Best Things to Do in Paris
People around the globe dream about visiting this storied and iconic city renowned for its romantic ambience. Warm baguettes, sweet macarons and café au lait on a terrace bring foodies from around the globe. Home to famous works of art such as the Mona Lisa and The Thinker, art lovers flock here. As Audrey Hepburn said, “Paris is never a bad idea.”
The beauty of Paris lies in the little moments in between, like that charming, little cheese shop around the corner or that darling, sun-lit side street that just begs to be meandered down. And, of course, that cozy sidewalk cafe perfect for spending an afternoon people watching. Ready to experience the romance of Paris for yourself?
Eat
Breakfast
Café de Flore
172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006
For breakfast croissants, coffee and the perfect Instagram photo.
Lunch
Afternoon tea at La Galerie
25 Avenue Montaigne, 75008
Live piano music sets the tone for an afternoon tea experience you won’t soon forget.
Splurge on a long lunch at Le Bristol
112 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008
Located in one of Paris’ most iconic hotels, where Woody Allen filmed Midnight in Paris, has a magical garden, a children’s menu, and two resident cats that stroll the grounds.
Relais de l’Entrecôte
15 Rue Marbeuf, 75008
20 Rue Saint-Benoît, 75006
101 Boulevard du Montparnasse, 75006
Epic all-you-can-eat steak frites
Restaurant Jeanne B
61 Rue Lepic, 75018
This cozy Montmartre café feels a bit like stepping into a charming farm-style delicatessen. Spiraling sausages hang from the ceiling and the daily-changing menu is presented on chalkboards at your table.
Le Dôme du Marais
Bis53 Rue des Francs Bourgeois, 75004
Dining here feels remarkably like eating in your own private garden. The building was originally utilized as an auction house to fight against poverty thanks to Louis XVI. It is absolutely stunning inside and the food is exquisite to match.
Post-Museum Lunch Spots
Café Marly
93 Rue de Rivoli, 75001
Overlooks the Louvre’s glass pyramid
Le Fumoir
6 Rue de l’Amiral de Coligny, 75001
Located near the Louvre
Georges
The Centre Pompidou, Palais Beaubourg, Place Georges Pompidou, 75000
Located at the Centre Pompidou
Breizh Café
109 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003
Located near the Picasso National Museum
Brasserie Thoumieux
79 Rue Saint-Dominique, 75007
Located near the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée Rodin
Al Fresco
Le Récamier
4 Rue Récamier, 75007
Enjoy Parisian people watching from the pretty summer terrace.
L’Avenue
41 Avenue Montaigne, 75008
For its outdoor terrace and fun people-watching.
Dinner
58 Tour Eiffel
Eiffel Tower, Tour Eiffel, Champ de Mars, 75007
An incredible experience about much more than the food – that view! Lunch service is continuous, but if you’re hoping to dine for dinner, reservations for two nightly seatings must be made in advance.
L’Oiseau Blanc Rooftop Restaurant
19 Avenue Kléber, 75116
A rooftop restaurant with an aviation-themed interior and views straight to the Eiffel Tower.
Septime
80 Rue de Charonne, 75011
Be sure to book in advance for a taste of these beautifully plated, seasonal dishes.
Le Soufflé
36 Rue du Mont Thabor, 75001
Serving up the most amazing versions of its namesake dishes.
Le Moulin de la Galette
83 Rue Lepic, 75018
Offers modern twists on French classics inside a vintage windmill.
Daroco
6 Rue Vivienne, 75002
The cathedral-like ceiling and mirrored accents make this sparsely decorated restaurant feel extra chic, but also warm and cozy. They offer wood-fired pizzas and homemade pasta for those looking for a bit of comfort in an incredibly stylish setting.
Les 110 de Taillevent
195 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008
Do not confuse this modern brasserie with its 3-star Michelin rated big brother around the corner. Although, if you do, they are used to it and will simply direct you to where you are supposed to go where they will graciously seat you amongst the 110 options for wines by the glass and feed you stunningly prepared food.
EatWith
Locations vary
Sign up with EatWith to eat with others and learn about new cultures and food traditions. Flytographer Lauren absolutely adored her meal with Claudine.
Desserts
Berthillon
29-31 Rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, 750047
Located on Île St. Louis, this is the best ice cream in Paris.
