When visiting Paris, you probably have all the iconic attractions and museums on your itinerary. But a big part of the city’s charm lies in its exceptional activities . Where else can you track down Jim Morrison’s grave or watch the cancan performed in the dance hall where it was born? This guide features some of the most fun and unique things to do in Paris, from the top of the Eiffel Tower to the depths of the Catacombs and many places in between.
Eat an Eclair at the Oldest Pastry Shop in Paris
In 1730, Louis XV’s pastry chef, Nicolas Stohrer, opened his own pâtisserie on Rue Montorgueil. His specialty was baba au rhum, a yeast cake soaked in a sweet rum syrup. These royal treats are still available in the shop’s original location, making Stohrer the oldest pastry shop in Paris. The display cases are filled with so many stunning confections that you may have a hard time choosing. I recommend the salted caramel eclair and passionfruit-raspberry tart.
Take an Afterhours Tour of the Opera House
Opened in1875 at the behest of Emperor Napoleon III, the Palais Garnier is one of the great cultural institutions of France. It is also one of the most enigmatic thanks to the Phantom of the Opera, a story written in 1910 that became one of the most successful Broadway musicals ever made.
The Mysteries of the Palais Garnier tour takes place after opening hours and is a fun way to learn about the Phantom and other legends of the Paris Opera House. Sweep up the grand central staircase and wander the empty halls while hearing about the historical events and legends that inspired the original tale. Step into box 5 and see if you come face to face with the ghost.
Take a red velvet seat in the auditorium to admire the ceiling fresco by Marc Chagall and the magnificent chandelier – a copy of the one that fell in 1896 and killed someone in the audience. Was it an unfortunate accident, or an act of the phantom? I’ve been to Paris half a dozen times and this tour is one of my favorite experiences. It’s also the best way to get photos without tons of people in the frame.
Go Celebrity Grave Spotting in Père-Lachaise Cemetery
The City of Light has long been a beacon for artists, particularly during the free-spirited decades between the two world wars. Paris was a refuge and source of inspiration for some, a debauched playground for others. A great many painters, writers, singers, and performers are buried in Père-Lachaise Cemetery, the largest in Paris.
Walking past the open-air tombs you’ll see loads of familiar names. Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Gertrude Stein, Sarah Bernhardt, Chopin, Balzac, Proust, Colette, and Modigliani are among the famous residents of Père-Lachaise Cemetery. A detailed map at the entrance will help if you’re looking for someone in particular.
Step Back in Time at Hôtel de la Marine
The office of the French Navy might not sound like a must-see Paris attraction, but the Hôtel de la Marine is full of surprises. It was originally built in the 1700s to house le Garde-Meuble Royal, the organization in charge of all the king’s furnishings. After the French Revolution, the Ministry of Defense took over the stately building and used it as the Navy headquarters until 2015. A major restoration followed their departure, and Hôtel de la Marine was opened to the public in 2021.
Visits are self-guided with the use of a special headset that plays automatically as you walk from room to room. Your journey back in time will begin in the luxurious 18th century apartments of the stewards of the Garde-Meuble.
Continue down a gilded hallway to the sumptuous salons the Navy used for official functions. Interactive displays allow you to discover more about the former occupants and key historical events. End your tour on the loggia with a unique view over Place de la Concorde to Eiffel Tower.
Sip Champagne Atop the Eiffel Tower
Speaking of the Eiffel Tower, did you know that there is a champagne bar on the top level? It’s only open to those who have pre-purchased summit lift tickets and waited in the timed-entry queues, so definitely book a slot in advance. When you’re sipping your bubbly 276 meters above Paris, you’ll be very glad you did.
Enjoy a Cabaret Show
Another ultimate Parisian experience is enjoying a cabaret. Moulin Rouge is the most famous, with its iconic red windmill and high-kicking cancan dancers. Watching a show here should be on everyone’s Paris bucket list. From the costumes and lively performances to the glitzy ambience of the theater, you’re in for an unforgettable night. And yes, some of the women dance topless, but there’s so much else going on that you hardly notice.
Another Paris cabaret that’s worth the ticket price is Crazy Horse. Performances here are more burlesque than Vegas extravaganza, with fewer dancers and a sultrier vibe. There’s also more nudity than at Moulin Rouge, but it’s tastefully done. I loved the dancers’ sassy wigs, Brittney Spears songs, and the champagne flutes emblazoned with a red kiss.
