Things to do in Paris

Why visit Paris

Few cities live up to their reputation the way Paris does. The grand Haussmann boulevards, the bridges over the Seine, the cafe terraces and the sheer density of art and history make even an aimless walk feel like sightseeing. It is a city you can read on foot, where one neighborhood's energy gives way to another's within a few blocks.

It is also a city of icons that genuinely deserve the hype: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, the Arc de Triomphe and Montmartre. The trick is to balance the headline sights with the everyday pleasures, a morning pastry and coffee, an afternoon in a quiet museum, a long dinner, a walk along the river as the monuments light up.

Paris is busy and not cheap, and the most famous sights draw enormous crowds, so timing and tickets make the difference between a smooth visit and a frustrating one. Book the big museums and monuments ahead, start early, and leave room in each day to simply be in the city.

When to visit

Spring (April to June) and early fall (September to October) are the best months: mild weather, long light, blooming gardens or golden leaves, and crowds that are heavy but not at their summer peak. These shoulder seasons are also the most pleasant for the day trips to Versailles and Giverny.

July and August are warm and very busy with visitors, even as many Parisians leave the city on holiday, which means some smaller restaurants and shops close in August. Summer evenings are long and lovely, but the queues at the marquee sights are at their worst. Winter is cold and often gray, but quieter and cheaper, and the city is at its most romantic around the Christmas lights and markets.

Whenever you come, pack a layer and something for rain, as Paris weather is changeable year-round. The upside of a wet day is that the city has more world-class indoor sights than almost anywhere, so a gray forecast is never a wasted day.

Getting around

Central Paris is compact and a joy to walk, and walking is often the best way to take it in, but the Metro is the workhorse for longer hops. It is dense, frequent and cheap, and a single network of lines reaches almost every sight; a rechargeable Navigo pass or a Navigo Easy card loaded with tickets saves money if you ride often.

For destinations beyond the center, the RER suburban trains run to Versailles and Disneyland Paris. Charles de Gaulle airport is linked to the center directly by the RER B, while Orly is reached by Metro line 14, the Orlyval shuttle to the RER, or the T7 tram. Avoid driving in the city, where traffic and parking are a headache and you will not need a car until you leave town.

Paris is a safe city for visitors, but it is also a known hotspot for pickpockets who work the crowded Metro lines and the busiest sights, including around the Eiffel Tower and on the line to the airport. Keep bags closed and in front in crowds, ignore street scams near the monuments, and you remove almost all of the risk.

What to do, by type of trip

Icons and views: the Eiffel Tower is the obvious centerpiece, best with a pre-booked ticket and a plan to see it light up after dark. Climb or ride up the Arc de Triomphe for the view down the Champs-Elysees, and head to Montmartre for the Sacre-Coeur basilica and a sweeping, free panorama over the rooftops.

Museums and art: the Louvre is vast, so reserve a slot and choose a few wings rather than trying to conquer it. The Musee d'Orsay holds the great Impressionists in a former railway station, the Centre Pompidou covers modern and contemporary art, and smaller gems like the Musee Rodin and the Orangerie reward an unhurried hour. A guided tour or audio guide helps make sense of the scale.

History and landmarks: the Ile de la Cite is where Paris began, home to the reopened Notre-Dame cathedral and the jewel-box stained glass of Sainte-Chapelle. The Latin Quarter around the Sorbonne and the Pantheon, the Conciergerie, and the catacombs beneath the city all tell deeper layers of its story; several use timed entry, so book ahead.

Food, cafes and markets: eating is central to a Paris visit, from boulangeries and patisseries to classic bistros, wine bars and street markets. Food and pastry tours, cheese and wine tastings and market walks are popular ways to learn the city through its plates. Even a simple coffee and croissant taken at a sidewalk table is part of the experience.

River and evening: a sunset cruise on the Seine is one of the loveliest and easiest ways to see the monuments, and the city is at its most magical lit up at night. After dark, Paris offers everything from a classic cabaret like the Moulin Rouge to the relaxed bars of Canal Saint-Martin and the Marais.

Day trips: the palace and gardens of Versailles are the classic full-day excursion, reached easily by RER. Monet's garden at Giverny, the Champagne houses around Reims and Epernay, the chateaux of the Loire Valley, and Disneyland Paris all make rewarding days out, by train or organized tour.

How to plan your days

First time, three to four days: give day one to the Eiffel Tower, a Seine stroll and the Musee d'Orsay, ending with the tower lit at night. Day two is the Louvre in the morning and the Ile de la Cite, the Marais and a riverside walk after. Day three is Montmartre and the Sacre-Coeur, plus the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysees. With a fourth day, take the train to Versailles.

Longer stay: add a slower morning at a smaller museum like the Rodin or the Orangerie, an afternoon in the parks and cafes of Saint-Germain or the Canal Saint-Martin, and a second day trip out to Giverny or the Champagne region.

Rainy day: Paris handles bad weather better than almost any city. String together the great museums, a long lunch in a covered passage or a bistro, the interior of an opera house or a church, and an evening Seine cruise under cover.

Booking tips and common mistakes

Pre-book the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Musee d'Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle and Versailles, especially from spring through fall, and aim for early or late slots to dodge the worst lines. A Paris Museum Pass can be worth it if you plan to visit several sights in a short time, since it bundles entry and speeds you past some queues. Many tours offer free cancellation, so it is safe to lock in dates early.

The most common mistakes are trying to see the whole Louvre in one visit, underestimating how spread out the sights are, and dropping your guard against pickpockets in the busiest spots. Pace the big museums across separate mornings, build in cafe and walking time, and treat the neighborhoods as part of the sightseeing rather than the gaps between it.