Things to Do in Paris: A Complete Guide
Paris rarely needs an introduction, but it does reward a bit of planning. Between the big landmarks and the neighbourhoods where actual Parisians live, there’s enough here for a week without repeating yourself. If you’re working out things to do in Paris, the trick is balancing the essential sights against the smaller streets and markets that make the city feel lived in rather than just visited.
Things to do in Paris: the Eiffel Tower and Trocadero
The Eiffel Tower is obligatory, and while queues can be brutal, booking a timed entry online in advance cuts the wait considerably. For the best view of the tower itself, though, head across the river to the Trocadero esplanade, where the classic postcard shot looks back across the Seine, especially striking at night when the tower’s lights sparkle on the hour. The Champ de Mars park beneath the tower is a popular spot for a picnic, and buying supplies from a local boulangerie rather than the tourist stalls nearby will save money and taste considerably better.
The Louvre and Paris’s museum quarter
The Louvre holds an almost overwhelming amount of art, and trying to see everything in one visit is a mistake most first time visitors make. Pick two or three wings and focus, the Mona Lisa’s crowd alone can eat an hour if you let it. Musee d’Orsay, housed in a converted railway station across the river, is more manageable and holds one of the finest Impressionist collections anywhere, including major works by Monet, Degas and Van Gogh under one roof.
Montmartre and the artists’ quarter
Montmartre, perched on a hill in the north of the city, keeps a village like feel that’s rare in central Paris. The Sacre Coeur basilica at the top offers sweeping views over the city, and the surrounding streets, once home to Picasso and Toulouse Lautrec, still host working artists in Place du Tertre, sketching portraits for visitors much as they always have. It gets busy, so an early morning visit before the crowds and tour groups arrive makes a real difference.
Le Marais and Paris’s food and market culture
Le Marais, one of the oldest districts in Paris, mixes medieval architecture with some of the city’s best food and shopping. It’s home to a significant Jewish quarter around Rue des Rosiers, known for excellent falafel, alongside trendy boutiques and art galleries in converted mansions. Weekend mornings are the time to catch local market culture properly, with nearby Marche des Enfants Rouges, the oldest covered market in Paris, offering everything from fresh produce to ready made meals from a dozen different cuisines.
The Seine, bridges and an evening walk
Walking along the Seine at dusk, past the bouquiniste booksellers and under bridges like Pont Alexandre III with its gilded lamps and statues, is one of the simplest and best things to do in Paris, and it’s free. A river cruise covers similar ground if you’d rather sit down, but the walk lets you stop wherever catches your eye. If you’re planning a wider European trip, our guide to things to do in Amsterdam covers another city built around its waterways, just with a very different pace.
Where to stay in Paris
Le Marais and the surrounding central arrondissements put you within walking distance of most major sights, though at a price premium reflecting the location. Montmartre offers a more villagey, budget friendly base with a longer commute to some sights but a genuine neighbourhood feel once the day trippers leave. Saint Germain des Pres, on the Left Bank, suits visitors who want an easy walk to the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay alongside excellent cafes and bookshops on the doorstep.
Getting around Paris
The metro is extensive, cheap and usually the fastest way between neighbourhoods, though the historic centre is compact enough to walk large parts of it if you don’t mind covering ground on foot. A carnet of tickets or a Navigo day pass makes sense if you’re moving around a lot. Spring and early autumn bring the most comfortable weather and slightly thinner crowds than peak summer, when the city’s major sights can mean long waits regardless of how early you arrive.
For more inspiration, take a look at our guide to things to do in York.
