Best things to do in Paris plus day trips beyond

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Paris is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and that’s hardly a surprise.

It has fantastic museums and art galleries, instantly recognisable landmarks, and history in every corner.

I must admit, I hated Paris the first time I visited. And the second. And the third. 

I thought it was expensive, overrated and much too touristy – and those things are still true.

But it’s also grown on me over the years, that certain je ne sais quoi slowly working its magic.

Do I love the city? Maybe a little bit. Or maybe I need a few more trips to decide.

Meanwhile, here are my picks for the best things to do in Paris, plus day trips to take if you’re staying for longer.

Insider tip: Many museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of the month in Paris so this is a good time to visit the city.

The exception is the Louvre, which offers free entry after 6pm on the first Friday of every month, apart from July and August.

Read more: How to get to Paris: Your trip planning guide

Best things to do in Paris

Paris is a city that’s crammed with things to do, whether you’re into arts and culture, plan to shop until you drop, or want to visit those iconic landmarks.

If it’s your first time in Paris, I’ve shared some of the most popular corners of the city for first time visitors below.

For ease, they’re split between unmissable spots (iconic places where you’ll want to get as many photos as you can) and the best attractions (interesting places that tourists love).

Five unmissable spots in Paris

1. Eiffel Tower

There’s nothing quite so iconic as the Eiffel Tower in Paris. You’ll see it on the flight in, and from every high point in the city.

The best views are from the Champ de Mars right in front, or the Trocadéro Gardens on the other side of the river Seine.

You can of course also go inside the Eiffel Tower – there are several restaurants offering quite a unique experience but most people take the lifta up the tower for unrivalled views of Paris. 

Tickets for these start from €14.20*; the higher you go, the more expensive it is and the better the view of Paris you’ll enjoy.

Having been up there, I personally think you don’t need to go to the very top for the best views – about half way is plenty.

Address: Avenue Gustave Eiffel, 75007 Paris, France 

2. Louvre Museum

The second most iconic site in Paris has to be the Louvre, the largest museum in the world.

The I. M. Pei-designed glass pyramid is the main entrance and what everyone thinks of as the Louvre.

But spread across the palace buildings around it are around 73,000 square metres of exhibition space.

Tickets generally start from €22* but entrance is free on selected days.

Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France

3. Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame Cathedral is a Gothic architectural masterpiece that’s captured the minds of the modern world thanks to Victor Hugo’s The Hunchback of Notre-Dame*.

But numerous other historical events took place here, including the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte.

It’s free to go inside, although you’ll need to pay to scale the towers.

Note that the cathedral is still being restored following a major fire in 2019, but is set to reopen at the end of 2024.

Address: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame – Place Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France

4. Montmartre and the Basilica of Sacre-Cœur

A famously bohemian neighbourhood, Montmartre really captures the romantic spirit of Paris.

It’s a place for artists and for lovers.

For most visitors though, it’s the Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre* that’s the highlight.

The church is in the highest spot in Paris, with panoramic views of the city. And the steps right in front of it are a popular hangout day and night.

Address: 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France

5. Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe

Champs-Élysées, connecting Place de la Concorde to Place Charles de Gaulle, is the most famous address in Paris for high fashion and luxury goods.

This is the place to see, and be seen.

And at one end of it is the Arc de Triomphe, a monument marking the soldiers who fought and died for France during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.

You can actually climb to the top; tickets start from €16*.

Address: Place Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France

Five top attractions in Paris

1. Musée d’Orsay

Housed in a former railway station, the Musée d’Orsay is home to the world’s largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings.

Of particular note are those by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, and Vincent van Gogh. Basically anyone who’s anyone in that genre.

The building itself is notable, too, with architecture embracing the classically beautiful Beaux-Arts style.

2. Musée de l’Orangerie

Musée de l’Orangerie is another gallery for those who love the Impressionists, but the big focus here is Claude Monet’s Water Lilies.

In fact, they’re housed in oval rooms that are designed to enhance the immersive experience.

Also in the collection are works by Paul Cézanne, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, and Pablo Picasso.

3. Centre Pompidou

The Pompidou Centre is a huge cultural complex known for its unusual “inside out” architecture, designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers.

The City of Paris Museum of Modern Art, the largest collection of modern and contemporary art in Europe, is here.

Look for works by the likes of Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollock.

There’s also a public library and a roof terrace with spectacular views of Paris.

Parts of the centre are free to enter but the main collection requires a ticket.

4. Paris Catacombs

For those into dark histories, the Paris Catacombs is an interesting place to visit.

It’s a network of underground tunnels that were used to store skeletons during the late 18th century, when the cemeteries of Paris became full.

Only a tiny portion of it is open to the public, accessible via a one-way walking trail that’s just under a mile long.

The official guided tours are in French only but the ticket price includes audio guides.

5. Hôtel National des Invalides

Hôtel National des Invalides was built in the late 17th century as a hospital and hospice for war veterans – a function it still carries out.

For visitors, it’s perhaps better known as the landmark that houses the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte and several military-themed museums.

