The problem visitors to Paris have is that there is just too much to do, from its world-class museums to utterly staggering art galleries. Here is Telegraph destination expert Hannah Meltzer’s guide to the very best experiences and attractions in the city, from ripping down the Champs-Élysées in a quirky retro sidecar to insider tips on tackling classics like the Louvre and Eiffel Tower like a pro.
Read on for our expert’s tips for the very best things to do in the city, while for further Paris inspiration, see our guides to the city’s best hotels, restaurants, bars, nightlife and shopping, plus how to spend a weekend in Paris.
Find by activity type:
- Best for first-time visitors
- Best for art
- Best for culture
- Best landmarks
- Best for families
- Best for history
- Best free things to do
Best for first-time visitors
The Louvre
Discover hidden treasures in the world’s most famous museum
The crowd-drawing Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo in the Denon wing are only part of what this vast former palace has to offer. Head to the underground Medieval Louvre to see surviving remnants of the 12th-century fortress that once stood in this spot; marvel at the sarcophagi in the Department of Egyptian Antiquities or browse the astoundingly vast collection in the Department of Islamic Art, which is housed in its own dedicated wing.
Insider tip: You can avoid the often long queues to enter by purchasing a timed ticket in advance on the Louvre website. These ensure access to the Pyramid entrance within 30 minutes of the time on the ticket (without a ticket, the wait can be two to three hours in the summer months).
Website: louvre.fr
Nearest metro: Pyramides (Lines 7 and 14), Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre (Lines 1 and 7)
Price: ££
Seine river cruise
See Paris from the water
All of Paris originally grew out from an island in the Seine and the river is still the lifeblood of the city – the most picturesque point and the dividing line that separates the Left Bank from the Right Bank (the official symbol of Paris is actually a sailing ship). Taking a cruise along the river is a fantastic way to take in some of the most famous sights of the city. Bateaux Parisiens and Bateaux Mouches are the largest providers and cruise between the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame, taking in the Orsay and Louvre on the way. Passengers can opt for a classic sightseeing tour, or book special restaurant or champagne cruises.
Insider tip: For a special occasion, consider splashing out on a more bespoke experience with Green River Cruises. Most of the boats are eclectic (hence the name) and are available for private hire for between two and 12 people. You’ll have your own captain, your choice of music and can also add on food and drink. A great choice for a proposal or a special birthday.
Website: Bateaux Parisiens, bateauxparisiens.com; Bateaux Mouches, bateaux-mouches.fr; Green River Cruises, greenriver-paris.fr
Nearest metro: Various, see website for embarkation points
Price: £-£££
The Eiffel Tower
Drink in the views from the world’s most iconic tower
Despite being such a familiar icon, the Eiffel Tower never fails to impress with its iron latticework, its 2.5 million rivets and the thrill of the old-fashioned elevators. The summit, some 1,000 feet up, is still the highest viewing point in Paris, while the second-level viewing platform allows for 360-degree monument spotting. Visit at night to delight at the tower sparkling (on the hour, for five minutes).
Insider tip: Tickets bought in advance must be reserved for a specific slot; otherwise, note that queues are shorter if you come late at night, or if you walk up as far as the second level – 704 steps – and then buy tickets for the very top.
Website: tour-eiffel.fr
Nearest metro: Bir-Hakeim (Line 6), Ecole Militaire (Line 8)
Price: ££
The Luxembourg Gardens
Experience parklife à la parisienne
The Luxembourg Gardens, created in the early 17th-century to accompany Marie de’ Medici’s Renaissance palace (now the French Senate), is known for its central sunken parterre and picturesque plane-tree-lined avenues, but it’s not all ornamental. In summer you’ll find busy tennis courts; very serious pétanque games, played by regulars; basketball and even bee hives. On the south side, stop in the secluded English-style gardens, replete with greenery and birdsong and dotted with neoclassical sculpture.
Insider tip: This is a great place to visit en famille. Napoleon Bonaparte dedicated this park to children and famous features include the “Guignol” puppet show, pony rides and whimsical miniature sailing boats on the central octagonal basin.
