If you’re planning a trip to the City of Lights, this Paris bucket list suggests 36 things everyone must do at least once while visiting the city!
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36 Bucket List Things to Do in Paris
Table of Contents
- 1. See the Eiffel Tower at night
- 2. Eat at an outdoor cafe terrace
- 3. Watch the sunset from the steps of the Sacre Coeur
- 4. Eat a Nutella crepe from a street vendor
- 5. Have a picnic on the banks of the Seine River
- 6. Buy a macaron from Laduree
- 7. Buy local goods from the Rue Cler street market
- 8. See the view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe
- 9. Pick up fresh pastries from a patisserie
- 10. Visit the Pantheon crypt
- 11. Take a photo in front of the clock window at Musee d’Orsay
- 12. View the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
- 13. Ride one of the city’s carousels
- 14. Tour the underground Catacombs of Paris
- 15. See the spring blossoms
- 16. Walk through one of the few remaining covered passageways
- 17. Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower
- 18. Take a photo in front of the Moulin Rouge
- 19. Walk the charming streets of Montmartre
- 20. Visit the Phantom of the Opera’s Box #5
- 21. See the Louvre pyramids lit up at night
- 22. Visit the Bridge of Locks
- 23. Take a river cruise on the Seine
- 24. Order hot chocolate from Cafe de Flore
- 25. Take a day trip to the Palace of Versailles
- 26. Try a creme puff from Odette
- 27. Take a photo of the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero Square
- 28. Walk through one of the city’s public gardens
- 29. Visit Notre Dame
- 30. See Marie-Antoinette’s jail cell at the Conciergerie
- 31. Admire the stained glass windows at Sainte Chapelle
- 32. Take a photo at the colorful Rue Cremieux
- 33. Experience the nightlife at Le Marais
- 34. Pick up a book at Shakespeare & Company
- 35. Go window shopping on Champs-Elysees
- 36. Get lost wandering the streets
1. See the Eiffel Tower at night
Every night at sunset, the Eiffel Tower is illuminated by lights and is truly a magical sight to behold.
There is also a spectacular five-minute glittering light show that happens every hour on the hour.
See our guide 7 Spectacular Places to View the Eiffel Tower for the best spots to see the light show
2. Eat at an outdoor cafe terrace
The streets of Paris are lined with the most charming cafes and outdoor terraces. In fact, in 2018 the city requested that the terraces in Paris be placed on the UNESCO world heritage list.
Enjoying brunch at one of these cafes should be at the top of everyone’s Paris bucket list!
A few of the most popular Parisian cafes include: Cafe Au Vieux, Odette, Cafe de Flore, Le Consulat, La Maison Rose, and Le Saint Regis
3. Watch the sunset from the steps of the Sacre Coeur
The Sacre Coeur, or Sacred Heart Basilica, is situated on the highest hill in Paris in the neighborhood of Montmartre.
The basilica steps are the best place to watch the sunset over the city of Paris.
4. Eat a Nutella crepe from a street vendor
Paris is known for a lot of things, and their Nutella crepes are one of them! We would recommend eating a minimum of AT LEAST one crepe each day that you’re in Paris!
Our favorite place to get crepes is from Creperie du Cloitre next to Notre Dame.
5. Have a picnic on the banks of the Seine River
During the warmer months, the banks of the Seine River will be dotted with Parisians and tourists alike enjoying baguette sandwiches and fresh fruit in the sun.
6. Buy a macaron from Laduree
There are plenty of places to sample a French macaron, but Laduree is the one iconic place to try your first macaron in Paris!
7. Buy local goods from the Rue Cler street market
The Rue Cler street market is where the locals come to buy their produce and groceries. It’s the best place to pick up fresh fruit, flowers, baguettes, and other classic French fare!
8. See the view from the top of the Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most well-known Paris landmarks.
However, many people don’t realize that it’s possible to climb to the top of the arch where visitors can take in sweeping views of the city.
Tickets are 8 euros to climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier can also be found here.
9. Pick up fresh pastries from a patisserie
A patisserie is a French bakery specializing in pastries and sweets.