It’s worth a visit just to see the imposing Baroque architecture, although you’ll need a ticket to look inside.

My favourite spots in Paris

I’ve been to Paris too many times to count now, exploring a different corner of the city on each visit.

The following spots are a few of my favourites.

Le Marais

Le Marais makes me feel like I’m in Paris: The Movie. That film doesn’t actually exist by the way, but that surreal cinematic quality does.

For me, this is the best district to walk around and get lost in.

Place des Vosges, with art galleries all around it, is an essential stop.

Otherwise it’s just about popping into design-led boutiques, stopping for a coffee and marvelling at all the romantic architecture that epitomises Paris.

Père Lachaise Cemetery

Père Lachaise Cemetery is definitely heavily touristed, especially if you plan to stop by the graves of Jim Morrison or Oscar Wilde.

But even without the famous names buried here, it’s a peaceful spot to wander and contemplate.

And if anything, the graves of the average Parisian, with anecdotes about their lives engraved on gravestones, is what makes this place so interesting.

Pigalle

Pigalle, at the base of Montmartre Hill, is known for being the Red Light district of Paris.

It’s dotted with adult shops and nightclubs, and it’s not a part of the city that you’d want to visit on your own.

But this is also where you’ll find some of the best restaurants in Paris at prices that are affordable enough to splurge, like Bouillon Pigalle.

Is there a museum pass or city pass? 

There are quite a few museum and city pass options for Paris that give you a discount or free entry to different attractions.

Paris Passlib

Paris Passlib is the official one from the Paris tourist board. 

You can pick from activities such as a river cruise with a glass of champagne, entry to Centre Pompidou, or a guided tour of the key districts of Paris.

Their cheapest card is €49, but you can only select a handful of activities from the long list to do while your card is valid.

Paris Museum Pass

If you’re all about visiting the museums then the Paris Museum Pass is your best option.

It gets you into all the major museums in and around Paris, including the Louvre Museum, Palace of Versailles and Château de Fontainebleau. 

Unlike other passes, you don’t have to pick the highlights – you can go to all of them as long as your pass is valid. 

Prices start from €62, and in my opinion this one offers the best value.

Go City Paris Pass 

Finally there’s Paris Pass from Go City*.

It offers activities ranging from a guided climb of the Eiffel Tower and the Big Bus Paris Hop-On Hop-Off Tour, to entry to nearby theme park Parc Astérix.

There are two types of passes for this one.

The Explorer Pass, from €109, lets you pick a handful of activities from the list and is valid for 60 days.

Or you can go for the more expensive All Inclusive Pass, which starts from €169. You can basically do as many activities as you want within a set timeframe on this pass.

Five day trips from Paris

If you’re staying in Paris for a little longer, it’s definitely worth taking some day trips out of the city. 

Here are some of the best options.

1. Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris hardly needs any introduction.

If you get there early and leave late, and pay for Disney Premier Access* to skip the queues, it’s quite easy to see both parks in one day.

Although of course you might want to take it easy and stay overnight; Disneyland Paris have mini-break packages* just for this.

Make sure you download the official app – it tells you the waiting time on all of the rides as well as showtimes for various live performances and parades.

2. Palace of Versailles

A Unesco World Heritage site, the Palace of Versailles is a showstopper of royal extravagance.

The Hall of Mirrors is one of its most recognisable features, but there are also extensive formal gardens to explore, with spectacular water fountains.

Tickets, from €32, include access to the main palace, the gardens and the Trianon Estate, where royals retreated to when they needed a break from court life.

3. Fontainebleau

As an alternative to Versailles, try the town of Fontainebleau. You have two options here: Château de Fontainebleau and Fontainebleau forest.

Like Versailles, Château de Fontainebleau was a former royal residence, or more specifically the royal hunting lodge.

The main house has over 1,500 rooms, and it’s surrounded by a 130 hectare estate, 14 hectares of which are formal gardens. Tickets start from just €14.

Fontainebleau Forest, meanwhile, is the second largest forest in France at a whopping 19,200 hectares.

Hiking and biking are de rigueur but this forest is also known for its fantastic rock climbing offering, with almost 200 courses to choose from.

It’s (just about) possible to do both in one day, although you’ll get a lot more out of your visit if you stayed overnight.

4. Giverny

Let’s say you went to Musée de l’Orangerie and fell in love with Monet’s Water Lilies.

Well, the pretty little village of Giverny in Normandy is where you can see this scene in real life.

Just over three miles outside the main village is Claude Monet’s house and gardens, where he received much of his inspiration. Tickets start from €11.50.

5. Reims

Fancy spending a day sipping bubbly in Champagne?

It is absolutely possible to do as a day trip. However, you’ll need to plan ahead as there are only a handful of fast trains from Paris to Reims, the unofficial capital of this region.

The vineyards are of course outside the city, but you can still do tastings and cellar tours with some big brands like Lanson, Pommery and Taittinger – and prices start from under €30.

While there, do visit the Gothic masterpiece Notre-Dame de Reims (Reims Cathedral) and the Basilica of Saint-Remi, one of the oldest churches in France.

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