Website: en.parisinfo.com
Nearest metro: Odéon, Saint-Sulpice (Line 4)
Price: £
Canal Saint-Martin
Have a picnic by the canal
Mix in with young, trendy types and drink in the lovely view with a picnic on Canal Saint-Martin. As soon as the sun arrives in Spring, you’ll find locals lining the sides of the pretty bridge-bedecked canal (immortalised in Amélie), sipping beer and eating picnic food bought in one of the nearby supermarkets. This is a great way to start a balmy spring-summer evening and you always have the option to move on to the lively bars of the area after.
Insider tip: The canal is car-free on Sundays, so this is a great time to go.
Website: franceguide.info/paris/canal-saint-martin
Nearest metro: République (Lines 3, 5, 8, 9, 11), Goncourt (Line 11), Jacques Bonsergent (Line 5)
Price: Free
Best for art
Musee Orsay
Immerse yourself in Impressionism
Visit the Orsay not only for its impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces, but also for the unique architectural backdrop of this former Belle Époque railway station: the views out over Paris from behind the vast clock face are a particular highlight. Don’t miss Manet’s ‘Olympia’ and ‘Déjeuner sur l’herbe’, Monet’s Rouen ‘Cathedrals’, Van Gogh’s self-portrait and Degas’ delicately beautiful dancer sculptures.
Insider tip: Don’t miss the Art Nouveau galleries where you can wander through fine furnishings and even recreations of whole rooms, to the backdrop of glorious Seine views.
Website: musee-orsay.fr
Nearest metro: Solférino (Line 12)
Price: ££
Musée de l’Orangerie
Get up close to Monet’s Water Lilies
Be sure to explore the Tuileries, the exquisite gardens designed by André Le Notre (who also designed the Versailles gardens). Inside the former orangery, you’ll find one of Paris’s most intimate and touching galleries. Downstairs, you’ll find temporary exhibitions with a distinctly contemporary feel (shows in the last few years include David Hockney and Paula Rego). Upstairs, you’ll find the enchanting permanent exhibition of Monet’s vast Water Lilies canvases, which were painted to be hung in this oval-shaped space.
Insider tip: You can take a guided tour of the permanent collection in English in the early afternoon at the very reasonable price of €10. Book a place ahead on the museum website in the ‘What’s On’ section.
Website: musee-orangerie.fr/en
Nearest metro: Concorde (Lines 1 and 12)
Price: ££
Musée National Picasso-Paris
Get under the skin of an artistic superstar
The Musée National Picasso-Paris is housed in a former mansion house, before becoming a temple to the iconic 20th-century artist. A multi-millionaire at the time of his death, Picasso left his ex-wives, mistresses and children to fight over his estate with his decision not to leave a will. The Picasso Museum’s collection was donated to the French state by his family to settle a tax bill. Visitors can trace the prolific artist’s career, from his moving Blue Period, to the birth of Cubism and his eccentric sculptures.
Insider tip: Don’t miss the top floor, where there are rotating temporary exhibits, often by contemporary female artists, which present an interesting counterpoint to Picasso’s work.
Website: museepicassoparis.fr
Nearest metro: Chemin Vert (Line 8)
Price: ££
The Musée Rodin
Learn about the country’s most famous sculptor
The Musée Rodin is a beautiful Rococo mansion where Auguste Rodin had his studio in the early 20th century has been thoughtfully restored with new parquet, subtle lighting and an inventive new presentation that is part chronological, part thematic. Visitors can immerse themselves in the artist’s early portraits and pioneering armless bronze and stone sculptures encrusted with fragments of antique statuary.
Insider tip: Be sure to visit the gardens too, where there are numerous sculptures, including The Thinker and The Gates of Hell, and a pleasant café.
