There’s so much to see and do in Paris that it can be hard for a traveler to know where to start.  You have to decide what types of things interest you, how far you want to travel within the city, and how much time you want to spend indoors or outdoors.  So, if you aren’t quite sure what you should do on an upcoming trip to Paris, then I think you’ve come to the right place.  Before my trip to Paris I wasn’t sure what I should do there either.  I read a whole bunch of articles just like this one before I managed to decide which sites and attractions were ones that I felt I couldn’t miss seeing.  Now that I’ve been and gone, I’m ready to share with you my top choices of things to do in Paris.  These are the things that I ended up doing and really enjoyed!

6. Picnic in front of the Eiffel Tower (At Night)

The Eiffel Tower is potentially the most iconic thing in Paris.  Everyone knows it and can recognize it at a glance.  However, before arriving in Paris I didn’t realize what a spectacle it can be at night.  If the weather is right in the evening for a picnic, I recommend you do some shopping before making your way to the tower.  Buy yourself a baguette from a local bakery, some cheese, sliced meat and perhaps a bottle of wine.  Keep in mind that the closer to the main attractions, like the Eiffel Tower, you get then the more expensive the food will be.

Once you’ve got your picnic food ready, head towards the tower.  The large park located in front of the Eiffel Tower is called the Champs de Mars.  From here you can get some of the best views of the tower the city has to offer.  Find a nice grassy spot with a clear view  and set yourself up with your picnic.  Keep in mind that there are some people who walk around this area at night trying to sell things to tourists.  They sell trinkets, wine, cigarettes and who knows what else.  With these guys wandering around I recommend that your nice grassy spot be more out in the open, but they seemed fairly harmless to me.  If you tell them no as they pass by, then they will simply walk on to the next tourist and try and sell them something instead.

Don’t let these would be merchants detract from your view!  The tower is a site to see all lit up at night!  Beyond the nice, regular, nighttime lights, it also sets itself off with a spectacular light show for 5 minutes every hour on the hour after dark.  This is what you’re really here to see.  So settle in with your food and drink and enjoy the view and the show!

5. Give Yourself a Walking Tour

There’s nothing wrong with taking an organized walking tour, and if you only have a short time in Paris then that might be what I’d recommend.  However, if you don’t want to see all the things on the organized tours, or want to go at your own pace, then simply walking around the city on your own can be very rewarding.  The metro is pretty easy to understand if you look at the maps posted in all of the stations, so use this to your advantage if the sites you want to see are further apart then your feet can handle.  Walking above ground, on the other hand, can lead to stumbling upon interesting sites that you hadn’t ever even heard about.  Pick your travel method with this in mind, and remember that public transportation is never far away if you get tired.

For my personalized walking tour I started off near the Louvre and spend some time exploring the area surrounding the River Seine.  There are many little stalls and shops along the river, people selling their wares out of constructed green boxes.  This is a great place to buy some books, artwork or some older trinkets.  I remember seeing some old, used post cards, and some old metal signs and antique children’s toys.  While walking along the river I made sure to check out the Pont des Arts and other bridges which have been covered by locks left by loving couples over the years.

I walked along the river all the way to the Notre Dame, then back up the other side to the Louvre.  After having my fill of the sight of the glass pyramid that now famously sits in the courtyard of the Louvre, I proceeded to walk through the gardens in front of the famous gallery towards the Champs-Élysées.  I window shopped as I trekked all the way up the Champs-Élysées towards the Arc de Triomphe, then took the free underground passage to the bottom of the Arc.  I then only had one more sight to see, so I took the metro from the Arc de Triomphe all the way to the Moulin Rouge.

4. Spend a Day at Notre Dame

The Notre Dame was so spectacular to me that I spent a full day out exploring it and the area around it.  This can be a good time to walk along the Seine and see the bridges and stalls as well.  There are also plenty of restaurants across the small bridge to the right of the Notre Dame, and some interesting side streets to explore so don’t waste your money buying a sandwich from a shop right beside the Notre Dame – explore a bit and find better food.

