11 things every traveller needs to do in Paris at least once

This comprehensive list of things to do in Paris is all you’ll need to get started.

So, it’s your first time going to Paris. Drink it all in – many people across the world would give anything to relive this experience (myself included).

Seeing the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night, taking that first bite into a croissant that will forever redefine your concept of a croissant, walking lazily down the leafy avenues and soaking in the Parisian magic: all of it is ahead of you.

From enjoying a hot chocolate at Cafe de Flore to seeing a ballet at Palais Garnier, these iconic activities are a great place to start.

1. Enjoy a picnic under the Eiffel Tower

In my opinion, the Eiffel Tower is one of the world’s few famous landmarks that actually lives up to its larger-than-life reputation. When you catch your first glimpse of the tower, it’s pure magic.

Nothing screams Paris like the iconic Eiffel Tower. (Image: Margarida Louro)

The best way to enjoy the monument is in quintessential Parisian style: a picnic. Pack a light blanket and swing by a market (Rue Cler is one of the best in the 7th arrondissement) to grab a fresh baguette, cheese and prosciutto before enjoying your bounty in the grassy lawn by the tower.

Prepare a Parisian picnic like a local. (Image: Calvin Shelwell)

2. Cycle through the city with a local guide

Biking is a popular form of transportation in Paris for locals, and it’s also a great way to cover more ground while exploring the city.

Cycling is a great way to cover more ground while exploring the city. (Image: John Towner)

On this bicycle tour, a local guide will introduce you to Paris’ most significant historical and cultural landmarks – such as Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the Champs-Elysées – while you get your bearings in the city’s central neighbourhoods.

Tour Paris by bicycle. (Image: Svetlana Gumerova)

3. Go to a historic jazz club

During the 1920s, Paris became a haven for many American expatriate writers, musicians and artists. This period, often referred to as the “Lost Generation,” saw a flourishing of creativity and innovation, with jazz bars serving as important venues for these artists to connect and share ideas.

Le Caveau de la Huchette is one of Paris’ oldest, a self-proclaimed “temple of swing” since 1946.

Immerse in the world of jazz at Le Caveau de la Huchette. (Image: Matheus Frade)

4. Take a boat ride down the Seine

A boat ride along the Seine River winds straight through the heart of Paris and offers a romantic new perspective on the city. A dinner cruise is especially idyllic.

Explore Paris from a new perspective. (Image: Eva-Katalin via Getty Images)

You’ll be serenaded by a live singer and sip Champagne as you pass the many riverside monuments like the Eiffel Tower, the Musée d’Orsay and the Conciergerie, lighting up as dusk settles on the City of Light.

See Musée d’Orsay from the Seine. (Image: Florian Rebmann)

5. Sip hot chocolate at Cafe de Flore

Cafe de Flore has a long history of attracting acclaimed writers, thinkers and artists. Poet and art critic Guillaume Apollinaire was said to coin the term ‘surrealism’ on the terrace. Karl Lagerfeld read Vogue alone for hours at a downstairs table. Ernest Hemingway retired to the comparatively calmer cafe when Café Les Deux Magots across the street grew too hip.

Embrace your creativity at Cafe de Flore. (Image: Valentin Kremer)

The cafe’s classic, Parisian Art Deco style has remained constant through the years, with small tables and bistro chairs pointed to face the street. Just dollop a cloud of whipped cream on your indulgently rich hot chocolate, sit back and watch as Paris passes by.

Watch Paris pass by at Cafe de Flore. (Image: Christina Terzidou)

6. See Monet’s expansive water lilies paintings at the Orangerie Museum

The Musée de l’Orangerie is famous for hosting eight gigantic murals of Claude Monet’s famous water lilies, the crown jewel of his 30 years studying the subject in his garden in Normandy. The paintings surround visitors on all sides, making for an immersive experience in Monet’s groundbreaking work.

See Monet’s famous water lilies up close at Musée de l’Orangerie. (Image: digitalimagination via Getty Images)

7. Float a boat on the Grand Bassin at Luxembourg Garden

Paris is blessed with an abundance of gorgeous parks (Tuileries is also a must-visit) but stop first at Jardin de Luxembourg to see the Grand Bassin, a large octagonal pond opposite the Palais du Luxembourg.

The sprawling Jardin de Luxembourg is a beautiful oasis in Paris. (Image: vkovalcik via Getty Images)

At all hours you’re likely to see children running about with long sticks, launching toy wooden sailboats every which way across the water.

There is a stand that rents out the toy boats for those who’d like in on the action – the perfect occupation for little ones while the adults take a seat by the water’s edge to enjoy the park.

You’re likely to see toy wooden sailboats in the serene waters of the Grand Bassin. (Image: Wirestock via Getty Images)

8. Visit the glittering Palace of Versailles

Just about an hour outside Paris, the Palace of Versailles displays jaw-dropping opulence at every turn. The intricate architecture, the meticulously kept gardens and room after room of golden trimmings will have you marvelling at King Louis XIV’s lavish lifestyle.

The Palace of Versailles displays jaw-dropping opulence at every turn. (Image: Mathias Reding)

9. Hike the steps to Montmartre’s Sacré-Coeur Basilica

Over 300 steps lead to the majestic Sacré-Coeur, a 19th-century basilica perched atop a hill overlooking Paris.

Sacré-Coeur stands atop Montmartre. (Image: Maryline Waldy)

The views of the city are just as spectacular as the distinctive Romano-Byzantine architecture of the basilica itself, and there’s plenty to explore in the surrounding area of Montmartre as well. The neighbourhood’s current lively and creative atmosphere follows in the footsteps of a long history as a bohemian haven for artists.

Stroll along the cobbled streets in Montmartre. (Image: Jeff Frenette)

10. Explore the Louvre with a private guide

The Louvre Museum is home to approximately 35,000 historical objects on display, over an area of 60,600 square metres.

The Louvre exhibits over 35,000 objects. (Image: Daniele D Andreti)

So many unmissable treasures are buried within its depths – including Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the ancient Greek sculpture Venus de Milo – that you’ll want a guide to ensure you don’t miss a thing.

See Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Mona Lisa. (Image: Federico Scarionati)

11. See a ballet at the Palais Garnier

Adorned with gilded statues atop its signature turquoise, domed roof, Palais Garnier is nothing if not iconic. The building was inaugurated in 1875 at the behest of Napoleon III, and every inch of the opera house reflects that ostentatious era with onyx balconies, polished marble, and elaborate ceiling frescoes.

Palais Garnier is nothing if not iconic. (Image: Caleb Maxwell)

Don your best apparel and attend a classical ballet show, like the romantic Giselle or playful La Fille mal gardée, for an elegant and memorable night out.

Every inch of the opera house reflects its ostentatious era. (Image: Caleb Maxwell)

Explore our list of free cultural attractions in Paris, too.