Website: musee-rodin.fr
Nearest metro: Varenne (Line 13)
Price: £
Espace Dali
Explore the surreal mind behind Surrealism
The director of this museum, Beniamino Levi, is an internationally famous art dealer who worked closely with Salvador Dalí and commissioned him to make several large-scale bronze sculptures, which are on display here. Lovers of Surrealism will adore the mind-bending display, which also comprises a number of engravings and lithographs.
Insider tip: There is no gift shop here, so you will need to hit the souvenir shops nearby for your Dali-themed knick-knacks.
Website: daliparis.com
Nearest metro: Lamarck-Caulaincourt (Line 12); Abbesses (Line 12); Anvers (Line 2)
Price: ££
Palais de Tokyo
Sample the city’s wackiest art
Palais de Tokyo, a vast 1930s edifice on the banks of the Seine, houses Paris’s home for contemporary art with the most experimental temporary art exhibitions in the city (French artist Abraham Poincheval once spent three weeks sitting on and hatching chicken eggs) – it may not always be to your taste but you definitely won’t be bored. There’s a permanent collection in the eastern wing, taking in Picasso and Matisse. The bookshop has the biggest collection of art books and design journals in Paris.
Insider tip: The complex hosts Italian eatery Bambini and the more upscale restaurant Monsieur Bleu – try the terrasse in summer for gorgeous Eiffel Tower views.
Website: palaisdetokyo.com
Nearest metro: La Muette (Line 9)
Price: £
Musée de Montmartre
Learn about the first woman accepted into the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts
This little gem of a museum is housed in a historic building where Renoir once had his studios, as well as Montmartroise painter Suzanne Valadon. Inside, you’ll find a delightful recreation of her apartment and studio, evoking the golden age of Belle Époque Montmartre. The temporary exhibitions are always thoughtfully put together.
Insider tip: Be sure to visit the quaint gardens, which have a view out over Montmartre’s last remaining vineyard.
Website: museedemontmartre.fr
Nearest metro: Lamarck-Caulaincourt (Line 12); Anvers (Line 2)
Price: ££
Fondation Cartier
Discover a new contemporary art space in a beautiful historic setting
As of late 2025, this contemporary art gallery has a magnificent new home in a beautiful Haussmann building in the footprint of the Louvre, right next to the exquisite Palais Royal gardens. Under the auspices of star architect Jean Nouvel, the building has been transformed into a light-bathed palace where the ornate fixtures of the building contrast with the up-to-date art inside. Expect thought-provoking, sometimes strange pieces.
Insider tip: Make sure you visit the elegant Palais Royal gardens next door, where you can take a seat at an iconic green park chair and watch Parisians wander, often with their well-coiffed dogs (this is one of the few parks in the capital where canines are allowed).
Website: fondationcartier.com
Nearest Metro: Palais Royal (Lines 1 and 7)
Price: ££
Pinault Collection at Bourse de Commerce
Browse the private art collection of a billionaire
In the centre of town, the collection of French luxury mogul Francois Pinault, displayed in the historical Bourse de Commerce building, opened to the public in 2021 following extensive renovations of the grand 19th-century domed building. Inside you’ll find a rich and thought-provoking collection of paintings, sculptures and photography, including the captivating oil paintings of British artist Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.
Insider tip: From installation to portraiture, there’s so much to see – but make sure you take the time to see the excellent photography section, where you’ll find thought-provoking snapshots from the likes of Sherrie Levine and Cindy Sherman.
Website: pinaultcollection.com
Nearest metro: Louvre – Rivoli (Line 1), Les Halles (Line 4), Châtelet (Lines 7,11,14)
Price: ££
Musée Jacquemart-André
Contemplate a priceless collection in a sumptuous mansion
For an intimate encounter with art, visit Musée Jacquemart-André and discover this sumptuous private museum and its exquisite collection. The mansion and collection belonged to the couple Edouard André, a wealthy protestant banker, and artist Nélie Jacquemart, who bequeathed it all to the French state after their deaths. Inside, you’ll find pieces bought on their travels to Europe and the ‘Near East’, including incredible Italian Renaissance masterpieces and exquisite Ancien Régime artefacts.
