16 Must Do Things in Paris
(Ultimate 2026 Guide)
Paris, the city of love and light as well as one of Europe’s most popular holiday spots. Planning a trip here can feel incredibly exciting, but also overwhelming. To help you with your itinerary, here are 16 things you absolutely cannot miss while in France’s capital.
France is a country I keep coming back to, from the beaches of Biarritz to the medieval charm of Montpellier to the delicious food of Lyon. But can you really say you have BEEN to France without visiting THE Paris. After all, it’s not the most visited city in Europe for no reason!
One thing I would recommend before heading to Paris though, is doing some planning. My first trip there was part of a European Interrail trip at just 17 years old, and it was pure chaos. From hotels with no shower head, to being scammed on the steps of Sacre Coeur, it felt like we did everything wrong.
And while it was a memorable (and fun) experience at the end of the day, I hope this guide helps you navigate Paris and its many attractions a little more gracefully. Without further ado, here are my 16 favourite things to do in Paris!
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How to get to Paris?
You can reach Paris by plane, train or bus. If you are flying internationally, you will likely be landing at Charles de Gaulle (CDG). More affordable domestic and European flights can also land at Orly (ORY).
Trains to Paris run from many European countries and cities, including Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, etc. Check Trainline for trains (or Bahn.de if you’re coming from Germany). If you’re coming from the UK, you can cross the Eurotunnel by train using the Eurostar.
Bus is the cheapest option from other European cities. Check out Flixbus and BlablaCar Bus.
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to City Centre
You have a couple of different options to get from the airport to the city centre in Paris.
Taxi:
Travel Time: usually 30-60 minutes depending on traffic
Cost: 35-60€ (Uber tends to be the most affordable option)
RER local train – I would recommend to take this train:
Travel Time: 30 minutes to Gare du Nord
Cost: 14€
Roissybus Shuttle:
Travel Time: around 60 minutes
Cost: 13.20€
Where to stay in Paris?
A good guide is staying in the central areas of Paris, especially near the River Seine. Paris is split into 20 “districts” called arrondissements. The 7th one is good for those looking to be close to the Eiffel Tower, whereas Latin Quarter will give you a ton of history and culture.
Check out my full accommodation guide for Paris here.
Best hostels and hotels in Paris:
🛏️The People Paris Bercy (nice rooms, lovely staff, a little away from attractions)
🏬Hotel George – Astotel (part of the Astotel chain which are all very good in Paris)
🏩The Peninsula Paris(pure luxury, 100% worth the price tag)
How to get around Paris?
Paris has a very extensive public transport system, but it is also a very walkable city. Use Google Maps or Citymapper to navigate transport.
You pay for public transport using a Navigo card. You can buy this at the airport station or through an App using your smartphone. A single metro ride is 2.55€ and a bus/tram ride 2.05€.
You could also get the Paris Visite travel pass which offers unlimited travel on any transportation in Paris, including to the airport, for 30.60€ for one day. I’d say the pass is actually worth it if you are on a layover or short stay in Paris, as the journey to the airport is 14€ each way already so 28€.
Top things to do in Paris
1. Head to the beautiful Sacre Coeur Basilica for sweeping views over Paris
Located in the Montmartre district, just a 20-minute walk from Gare du Nord, Sacre Coeur is the perfect start for your Paris itinerary. It is sat on top of a hill, making for spectacular views over Paris. You can either walk the 270 stairs if you need to stretch your legs or take the Funiculaire (€2.50).
Beware of scams in front of the basilica, such as people tying bracelets on your wrist and then charging, or shoving flowers in your hands. These types of scams are unfortunately common all over Paris and worth keeping an eye out for.
The entrance to the basilica is free, but you need to pay 6€ for the dome and 3€ for the crypt (or 8€ for a combined ticket). It will take you around 90 minutes to fully explore the inside and it’s 100% worth it.
