Things to Do and See in Paris

Visit the Louvre: is the most famous of the museums in Paris and a must see for anyone visiting Paris. You can go multiple times and still not see everything. Insider tip — buy tickets ahead of time and plan on going either Wednesday or Friday since it is open late, until 9:45, and the crowds are less after 6. We were able to get close to the Mona Lisa without having to fight the crowds. Also, they are closed on Tuesdays.

Visit the Musee d'Orsay: If you love Impressionism this is the place for you. Housed in a converted train station, the building itself is a beauty to see. Some of Monet's most famous pieces are housed here.

Take a day trip to Versailles: Versailles is about an hour train ride outside the city and easy to get to on the train. The train station is in walking distance of Versailles and easy to get to. The Wall of Mirrors is a must see and don't forget to walk the grounds to see the incredible gardens.

Go shopping on Champs Elysee: Just walking down Champs Elysee and see the Arc de Triomphe is a picturesque view but don't forget to stop in some of the incredible shops that it is known for. The view at night with all the trees lite up along the boulevard and seeing the Arc de Triomphe in the distance is beautiful.

See a show at Moulin Rouge: Moulin Rouge continues to have shows and this is an unforgettable experience in Paris. We saw the show and it was one of the highlights of our trip. Moulin Rouge has been having shows there for over 100 years. Inside tip — make sure you get tickets before you go, they sell out quickly. We chose the tickets that include a bottle of Champagne, but they also offer tickets that include dinner. They have two showings, one at 9 and the other at 11.

Visit Sainte Chapelle: Sainte Chapelle is known for the incredible stained glass windows. Walking in and looking up at all the stained glass is beautiful. Inside tip: Make sure you go on a sunny day so that you can see the light coming in through the windows. It's incredible.

Take a walking tour of Le Marias: Le Marias is one of the oldest areas of Paris and has a lot of history. This is also an area I recommend staying in.

Visit Notre Dame — I was lucky enough to get to visit Notre Dame before the fire and the French government has worked hard to restore it to it's beauty. Notre Dame is set to reopen in December 2024 but still worth a visit before then just to see it from the outside.

Take a walk down the Seine River: The Seine River runs through the center of Paris and separates the city between the left and right bank. There is a walking path along it in some areas and others that are grassy, and you can have a picnic.

Visit the Eiffel Tower: The Eiffel Tower is another must see in Paris. If you go to the top you can see all of Paris. I have taken some incredible pictures from the top. Insider tip — buy ticket ahead of time and you won't have to wait in the long line for tickets and you will have a specific time to show up. They only release a certain number of tickets at time so you may have to keep checking back to get tickets. It's worth going twice if you want incredible pictures of the city during the day and to see it twinkle at night.

Visit the Latin Quarters: This is my favorite area to stay in. It is close to many areas of the city and easy to get by Metro from the airport. There are multiple pedestrians only streets that you can wander through.

L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon: If you're looking for an incredible place to have dinner, L'Atelier de Joel Robouchon is the place to go. There are two locations in Paris and we went to the location in Saint-Germain. L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon is a two star Michelin restaurant. Insider tip — make reservations ahead of time and don't forget to try the mashed potatoes — trust me, you'll thank me later.

6 New York: Incredible restaurant with a view of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower in the distance. Best mushroom risotto I have ever had but beware, it ruined me for mushroom risotto everywhere else since nothing could measure up to this place,
Breakfast at Cafe le Petite Pont — great place to enjoy a cafe latte and croissant with a view of Notre Dame.

Crepes: Enjoy crepes as you walk through the pedestrian streets of the Latin Quarters at Creperie Genia.

Gelato: While in the Latin Quarters you have to stop at Amorino for gelato. It's the best in the city and is located on the corner of Rue de la Huchette and Rue Xavier Privas.

Five Guys: if you're craving a burger and want to try an American burger place in Paris, Five Guys on Champs Elysee is the place to go. Fair warning - it's so much better than you get in the states you'll be disappointed when you have it back here.

Macarons: If you are craving some macarons, Maison Georges Larnicol is the place to go. They have a great selection and are delicious.

Le Saint Severin: A great place for a reasonably priced meal. They have a 3 course meal for around 20 euros. It's not Michelin quality but still good.