Insider tip: The thoughtfully curated museum shop is a great stop for gift-shopping. You’ll find fabulous art books, of course, but also jewellery, homewares and children’s toys and games themed around art and history.
Website: musee-jacquemart-andre.com
Nearest metro: Miromesnil (Lines 9 and 13)
Price: ££
Fondation Louis Vuitton
Enjoy beautiful architecture and art in the woods
Head out to the Bois de Boulogne park to discover the monumental Louis Vuitton Fondation. You’ll notice its striking glass and metal “wings”, which were designed by superstar architect Frank Gehry. Opened in 2014, this exciting modern art museum was funded by Bernard Arnault, the CEO of the huge conglomerate LVMH. The exhibition programming is generally excellent.
Insider tip: The arts complex also houses a state-of-the-art auditorium and there’s a popular calendar of classical music concerts. Book well ahead to secure a place.
Website: fondationlouisvuitton.fr
Nearest metro: Les Sablons (Line 1)
Price: ££
Chateau Rosa Bonheur
Meet the radical rebel artist that history forgot
Rosa Bonheur was one of the most successful French artists of the 19th century and the first woman to buy a chateau with her own earnings, and to receive the Legion of Honour– yet until recently she’d been largely forgotten by history. The Brault family has entirely renovated Bonheur’s whimsical chateau in Thomery, on the edge of Fontainebleau forest. You’ll find the artist’s striking animal paintings and a charming tearoom. Book ahead for a guided tour.
Insider tip: There are two beautiful guest rooms in the artist’s former bedroom and the painter’s studio. Book well ahead for a memorable stay, including breakfast and a visit to the chateau.
Website: chateau-rosa-bonheur.fr
Nearest transport stop: Thomery (train from Paris Gare de Lyon)
Price: ££
Best for culture
Musée Carnavalet
Become an expert in all things Paris
Themed around the city of Paris and its history, the Musée Carnavalet reopened after a refurb in 2021, revealing a charming immersive tour of Paris-themed artefacts; think Emile Zola’s watch, Proust’s furniture, original Métro signage, as well as relics from ancient Lutecia (the Roman name for Paris). The permanent collection, which is free, is complemented by an exciting roster of ticketed exhibitions, with a focus on photography and social history.
Insider tip: Once you’ve had your museum fix, head to the nearby Place des Vosges to contemplate all that Paris history while taking in one of its most beautiful squares, dating back to the early 17th century.
Website: carnavalet.paris.fr
Nearest metro: Saint-Paul (Line 1)
Price: £
Lost in Frenchlation
Watch French movies with English subtitles…in France!
The ‘seventh art’ is one of France’s most important artistic outputs, and there are few more atmospheric things to do in the capital than to go au cinéma, but until relatively recently, there was little choice for non-French speakers wishing to experience Gallic cinema on home turf. About a decade ago, Lost in Frenchlation was founded to remedy that problem – the organisation hosts screenings of French films in Paris with English subtitles so they can be enjoyed by visitors, too. A lovely evening out.
Insider tip: While Lost in Frenchlation currently offers weekly public screenings, you can also book a private screenings which offers snacks and even a themed quiz before the screening.
Website: lostinfrenchlation.com
Nearest Metro: Hosted in various locations, see website for upcoming events
Price: £
Palais Galliera
Take an enchanting trip through the history of fashion
Lovers of all things sartorial will be in heaven in Paris’s official museum of fashion, Palais Galliera. The permanent exhibition, which displays garments from the 1700s to the present day, is simply exquisite with spellbinding pieces ranging from Versailles-era frocks to Comme des Garçons casualwear. The museum has up to 200,000 items in its collection overall.
Insider tip: The museum has upped its programming game and recent exhibitions, tracing the history of Vogue and the personal wardrobe of Frida Kahlo, have all been blockbusters. Book a timed ticket ahead to speed up entry.