2. Visit the historic Moulin Rouge
For more than 135 years, the Moulin Rouge has stood as one of the central points of the Montmartre district. It is now a must-visit theatre for evenings in Paris. Even if you don’t visit a show, seeing the famous building and taking in the atmosphere of the surrounding neighbourhood is still a must-do while in Paris.
If you have the time, make sure to visit a show or take a historical tour of the area and its fascinating history. Prices for the show start at 118€ for the 11pm showing and go up to 255€ for the dinner one.
3. Marvel at the impressive Arc de Triomphe
It’s time to hop on metro 2 to Arc de Triomphe, one of Paris’ most famous landmarks. It’s iconic style makes for incredible photos. Be careful of the many cars in this area, the arc is surrounded by a huge “roundabout”.
It is worth heading inside the Arc for some unique views of Paris from its terrace. Entry is 22€ or free for under 26-year-old residents of the EU.
4. Shop French delicacies and souvenirs in Champs-Élysées
The 1.9km long Champs-Élysées connects the Arc de Triomphe with Place de la Concorde in one straight line. The street itself is world-famous for its beautiful architecture, incredible shopping and many restaurants and bars.
If you are looking for the most impressive street of Paris and epitome of performative elegance, this is the place and a must-visit while in the city!
5. Sample some delicious French food
French food is famous for its fresh ingredients, meticulous attention to detail and supposed to be a social event, a time to savour and connect. Paris is a great place to get a feel for exactly that!
Things you should try are pastries (they are seriously amazing here), French Cheese, Escargot (if you dare), Macarons and Steak au Poivre. Though there are many more amazing meals and delicacies to try, I find food tours are a great way to do that!
6. Check out the Place de la Concorde & Jardin des Tuileries
At the end of Champs-Élysées you will find the Place de la Concorde, a huge octagonal square. In the middle stands tall an Egyptian obelisk and two big fountains.
Right beside it lies the Tuileries Garden, a beautiful green space to relax in. Here, you will also find one of my favourite art exhibitions in Paris: the Musée de l’Orangerie. Famous for housing Monet’s “Water Lilies” in a truly one-of-a-kind space, the museum if full of beautiful works of art. Tickets start at 12.50€.
7. Discover the famous Louvre Museum
You can’t visit Paris without visiting the Louvre and getting a photo in the famous square surrounding the pyramid-shaped museum. The Louvre displays over 35,000 pieces of art across its 5 levels, including of course the famous “Mona Lisa”,
Visiting without queuing for hours is notoriously difficult, if not impossible.
- Make sure to buy a timed admission ticket ahead of time
- Avoid the huge security queues at the main entrances by going through Carrousel du Louvre entrance
- On Wednesdays and Fridays, the museum is open till 9pm and a late-night slot will mean a much quieter experience
- Considering buying a skip-the-line tour for an even smoother experience and a guide through the maze that is the Louvre
8. Enjoy the best view of the Eiffel Tower at Jardins du Trocadéro
For the picture-perfect views of Paris and the Eiffel Tower, head to the green space of Jardins du Trocadero, especially up the stairs. From there, you get the view of the Warsaw Fountain in front of the Eiffel Tower.
At night, the gardens are the perfect place to watch the Eiffel Tower’s light show, which happens every full hour from when it gets dark until midnight.
9. Head to the top of the world famous Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a must-visit while in Paris, but I’d recommend to plan your visit well. After all, it is one of the most visited monuments in the world.
If you are planning to head up the Eiffel tower, make sure to pre-reserve your tickets online to avoid the huge queues on the day (available from 2 months in advance). There are three floors, the first, second and top floor. You can reach the first two floors by stairs (14,80€) or by lift (23,50€). The top floor is only accessible via lift(lift only 36,70€, lift+stairs 28€) – expect queues on the way down.