Try samples of macarons at each of these favourite bakeries:
Ladurée – 14 Rue de Castiglione, 75001
Pierre Hermé – Multiple locations throughout Paris
Gérard Mulot – 76 Rue de Seine, 75006
Follow your nose to these mouth-watering spots for Paris’ most famous street food – the delicate crêpe:
Breizh Café – 109 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75003
Crêperie Josselin – 67 Rue du Montparnasse, 75014
Crêperie Paris Breizh – 77 Avenue Daumesnil/allée Paul Dukas, 75012
See
Montmartre
Montmartre, 75018
Walk Montmartre like an artist in Paris. For breathtaking views (and no tourist crowds), plan to start your stroll at sunrise atop the hill. Be sure to make a stop at the famous and lovely street, Rue de l’Abreuvoir.
Grande Roue de Paris
Place de la Concorde, 75008
Ride the ferris wheel during the day and at night to see the city from two perspectives.
Cruise on the Seine
Multiple departure points
Spend a jet-lagged Parisian afternoon on the Seine to get a city overview without the schlep. The Bateaux-Mouches offers a round-trip cruise from the Pont de l’Alma, while the Batobus has a hop-on/hop-off policy, with several stops along the river. (Younger kids who are unlikely to sit still for the entire loop will do better on the Batobus.)
Shakespeare and Company
37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005
One of our favourite shoot routes in Paris is Shakespeare and Company. The independently-owned English-language bookstore became a meeting point for many aspiring writers in the 1920s. Unfortunately, that historic building was shuttered in 1941 during the German occupation of Paris. But you can still visit the current iteration of the bookstore to this day and it just so happens to be the perfect place for a Flytographer shoot.
The Latin Quarter
One of the oldest districts of the city, this picturesque neighbourhood on the Left Bank is a great spot to take a long walk.
Street Art Paris
Tour locations vary
Paris offers its own street art walking tour hosted by Street Art Paris. They offer tours in Montmartre, the Left Bank and Belleville.
Foundation Louis Vuitton
Bois de Boulogne, 8 Avenue du Mahatma Gandhi, 75116
This museum and cultural centre, designed by Frank Gehry, houses an incredible display of contemporary art.
Parks
Jardin du Luxembourg
Rue de Médicis – Rue de Vaugirard, 75006
Spend a dream afternoon among its historic fountains (particularly when fueled by hot chocolate from the nearby Angelina outpost).
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
1 Rue Botzaris, 75019
To get farther afield, head to the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, which offers breathtaking views of the city.
Place des Vosges
Place des Vosges, 75004
The Place des Vosges in the Marais is one of our favourite city-centre squares for some downtime on a playground (and with some pretty fab shopping nearby).
Parc de la Villette
211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019
The largest cultural park in Paris and offers tons of green space and outdoor activities, as well as a secure play area for infants and a playground for older kids up to 13 years old. The park even has a submarine, which kids and adults can tour with an accompanying audio guide.
Picnic
Le Bon Marché
24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007
Pick up some gourmet picnic supplies, then go to the Jardin du Luxembourg for a picnic and one of the best playgrounds in Paris. Tip: You have to pay a small fee to enter the playground, but there’s a cute nearby café and a puppet theater.
La Pâtisserie de Rêves
93 Rue du Bac, 75007
19 Rue Poncelet, 75017
111 Rue de Longchamp, 750169
For carrying out a baguette to a picnic in the park
Eric Kayser
Multiple locations throughout Paris
One of Paris’ finest bakeries
Odette
77 Rue Galande, 75005
Delicious handmade cream puffs
Androuet
Multiple locations throughout Paris
Gourmet cheesemaker
Coffee
Soul Kitchen – 33 Rue Lamarck, 75018
La Caféothèque – 52 Rue de l’Hôtel de ville, 7500
Le Rocketship – 13 Rue Henry Monnier, 75009
Do
Le Studio des Parfums
23 Rue du Bourg Tibourg, 75004
Create your very own signature fragrance at Le Studio des Parfums. Under the guidance and instruction of an expert perfumier, you’ll learn a bit about the history and nuances of mixing scents and then get to work creating your signature!
La Cuisine Paris
80 Quai de l’Hôtel de ville, 75004
The cooking classes at La Cuisine Paris are worth the expense! The market class starts off in a nearby outdoor market, where you collectively pick a plan for your meal, shop for ingredients, and then return to the La Cuisine kitchens to prep, cook and share your meal together.
