to eat in Paris like a local.

Poinçon restaurant in Paris converted train station

Poinçon

Train Station Turned Brunch Spot
Breakfast and brunch offering at The Hardware Société, Paris.

The Hardware Société

Hip Hilltop Spot for Coffee, Breakfast, or Brunch
Le Saint-Régis restaurant

Le Saint-Régis

Charming Café on the Corner
Dining room of Pantagruel restaurant in Paris.

Pantagruel

Michelin-Starred Restaurant Giving You a Taste of Paris Gastronomy

Parisians’ Favorite Bars, Cafés, & Coffee Shops

Finding the perfect place to have a drink in Paris can get tricky, but certainly not for lack of choice. We’re letting you in on our favorite spots to quench your thirst, whether you’re looking for a cozy coffee shop with good Wi-Fi, a picturesque Parisian café terrace with excellent people watching, or to sip some of the best cocktails in Paris. Here are our suggestions for where to go in the French capital for a great cup of coffee, a refreshing pint, a crafted cocktail, or a good glass of wine.

Hip Paris cocktail bar Bisou

Bisou.

Creative Cocktails & Cool Décor
Terrace of Paris pub on the Bassin de la Villette

Paname Brewing Company

Cool Spot for Craft Beers on the Water
Mexican speakeasy in Paris Mezcaleria

Mezcaleria

Hidden Mexican Cocktail Bar
Ice cream at Berthillon in Paris

Berthillon

Best Ice Cream in Paris
  • Travel Services, Vacation Packages
    Weekend in Paris Vacation Package
    This 3-day, 2-night Paris vacation package includes everything you need to discover the best of the City of Lights in just a weekend. From the moment you arrive at the airport, you won’t have to lift a finger. A chauffeur will pick you up at the terminal and drop you off at your 4-star hot…
  • Concierge Services
    Tailor-Made Trip to Paris
    Whether it’s your first or fifth time to the City of Light, let Travel Light Paris work with you to tailor-make the best possible experience.
  • Travel Services, Welcome Services
    Paris Welcome Meet & Greet
    Settle right into the City of Light with a personal welcome experience ​designed to leave you fully equipped to head out and explore Paris. Paris concierge Karina will spend the extra time with you at your apartment or in a local café to answer all your questions, explain how the transport…
  • Travel Services, Vacation Packages
    Paris-Champagne Vacation Package
    Specialized boutique travel agency The French Travel will prepare a 6-day, 5-night trip for you, including everything you need to explore the capital city and the Champagne region of France in an effortless and authentic way. Upon your arrival in Paris, a chauffeur will pick you up at the …
  • Travel Services, Vacation Packages
    Paris-Normandy Vacation Package
    This 7-day, 6-night Paris – Normandy vacation package includes everything you need to explore more of France in an effortless and authentic way.
  • Welcome Services, Travel Services
    Welcome Baskets
    What better than to be welcomed into your Parisian home with a true French touch? For those early arrivals, we’ll deliver delicious, carefully chosen, fresh food, and drinks directly to your apartment! Both little luxuries and the French essentials produced in France by brands we know, love, and …
  • Welcome Services
    Paris Christmas Tree Service
    A Christmas Tree in your Parisian home Travel Light Paris will deliver and decorate a beautiful Christmas tree for your Paris apartment : Delivery & set up of the French pine at your apartment Decorating of the Christmas Tree Removal and cleaning at the end of your stay
  • Travel Services, Concierge Services
    Planning Assistance Session
    You already know more or less what you’d like to do while in Paris, but wouldn’t you love to get some personalized planning assistance from a local? To make sure you have the best trip possible and to ease any initial concerns or answer any questions, chat with us during a one-time phone or Skype…

Parisians’ Favorite Places to Shop

Known for luxury fashion houses and beautiful department stores, the City of Love offers some of the best shopping in the world. But if you ask us, it isn’t the world-famous brands and avenues that make Paris shopping so good; it’s the pretty little boutiques by local designers tucked away in the shopping districts of Le Marais and Montmartre, the fine foods shops with a history going back generations, the oh-so-French fromageries selling 200 different varieties of cheese, or the enchanting bookstores full of as many stories as the pages of the books they sell. Here are the places where Parisians shop for fashion, home décor, wine, and more.

Interior of Paris department store La Samaritaine

La Samaritaine

Chic Shopping in the Center of Paris
Eataly Paris restaurant terrace

Eataly

Hip Italian Marketplace in Le Marais
Marché du Livre Paris

Antique & Used Book Market, Marché du Livre

Best Antique & Used Book Market in Paris
Yellow façade of La Cure Gourmande gourmet shop in Paris.

La Cure Gourmande

Classic Paris Candy Shop & Chocolaterie

Parisians’ Favorite Sights to See

It seems every street in the City of Light has something worth seeing, whether it be a stunning gothic cathedral like the Sainte-Chapelle, a charming museum like the Musée Marmottan Monet, a hidden city square like the Place Dauphine, or a beautiful park like the Tuileries Gardens. When you want to surround yourself with art and beauty, there’s nothing better than a day of sightseeing in the French capital. Whether you’re lucky enough to live here or are just visiting, grab your camera and head to these must-see places in Paris.

Courtyard of the Carnavalet Museum of Paris

Musée Carnavalet

Museum Dedicated To The History Of Paris
Square behind Sacré Coeur

Square Marcel Bleustein Blanchet

Beautiful Square Behind Sacré Coeur
Inside the newly reopened Bourse de Commerce.