Website: palaisgalliera.paris.fr
Nearest metro: Iéna (Line 9)
Price: ££
Les Puces de Saint-ouen
Shop for vintage treasures in Europe’s biggest flea market
Les Puces de Saint-ouen is a must for thrifters and antique lovers. This huge sprawling flea market is open Friday to Monday inclusive every week and is one of the largest of its kind in the world. Each of the dozen or so markets (covered and outdoor) has a different vibe and speciality. You can find just about anything, from vintage Chanel to giant stone animals, old door handles, antique books, and the list goes on.
Insider tip: Soak up the atmosphere by staying for lunch. There are ever more hip addresses, like L’Insurgé in this fast gentrifying suburb, as well as classic bistros loved by local brocanteurs (dealers), like Le Pericole and Le Relais Des Broc’s.
Website: pucesdeparissaintouen.com
Nearest metro: Porte de Clignancourt (Line 4), Garibaldi (Line 13)
Price: ££
Best landmarks
Versailles
Experience the lavish lost world of France’s former kings
If you make just one excursion out of Paris, then it should be to Versailles, for its vision of royal absolutism — “the state is me”. Today, its extravagant ceilings, hall of mirrors, and king’s and queen’s bedchambers remain fascinating for their excess. The formal garden created by André Le Nôtre is integral to the design and every bit as exquisite as the house.
Insider tip: Head down the steps at the Grand Perspective to explore the magnificent “bosquets” (groves) with their spectacular fountains and ornate décor. On a warm day, grab picnic ingredients and have lunch by the Grand Canal.
Website: chateauversailles.fr
Nearest metro: RER Versailles Rive Gauche
Price: ££
The Panthéon
Take in a world-famous classical monument
The Panthéon, a majestic neo-classical edifice, identifiable throughout the city by its vast dome, was first built as an offering to Paris’s patron saint, Genevieve, from party-loving King Louis XV. After the Revolution, it was transformed into a secular temple and burial place of the “great men” of France, including Victor Hugo, Voltaire and Rousseau. Marie Curie was the first woman to be buried there: today, there are still only six, including holocaust survivor and pioneering politician Simone Veil. In 2021, legendary entertainer Josephine Baker became the first black woman to be added to the Pantheon.
Insider tip: Climb the 206 steps to the viewing platforms of the recently restored dome to enjoy a magnificent 360-degree view of the city.
Website: pantheon.monuments-nationaux.fr
Nearest metro: Saint-Michel (Line 4), Place Monge (Line 7)
Price: £
Arc de Triomphe
Enjoy the most underrated view in Paris
Going all the way up the Arc de Triomphe involves climbing almost 300 steps, but the view at the top makes it well worth it. Look out over the Champs-Elysées with the Louvre and the old city on one side and the ultra-modern La Défense business district out to the west. The construction of the arch began in the early 1800s to celebrate the military triumphs of Napoleon Bonaparte (though he would never see it completed); today it’s the focal point of the annual Bastille Day military parade.
Insider tip: The elaborate group sculpture on each pillar each represents a different historical event from the time of the first Republic, first Empire and restoration. Under the arch is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and an eternal flame which is lit each evening.
Website: paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr
Nearest metro: Charles de Gaulle – Étoile
Price: £
Sacré-Cœur
Soak in the atmosphere on the steps
On a summer’s evening, splash out on a €6 (£5) bottle of wine from the supermarket (that will buy you a decent bottle) and head to the steps of the Sacré-Cœur on the hill of Montmartre. There is always some kind of street entertainment here, ranging from fire jugglers, buskers strumming guitar covers and footballers performing amazing keepy-uppies.
Insider tip: If you head here in the evening, the atmosphere is generally lively but friendly, but as with any densely packed city spot, you should be vigilant with your belongings and keep your valuables close.
