Top 15 Things to Do in Paris
The best of the City of Light, according to WT Trip Leaders
With 20 arrondissements (neighborhoods) to explore, more than 130 museums to visit, and endless advice to parse, traveling to Paris can feel overwhelming. Rather than trying to see everything, seek highlights that match your various interests—churches, museums, views, restaurants—and give yourself enough time to enjoy every stop. Here are the top 15 things to do, see, and eat, according to WT’s France Trip Leaders.
1. Step inside a work of art
Commissioned by Louis IX, Sainte-Chapelle is a standout for its spectacular Gothic architecture and important Christian relics. Unlike many Gothic churches, Sainte-Chapelle feels like a jewel box: stained-glass windows, some of which rise 50 feet high, cover most of the upper chapel and depict more than a thousand biblical scenes.
2. Enjoy sunset at Montmartre
Set on a hill in the city’s northern 18th arrondissement, the neighborhood of Montmartre has long been the artistic heart of Paris. It was once home to Dali, Picasso, and Van Gogh, who were attracted to the cheap rents, cafés, and cabarets (Moulin Rouge is located here). Even today, Montmartre reflects this creative heritage, with artists painting in pleine air at the Place du Tertre. Head to Montmartre for incredible sunset panoramas—visit the small, charming park called Square Nadar right at the foot of the Sacré-Cœur Basilica for stunning views of the Eiffel Tower and the Sacré-Cœur.
3. Browse the museum that outshines the Louvre
Paris is home to the world’s top arts institutions, many of which require a full day—if not multiple days—to sufficiently experience. If you want a museum experience, stop by the Musée d’Orsay. The museum, housed in a beautifully restored Beaux-Arts railway station, the former Gare d’Orsay, offers a more focused and accessible option centered on an incredible collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces, including Van Gogh’s “Starry Night Over the Rhône.”
4. Step inside a working artists’ collective at 59 Rivoli
What used to be an artist-run squat has been transformed into a vibrant artist collective where visitors can explore studios, exhibitions, and installations by over 30 resident artists. Unlike traditional galleries, 59 Rivoli has a lively, bohemian atmosphere and functions as an active studio, where you can watch painters, sculptors, photographers, and designers create their pieces in real time.
5. Sip hot chocolate in a historic setting
Having a hot chocolate at Angelina has been a Parisian tradition since the early 1900s, when its gilded salon was a popular meeting place for creatives during the Belle Epoque. Its lost-in-time interiors, featuring ornate wall moldings and wall-sized paintings, are just as elegant today. Enjoy a rich hot chocolate—Angelina’s specialty—and a delicious Mont Blanc dessert (meringue, whipped cream, and chestnut purée).
6. Wander through a cemetery
The Cimetière du Père-Lachaise is much more than the resting place of famous figures like Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison— it’s also a museum of cultural history and an urban nature reserve. Strolling throughout the cemetery offers a fascinating glimpse of different artistic styles from the 19th and 20th centuries, with monuments resembling small chapels or miniature houses. The Père-Lachaise is also—surprisingly—a birding destination, with more than 400 species spottable across its 100 acres.
7. Picnic at a historic park
For a quintessential Parisian lunch, grab a sandwich from Brigat’ and a bottle of white from the wine shop Nicolas Turenne and enjoy your repast on one of the benches in the Place des Vosges, the perfectly manicured square in the historic Le Marais district. It is one of the city’s oldest squares, dating to the early 17th century. The surrounding red-brick buildings, one of which is a museum in the former home of the author and social justice activist Victor Hugo, provide an iconic backdrop.
8. Cruise the Seine at golden hour
There’s nothing better than seeing the city from the Seine. Many companies offer sightseeing and dining cruises, ranging from guided tours to romantic dinners. For value and quality, our office staff is partial to those operated by Compagnie des Bateaux Mouches, founded in 1949. Hour-long trips start at 8 euro and there’s even a piano- and violin-serenaded dinner starting at 90 euro.
9. Find the best view of the Eiffel Tower
It’s hard to find a spot near the Eiffel Tower that’s free of crowds, but one of your best chances is on Rue Buenos-Ayres. Located in the 7th arrondissement near Pont de l’Alma, the street offers a view of the tower framed by typical Parisian Haussmannian architecture. Head over after sunset and time your visit to the first five minutes of the hour to catch the Eiffel Tower’s light show.
10. Shop like a Parisian in Le Marais
From historic department stores to concept shops that stock the latest design fads, there’s a reason Paris is a shopping capital. But for an experience that combines a beautiful neighborhood setting with a sense of discovery, head to the Le Marais district. Unlike large commercial areas, its narrow cobblestone streets are filled with everything from elegant boutiques and designer stores to specialty shops selling gourmet foods.
11. See a newly reopened masterpiece
When a devastating fire caused extensive damage to the Notre-Dame in 2019, including the collapse of its iconic spire, the world mourned the loss of a Gothic masterpiece. But after years of meticulous restoration, the cathedral reopened to the public in 2024. Many of the structure’s most spectacular features have been returned to their original form, including the soaring nave, towering vaulted ceilings, and magnificent circular rose windows.
12. Venture beneath the city
Spend a macabre—yet fascinating—afternoon exploring the vast underground network beneath the cobblestone streets of Paris. The Paris Catacombs, thought to extend up to 200 miles, were originally used as limestone quarries in constructing the city. But starting in the 18th century, as the city struggled with overcrowded cemeteries, the remains of several million people were transferred underground. Today, visitors can walk through a small section of these tunnels displaying walls of skeletal remains. The catacombs were reopened in spring 2026 following a renovation.
13. Skip the observation deck queue
From the terrace on the eighth floor of the historic department store Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, visitors can savor one of the city’s most sweeping panoramas. The view includes many of Paris’s most famed landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, and Sacré‑Cœur Basilica. And unlike many observation decks in Paris that require expensive tickets, anyone can take the elevator or escalator through the store and enjoy the view without paying an entrance fee.
14. Visit the world’s largest antiques market
From high-end antique shops filled with rare pieces to quirky stalls selling retro items, each of the 15 specialized sections at the Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen provides a transporting experience, whether or not you plan to make a big haul. The market dates to the 1870s and has since grown to host 1,100 antique and second-hand dealers, as well as art galleries. It’s located just north of Paris but is easily reached by public transportation.
15. Stroll through a marvelous arcade
To experience one of Paris’s famous covered passages, head to Galerie Vivienne near the Palais Royal. Built in 1823, the arcade is filled with original details that turn a simple stroll into an art walk. Along with the stunning glass ceiling and mosaic floors, decorative motifs like anchors, cornucopias, and caduceus sculptures fill the space and all related to trade and commerce. In between, browse small boutiques, bookstores, wine shops, and designer stores.
Pair your time in Paris with one of our guided journeys through France’s most spectacular landscapes—from the D-Day beaches of Normandy and the pink granite coast of Brittany to the glacier-draped peaks of the Alps and the rugged valleys of the Pyrenees.
- Hiking the French Pyrenees
- Treasures of Normandy & Brittany
- Mont Blanc to the Mediterranean
- Paris & Normandy