Bourse de Commerce

Home of the Pinault Collection
Place Edouard VII

Square Édouard VII

Photographer’s Favorite Square In Paris
  • Stands at the Saint-Ouen Flea Market in Paris
    Top Recommendations
    8 Best Paris Flea Markets & Antique Shops
    After some eco-friendly and off-the-beaten-path shopping in Paris? These top antique shops and flea markets are some of our favorite places for unique gifts and original home decor.
  • Three teenage girls on a Paris rooftop with their backs to the camera, looking at the Eiffel Tower in the distance
    Top Recommendations
    10 Things to Do with Teens in Paris
    Bringing a teen or two to Paris with you but aren’t sure what activities to do together to make your stay special? These ten top things to do in Paris with teenagers will help make your family trip fun for everyone.
  • Interior of St Paul in Paris
    Top Recommendations
    Our Top 7 Best Churches in Paris to Visit
    Regardless of your religious beliefs, Paris’s amazing churches and cathedrals have a lot to offer visitors. Their incredible architecture and priceless pieces of art provide a window into French culture of both past and present. These are the ones you’ll want to make sure to add to your itinerary…
  • Paris café terrace near the Louvre
    Top Recommendations
    Paris Fashion Week Favorites
    If you’re not lucky enough to attend one of the fashion shows, don’t fret! Head to one of these stylish Parisian locations where the Fashion Week crowd can often be found.
  • Sales shopping in Paris
    Top Recommendations
    Where to Shop the Sales in Paris
    Unlike in the United States, stores in France don’t have random, year-round sales. The sales season here is limited to just 2 four-week periods each year, so you need to make the most of that time to take advantage of the best promotions. Here are our suggestions for shopping the sales in Paris.
  • Paris Arc de Triomphe New Year's 2018
    Top Recommendations
    What to Do for New Year’s in Paris
    Whether you’re looking for a romantic way to ring in the New Year or if you just want to dance the night away with friends, Paris is the perfect place to celebrate. Champagne is never hard to find in the City of Light nor is an exceptional setting.
  • Christmas Lights in Paris
    Top Recommendations
    Best Holiday Decorations in Paris
    If you’re lucky enough to be in Paris in December, don’t miss out on the amazing holiday displays all across the city. Many streets and neighborhoods are decked out with twinkling lights and small ‘sapins,’ but here are our picks for the prettiest Christmas decorations in Paris.
  • Paris shopping street
    Top Recommendations
    Our Top 5 Best Market Streets In Paris
    What better way to discover the streets of Paris than by letting your tastebuds be your guide? To help you get started on your gourmet adventure, we’re sharing our five favorite food shopping streets in the French capital. Slip on some comfy shoes, grab a shopping bag, and set off to explore.
  • Nuit Blanche Paris 2022
    Top Recommendations
    What to Do for Nuit Blanche
    This Saturday, October 1st, Paris will be up all night celebrating the 20th anniversary of the ‘White Night’ art festival with dozens of different activities and art exhibitions taking place all throughout the capital. Here are our tips along with a map of our top picks so you can enjoy the event ‘au maximum’!
  • Fall colors in Paris with Eiffel Tower in background
    Top Recommendations
    Our Top 5 Best Places for Fall Colors in Paris
    Besides the buzzing cultural calendar, maybe the best thing about Paris in the fall is that the city turns the most gorgeous shades of red, yellow, and orange. If you’re on the hunt for picture-perfect (or Instagram-worthy) autumn vibes, these are the five places you’ll find the best fall foliage in Paris.

Parisians’ Favorite Places to Relax

In a city where there’s always so much to do, sometimes you need to slow down and unwind. Nothing says self-care like an afternoon of pampering at a soothing spa or hammam. In the mood for a more high-octane outlet? Dancing the night away at a club or playing sports with friends is also a great way to let off some steam when in the capital. Here’s where we go to relax and have fun in Paris.

La Seine Musicale, Paris concert venue, illuminated at night

La Seine Musicale

Wonderful Modern Concert Hall on the Water
Slides and pool inside Aquaboulevard indoor waterpark.

Aquaboulevard

Paris’s Indoor/Outdoor Water Park
Hammam of the Bains du Marais.

Les Bains du Marais

Turkish Hammam & Café in the Heart of Paris
Beautiful Moroccan tiled bench and fountain inside spa.

Aux Bains Montorgueil

Moroccan Relaxation in the Heart of Paris

Recommendations from Paris Insiders

Wondering what to do in Paris with kids? Or perhaps you’re searching for the best little-known museums in the city? Either way, our Urbansiders have you covered! For family trips, romantic evenings, foodie tours, or art and history excursions, they’re sharing their personal recommendations so you can easily discover the best things to do in Paris for you.

Stands at the Saint-Ouen Flea Market in Paris
Where To Enjoy Unique Shopping Experiences

8 Best Paris Flea Markets & Antique Shops

After some eco-friendly and off-the-beaten-path shopping in Paris? These top antique shops and flea markets are some of ou…
Three teenage girls on a Paris rooftop with their backs to the camera, looking at the Eiffel Tower in the distance
Our Tips for Ensuring Everyone Enjoys Their Time in Paris

10 Things to Do with Teens in Paris

Bringing a teen or two to Paris with you but aren’t sure what activities to do together to make your stay special? These t…
Interior of St Paul in Paris
The Paris Cathedrals & Churches To Put On Your List

Our Top 7 Best Churches in Paris to Visit

Regardless of your religious beliefs, Paris’s amazing churches and cathedrals have a lot to offer visitors. Their incredib…