Paris Tours & Activities

Plan your trip to Paris, France — handpicked tours and activities, the best time to visit, where to stay and eat, how to get there, and a sample itinerary.

Top things to do in Paris

• Eiffel Tower. Gustave Eiffel's 1,050-foot iron landmark is the defining symbol of Paris, offering panoramic views from three levels above the city. Summit lift tickets sell out within hours of the 60-day release window, so book at midnight Paris time on your target date.
• Louvre Museum. Home to 35,000 works including the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo, the Louvre is the world's most-visited museum housed in a former royal palace. Timed online entry is mandatory June through August — book the 9 AM slot to beat the midday surge.
• Musée d'Orsay. A breathtaking collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterworks — Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Degas — displayed inside a converted Beaux-Arts railway station overlooking the Seine. Timed entry is now mandatory; Thursday evenings offer reduced prices and smaller crowds.
• Notre-Dame de Paris. Paris's Gothic masterpiece reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire, its restored nave and great organ once again welcoming visitors free of charge. The towers — including a new visitor itinerary — reopened in September 2025.
• Sainte-Chapelle. This 13th-century royal chapel on the Île de la Cité replaces solid walls with 600 square metres of floor-to-ceiling stained glass in 15 lancet windows — one of the most dazzling interiors in Europe. Arrive at 9 AM on a sunny weekday for the south windows in sharp morning light.
• Versailles — Palace and Gardens. The Sun King's extravagant 17th-century palace, 20 km outside Paris via RER C, anchors 800 hectares of formal gardens, canals, and the Petit and Grand Trianons. The Passport ticket (€35 for non-EU visitors) covers the entire estate including the Hall of Mirrors.
• Sacré-Cœur Basilica and Montmartre. Perched atop the city's highest hill, the white-domed Sacré-Cœur offers sweeping 40-km views over Paris and houses one of the world's largest mosaics. The surrounding Montmartre neighbourhood — with its winding lanes, artists at Place du Tertre, and legendary cabarets — retains a genuine village character.
• Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées. Napoleon's monumental 50-metre arch crowns the western end of the Champs-Élysées, and climbing its 284 steps rewards visitors with a 360-degree panorama of 12 radiating avenues. Each evening at nightfall the eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is rekindled.

Best time to visit Paris

Mid-May to mid-June, or September. Mid-May to mid-June offers long days, blooming gardens, and mild temperatures (avg highs ~68–74°F / 20–23°C) without the peak-summer crowds and heat. September is the best shoulder-season alternative: crowds thin, golden light, and temperatures remain comfortable before autumn rains arrive

Paris weather by month

Getting to Paris

Most arrivals land at Charles de Gaulle (CDG); the RER B train or Roissybus reaches the center in ~45 min. Orly (ORY) is closer and linked by the Orlyval + tram. Paris is made for walking, and the Métro covers everything else — a car is a liability in the city.

• CDG Paris Charles de Gaulle — 50 min drive
• ORY Paris Orly — 30 min drive

Where to stay in Paris

Where to base yourself, by neighborhood.

• Le Marais (3rd & 4th arrondissements). The most central and walkable base in Paris, Le Marais sits within easy striking distance of the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and the Pompidou exhibitions. Medieval street plans, a thriving gallery scene, boutique shopping, and vibrant nightlife make it equally… Good for: First-timers, culture seekers, nightlife enthusiasts, LGBTQ+ travellers.
• Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th arrondissement). The quintessential literary Left Bank: legendary cafés (Flore, Les Deux Magots), antique dealers, designer boutiques along Boulevard Saint-Germain, and the Jardin du Luxembourg a short walk away. A polished, walkable neighbourhood that suits couples and… Good for: Couples, culture seekers, foodies, shopping lovers.
• 7th arrondissement (Eiffel Tower / Invalides). Stately and residential, the 7th puts you steps from the Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay, Musée Rodin, and the market street Rue Cler. It is Paris's most upscale residential district — grand avenues, embassies, and excellent restaurants — and the best choice if… Good for: First-timers focused on iconic sights, families, romance-seekers.
• Montmartre (18th arrondissement). Perched on its own hill with a village atmosphere, cobblestone lanes, artists' studios, and sweeping city views from the Sacré-Cœur steps, Montmartre is the most romantic and photogenic neighbourhood in Paris. Accommodation tends to be less expensive than… Good for: Couples, artists, photographers, budget-conscious travellers seeking atmosphere.
• Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement). The historic intellectual heart of Paris — Sorbonne university, the Panthéon, the Cluny museum, and Shakespeare and Company bookshop all cluster here. The neighbourhood offers affordable accommodation, authentic neighbourhood restaurants, and a lively… Good for: Students, history lovers, budget travellers, solo explorers.

