PARIS | When I lived in London, Paris was a city that I was lucky enough to be able to visit several times, such is the advantage of being a short, affordable train ride away. Living in Australia once more, I no longer visit so regularly, but whenever I do get back, I fall in love with the city all over again.
One of the things that I love about Paris is that it’s both the city that many are led to believe it is based on the marketing and tourist guides, and so much more. Paris is indeed, one of the world’s most beautiful cities, the people here do dress well, and it’s a romantic place. There’s plenty of bakeries selling croissants and baguettes, and the tourist sites are generally worth visiting. It’s also a vibrant, modern city. Paris is a gritty city, it’s a city filled with street art, it’s a city with multicultural neighbourhoods and a diverse creative and hospitality scene that reflects this.
Paris is a city that is proud of its history, but is constantly reinventing itself. Whenever I’m back, I’m always amazed at how many things have changed, and love discovering it all over again.
Below, you’ll find a list of what I think are some of the best things to do in Paris. Regardless of the kind of traveller that you are, you’ll find something to suit your tastes in Paris.
Browse Through A Street Produce Market
Paris’ famed central produce market, Les Halles, might have closed and demolished in 1973, but that doesn’t mean that 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 in nature, while other only operate on certain days of the week, with exact trading hours changing depending on the season.
Join the locals stocking up on the best quality French fruit and veg, meat, seafood, dairy, and more and grab yourself a few things that you can enjoy at a nearby park. A few good ones are Pont de l’Alma Market, on Avenue President Wilson (open Wed, Sat); Rue Montorgueil market (open daily), and Raspail Market, on Boulevard Raspail (open Tue, Fri, Sat).
Descend To The Catacombs
More than most cities, Paris is a place where a large number of its popular, tourist sites are very much worth visiting. Underneath the city, there’s believed to be over 300km of winding tunnels. Some of them date back to Roman times, and were carved out when quarrying the city for limestone. Only a small portion of the these tunnels are open to the public, one of which is the Catacombes de Paris.
Inside, you’ll find the remains over between six to seven million Parisians. Their bones were moved here when the city’s cemeteries were suffering from overcrowding between between 1787 and 1814. It’s an eerie, fascinating thing to see.
Go Up The Eiffel Tower
Speaking of tourist sites, the Eiffel Tower is perhaps the most touristy thing that I’ve ever included on one of my city lists. It very much belongs here, though. Designed and built by engineer Gustave Eiffel’s engineering firm between 1887 to 1889, this icon of Paris is a site to behold. The 330 metre tall, wrought-iron structure is so well maintained that it looks like new. Admire the tower from the ground below, or head up to the top for some of the most impressive views of Paris.
Head Out Of The Historic Centre
The first few times I visited Paris, I stuck to the most central of neighbourhoods. They are interesting and diverse, and if it’s your first time in the city, you can’t go wrong sticking to these neighbourhoods only. If you do, however, get the chance, I highly recommend checking out one of more of the city’s neighbourhoods just outside the historic centre.
They’re all easily accessible by Metro, and some are even walkable from the heart of town. Belleville is one of my favourites. It’s a former industrial area that attracts a youthful, creative, crowd, filled with trendy bars and eateries, and galleries. Nearby Ménilmontant is a somewhat grungier version of the former, popular with musicians and anti-establishment individuals.
Further out, there’s the relaxed, village-like charm of Auteuil; and the vibrant, multicultural neighbourhood, Barbès that are worth a visit. If you’re into modern architecture and skyscrapers, a visit to the business district of La Défense will open your eyes to a completely different side of Paris.
Immerse Yourself In The City’s Exciting Food & Drink Scene
Paris is, as you’d expect, one of the best cities in the world in which to eat French food. The city is filled with brilliant bistros and cafes, bakeries and patisseries, and plenty of places in which you will find excellent wine, charcuterie, cheese, and more.
It’s not just traditional French food that makes eating in Paris so good, though. There’s a long immigrant culture in this city, and you’ll find great food from all over the world. In particular, those places that were once part of the French Empire. You’ll find these influences in some of the city’s more contemporary restaurants, which blend French tradition and technique with personal cultural influences.
Paris’ contemporary restaurants have also been influenced by chefs that have travelled, worked in kitchens abroad, and are keen to expand the idea of what French food can be. Of course, the traditional spots, and new spots which take tradition but zone in more than ever on things like sourcing and sustainability, are all worth a visit too.
For some tips on restaurants, cafes, bars, and other places to enjoy the diversity of what Paris’ food and drink scene has to offer, take a look at my Paris Food Guide: Where To Eat.
Pay Respect To Icons Of The Past At Cimetière du Père-Lachaise
Paris most famous cemetery, Cimetière du Père-Lachaise, is the resting place of many famous historic figures, French and international. Buried in the hauntingly beautiful neo-Gothic cemetery, which opened in 1804, are people like Honoré de Balzac, Frédéric Chopin, Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison, and Édith Piaf.
Graves at Cimetière du Père-Lachaise range from unassuming headstones, to large monuments and statues. The cemetery is also a well maintained park, and home to a diverse array of native flora and fauna.
Seek Out Street Art
Paris is one of the best European cities in which to find street art. Starting with stencil art in the 1950s, the city’s graffiti scene evolved, and then exploded in the late 1960s. The street art scene continued to evolve in the following decades, and today, you’ll find street art all over Paris.
There’s a lot of political art to be found, along with whimsical pieces, murals that celebrate the city and its people, and artworks that reveal aspects of the artists’ personalities and lives. Check out my Paris Street Art Guide for more, including pictures and a guide to where to find the city’s best street art.
Visit A Museum
You’re sure to find something of interest in one of Paris’ 130-or-so museums. There’s the big hitters that everyone knows about, all of which are worth a visit, and lesser known museums focusing on more niche topics.
The most visited museum in the world, The Louvre, is of course a must visit. Beyond the Mona Lisa, there’s enough here to warrant multiple visits. The exhibitions are expertly curated and really put the artworks and artefacts in context. Lovers of sculpture and impressionism should visit Musée d’Orsay, while fans of contemporary art should check out both the Palais de Tokyo, and the Frank Gehry-designed Fondation Louis Vuitton.
My favourite modern art museum in Paris is the Centre Pompidou. The “inside-out” building, designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers and opened in 1977, features usually hidden features of a building, like plumbing, ducts, and elevators, on the outside. The collection and rotating exhibits are great, but the architecture alone make the gallery one worth visiting.
A few of the lesser-known Paris museums that I enjoy are Maison Rouge, a former printing house turned contemporary art gallery, in Bastille; photography museum, Le BAL, at la place Clichy; and immigration museum, Cité Nationale de l’Histoire de l’Immigration (National Museum of the History of Immigration), in Paris’ Bel-Air neighbourhood.
Wander Around
Paris is one of the world’s most walkable cities, and well deserving of its reputation as one of the world’s most beautiful cities. It’s a city that’s best explored on foot. From its grand boulevards lined with impressive historic buildings, to its narrow, cobblestone-lined back streets and alleyways, there’s so much to see and discover.
I recommend you dedicate a few hours at least, to simple wandering around the city aimlessly. Give yourself extra time in-between seeing the things that you want to see to explore. Take a few random twists and turns off the main street, and you’ll discover interesting little boutiques, galleries, street art, and more. Le Marais, in particular, is one of my favourite parts of Paris to get lost in.