Wander the Rodin Sculpture Garden
For those seeking some peace and quiet, the Rodin Sculpture Garden is an ideal spot for a stroll. The seven-acre garden is tucked behind the artist’s sunny yellow mansion, which is now a museum dedicated to his work. Walking around the grounds you’ll find Rodin’s most famous sculptures, including The Thinker, The Burghers of Calais, and The Gates of Hell, among many others. Flowers and fountains enhance the tranquil atmosphere.
Pay Your Respects to the Kings and Queens of France
The Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis holds a significant place in French history. This former abbey dates to the 12th century and is considered the first masterpiece of Gothic architecture. It also happens to be the final resting place for the French monarchy. The beautiful light-filled church contains over 70 tombs of former kings and queens, from Henry II and Catherine de’ Medici to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.
The cathedral is located in the Saint Denis suburb just over nine kilometers north of central Paris, and is easy to reach by metro.
See the Treasures of the National Library of France
King Charles V created France’s first royal library at the Louvre palace in the 14th century. That small private collection would eventually become the National Library of France, with over 42 million items including every book ever published in the country. There are two branches of the library in Paris. Bibliothèque Nationale de France Richelieu is the most historic, and reopened to the public in 2022 after significant restorations. Don’t miss the Oval Room, a free reading room that’s open to everyone.
You’ll need to ticket to enter the library’s museum, but it’s worth it. There are several rooms full of Greek and Roman antiquities, along with rare coins, cameos, and jewelry. Illuminated manuscripts, musical scores, maps, and first edition books are displayed in the Mazarin Gallery, a beautiful showpiece of 17th century Baroque architecture. Fragile artifacts are rotated every four months for preservation, so you never know what treasures you’ll find.
Explore the Catacombs
Deep underground (20 meters to be exact) are the Catacombs of Paris. This morbid monument of death was created in the 18th century to ease overcrowding in the local cemeteries. It is the oldest ossuary in the world, holding the remains of over six million people. The bones are neatly stacked along the tunnel walls, covering 1.5 kilometers. While not as elaborately decorated as some other ossuaries, a few of the skulls have been arranged into the shapes of hearts and crosses.
Find the Sinking House in Montmartre
Don’t be alarmed, this Insta-famous house isn’t actually sinking. It’s a fun optical illusion created by one very steep hill. To see it for yourself, climb up the steps to the Sacré Coeur in Montmartre. The red-and-cream apartment building will look as though it’s jutting out of the hillside, about halfway up the staircase.
Discover the Secret Vineyard of Paris
While you are in the neighborhood, there’s another unique attraction that you need to see. Vignes du Clos Montmartre is the only vineyard in Paris. It was planted by city officials in the 1930s in response to community protest over urbanization. Every autumn, a team of volunteers picks the grapes which are made into wine. Production is limited to around 1,500 bottles, and all the proceeds go to charity.
Do a Gourmet Mustard Tasting
Maille mustard was first made in 1747 at a small Parisian boutique specializing in vinegar. Madame de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV, lived near La Maison Maille and became a loyal customer. Maille was soon named as an official supplier to the royal court. The company still has a boutique in Paris, and you can taste several varieties of this gourmet mustard straight from the pump!
Hunt for Space Invaders
The first Space Invader mosaic went up in Paris in 1978. Now there are over 1,500 across the city, all installed by the same artist, Invader. This unique street art is inspired by the old-school video game and made from simple bathroom tiles. They are instantly recognizable and so fun to spot when walking around Paris. There’s even an app to help you keep track of the ones you find!
Look Through the Musée d’Orsay Clock
Before is was one of the best museums in Paris, the Musée d’Orsay was a train station. Gare d’Orsay opened in 1900 for the World’s Fair, and continued to be a major transportation hub until 1939. The building sat empty for a while before being converted into museum space. Thankfully, the Beaux-Arts facade was left untouched along with its now-famous clock window. You can find it at the back of the cafe.
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Considering we lived in France, we spent very little time in Paris – and we missed most of these places. Of course we’ll return someday (and maybe sans kids!)… Tomorrow we are having “France” day here with a dozen other prekindergarten kids, thank you for l’inspiration!
And of course one of the littles was crawling in my lap at the moment – sorry for the italics!
Happy to help! 🙂
We saw tons of families with kids – and strangers helping mothers with strollers on the metro! – so I think the city is a fairly child-friendly destination. Hope you make it back!
We were there last summer but have been lots before but we went to the Opera House and it was wonderful.
I wanted to visit the Opera but we ran out of time! Hopefully on the next visit…
Having dinner in the bar of the George V Hotel was just one of things I loved about Paris. But there are so many others …
Ooh, adding that to my list for next time! Thanks, Carol!