After you’ve had your fill of food, head inside.  The line to enter the Notre Dame can seem daunting, but it’s just because the door is narrow.  It’s free to enter, and people just take some time getting through the door.  The line moves quite quickly so don’t pass up on the opportunity to see inside this magnificent cathedral.

Once inside you also have the option to pay to enter the treasury.  For me this wasn’t worth the price I paid to get in.  There are a few huge and glittery pieces of work covered in jewels.  The value of these items must be immense, and I’m sure some people would love to see so many gemstones and diamonds all in one place.  However, for me, it wasn’t worth it.  I’d rather spend more time exploring the main part of the Cathedral.

If you’re interested in making the climb to the top of the Notre Dame you have to next exit the cathedral and make your way around to the left side (if you are facing it.)  Here you will discover another line.  This one moves much slower but some say it is well worth it to see the views of Paris from the top.  I can’t say for myself, as I chose not to pay to go up, preferring instead to explore the area at ground level.

3. Have an Art Appreciation Day (or two) in the Louvre

The Louvre is immense, and it’s impossible to see and appreciate every piece within its walls in just one day.  So if you only plan to spend one day inside like I did, then I recommend you plan out which pieces are important for you to see before you go.

Firstly, don’t enter by the glass pyramid.  This is the main, and most well known entrance.  Thanks to that, there is usually a long line.  I waited in this line myself for over half an hour.  Once inside the pyramid I discovered that there is actually a sort of mall underground, and in that mall there is another entrance with absolutely no line.  To find this entrance, stand facing the Louvre just under the Roman arch.  To your right, beside the arch there is a staircase heading downwards.  It’s a bit hard to see if you aren’t looking for it.  This leads into the mall and from here you can find the smaller inverted glass pyramid, then enter the secure Louvre area.

Perhaps the most famous painting within the walls of the Louvre is the Mona Lisa.  It’s worth seeing for sure, but beware the crowd.  Due to its fame, the area around the Mona Lisa is crowded.  Even so you can still get a good picture of the painting, and if you’re patient, even of yourself with the painting.  The highlights of the Louvre for me were the ancient Egyptian exhibits and the Greek and Roman sculptures, especially the Venus de Milo.

If you visit in the warmer months I recommend you consider wearing light cloths and shorts.  I was there in September and it was very warm in the museum, I would have been too hot had I been wearing pants.

2. Take a Day Trip to the Palace of Versailles

Exploring Versailles is something that you’ll want the whole day to do.  This isn’t just about seeing the famous palace, but also the gardens and Marie-Antoinette’s estate.  The best days to visit are on the weekends from April to October.  They only turn the fountains in the gardens on for a few hours on Saturdays and Sundays, so you won’t want to miss the show.  They also turn the fountains on on some Tuesdays and some special holidays, so check the schedule online if you aren’t able to make your way there on the weekend.

Once there you’ll want to head towards the left side of the courtyard to buy your tickets.  I recommend buying the passport ticket which at the time of writing this costs 25 Euros.  This ticket will get you into the main palace, the gardens for the fountain show and Marie-Antoinette’s estate.  Once you have your ticket head to the right side of the courtyard, around the massive line of people waiting to get into the main palace and head into the gardens.

By starting in the gardens you skip the biggest lines.  Head straight through the garden towards Marie-Antoinette’s estate and explore that first.  The fountains aren’t turned on until later in the afternoon and you’ll want to wait to explore the gardens until then.  Once you’ve had your fill of Marie-Antoinette’s estate you’ll want to head for the gardens, and perhaps have some lunch.  Then decide for yourself when you want to make your way indoors to see the main palace.  The best room in the palace in my opinion is the hall of mirrors.  Leave yourself plenty of time to gawk at the splendor in that room.

1. Go to the Top of the Eiffel Tower at Sunset

Going to the top of the Eiffel Tower is something that shouldn’t be missed.  It’s a very touristy thing to do, and the lines can be long, but it’s well worth it.  Try and head up in the early evening, so that you have enough time to wait in the lines to get in the various elevators before the sun goes down.  You’ll want to be at the top before sunset so that you can take some daylight pictures and then watch the sun set over the Paris horizon.  You may also want to buy a glass of champagne at the top as you enjoy the view.