13 Best Things to Do Paris, France 🇫🇷
Looking for things to do in Paris or wondering if it’s worth it to travel here?
Well, today I’m going to take you through 13 things I’ve enjoyed doing here this past month.
I’m Lauren Z Ray, a full-time traveler, living in a new country every month along with my partner Lukas. Make sure to follow my Instagram for daily tips here.
Eiffel Tower
This one is a classic. If you don’t get a pic with the Eiffel tower, did you even go to Paris? Built by Gustave Eiffel for the World’s Fair of 1889 and never taken down, this monument is visited by more than 7 million people per year.
You can buy the 26.80 euro ticket & take the two elevators to the top or you can just snap a picture from the Trocadero gardens across the river seine.
Tickets: https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/rates-opening-times
2. Louvre
Besides housing famous works like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, this museum with 400 rooms and 35,000 artworks pieces is also in an epic palace. So not only do you get to see works of art, you also get to see some amazing architecture. This is the 4th largest palace in the world.
If you’re pressed for time, make sure to at least visit the Denon wing, where the Mona Lisa is located.
Tickets are 17 euros: https://www.louvre.fr/en/visit
3. Chill at a cafe
Ok the one may be obvious, but when you’re in Paris, you have to stop at a cafe. Get a coffee, get a croissant and enjoy people watching in Paris. This has been one of our favorite past times. You can stay here for hours or just a quick bite to eat, but it is a must.
My favorite cafes were: Land & Monkeys, Cloud Cakes & VG Patisserie
4. Versailles
About an hour train ride from Paris is the city of Versailles where King Louis the 14th built his splendid palace. With your 21.50 euro ticket you get to tour the palace, as well as the gardens and surrounding properties.
I recommend adding the guided tour as well because you get to skip the long security line and go through the group one and see rooms that aren’t open to the public. There are also less people on this tour, than the public one. Another tip is to arrive right when the palace opens, there seemed to be less people at this time, so you get to tour the palace with less crowds.
Tickets: https://en.chateauversailles.fr/plan-your-visit/tickets-and-prices
5. Pere Lachaise Cemetery
Named after the priest Louis 14th confessed all his sins to, this cemetery was founded in 1804 by Napoleon Bonaparte. Take a (free) walk around this historic place for the vibes. Cars aren’t allowed to drive through it and there are plenty of walking paths. It is quite fun finding unique & interesting tombstones on the property. Stop by Chopin, Jim Morrison, Gertrude Stein or Oscar Wilde’s tombs, as well as other famous names.
6. Sainte-Chapelle
This church looks almost as if it’s entirely made of stained glass because of its 1,1113 stained glass windows.. Built in just 7 years in the mid 13th century by King Louis the 9th to house the newly purchase crown of thorns. That’s right, apparently Jesus’ real crown of thorns is owned by the French. Before the fire, you used to be able to see it the 1st Friday of every month at Notre Dame.
Tickets are 11.50 euros: https://www.sainte-chapelle.fr/en/
7. Sacre-Coeur & Montmartre
In the neighborhood of Montmartre and on top of a hill is the white domed church of Sacre Coeur, built in 1914. Made entirely of gypsum, which whitens with age, this is Paris’ highest natural point. It’s free admission to go inside and 6 euros to climb the tower.
8. Arc de Triomphe
This is a monument that was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte for his victory in 1805 at the Battle of Austerlitz. There is also an observation deck inside that costs 13 euros. There are 284 steps to the top of the arc, so can feel like quite the workout. I liked the view better here than the Eiffel Tower, as it wasn't as high or as scary plus the space is more open and less crowded.
Tickets: https://www.paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr/en/
9. The Army Museum
This may not be the most talked about museum in Paris, but it is such a fascinating one! Here you will find collections of weapons and uniforms tracing French military history and they have some super interesting one! Plus you get to see Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb, or should I say mausoleum?
Tickets are 14 euros: https://www.musee-armee.fr/en/your-visit/opening-times-and-prices.html
10. Catacombs of Paris
This is a very interesting and possibly controversial thing to do in Paris. 65 feet below ground level you will descend to find the catacombs, which are housed in a former limestone mine. More than 6 million people are buried down here, some being those of the French Revolution in the late 1700s. In 1810 they decided to stack the bones into the creative way you see today. Is this something you’d visit or would it be too haunting?
Tickets sell out fast, and are pricier at 29 euros each: https://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/visit/individual-rates
11. Rodin Museum
This is a sculpture & art museum housed inside Auguste Rodin’s actual house from the early 1900s. You can tour the famous works inside his home like the kiss & also out in the gardens like the thinker. The property the museum is on is just magical, def recommend stopping by.
Tickets are $12: https://musee-rodin.tickeasy.com/en-GB/products?family=1726956406350300003
12. Cluny Museum
This French medieval art museum is housed in one of the oldest buildings in Paris. It’s partly made from the ruins of a 2nd century Roman bath house. Inside you. Can discover sculptures, artworks, and tapestries from the medieval times of Paris. It was so cool!
Tickets are 12 euros each: https://www.musee-moyenage.fr/en/visiter/practical-information.html
13. Notre Dame
Last, but certainly not least is this gothic cathedral from 1163 that took more than 200 years to build. The cathedral is one of the most widely recognized symbols of Paris and Napoleon Bonaparte even had his coronation here. Since the fire in 2019, it has been under reconstruction and can only be seen from the outside. It is scheduled to reopen by 2024.
Conclusion:
Of course, there is so much more to see on a visit to Paris and these are just some of my favorite things to do during my one month stay here.
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