This list of the best things to see and do in Paris It will help you not to miss anything important and enjoy the maximum experiences in one of the most incredible cities in the world.
To make this selection we have based on the different visits we have made to the City of love, the last on a trip to Paris in 4 days, during which we continue to discover this incredible city.
Completing most points on this list, divided by themes, will allow you to enjoy the best leisure and cultural activities, visit the most famous and less known places and, above all, squeeze out everything that this impressive city offers. We start!
Unique experiences
1. Climb the 210 meters of the Montparnasse Tower by elevator, from which we assure you, you will have the best views of the city with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
Although it is not very touristy (at the moment), it is becoming more and more fashionable so to guarantee you the climb, especially on holidays, it is advisable to book your ticket here in advance.
2. Walk the two kilometers that connect the Place de la Concorde with the Arc de Triomphe and form one of the most famous avenues in the world, the Champs Elysées.
3. Find the graves of Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Frédéric Chopin, Maria Callas or Édith Piaf in the Père-Lachaise cemetery, one of the most famous in the world and one of the best things to do in Paris.
A great way to learn about the interesting history of this cemetery is to book this visit with a guide in Spanish.
4. Cross the Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge and one of the most beautiful in Paris with its more than 300 carved masks.
5. Enter the Shakespeare & Co bookstore, one of the most famous and beautiful in Paris.
6. Follow the steps of the Da Vinci Code in the imposing Church of Saint Sulpice.
7. Enjoy the tranquility offered by the Île Saint-Louis, compared to its neighboring tourist Island of the Cité.
8. Visit the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte located in the National Palace of the Invalids, known as the Invalids.
9. Enter the Vivienne Gallery, a commercial gallery with a bohemian atmosphere, which will take you back to a bygone era.
10. Discover the Catacombs of Paris, one of the most incredible in Europe with a lot of bones and skulls.
A good option to skip the long lines that form in the access, which can be more than two hours, is to book this ticket in advance.
Vivienne Gallery
The best things to do in Paris
11. Go up to the terrace of the impressive Arc de Triomphe in Paris, almost 30 meters high, to have the best view of the Champs Elysees. This great arch built by Napoleon Bonaparte to commemorate the victory in the battle of Austerlitz, is the most famous in the world. To avoid queues on the ascent to the viewpoint you can book this quick ticket in advance.
12. Visit the Cathedral of Notre Dame (currently under reconstruction) and climb to the roof to enjoy fantastic views of the city, with the chimeras or gargoyles in the foreground.
13. Tour the luxurious halls, halls and auditorium of the spectacular Garnier Opera building, for free or with a guided tour, whenever you don't want to attend a concert.
14. Find the Vendome Square, one of the most beautiful and luxurious in the city. In the center of the square is the Vendôme column surrounded by the most exclusive shops and the Ritz and Vendome hotels, located among the most expensive in the city.
15. Cross the Seine River over the Alexander III Bridge, declared a historical monument and one of the best things to do in Paris.
16. Complete this list of 20 essential places to visit in Paris.
17. Stop in front of the obelisk of Luxor, located in front of the Place de la Concorde, more than 3,000 years old and do not fail to take the picture of rigor.
18. Having Paris at your feet from the top of the Eiffel Tower. This 300-meter-high tower was created for the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1889 and although at first it was not pleasing to Parisians, over the years it has become the symbol of the city.
If you do not want to climb its 1,665 steps or be more than two hours in line, it is advisable to book the entrance here in advance and skip the lines.
19. Stroll at sunset along the banks of the Seine to the Île Saint-Louis, the most romantic promenade in Paris.
20. Running out of words when entering the gothic church La Sainte Chapelle and seeing its huge stained glass windows that fill the church with light and color. The ticket is included in the Paris Pass or you can book this ticket without queues in advance.
21. Enter, even if you don't buy anything, at the Galeries Lafayette, the most beautiful and famous shopping center in Paris where you can't forget to climb the terrace, with fantastic views of the historic center.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Main museums
22. Entering the Museum of Orsay, even if you are not a great fan of art, just by entering the site, an old train station, it is well worth the visit.