Where to eat in Paris

A curated set of standout tables and local favorites.

Local favorites & classics

• Bouillon Chartier. 9th arrondissement (Grands Boulevards) · Classic French brasserie — Open since 1896 in a soaring Art Nouveau hall, Chartier has served affordable French classics — onion soup, blanquette de veau,…
• Bouillon Pigalle. 18th arrondissement (Pigalle) · Classic French brasserie — The more food-focused sibling of the Chartier group, serving high-quality French classics — duck confit, boeuf bourguignon, crème brûlée —…
• Le Relais de l'Entrecôte. 8th arrondissement (Champs-Élysées area) / 6th arrondissement (Saint-Germain) · French steakhouse — A Paris institution with a gloriously simple formula: walnut salad, unlimited steak-frites with…
• L'As du Fallafel. 4th arrondissement (Le Marais — Rue des Rosiers) · Middle Eastern / Kosher — The most famous falafel in Paris, lauded by critics and food guides for decades: crispy fried chickpea fritters stuffed…
• Pink Mamma. 20bis Rue de Douai · 4.7★ (51,994 reviews)
• Mon Ami Gabi. 3655 S Las Vegas Blvd South · 4.7★ (33,460 reviews)
• Bouillon République. 39 Bd du Temple · 4.6★ (39,687 reviews)
• Sphère. 18 Rue La Boétie · 4.8★ (14,553 reviews)

Fine dining & Michelin

• Plénitude — Cheval Blanc Paris. 1st arrondissement (Île de la Cité) · Contemporary French (3 Michelin stars) — Chef Arnaud Donckele elevates sauces — his 'Absolutes' — to the starring role in each dish; the Symphonie tasting menu…
• Le Cinq — Four Seasons Hotel George V. 8th arrondissement (Golden Triangle) · Contemporary French (3 Michelin stars) — Chef Christian Le Squer's gilded dining room pairs meticulous classical technique with a 50,000-bottle wine list…
• L'Arpège. 7th arrondissement (near Musée Rodin) · Vegetable-forward French (3 Michelin stars) — Chef Alain Passard's three-star landmark is built around produce from his own kitchen gardens in western France;…
• Septime. 11th arrondissement (Charonne / Bastille) · Modern bistronomy (1 Michelin star) — Bertrand Grébaut's trailblazing natural-wine-forward tasting menu changes every three weeks and ranks among the…
• Frenchie. 2nd arrondissement (Bourse / Sentier) · French with international influences (1 Michelin star) — Gregory Marchand's compact rue du Nil address offers a relaxed but technically precise tasting menu…
• Le Baratin. 20th arrondissement (Belleville / Pyrénées) · French natural-wine bistro (Michelin-listed) — A beloved neighbourhood institution run by Argentine chef Raquel Carena, known for a blackboard menu of…
• Passionné. 17 Rue Bergère · 4.8★ (4,841 reviews)
• Le Christine. 1 Rue Christine · 4.6★ (2,246 reviews)