Ô Chateau
68 Rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 75001
The classes at Ô Chateau will walk you through the French vineyards and regions. You’ll walk away with a much greater appreciation of French varietals and their appellation system.
Shopping
Galeries Lafayette
40 Boulevard Haussmann, 75009
This gorgeous shopping center boasts beautiful architecture and a variety of top labels. Men’s and women’s sections are separated into two different buildings, meaning you won’t have to sift through the ties to find that stunning little black dress you’re searching for. The best part? Head to the rooftop terrace for gorgeous views of Paris. Bonus: download the Galeries Lafayette app to plan your shopping itinerary ahead of time.
Champs-Élysées
Avenue des Champs-Élysées, 75008
This très famous Paris avenue is lined with high-end designer shops and cafés. Luxury boutiques include Louis Vuitton and Mont-Blanc. This is the perfect place to strut your fashionable stuff and stop at a sidewalk café for some post-shopping people watching.
Le Bon Marché Rive Gauche
24 Rue de Sèvres, 75007
Shopping aficionados must make a pilgrimage to Le Bon Marché, the world’s first modern department store. Check out the fashion department, on the first and second floors, for a showcase of sophisticated clothing collections.
Chic Shopping Paris Tours
Locations vary
Want to hit smaller boutiques, but not sure where to start? Sign up for the Unique Boutique Tour with Chic Shopping Paris for an intimate tour of Paris’ most charming shops and boutiques. If you’re a fan of vintage clothing, consider the Chic Consignment Tour and search for designer labels in Paris’ consignment shops.
Rue Cler
Rue Cler, 75007
Dubbed the most famous market street in Paris, Rue Cler is the perfect place to shop alongside locals. Small cafés, beautiful food shops and market stands will give you a taste of Parisian market shopping. Flower stands and pâtisseries are ideal for treating yourself to some flowers or a sweet macaron.
Passes
Public Transportation
Throughout the city
The public transport in Paris is efficient, cheap and easy to use. Download the RATP app in your smartphone for information on maps and timely schedules for bus, metro, tram and RER. If you would like to know how to get to the destination of iconic landmarks in Paris via public transport, you can get the information via the app Smarter Paris.
Paris Pass
Multiple locations
To avoid a soul-crushing wait to enter Paris’ museums, plan ahead and purchase either the Paris Pass or get your tickets online to the cultural centers you plan to visit.
For Kids
Cook’n with Class
6 Rue Baudelique, 75018
Cook’n with Class offers a French dessert course for 6-12 year olds. Parents don’t participate in this course, but are welcome to stick around and watch their budding pastry chefs whip up something tasty.
Cité des Enfants
30 Avenue Corentin Cariou, 75019
This adventure playground is geared toward 2-12 year olds. Book ahead to ensure entry. This highly interactive museum of sorts welcomes kids to activities focused on six themes: body, communication, TV studio, water games, garden and factory. All activities are designed so kids can participate on their own, without help from adults.
Paris Muse
Locations vary
To get the most of out of your visit to the Louvre, hire one of the knowledgable guides at Paris Muse. They’ll plan a scavenger hunt that brings the art and its stories alive for younger visitors. Listen carefully, parents…you may learn something new as well!
Eiffel Tower
Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007
Skip the pricey elevator and hike up 700+ steps instead to conquer the monstrous and brilliant Eiffel Tower. This budget-friendly way to get to the top is an adventure and so much fun for kids!
Cocktails
The Bistrologist
16 Avenue de Friedland, 75008
Perfect for late night cocktails. Their drinks are inventive, the decor dimly lit and intimate, and it feels a bit like a speakeasy. The kitchen also stays open really late if you find yourself wandering the streets and starving at midnight.
Le Gisou
29 Rue Lepic, 75018
Charming, cozy, has a great staff and an even better bathroom.
Les Philosophes – 28 Rue Vieille du Temple, 75004
The Bar Hemingway – 15 Place Vendôme, 7500
Hotel Costes – 239-241 Rue Saint Honoré, 75001
Le Verre Volé – 67 Rue de Lancry, 75010
Barklays Café – 48 Avenue de Saint-Ouen, 75018
La Rotonde – 6-8 Place de la Bataille de Stalingrad, 75019
Cubana Café – 47 Rue Vavin, 75006