23. Find The Gioconda by Leonardo da Vinci and the Venus de Milo in The Louvre, the most famous and visited museum in the world.
If you want to know the history of the best works and not miss any, we recommend you book a guided tour in Spanish with an expert guide on air and history.
In case you don't want to take a guided tour, you can book the tickets in advance to skip the long lines that form in the access to the glass pyramid.
24. See the sculptures of the Thinker and The Gate of Hell in the beautiful gardens of the Rodin Museum, one of the best museums in Paris, located in the Hotel Biron. If you have the Paris Pass you will skip the line.
25. Reach the amazing Museo du Quai Branly, full of curious objects and ancestral cultures from Africa, Oceania, Asia and America.
26. Visit the Pompidou Center, an original building that has the pipes located outside and with one of the best collections of modern art inside. Do not miss, right next to this museum, the original Stravinsky fountain.
27. Review the history of Paris at the Carnavalet Museum, located in the Marais district.
Pompidou Center
Tours and guided tours of Paris
28. Book a boat trip on the Seine or this more exclusive cruise that includes gourmet dinner, one of the most romantic things to do in Paris.
29. Do some of the best free tours in Paris, guided tours in Spanish of different themes and the most charming neighborhoods of the city, which are increasingly fashionable.
30. See one of the best illuminated cities in the world by booking this night tour with a guide in Spanish.
31. Take advantage of some of the tour offers that include various activities such as this guided tour of Paris that includes the boat ride and the entrance to the Eiffel Tower without queues.
32. Other of the combined tours most valued by travelers and performed at night are this night tour with cruise and Eiffel Tower and this one that includes dinner at the Eiffel Tower, boat and Moulin Rouge.
Boat trip, one of the best things to do in Paris
Charming neighborhoods
33. Stroll through the Montmartre neighborhood, our favorite neighborhood in Paris and although today is very touristy, it still retains a certain bohemian air of yesteryear when painters such as Picasso or Van Gogh lived.
A good option to learn about the history and anecdotes of this neighborhood is to book this guided tour in Spanish.
34. Fall in love to see the paintings that the artists of the Place du Tertre de Montmartre paint and if you want, buy one that will become one of the best souvenirs you can take from the city.
35. Arrive on foot or by funicular to the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the hill of Montmartre, one of the most beautiful churches in the world. An interesting way to know the history of this basilica and the neighborhood is to book this visit with a guide in Spanish.
36. Don't just stay with this visit, since right next to this basilica, you will find one of the best viewpoints in Paris.
37. Find the beautiful mural "Mur de Je t'aime" in the Place des Abbesses of the Montmartre district.
38. Wander aimlessly through Le Marais, one of the trendy neighborhoods in Paris, where its narrow streets and shops with vintage air, small boutiques and food stalls stand out.
39. Find the beautiful Plaza des Vosges in Le Marais, the oldest in Paris. In good weather the lawn of the square is filled with Parisians and tourists to relax or take a picnic.
40. Find the number 6 of the Plaza des Vosges where Victor Hugo, one of the most famous writers in the French language, lived.
41. Have the last drink in one of the terraces located in the narrow streets of the Latin Quarter, another of the things you have to do in Paris.
42. Go down to the crypt of the Pantheon, located in the Latin Quarter, to see the tombs of French illustrious characters such as Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Marie Curie, Louis Braille or Alejandro Dumas.
43. To end the visits of the Latin Quarter, approach the Saint Michel square and the fountain, declared a historical monument in 1926. A good option to know all the points of interest and history of this neighborhood is to book this guided tour in Spanish.
44. Complete visits to these neighborhoods with these routes optimized by the city according to the days you have:
Montmartre neighborhood
Where to eat in Paris
45. Try some of the most typical French dishes such as: Soupe à l'oignon, La raclette, Coq au vin, Ratatouille, Escargots, Croque Monsieur, Gratin dauphinois or Boeuf bourguignon, among many others.