Website: sacre-coeur-montmartre.com
Nearest metro: Anvers (Line 2), then take the funicular or climb the stairs; Abbesses (Line 12)
Price: Free
Best for families
Parc Astérix
Enjoy a thoroughly French theme park
Opened before it and a significant chunk less expensive than the famous theme park competition, Parc Astérix represents a solid family alternative for those wishing to experience something completely Gaullois. Themed around the beloved French tribesman and his giant sidekick, Obélix, the park is a panoply of kitsch and cheerful adventure. There are shows too, including high board diving, but they are presented in French.
Insider tip: Little ones will enjoy the gentle rides and cast of characters in the Gaull village, while there are also some serious rollercoasters for adrenaline seekers, such as Toutais, which reaches speeds of almost 70 miles per hour.
Website: parcasterix.fr
Nearest station: Take the RER B to Roissy Charles de Gaulle and then take the shuttle bus (€11/£9 pp). Easiest to reach by car.
Price: ££
Retro tour
Ride around town in a retro sidecar
You will need to expect a spot of pointing in the street if you take this atypical jaunt around Paris from the sidecar of a motorbike with Retro Tours. A dapper ‘Gentleman Sidecarist’ will be your guide as you whizz through the key sights of Paris attached to vintage motorcycles and decked out in Chevignon jackets. Night tours complete with a champagne stop are also available.
Insider tip: If you would like an idea of what you’re in for, you can watch Richard Ayoade & Mel Giedroyc try out the experience on Channel 4’s Travel Man.
Website: retro-tour.com
Nearest metro: Various, see website for embarkation points
Price: £££
Stade de France
Watch a match at one of the world’s most iconic stadiums
Stade de France in Saint-Denis, in the north of Paris, is an excellent place to soak up some sports atmosphere a la française. Here, the formalities of Parisian interaction are forgotten – the atmosphere is relaxed and festive with plenty of waving tricolores, songs and sloshing pints of beer. There are often last-minute tickets available for international fixtures (football and rugby).
Insider tip: Die-hard supporters go to the north stand – it’s nothing dangerous but you can expect a lot of jumping around and loud French chanting, so potentially one to avoid if you’re en famille.
Website: stadefrance.com
Nearest metro: St Denis - Porte de Paris (line 13)
Disneyland Paris
Indulge your inner child
Just 27 miles (45 km) east of Paris, you enter another world comprised of the main Disneyland Park, smaller film-themed Walt Disney Studios Park and Festival Disney containing shows, restaurants and souvenir shops. Small tots are entranced by the parades and the teacup ride, Big kids (including adults) enjoy the thrills of Star Wars-themed Hyper Space Mountain and the eery Tower of Terror.
Insider tip: It is far more relaxing to stay in Paris than in one of the Disney resort hotels. Buying tickets online is cheaper than at the door.
Website: disneylandparis.com
Nearest metro: RER A Marne-la-Vallée — Chessy
Price: £££
Best for history
Musée de Cluny
Make a trip back to the Middle Ages
Very few vestiges of medieval Paris remain (thanks to Haussmann’s renovation), and even fewer of ancient Roman settlement Lutetia. That makes the Musée de Cluny, incorporating the remains of Roman baths and housed in the Gothic town house of the abbots of Cluny, a rare treat. This is the usual home of the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries and reopened after extensive renovation in 2021.
Insider tip: Don’t miss the heads of the kings of Judah: the stone monarchs that adorned the façade of Notre-Dame were torn down during the Revolution and each beheaded, only to be found in a long-forgotten cellar in 1977.
Website: musee-moyenage.fr
Nearest metro: Cluny-La Sorbonne (line 10), Saint-Michel (line 4),
Price: £
Sainte Chapelle
Ogle the world’s most incredible stained-glass
Louis IX (Saint Louis) built the magnificent stained-glass edifice Sainte Chapelle in the mid-13th century to house the Crown of Thorns and other Holy relics. The lower level with its star-painted vaulting was for palace servants. The upper level, intended for the royal family and clergy, is a flamboyant masterpiece, with glorious stained glass, where hundreds of roundels depict Old Testament scenes and the crucifixion.
Insider tip: Try to come on a sunny day when the deep blues and reds stand out best. Tickets can be bought in advance, but you still have to queue for security checks (no metal objects).