Some of the most popular pastries include croissants, eclairs, macarons, Mille-Feuilles (or Napoleons), choux pastries (or cream puffs), and pain au chocolat.
10. Visit the Pantheon crypt
The Pantheon’s crypt serves as the final resting place for many of France’s most influential citizens. Visitors can view the vaults of Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Marie Curie, Emile Zola, and many more.
Visitors can also climb to the top of the Pantheon dome for spectacular views over the city.
11. Take a photo in front of the clock window at Musee d’Orsay
Musee d’Orsay is a popular museum housed in a former Beaux-Arts railway station. The museum features masterpieces by Monet, Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, Seurat, Van Gogh, and others.
The stunning clock window located on the 5th floor also provides the perfect spot for a silhouette photo.
12. View the Mona Lisa at the Louvre
The Louvre is the most visited museum in the entire world, and the Mona Lisa is arguably the most well-known work of art in the entire world.
This Leonardo da Vinci painting earned greater notoriety after being stolen from the Louvre.
13. Ride one of the city’s carousels
There are approximately twenty carousels scattered around the city of Paris.
Take a ride on the musical merry-go-round, or at least capture a photo of one of the beautiful vintage carousels. The Hotel de Ville Carousel is my favorite.
14. Tour the underground Catacombs of Paris
The Catacombs of Paris are a labyrinth of tunnels winding under the streets of Paris. What once was a mine shaft, is now decorated with the bones of 6 million people.
Tickets often sell out for the self-guided audio tour, so be sure to book in advance.
15. See the spring blossoms
Is there anything more romantic than Paris in the springtime? We think not.
The dreamy pink blossoms can be seen in late February to late April. Come earlier in the season to avoid the crowds.
16. Walk through one of the few remaining covered passageways
Paris was once home to fashionable covered passageways lined with small shops and cafes.
Today only a handful of these passageways still exist. Passage des Panoramas is the oldest of these covered passages dating back to 1799.
17. Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower
Visitors can climb the 674 steps to the second level of the Eiffel Tower, or take an elevator to the very top of the tower.
Guests will find a restaurant, shops, a viewing deck, a small museum, and a champagne bar located inside the Eiffel Tower.
18. Take a photo in front of the Moulin Rouge
The Moulin Rouge is the famed risque cabaret that secured Paris’ reputation as a city of decadent pleasures.
This was the birthplace of the can-can dance in the racy red-light district, inspiring the Hollywood movie, Moulin Rouge.
Guests can see a live dinner show, but it is a bit of a tourist trap so I would just settle for a photo out front.
19. Walk the charming streets of Montmartre
Montmartre is arguably the most charming and photogenic neighborhood in all of Paris.
Walk the same narrow winding cobblestone streets that were once frequented by the likes of Picasso, Van Gogh, Renoir, Degas, and Matisse.
See our guide 12 Spots Not to Miss in Montmartre for more recommendations.
20. Visit the Phantom of the Opera’s Box #5
The Palais Garnier is the inspiration behind Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera and many of the events in the play are believed to have actually happened.
Take a behind-the-scenes tour to visit the Phantom’s opera box #5 and decide for yourself if the Phantom really exists!
21. See the Louvre pyramids lit up at night
While millions of visitors flock to visit the artwork filling the 650,000-square-foot museum, the outside pyramids are equally noteworthy.
Stroll around the grounds of the Louvre after sunset to see the glowing pyramids.
22. Visit the Bridge of Locks
Adding a lock to the Bridge of Locks and throwing the key into the Seine has long been a tradition of lovers who believe that this act will seal their love.
Little did they know that this could pose a danger as the railings became too heavy and collapsed.
The railings were replaced with clear glass panels, but unfortunately, tourists are still finding places around the city to add their locks.
Although adding a lock is strongly discouraged, just strolling across the Bridge of Locks is still something everyone should do at least once while in Paris!
23. Take a river cruise on the Seine
Seeing the city from the water is such a unique way to experience Paris.