46. Leave room for delicious French desserts such as macarons and le petit four, an assortment of sweet and savory small cakes.
47. Stop at Au P'tit Grec and try some of the best crepes in Paris.
48. Delight yourself with a table of exquisite cheeses accompanied by a glass of French wine at the Fromagerie Danard.
49. Try one of the best falafel and shawarma at the restaurant L'As du Fallafel, one of the best things to do in Paris.
50. Give yourself a gastronomic tribute in restaurant 58 of the Eiffel Tower while enjoying fantastic views of the city.
51. Try ethnic food from different market stalls "Les Enfants Rouges", one of the oldest.
52. Eat the best foie gras in Paris at the Au Petit Sud Ouest restaurant.
53. Place an order at the Paris Picnic or buy food in a supermarket to have a picnic in one of the city parks.
54. Try several dishes of typical French food in the restaurants Le Souffle and l'Ardoise, located near the Plaza Concorde.
55. Breakfast a fresh croissant with a butter aroma accompanied by a coffee or coffee au lait in a Parisian cafeteria.
56. Order two good dishes of udon and tempura at the Sanukiya Japanese restaurant, located near the Louvre.
57. Find the Sourire restaurant in the Latin quarter to eat their delicious fusion tapas.
58. Other international food options in the Latin Quarter are Joe Burger's burgers and Vietnamese food at the Saigon Pantheon.
59. If you are a lover of Italian food, do not miss the 4 Pat and Gourmet Comptoir restaurants.
60. Have a coffee at Les Deux Molins, famous for the movie Amélie.
Parisian food
The most beautiful parks in the city
61. Relax in the Parc des Buttes Chaumont, one of the largest and most beautiful green spaces in the city. Thanks to its slope you can find caves, waterfalls, a suspension bridge and views of the Montmartre neighborhood.
62. Rent a bike and travel the 15 kilometers of paths in the Boulogne Garden, another of the least known and most beautiful parks in Paris.
63. Sit on the grass of the Field of Mars, a perfect green area to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of Paris under the feet of the Eiffel Tower.
64. Stroll through the Tuileries Gardens, our favorite gardens in the city and one of the best things to see and do in Paris.
65. Reach the Luxembourg Palace and look for the Medici fountain in its popular gardens.
66. Enjoy one of the most beautiful views of the city from the Parc de Belleville.
67. Bathe on the urban beach that forms on the banks of the River Seine, between the Island of San Louis and the Tuileries Garden, during the months of July and August.
68. Stroll through the fantastic Garden of La Proménade Plantée, built on old railway tracks.
69. Go to Jardin des Plantes in spring to see plants and flowers of all kinds in their flowering season.
Place des Vosges
Excursions from Paris
70. If you have enough time, make one of these recommended day trips from Paris to see some wonders of France.
71. Visit the rooms of the Palace of Versailles and the huge gardens, one of the most beautiful in the world.
To get to Versailles you can take the RER C train from the Versailles-Rive Gauche line that will take you in half an hour to Versailles.
Another more comfortable option in which you will know the internal history of this palace is to book this excursion by bus or by train, both with a guide in Spanish.
You can expand the information on this excursion by reading this post on how to go from Paris to Versailles.
72. Feel like a child for a few hours having fun in the two parks of Disneyland Paris: Disneyland and Walt Disney Studio.
To reach the parks you can take the regional train RER A in the direction of Marne-la-Vallee Chessy at the Châtelet Les Halles station which takes 40 minutes.
Another more comfortable way to go to this theme complex is to book this excursion to Disneyland Paris by panoramic bus.
For more information you can consult this post of tips for traveling to Disneyland Paris and how to get to Disneyland Paris.
73. Running out of words when standing in front of the Chambord Castle and the castle of Chenonceau Castle, two of the most beautiful castles of the Loire.
If you do not have much time or do not want to rent a car, we recommend you book this excursion to the Loire Castles with a guide in Spanish.