Website: sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr
Nearest metro: Cité (Line 4)
Price: ££
Musée Albert Kahn museum
Travel in space and time for the price of a metro ticket
The newly revamped and reopened Musée Albert Kahn museum, located just outside of the city in Boulogne-Billancourt, is a must for both lovers of photography and, in an unexpected pairing, also for lovers of gardens. Banker and philanthropist Albert Kahn was responsible for financing some of the world’s earliest colour travel photography; inside you’ll find thousands of striking Autochrome colour-plate photographs captured around the world between 1909 and 1931. Well worth a metro trip to the nearby suburbs.
Insider tip: The voyage of discovery continues into the grounds where you’ll find ornamental gardens in English, French and Japanese style. Traditional ornamental gardens blend with the contemporary architecture of Kengo Kuma.
Website: albert-kahn.hauts-de-seine.fr
Nearest metro: Boulogne Pont de Saint-Cloud (Line 10)
Price: £
The Château de Fontainebleau
Visit the pleasure grounds of the French monarchy
The castle located on the edge of the hunting forest in Fontainebleau was the country retreat of French rulers from the Middle Ages to the time of Napoleon Bonaparte. The grounds are every bit as enchanting as the building itself. Take time to contemplate the unique double-horseshoe staircase in the main courtyard; in warmer months, visitors can go boating on the magnificent Carp Pond.
Insider tip: The Château organises a huge number of events and special tours and visits. Take a private tour to see the Second Empire theatre and Marie-Antoinette’s boudoir. VIP experiences like private night tours and even a hot air balloon ride are also on offer.
Website: chateaudefontainebleau.fr
Nearest transport stop: Fontainebleau-Avon (train from Paris Gare de Lyon)
Price: £
Best free things to do
Saint-Eustache
Discover the city’s best lesser-known church
The vast Gothic church of Saint-Eustache that stands over the Les Halles-Montorgueil district on the Right Bank is Paris’ second biggest church after Notre-Dame and yet receives only a fraction of the footfall. Its magnificent gothic nave and vaulting combined with Renaissance architectural detail, are reason enough to visit, but it also has stained glass dedicated to charcuterie and a triptych by New York artist Keith Haring.
Insider tip: There are also regular modern art installations in the chapels and a sculpture depicting the last food market at neighbouring Les Halles, before it moved out to the suburbs.
Website: saint-eustache.org
Nearest metro: Les Halles (Lines 4, 1, 7, 11, 14)
Paris Plages
Sunbathe on the side of the Seine
If you are visiting the city in the summer months, head to Paris Plages, the popular ‘beaches’ (with deck chairs and ice cream sellers) which pop up on the banks of the Seine and Basin de la Villette from mid-July to August. The attraction, now more than two decades old, offers more each year – overheated city-dwellers have even had the opportunity to actually swim for the first time in the Bassin de la Villette.
Insider tip: If swimming isn’t for you, without spending a penny, you can still soak in the atmosphere of lazy pétanque games or cool off under the giant cold air showers.
Website: parisinfo.com
Nearest metro: Hôtel de Ville (Lines 1 and 11); Riquet (Line 7)
Petit Palais
Enjoy one of the city’s few free fine art collections
Built in 1900 for the World’s Fair, along with its bigger sister across the street and Pont Alexandre III, the Petit Palais holds one of the few free permanent collections in Paris. The fine arts museum spans antiquity, the Middle Ages, the French and Italian Renaissance and Flemish and Dutch paintings. The French collection takes in Monet, Renoir, Delacroix, Toulouse-Lautrec and more.
Insider tip: The Belle Époque building itself is worth lingering for, with its vast galleries, grand arched windows and painted domes. Take a minute to pause in the charming peristyle courtyard garden.
