Paris, France Travel Information & Travel Guide

Things to Do in Paris

Ahhh, Paris. City of romance, lights, history, fragrance, the Mona Lisa, delicate and delicious cuisine... and so many other things you may or very well may not know... yet. It's not what you can do in Paris. It's what you absolutely have to do in Paris... Here prepare to immerse yourself in a world of art, architecture, and fashion; scale towers and tread through world-class museums, bistros, boutiques and parks; savor spectacular performances, gardens, and food.

Landmarks and Attractions in Paris

You could spend all weekend at one given attraction and still need more time. For a fascinating whirlwind of a tour, be sure to hit up each of these amazing hot spots in Paris—and never fear that there won't be so much more to see when you come back, The 121-year-old, 300m-tall Eiffel tower provides an incredible view; after braving the heights, settle down for an evening picnic on the lawn and enjoy its hourly illumination by 20,000 light bulbs.

Get lost in the Louvre (free admission on the first Sunday of each month), home to the Mona Lisa and more than 35,000 other works (it's been said 9 months aren't enough to view it all). Enjoy impressionism at the Musee d'Orsay and modernism at the Centre Pompidou. Book lovers will find Paris teeming with literary legends, with headstones and café havens of countless philosophers and writers.

You'll be dazzled by the most glamorous chateau in the world, Louis XIV's Versailles. See the city from the Promenade Plantee and the domed Pantheon (free on first Sundays, Winter-Spring). Be sure to also visit the gothic masterpiece Cathedrale Notre-Dame, then savor the celebrated ice-cream across the street at Berthillon. For a special chill, explore the famous Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise and Les Catacombes, with an inscription of "Stop! This is the empire of death!" to greet you at the door.

Nightlife and Family Fun in Paris

Enjoy a lovely stroll around St-Sulpice and the Jardin du Luxembourg, sprinkled (as are most parks in Paris) with carousels and pony rides. At the Park de la Villette enjoy free summer movie screenings on the lake. Be on the lookout everywhere in Paris for free art displays in streets and galleries.

There are summer dance parties, free organ and choir recitals and gospel, classical, and baroque concerts at churches and cathedrals (including at the Louvre and in Notre-Dame). Radio France hosts 180 free concerts a year, and each summer solstice is welcomed with La Fete De la Musique. And what would Paris be without the Moulin Rouge, if we were to take to heart the saying "Life is a cabaret, my friend"? It impresses with its tacky charm, intricate costumes and dancing, and extravagant but respectable entertainment; other famous cabarets include Le Lido and Paradis Latin.

Off the Beaten Path in Paris

Night-walking tours have been spiced up to include the Pari-Rollers: hundreds of skaters cruising through the streets on roller blades (escorted by police and a medical team in case you trip). In the day, enjoy an authentic experience at the Hammam de la Grande Mosquee, or catch a film at the new Cinematheque Française. For a heavenly whiff, let your nose lead you to the Fragonard/Scribe Museum, where you'll learn to make perfume the old-fashioned way. For book lovers and history buffs, the cluttered charming Shakespeare & Co. bookstore opposite Notre Dame is an absolutely enchanting and quaint must.

Parisian Restaurants and Shopping

Paris' concept stores scream diversity, selectivity, and fashion; from the cosmopolitan Colette to the bobo Merci to the avant-garde L'Eclaireur, there's something for everyone. France's centenarian department store at Galeries Lafayette hosts free weekly fashion shows (with RSVP). Be sure to visit the incredible new designers at the Marais, and have fun discovering everything from stained glass windows to fresh produce at the colorful flea markets in the beautiful Marche aux Puces de Clignancourt, Marche d'Aligre, or Marche Beauvau.

Exceptional "authentic" French restaurants in Paris include the sleek, delicious, and adorable bistros such as L'Ardoise, Frenchie, Itineraires, Petrelle, and Spring. For an insider touch of restaurant/dinner party be sure to hit up Lunch in the Loft or enjoy the impeccable quality of the Hidden Kitchen. Browse traditional food markets, bakeries, and couscous joints with mouthwatering free samples. And don't forget the annual week of wine- and food-tasting parties in late November and the lively Harvest Festival of Montemartre in October!

Photos provided by: Thomas Mc Gowan, Alexandre Duret-Lutz

Map of Paris