PARIS | When I lived in London, Paris was a city I was lucky enough to visit regularly, thanks to being a short, affordable train ride away. Living in Australia again, I don’t visit as frequently, but whenever I do get back, I fall in love with the city all over again.
One of the things I love about Paris is that it’s both the city people expect and so much more. Paris is indeed one of the world’s most beautiful cities, but it’s also a vibrant, modern city. It’s gritty, filled with street art, multicultural neighbourhoods, and a diverse creative and hospitality scene.
Paris is proud of its history, but constantly reinvents itself. Below, you’ll find my list of the best things to do in Paris to help you make the most of your time in the city. It’s a mix of obvious must see sites for first time visitors, and some more insider, off the tourist path tips that I enjoy.
At-A-Glance: Top Paris Highlights
| Category | Top Recommendation / Highlight |
| Historical Sites & Landmarks | Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Catacombes de Paris, Sacré-Cœur, Cimetière du Père-Lachaise |
| Neighbourhoods | Le Marais, Belleville, Ménilmontant, Montmartre, Auteuil, Barbès |
| Parks & Gardens | Jardin du Luxembourg, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Jardin des Tuileries |
| Food & Drink | Bistros, patisseries, natural wine bars, open-air produce markets |
| Museums | The Louvre, Centre Pompidou, Musée d’Orsay, Palais de Tokyo |
| Arts & Culture | Street art hunting, independent bookstores, walking local streets |
Browse Independent Bookstores
Paris has a rich literary history, and browsing its many independent bookshops is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. From historic haunts where famous writers once gathered to modern English-language booksellers, you’ll find great selections across the city.
Famous stops like Shakespeare and Company near Notre-Dame are worth a look, but there are plenty of quieter gems too. Places like The Red Wheelbarrow in the Latin Quarter, Abbey Bookshop, and San Francisco Book Company offer fantastic ranges of English titles, rare finds, and new translations.
Careen Through A Street Produce Market
Paris’ famed central produce market, Les Halles, might have been demolished in 1973, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still visit a fresh produce market in town. There are around 80 open-air produce markets dotted around Paris. Some are relatively permanent, while others only operate on certain days of the week.
Join the locals stocking up on the best quality French fruit and veg, meat, seafood, and dairy, and grab a few things to enjoy at a nearby park. A few good spots are Pont de l’Alma Market on Avenue Président Wilson (open Wed and Sat), Rue Montorgueil market (open daily), and Raspail Market on Boulevard Raspail (open Tue, Fri, and Sun).
Descend To The Catacombs
Underneath the city, there are over 300km of winding tunnels, some dating back to Roman times when limestone was quarried for the city. Only a small portion of these tunnels are open to the public, including the Catacombes de Paris.
Inside, you’ll find the remains of between six and seven million Parisians. Their bones were moved here when the city’s cemeteries suffered from severe overcrowding between 1787 and 1814. It’s an eerie, fascinating site to visit.
Go Up The Eiffel Tower
Designed and built by Gustave Eiffel’s engineering firm between 1887 and 1889, this icon of Paris is something to behold. The 330-metre-tall wrought-iron structure is so well maintained that it looks brand new. You can admire the tower from the ground below or head up to the top for impressive views of Paris.
Head Out Of The Historic Centre
If it’s your first time in Paris, sticking to the central neighbourhoods works well. However, if you get the chance, I highly recommend checking out some of the neighbourhoods just outside the historic centre.
Belleville is one of my favourites. It’s a former industrial area that attracts a youthful, creative crowd, filled with trendy bars, eateries, and galleries. Nearby Ménilmontant is a grungier version popular with musicians, while Auteuil has a relaxed, village-like charm. For modern architecture, a visit to the business district of La Défense shows a completely different side of Paris.
Immerse Yourself In The Food & Drink Scene
Paris is one of the best cities in the world to eat French food, filled with brilliant bistros, cafes, bakeries, patisseries, wine bars, and cheese shops. Beyond traditional cooking, Paris has a long immigrant culture, with great food from all over the world, particularly places that were once part of the French Empire.
Contemporary restaurants in Paris blend French tradition and technique with personal cultural influences, alongside a growing focus on sustainable sourcing and natural wines.
Looking for restaurant recommendations? Check out my Paris Food Guide: Where To Eat for a full curated list of top spots.
Pay Respect To Icons At Cimetière du Père-Lachaise
Paris’ most famous cemetery, Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, is the resting place of many famous historic figures. Buried in the beautiful neo-Gothic cemetery, which opened in 1804, are people like Honoré de Balzac, Frédéric Chopin, Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, and Édith Piaf.
Graves range from unassuming headstones to large monuments and statues. The cemetery is also a well-maintained park and home to diverse native flora and fauna.
Relax In A Park Or Garden
Paris is filled with incredible green spaces, and taking time to relax in one is an essential part of the local lifestyle. Grab a freshly baked baguette, some cheese, or pastries from a market or boulangerie, find one of the iconic green metal chairs scattered around the gardens, and slow down.
Jardin du Luxembourg is one of the best spots to visit, with its tree-lined paths, fountains, and grand palace backdrop. Jardin des Tuileries, located between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, is another classic option. For something with dramatic topography and great city views, head to Parc des Buttes-Chaumont in the 19th arrondissement.
See Iconic Landmarks
While Paris is full of quiet neighbourhoods and hidden gems, its famous landmarks are popular for a reason. If it’s your first time in the city, seeing these historic monuments in person is well worth it, just try and visit outside of the busy summer tourist season.
Walk by Notre-Dame Cathedral on Île de la Cité to admire its Gothic architecture, head up to Montmartre to see the Sacré-Cœur and views across the city, or catch a glimpse of the illuminated Moulin Rouge at night. Even from the outside, these sites offer a great sense of the city’s history.
Seek Out Street Art
Paris is one of the best European cities to find street art, starting with stencil art in the 1950s and exploding in the late 1960s. Today, you’ll find political art, whimsical pieces, and large-scale murals celebrating the city and its people across various neighbourhoods.
Want to explore the city’s street art? Take a look at my Paris Street Art Guide for photos and exact locations.
Visit A Museum
With around 130 museums in Paris, there is something to suit every interest. Major sites like The Louvre and Musée d’Orsay are worth a visit, while the Centre Pompidou stands out for its “inside-out” architecture designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers.
Smaller, niche museums include Maison Rouge in Bastille, photography museum Le BAL at Place Clichy, and the National Museum of the History of Immigration (Cité Nationale de l’Histoire de l’Immigration) in Bel-Air.
Wander Around Aimlessly
Paris is best explored on foot. Beyond the grand boulevards, its narrow side streets and alleyways offer so much to discover. Give yourself time to walk around without a set route, turning off main streets to find independent boutiques, galleries, and cafes. Le Marais is one of the best areas to get lost in.