Oh, I love Paris- it’s a beautiful city with numerous cultural icons. Since 2012, I’ve made three visits to the City of Lights, and here are my Paris Highlights!
To do everything on this list, you will need four whole days in Paris, so if you have less time, plan by priority. Also, museums and visiting the Eiffel tower will take several hours in each day, so try for one each day. I think it’s best to talk with your group about how much time you want to spend at each location, and discuss if someone wants extra time once you get there. Join our newsletter (green box at the bottom of the post) to gain access to our resource library and download our Paris highlights checklist. You can download it to your phone and draw/text on it.
Note: I am going to give a word of warning about Paris. I had several friends express disappointment about Paris after visiting, so I went having very low expectations. I ended up having a great time and enjoyed myself immensely. I think a lot of Americans have this romantic fantasy in their heads (and hearts) about Paris and become disappointed if the city doesn’t live up to those dreams. When visiting Paris, there may be tons of people, a few rude Parisians, all day rain, etc. Just go with the flow, and you can still have a great time with some patience.
Paris Highlights
1. Drink champagne as the Eiffel tower lights up
On my 2015 trip to Paris, my group decided that we wanted to wait for dusk and see the Eiffel tower shimmer with lights. If we had planned ahead, we would have brought our bubbly. However, there are numerous individuals out-and-about looking to make a quick buck. Don’t take the first offer though! As we waited, we were able to haggle down from 40 euros for one bottle of Champagne to 20 Euros for two.
2. Explore Montmartre
Montmartre has significant historical significance in the art community. Monet, Picasso, and van Gogh all lived in Montmartre because it used to be the cheap area of Paris. Times have changed, and it’s expensive, but a beautiful area of the city to explore.
3. Eat Creme Brulee at Cafe des Deux Moulins
While in Montmartre, stop at Cafe des Deux Moulins and have the creme brulee. It’s fantastic. The Cafe was featured in the international film Amelie. Our group of four just went for dessert. Our original plan was to order two desserts and share, but the cafe has a policy that everyone has to order something.
4. Take a free walking tour and admire the architecture (but don’t forget to tip!)
Whenever I travel to a new city, I look up Sandeman’s walking tours. I think they are so helpful in navigating the city for the rest of your stay and give you a lot of historical background. The guides work on tip, so don’t forget to have some cash on you.
5. Visit Notre Dame
Like the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame is a symbol of Paris, but it’s also one of the most beautiful churches that I’ve ever been to. You can pay extra and go up the bell towers.
6. Take a river cruise down the Seine
In the last 5 years, I’ve been to Paris 3 times, and I’ve taken a Seine river cruise every time. It’s just a peaceful experience, and you see Paris from another angle. There’s hop on-and-off cruises, and they’re are 60-90 minute cruises that don’t stop. Ask for a college discount if you qualify.
7. Visit Versailles
This requires a train ride out of the city, but I’ve heard it’s well worth the visit. I’ve never spent more than 3 days in Paris, and I’ve never been able to make this happen. However, on my next trip to Paris, Versailles will be at the top of the list.
8. See the best view of Paris
Despite public thinking, the best view of Paris not from the Eiffel Tower, because when you take pictures, the Eiffel Tower isn’t in the photo. The best view of Paris comes from the ugliest building in Paris- Montparnasse Tower. It was built in the 1970s in a modern style that doesn’t fit in with the rest of Paris, but it does provide killer views.
9. Check the time at Musee D’Orsay
Musee d’Orsay is an old railway station that now houses an museum to impressionist art. It also has a this amazing clock that creates beautiful photos and a unique view of the city.
10. Explore the Catacombs
This falls between kind of creepy and really cool. It’s an underground cemetery that holds over 6 million Parisians. Dating back to the late 1700’s, Paris tried to eliminate cemeteries and created miles of caves that we can now explore.
11. Go see Mickey
Totally an American thing to do, but whatever! If you haven’t read any of my Disney World posts (here and here!), my family is big Disney fans, so we had to visit Disneyland Paris on my first trip to the city of lights. It is smaller than Disney World, but it’s amazing how they combine French and English culture.
12. Find Thomas Jefferson
I went to the College of William & Mary, so finding Thomas Jefferson’s statue was just a little of highlight of the day.
13. Splurge on Moulin Rouge
Okay. I wanted to see Moulin Rouge on my last trip, but had no idea how expensive it was. Not in my budget. Save, plan and book ahead if you want to catch this act. Expect about $400 for two people.
14. Indulge and eat a strawberry Nutella crepe
At almost every touristy spot in Paris, there is a vendor making fresh crepes. Indulge yourself and enjoy one. Just make sure they make them fresh. Last time I was in Paris, the guy just picked up a premade crepe and added nutella. I want it warm and fresh!
15. Go shopping at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
Even if you don’t buy anything, the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is just impressive to look at. It’s a gorgeous mall that you don’t really see in the States.
16.Climb the Arc de Triomphe
Provides another great view of the city with a 360 degree view for 8 Euros (5 for students).
17. Leap over to the Louvre Museum
The Louvre is an iconic art museum where you can gain a glimpse of Mona Lisa’s bewitching smile. You can spend a whole day exploring this museum and easily get separated from your group (like me). Routinely, designate a meeting place for your group to catch up with each other just in case. I knew my group was headed to see Mona, so I headed that way.
18. Eat at the Jules Verne Restaurant and skip the line
On my first trip to Paris, my mom read other travelers stories of waiting 2+ hours in line to visit the Eiffel tower. While we wanted to visit, we didn’t want the wait. The Jules Verne restaurant is located in the Eiffel tower and has a private elevator to the top. It is expensive, but I think worth the experience. Make sure to book a reservation well in advance. When I returned to Paris in 2015, I couldn’t get a reservation two months before our arrival.
Note: Except for the Jules Verne restaurant, skip the restaurants in paris. They’re all wicked expensive. Look to eat outside of the city center. When I went in 2015, a Parisian lady told us to save our money and do a 3-course meal in Lyon, which is known for fabulous food. Great advice.
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Do you have any other suggestions for visiting Paris? Share them in the comments and don’t forget to pin!
Makes me want to go! Think I will!
You should!