74. See one of the wonders of the world located in a unique location, Mont Saint Michel.
The best way to get from Paris is by car or by booking this excursion to Mont Saint Michel with a guide in Spanish.
Mont Saint Michel
Other interesting things to do in Paris
75. Meeting the Eiffel Tower between buildings when walking along Rue de l'Université.
76. Visit the Mazarino Library, the oldest public library in France and located on the banks of the Seine.
77. Arrive at the first hour of the day by subway to Plaza Trocadero, to take the best picture of the Eiffel Tower.
78. Book tickets for Moulin Rouge to see a show at the most famous cabaret in Paris.
79. Remember movie scenarios Midnight in Paris of the great Woody Allen.
80. Surprise yourself when you see the Church of the Madeleine, with an architecture similar to that of the Greek temples.
81. Going at night to the glass pyramid of the Louvre Museum, where the lighting of this square is safe, will surprise you.
The Louvre at night
82. Find the small Statue of Liberty in the Île des Cygnes, remembering that the one in New York was a gift from France for the commemoration of the centenary of American independence.
83. Pay a visit to the Conciergerie, Maria Antonieta prison and thousands of people before being executed in the Place de la Concorde.
Take advantage of the fact that the prison is located in the Île de la Cité, to take a walk through the flower market of the Place Louis Lépine.
84. Cross the wood and iron bridge of the Arts with good views of the Île de la Cité and another one of the best things to do in Paris.
85. Look at the prices in the luxurious shop windows of the shops of Avenida Montaigne even if you don't want to buy anything.
86. Stop in front of the monumental complex formed by the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais.
87. Going out at night through the Pigalle neighborhood, one of the liveliest of Parisian nights.
88. Feel the history in the Place de la Bastille, symbol of the Revolution and the liberation of the French people.
88. Go back to the 19th century when entering the beautiful Passage des Panoramas gallery.
89. Get off the subway to reach the La Defense neighborhood, a neighborhood with a futuristic air full of skyscrapers. Among the most prominent buildings is El Arco de la Defensa, an almost perfect cube with 110 meters high covered with glass plates.
90. Listen to the La vie en rose by Édith Piaf as you walk through Paris and count the days left to return.
Useful tips for your trip
91. Find an accommodation with the three B, good, beautiful and cheap. Although it is difficult to find a cheap hotel in Paris, a good option is to get away from the center a little, although always being close to a metro station. We were at the Etoile Pereire hotel located 10 minutes walk from the Arc de Triomphe and 300 meters from the metro stop. In addition to the fantastic situation, the hotel has one of the best quality / price ratios in the city.
For more information on the best hotels and neighborhoods where to sleep we recommend you read this post of where to stay in Paris.
92. Order at restaurants une carafe d'eau, Por favor our “tap water” of a lifetime, one of the things to do in Paris to save money.
93. Use some French words such as: bonjour (Good morning), bonsoir (good afternoon / evening), de rien (you're welcome), excusez-moi (excuse me), désolé (sorry), merci (thanks), aur revoir (see you soon) to learn a little more about the city.
94. Use the subway to get around the city. To reach the farthest places like Disneyland Paris, Versailles or the two airports of the city you can take the A, B and C lines of the RER train.
Paris metro
95. Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current exchange we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
96. If it matches you, keep in mind that the first Sunday of each month the entrance to many museums is free. Keep it in mind when organizing your trip.
97. Be attentive to your belongings, especially in places with many people and in the subway. Although it is not an insecure city, making use of common sense, as anywhere in the world, is the best way to avoid surprises.
98. If you have little time, take a tour with the Paris tourist bus with comments recorded in Spanish and stop at the main attractions of the city, it is one of the best options.
99. See if you find it profitable to buy the Paris Pass, a card with which you will save money on the tickets of 60 Paris attractions and time, by allowing you to enter without queues to places like The Louvre. This card also includes unlimited public transport.
100. Follow this list of essential tips for traveling to Paris.
If you feel like helping us complete the list of the best 100 things to see and do in Paris, add yours in the comments.