For the best views, I’d recommend a slot close to sunset so you can get the views at daylight, sunset and even night time. The stairs will usually save you some time as the elevator queues are notoriously long. Make sure to see the Eiffel Tower at night too, where it sparkles for 5 minutes at the start of every hour after sunset.
10. Discover Royal Life at Palace of Versailles
About an hour outside of Paris you will find the stunning Palace of Versailles. The majestic 18th-century architecture is breath-taking and the interior grandiose. The gardens are an artwork in themselves. A full ticket to the palace and gardens starts at 22€.
Book your Versailles Palace tour from Paris here.
11. Explore the lively Latin Quarter
One of the oldest districts in Paris, the cobblestone streets are a reminder of what medieval Paris would have looked like. Nowadays, the area is one of the liveliest in Paris and is also featured in many scenes of Netflix’s Emily in Paris.
If you are a lover of real romance, of reading, of learning, this is the place for you. Explore the many amazing cafes, restaurants, historic buildings and more.
12. Visit the rebuilt Notre Dame, a symbol of resilience
A short walk crossing the river onto the Île de la Cité will bring you to the famous Notre Dame Cathedral. It burned down in April of 2019 and was rebuilt and reopened in December 2024. The cathedral is absolutely breath-taking, the Gothic-style architecture visible in every detail.
You can also visit the inside, entry is free and you can pre-book a time slot online to skip the queue. Tickets are released at midnight up to 2 days in advance and sell out quickly. If you want to learn more about the Cathedral and how it was rebuilt after the fire, consider joining a tour.
On the same little island, you will also find the Sainte-Chapelle with its magnificent stained glass windows, which is highly worth a visit. Tickets cost 16€ for EEA nationals (or free if you’re under 26) or €22 otherwise.
13. See Paris from a different angle on a Seine River Cruise
The Seine river runs right through Paris and a cruise will allow you to see the top attractions from a completely different angle. Make sure to walk along the riverbanks of the Seine too, there are usually markets and local artists there. Make sure to get a fun caricature from the street artists here, it’s such a classic souvenir.
14. Stop by the incredible Musée d’Orsay
The award for the coolest location, aka inside an old train station, goes to the Musée d’Orsay. But apart from its stunning interior, it is also home to a grand collection of Impressionist art, from masters such as Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Camille Pissarro and Vincent van Gogh.
Busiest times are said to be Tuesday and the Weekends, with less people around lunch time during the week. Tickets cost 16€ (or free if you are 18-25 from the EU).
15. Hôtel des Invalides and the Tomb of Napoleon
Invalides in this context refers to wounded soldiers, a nod to its original function as a military hospital and place to recover for veterans. It actually still serves this purpose to this day.
On top of the hospital, you will find the military museum and the tomb of the great Napoleon here.
Tickets cost 17€ or 5€ for those under 26 from the EU. You will start to see a trend of this cheaper or free entry here in Paris, but also across the rest of the EU. It’s meant to encourage cultural exchange and education.
16. Panthéon
Modelled of the Pantheon in Rome, this building is a stunning feat of Neo-Classical and Gothic architecture. It started as a church dedicated to Saint Genevieve, and later had a crypt added below that became the final resting place of some famous people you may know, like Marie Curie (first woman to be buried there), Alexander Dumas and Victor Hugo.
Tickets cost 13-16€ (or again free for under 26 EU nationals). You could also take a tour for not much more to learn more about the history and stories of this building.
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How many days do you need in Paris?
I think you can see the majority of the main sites in 3 days, though you might want to add 1-2 more for extra museum visits or a day trip to Versailles.
You could even check out the city in just a few hours, check my layover guide for more tips on how to.
Is Paris walkable?
Yes, and I’d highly encourage exploring the city by foot. That way you will discover the beautiful architecture, hidden gardens and delicious bakeries along the way, which are honestly my favourite part of the city!
Hi, I'm Bell
I’m a solo traveller, writer and designer. I created my blog to share the many different ways to travel the world. Learn more about me here!
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