Website: petitpalais.paris.fr
Nearest metro: Champs-Elysees-Clemenceau (Lines 1 and 13)
Les bouquinistes de Paris
Browse the riverside book stalls
The distinctive green metal boxes of the riverside ‘bouquinistes’ or book-sellers are veritable Paris icons (they have been recognised as a Unesco World Heritage site). The placement of the stands was set by the state in the 19th century and today there are still only 240 designated sellers. Peruse the curious selections of yellow-paged novels, retro fashion magazines and back issues of Tintin, which in recent years are also accompanied by tourist trinkets and postcards.
Insider tip: Wandering the length of these stalls, a picturesque route that takes in Notre-Dame, is a wonderful way to spend a sunny afternoon.
Website: parisinfo.com
Nearest metro: Pont Neuf (Line 7)
59 Rivoli
Hang out with local artists in an erstwhile squat
This former squat, now a protected not-for-profit space, is located on Rue de Rivoli between the Louvre and Châtelet. It houses 30 artists’ studios across six levels and the public is invited into the workshops six days a week. There are several permanent studios and rotating places, so you will see a wide range of art – from sculpture to colourful collage, photography or more traditional portraiture.
Insider tip: This is a marvellous opportunity to get a glimpse of the Parisian art scene, but you should also be respectful: say ‘bonjour’ and ask before taking pictures of the artists’ work.
Website: 59rivoli.org
Nearest metro: Châtelet (Lines 1, 4, 7, 11, 14)
La Petite Ceinture
Wander the sleepers of a disused railway line
One of Paris’s best-hidden curiosities – even for Parisians. La Petite Ceinture or ‘little belt’ is an abandoned railway line that once encircled Paris inside Napoleon’s Boulevards des Maréchaux. Disused since 1934, the first section has been reopened to the public and can now be explored in four of the city’s outer arrondissements. It is an unlikely pocket of biodiversity, with an abundance of wild flowers, contrasting pleasingly with the industrial starkness of the old tracks. There’s also a surprisingly high number of plant species and animals, from foxes to bumble bees.
Insider tip: As the Petite Ceinture encircles the capital, there is no official start or end of the trial. Instead, find a convenient access point in your arrondissement, and be sure to check the opening times (usually daytime) of the desired section.
Website: parisinfo.com
Nearest metro: Various, see website for starting points
Hotel de Sully
Get a taste of noble Paris
It is possible to walk in front of the vast doors of Hotel de Sully on Rue Saint-Antoine and have no idea about the magnificent mansion’s courtyards inside. This exquisite Louis XIII-style hotel particulier, formerly belonging to the Sully family, dates from the 17th century when the Marais was the place to be for the French nobility. Look out for the ornate carvings on the façade, including allegorical figures depicting the seasons and the elements.
Insider tip: Stop to listen to the birdsong in the tranquil gardens before emerging onto the magnificent Place des Vosges (another great spot for a picnic).
Website: hotel-de-sully.fr
Nearest metro: Saint-Paul (Line 1)
La Campagne à Paris
Explore a hidden Parisian ‘country village’
La Campagne à Paris (The Countryside in Paris) may be one of the French capital’s best-kept secrets. The mini-village, which sits atop a small mound in the untouristy 20th arrondissement, is comprised of 92 impossibly quaint houses. The area, which is just a few minutes from Paris’s ‘Périphérique’ ring road, is a bucolic enclave of window boxes, wisteria and pastel colours. The village was founded as a cooperative intended for working families – today, the houses are rather more expensive.
Insider tip: Conclude your trip with a wander to nearby cultural hotspots La Bellevilloise or La Maroquinerie.
Website: parisjetaime.com/eng/transport/la-campagne-a-paris
Nearest metro: Porte de Bagnolet (Line 3)
How we choose
Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks – to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up-to-date recommendations.
About our expert
Hannah Meltzer
Hannah, originally from London, spent years working out the intricacies of French grammar before moving to Paris, where she works as a journalist specialising in French culture and society. She enjoys cycling Paris’s avenues and boulevards on her trusty bike, eavesdropping in café terrasses and visiting the weekly flea market at her local, Puces de Saint-Ouen.