So many of my favourites here! I’m a huge fan of the parks in Paris, Jardin du Luxembourg, the Tuileries, Place des Vosges, Palais Royal etc.
I was hoping to spend more time in the parks, but the weather was rainy and cold in early March. Definitely not ideal for sightseeing, but we made it work!
Absolutely loved this post, Heather! I’ve been BEGGING the hubs to take time off work so we can go to Paris–I was last there in 2008 and have to say, to this day it’s been one of my favorite trips! So much to see (and eat!) I loved the daily routine of getting croissants and cafe au laits at the bakeries in the morning, and nutella crepes from the outdoor food vendors after an afternoon at the museum.
Thanks, Jess! I hope you get to go back to Paris soon! I loved the city before, but it was so much fun to explore it with my hubs! Especially since we were on the same page re: afternoon wine and cheese breaks 🙂
You know that I am NOT a museum person, and yet, we visited quite a few of them during our time in Paris and I actually really enjoyed myself! I agree that the Musée d’Orsay is just stunning; if I have any regrets, it’s that we chose to go on the free Sunday and so it was totally swamped with people. Good for the budget, but it would have been lovely to enjoy it without so many of our not-closest not-friends around!
I would say my very favorite museum that we visited, however, was the Orangerie, which features Monet’s waterlilly collection. It’s such a beautiful, serene space and the paintings themselves are gorgeous. Did you get a chance to visit? If not, you definitely have to the next time you are in Paris!
We had both been to the Orangerie on our previous trips to Paris and it wasn’t a priority this time. But we did go to the Musee Marmottan Monet which was excellent. The private collection included a bunch of Monets as well as paintings by Berthe Morisot, a hitherto unknown to me female Impressionist. This museum probably should have made the list but the post was getting a little long 🙂
The Musee d`Orsay is just magnificent. Can you just imagine it as a train station?! We visited Notre Dame years ago but I don’t remember it. Spectacular view from the top! I wish I’d gone up the Eiffel Tower when I was there before. I’m surprised the Louvre wasn’t on your list. I would love to go back!
I don’t think I need to go back to the Louvre ever in my lifetime. It has some incredible art, but the viewing experience leaves a lot to be desired!
Amazing list. Looks like I would love Musee d’Orsay – seems we have similar taste in art! I’ve seen some of the rest of France (Loire Valley, Avignon, Strasbourg), but have not made it to Paris yet.
Paris is always and will be my fave destination. ^0^
We skipped museums and headed elsewhere, but if I were to visit this city again.
It would be the Gargoyles, Napoleon’s tomb and museums. I’m surprise to see fotos inside the Musee Orsay,
used to be so strict with the no photo policy.
and The tapestry of Unicorn which I’m looking forward also,\
ever since I read Tracy Chevalier’s novel.
thanks for taking me down to memory lane.
I miss Paris and your fotos make me want to go back again.
Thanks arabesque, I hope you get to visit Paris again soon! It’s such a wonderful city, as you know, with so many interesting things to see and do. As for taking photos in the Musee d’Orsay, it’s no problem as long as you don’t use flash. This was true for most museums we visited. Cheers!
Looks like a lovely trip! So glad to see you did the tower climb of Notre Dame – that’s one of my favorite views of the city! And it’s so nice to see that someone is enjoying riding the Metro! I can’t say I really look forward to it, but Paris does have a good system. I really miss the electronic boards in the Metro that give the time estimate for the next train. Having just moved to NYC, I can’t believe that so many of the stations still don’t have this!
When I lived in NYC, the stations didn’t have any electronic time boards to speak of and was pleasantly surprised to find some on a recent visit. But I also missed the thrill of not knowing when, or if, my train would arrive! LOL.
Haven’t been to Paris but definitely they have some of the best museums to see artistic creation of great artists. I’ll definitely go to Musee d’Orsay. Thanks for the beautiful share 🙂
Thanks so much for your comment, Velysia!
I love Paris so much! Musee d’orsay is my favourite museum in the world so I’m so happy to see you mentioning it first! 😀
It’s such a fabulous museum! If I lived in Paris I’d definitely get a membership pass 🙂
Great photos Heather! I’ll add some of these museums to our list too for next month.
Also, I certainly have a soft spot for Paris since that’s where my hubby proposed. In the rose garden at the Le Palais Royal. It was tres romantic! 😉 Last time I really enjoyed the Les Halles neighbourhood bc of all the restaurants, butchers and other foodie shops!
Oh wow, Joy! That’s enough to give a girl serious proposal envy. Your hubby outdid himself on that one! 😉