The river runs alongside many famous landmarks with hop-on hop-off boat tours available. Guests can also experience a romantic evening cruise through the City of Lights.
24. Order hot chocolate from Cafe de Flore
Cafe de Flore is a trendy cafe in Saint-Germain that serves some of the best hot chocolate in Paris.
Each order comes with a small pitcher of milk and melted chocolate that you can mix together in a mug. Perfect for a chilly winter day in Paris!
25. Take a day trip to the Palace of Versailles
The opulent Palace of Versailles is located about an hour outside of the city and makes for the perfect day trip.
Visitors can tour one of the largest palaces in the world, and the last palace occupied by the monarchy before the French Revolution.
See our guide First Time Guide to Visiting the Palace of Versailles to assist in planning your visit.
26. Try a creme puff from Odette
Odette Cafe looks as if it belongs in a story book. From the quaint cobblestone street that it resides on, to the narrow spiral staircase leading to miniature dining rooms.
The cafe is known for its choux pastry, a French creme puff, be sure to stop by and try one!
27. Take a photo of the Eiffel Tower from Trocadero Square
There are several spectacular spots to take photos of the Eiffel Tower, but the most popular is from Trocadero Square and the stairs leading down from the square to the gardens.
Visitors can’t come to Paris without grabbing an iconic photo from this spot!
28. Walk through one of the city’s public gardens
The city’s public gardens weren’t always open to the public. The most elaborate gardens were once the private gardens of the royal family.
A few of the most popular gardens to stroll through are the Tuileries Gardens, Palais Royal Gardens, and the Luxembourg Gardens.
29. Visit Notre Dame
Much of the historic Notre Dame Cathedral was destroyed in the devastating 2019 fire.
Reconstruction is underway and hopefully, the cathedral will one day be restored to reflect its former beauty. Despite the construction, it is still worthy of being on your Paris bucket list!
30. See Marie-Antoinette’s jail cell at the Conciergerie
Queen Marie-Antoinette was the Conciergerie’s most notorious prisoner.
See the cell where she spent the last days of her life before being beheaded for charges of treason during the French Revolution.
31. Admire the stained glass windows at Sainte Chapelle
The exquisite Sainte Chapelle gothic church boasts over 1,100 opulent stained glass window panes. The panes are arranged across 15 towering windows and depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments.
Visit first thing in the morning or an hour before sunset to witness the windows illuminated by sun rays.
32. Take a photo at the colorful Rue Cremieux
Rue Cremieux is perhaps the most charming and colorful street in all of Paris.
Take a stroll along the cobblestone street lined with pastel-colored row houses and snap an Insta-worthy picture. Just be sure to keep the noise level down and respectful of the residents.
33. Experience the nightlife at Le Marais
Le Marais is a trendy neighborhood spread across the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. The area is steeped in history, once serving as the Jewish quarter and now a hot spot for the LGBT community.
The neighborhood really comes alive at night with friendly bars, clubs, swanky restaurants, and lively cafes.
34. Pick up a book at Shakespeare & Company
Shakespeare & Company Bookstore is the most famous bookshop in Paris.
When it first opened its doors, writers, artists, and intellectuals were welcomed to stay at the bookshop in exchange for volunteering a few hours a day and contributing a one-page autobiography.
Over 30,000 well-known and aspiring writers have contributed to the collection of autobiographies.
35. Go window shopping on Champs-Elysees
Avenue des Champs-Elysees is one of 12 streets fanning out from the Arc de Triomphe and the most recognizable street in all of Paris.
The 1.2-mile glitzy avenue is lined with high-end flagship stores, luxe boutiques, and fine dining.
It’s the best spot in Paris for window shopping!
36. Get lost wandering the streets
Head out on the streets with no agenda. Explore unknown alleys, discover hidden cafes, sneak into a vintage bookstore, escape the crowds of tourists and see where the locals hang out.
You never know what you’ll find, but I have a feeling it will be something special!
There are so many other incredible experiences in Paris, but we hope these 36 things will make it onto your Paris bucket list!
Let me know in the comments what else you think should be added to the list!
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