A 7-Day Paris Plan

1. Day 1 — Icons of the Iron Lady. Begin at the Eiffel Tower at opening time to beat the crowds — take the lift to the second floor for sweeping views across the city. Stroll west along the Champ de Mars gardens to take in the full silhouette from ground level. Cross the Seine to the Trocadéro for the classic elevated…
2. Day 2 — World's Greatest Museum. Arrive at the Louvre Museum when it opens — start with the Denon Wing to see the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory of Samothrace before tour groups arrive. Allow at least three hours for the highlights of this vast collection. Take a break in the Tuileries Garden adjacent…
3. Day 3 — Impressionists and the Islands. Spend the morning at the Musée d'Orsay, housed in a stunning Belle Époque railway station, exploring the world's finest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works — Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Degas all shine here. Walk across the Pont de Sully to Île Saint-Louis…
4. Day 4 — The Hill of Artists, Montmartre. Ride the funicular up to Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre for panoramic views over all of Paris from the steps of the white-domed church. Explore the interior, then wander the village-like streets of the butte — visit Place du Tertre to watch portrait artists at work. Descend…
5. Day 5 — Royal Versailles Day Trip. Take the RER C train to Versailles — arrive early at the Palace of Versailles to walk the gilded Hall of Mirrors and the royal apartments before midday crowds swell. The opulence of Louis XIV's court is on full display in every painted ceiling and mirrored wall. Explore the vast…
6. Day 6 — Arc, Avenues and Elegance. Climb the Arc de Triomphe for a 360-degree view of Paris's grand radial boulevards, with the Eiffel Tower to the southwest and La Défense's modern skyline to the west. Then stroll the length of the Champs-Élysées, the world's most famous avenue, toward Place de la Concorde. Visit…
7. Day 7 — Hidden Gems and Farewell Paris. Explore the covered passages of the 2nd arrondissement — Galerie Vivienne and Passage des Panoramas are gilded 19th-century shopping arcades full of antique shops, wine bars, and crêpe stands. Then visit the Centre Pompidou for modern and contemporary art in one of the city's…

Events & festivals in Paris

• Paris Fashion Week — Women's Ready-to-Wear (March (F/W edition) and late September–early October (S/S edition) annually). Two main Women's RTW seasons: Fall/Winter edition in early March; Spring/Summer edition late September to early October. Officially listed on the Paris Tourist Office calendar.
• Bastille Day (Fête Nationale) (July 14 annually). France's national holiday. Military parade down the Champs-Élysées from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde; Air Force flyover; evening concert at Champ de Mars; Eiffel Tower fireworks display (traditionally…
• Tour de France — Final Stage, Champs-Élysées (Late July (2026: July 26)). The Tour de France traditionally concludes with a stage finishing on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. The 2026 edition (July 4–26) started in Barcelona and finished on the Champs-Élysées, incorporating a Montmartre circuit.
• Paris Plages (Paris Beaches) (Mid-July to mid-August annually). Annual event since 2002 transforming the banks of the Seine into temporary urban beaches with sand, deckchairs, and activities. Free and open to the public.

Top-rated tours & activities in Paris

• Devour Paris Ultimate Food Tour — 4.9★ (2,887 reviews)
• Versailles Palace Bike Tour with Market & Marie-Antoinette hamlet — 4.9★ (2,885 reviews)
• Normandy D-Day Sites & Cemetery Day Trip from Paris with Lunch — 4.8★ (9,405 reviews)
• Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Stairs with Optional Summit by Lift — 4.8★ (5,386 reviews)
• Montmartre Hill French Gourmet Food and Wine Tasting Walking Tour — 4.8★ (2,721 reviews)
• Eiffel Tower Dedicated Reserved Access Top or 2nd floor by lift — 4.7★ (3,498 reviews)
• Paris: Eiffel Tower Photo Shoot — 4.7★ (631 reviews)
• Louvre Museum Masterpieces Guided Tour with Access — 4.5★ (13,078 reviews)

Paris travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Paris?

Mid-May to mid-June, or September.

What are the top things to do in Paris?

Top experiences include Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Musée d'Orsay, Notre-Dame de Paris, Sainte-Chapelle.

Which airport is closest to Paris?

Paris Orly (ORY) is the nearest, about 30 minutes away.

Where should I stay in Paris?

Popular areas to base yourself include Le Marais (3rd & 4th arrondissements), Saint-Germain-des-Prés (6th arrondissement), 7th arrondissement (Eiffel Tower / Invalides), Montmartre (18th arrondissement).

How do I get around Paris?

Most arrivals land at Charles de Gaulle (CDG); the RER B train or Roissybus reaches the center in ~45 min.