The 10 BEST things to do in Paris, France
Paris, France, is one of the most romanticised cities in the entire world – and for a good reason, as it’s beautiful! The buildings are stunningly decorated, the food is delicious, and there are plenty of great things to do. Read on the find out about the 10 BEST things to do in Paris!
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Contents:
What is the best way to get to Paris?
What is the best way to get to Paris? Paris has three airports in total, these are: Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Paris Orly (ORY) and Paris Beauvais (BVA). Therefore, if you’re coming from a long-haul destination, I’d recommend landing in one of the airports if you are visiting Paris. However, if you’re coming from a European country, then I’d recommend taking the train, as there are many connections to Paris all over Europe. The Eurostar also runs to Paris – meaning if you want to get there fast, then you can!
Why should you visit Paris?
Why should you visit Paris? Simply because Paris has so much to offer for all types of people. If you love arts and culture, then Paris is home to over 130 museums, and there are lots of theatre shows, too. It’s great if you’re a foodie, as Paris attracts some of the best chefs in the world (haven’t you seen Ratatoie?! 😉 ) and there is a cafe on every street. Paris is also a fabulous place to visit if you have kids or love Disney as it’s home to Europe’s only Disneyland! Whether you spend a week or 72 hours in Paris, it’s certain that your itinerary will be packed!
The 10 BEST Things to do in Paris:
1. The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is obviously one of the best things to do in Paris – and also one of the most romantic things to do in Paris (you need to have a kiss at the top, I’ve had mine! 😉 ), as it’s one of the most iconic buildings in the entire world! Even if you’re scared of heights, I highly recommend that you go up it – the view is breathtaking. The Eiffel Tower was finally built in 1889 by Augustus Eiffel (who also designed the Statue of Liberty, too!) and is the tallest building in France to this day.
Tickets are actually very cheap in comparison to other famous buildings and can be bought on-site, however, there are often long queues which can ruin the experience. To solve this, you can buy skip-the-line Eiffel Tower tickets instead, which save so much time and make the experience much more enjoyable!
2. Paris Opera
The Paris Opera, also known as The Palais Garnier, is one of the best-known operas in the world. The building is simply stunning and has so many beautiful details to be explored. Opera shows put on here can be a bit expensive to attend, but you can also take a tour around the opera house – which is what we did.
It’s one of the best things to do in Paris, even if you don’t like things like opera. If you do like opera, then you might already know that the Phantom of The Opera is set here – which makes it even more of a must-visit.
3. Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge is an amazing show and is well known in the theatre world due to the musical and film that were inspired by the original Moulin Rouge in Paris. You will have an unforgettable experience at the venue and will be served fabulous French food whilst enjoying the “Féerie” Revue show! It’s unlike any other experience in Paris, which makes it a must-visit.
The Moulin Rouge is good to even see from the outside or have a drink in the bar if you don’t want to watch a show, as let’s face it – they can be a bit pricey. It’s great to see at night as the red lights light up against the dark night sky.
4. La Crêperie mon ami
La Crêperie mon ami is the best place to go if you want delicious Crêpes at great prices. They are freshly made and taste as good as they look. What’s more, is that there are lots of different flavours to choose from, such as Nutella and banana, cheese, apricots, and many more!
La Crêperie mon ami is located in a tiny shop, close to the Moulin Rouge, and they also are available for UberEats delivery if you don’t want to leave your hotel. It’s a must-visit if you want to try traditional French food at a great price whilst supporting a local business!
5. Sacré-Cœur
Sacré-Cœur offers some of the best views of Paris, as well as being a stunning church. Construction for Sacré-Cœur began in 1875 and was completed in 1914, but due to World War 1, it wasn’t consecrated until 1919. The white church is a very iconic building and stands out against all of the other buildings in Paris.
Admission to Sacré-Cœur is free, which makes it a great thing to do if you’re travelling on a budget. Just remember to watch out for pick-pockets in this area – as well as all the major tourist areas and the metro.
6. Les Invalides
Les Invalides is where the tomb of Napoleon is – who is one of the best-known French military and political leaders. At Les Invalides, there is also an artillery collection that has over 200 years of history, as well as lots of museums that boast some of the best military collections in the entire world.
The Les Invalides complex contains 15 courtyards in total, a church, and other architectural features. The courtyard and church are free to visit; however, you have to buy a ticket in order to view Napoleon’s tomb and the museum.
7. Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is another one of the most iconic buildings in Paris. Construction started in 1806, and it finally opened in 1836 and honours those who fought and died in the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. Beneath the Arc de Triomphe is the Tomb of the Unkown Soldier, where the flame is relit every day at 18:30.
What makes the Arc de Triomphe good to visit is that its location is very amusing – in the middle of a very big roundabout – so don’t try crossing the road to reach it, as it won’t end very well! Luckily, there are tunnels underneath to help you reach it safely.
8. Catacombs of Paris
The Catacombs of Paris are one of the best things to do in Paris if you love spooky and unusual things. It is a labyrinth beneath the streets of thousands of bones and skulls to be explored. The catacombs were first started in the late eighteenth century as many of the cemeteries in Paris were leading to major public health problems. Ever since 1809, the catacombs of Paris have been open to the public.
It is one of the most memorable activities to do in Paris, and the movie As Above So Below was inspired by these catacombs. It’s very strange to think about the fact that millions of bones are lying beneath your feet when walking the streets of Paris.
9. The Louvre
The Lourve is the most visited museum in the world – and has so many things to see that you won’t be able to view it all in one day. It is famous for being home to the painting of the Mona Lisa, where every day, thousands of tourists line up to see the historical painting by Leonardo Da Vinci.
There are lots of fantastic reasons to visit the Lourve, and there is so much history here to be discovered, as it also used to be a palace. It’s recommended to book your tickets online if you want to visit the Lourve, as the queue times can be very long!
10. Tower Montparnasse
Tower Montparnasse is the tallest skyscraper in Paris and is also known as being one of the ugliest buildings there too! It is one of the best sunset spots in Paris and offers great views of the whole of Paris and the Eiffel Tower. Tower Montparnasse has an observation deck outside, an indoor viewing floor, and a restaurant to dine in.
It is an un-missable building to spot and is relatively quieter than the Eiffel Tower, so if you want to visit somewhere that will have fewer tourists but still offer amazing views – head to Tower Montparnasse!
Hopefully, you’ve now learnt about some of the best things to do in Paris! What were your favourite things to do in Paris if you’ve been that you think deserve to be on the list? Let me know by commenting down below! If you liked this post, you might also like:
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