Things to do in Paris
The best places and activities in the French Capital
The city of love is one of the most popular European destinations and you probably have already an idea of the things you want to do and see in Paris. Maybe there are so many things on your list that you can’t decide? Here are Charlie’s highlights and things you should not miss in Paris!
Exploring the heart of Paris: Free Walking Tour
Charlie loves a good walking tour. They are more personal than hopping on and off a big bus and they get you to corners you otherwise wouldn’t see. The guides are usually locals who know the city in and out and don’t hesitate to make a personal recommendation. Free Walking Tours are usually of high quality because the guide is paid in tips. The better the tour, the more they get.
The Paris Free Walking Tour that Charlie took started at the fountain by the Place St. Michel in the heart of the city. The square is next to the Latin Quarter and only a bridge crossing away from the famous Notre Dame Cathedral.
Before the group had a closer look at this religious monument, the guide Andrea led them through a narrow passage that is very untypical for Paris. When we think of this city, we think of large boulevards, tall buildings, and Haussmann architecture. This alley though was left in its original state when Napoleon restructured the city in the 19th century and provides a glimpse into how Paris must have looked in medieval times.
The tour continued on to Notre Dame Cathedral, the Palais de la Justice that used to be the first royal palace in the fifth century, along the Seine and finished next to the Louvre at the entrance to the Tuileries Gardens. From this point, Charlie could see the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysée with the Arc de Triomphe in the distance.
They had only crossed two of the 37 bridges in Paris and spent quite some time by the Pont Neuf. Fun fact: The name translates to “New Bridge”, however, it is nowadays the oldest bridge in Paris. It was the first to be built with a base of stone, all the other bridges followed this architecture later. The most beautiful bridge is said to be the bridge Alexander III. Yet, another bridge used to be the reason for travelers to visit Paris: the so-called Love Bridge. Lovers used to hang heart-shaped locks on this bridge. However, the weight of those locks became a risk to the structure of the bridge and they have been removed. There are no locks on this bridge anymore, however, you can spot them almost anywhere in Paris these days.
All along the route, they had frequent stops and Andrea provided a lot of information about the places they saw near and far. One of those places sparked Charlie’s interest, even though she knew she wouldn’t have time to see it: La Sainte Chapelle. It is a historic chapel by the Palais de Justice that was built to host some holy reliquiae and is said to have impressive architecture from the inside. The way Andrea described it made Charlie curious. She’ll have to return to Paris!
Montmartre & Sacré Coeur
It used to be the scandalous part of town before it became a haven for artists, mostly painters: Montmartre. That was the part of Paris Charlie did not want to miss! She did another free walking tour to see and discover the gems of Montmartre.
The tour started in front of a coffee shop opposite the famous red windmill, the Moulin Rouge. Montmartre wasn’t always a part of Paris. It used to be a village outside the city that was characterized by windmills and vineyards. It was only in the 1860s that Montmartre became officially a district of the capital. The main reconstruction works in the heart of Paris were done by that time which is why Montmartre does not show the typical Haussmann architecture and the grand boulevards. It also is built on a hill which made reconstruction a lot harder.
Of the original windmills are only very few left and they are mostly decorative. There is still one vineyard that you can see next to the house where Renoir lived and opposite the little cabaret that was named after a Picasso Painting: Le Lapin Agile.
On the way to the vineyard and the cabaret, the guided tour avoided the many steps in Montmartre and took the longer route passing through beautiful streets and parks, along the house where van Gogh used to live, the statue of the man who could walk through walls, and many restaurants and cafes.
At the top of the hill waited the majestic cathedral of Sacré Coeur. From the terrasse in front, you can enjoy a view of Paris. To see the Eiffel Tower though, you need to know the very particular spot. You can visit the cathedral for free. To go up to the cupola and enjoy a 360-degree view over Paris, you’d have to pay an entrance fee. Charlie had done the walking tour in the evening and it was already 10 minutes before closing time when she got there, but she imagines a beautiful view from up there and a stunning sunset.
Not far from Sacre Coeur is a square with plenty of restaurants and painters that quickly bring a portrait of a tourist to paper. In front of the cathedral is a wide staircase that leads into a park with fountains and brings you back to the road that separates Montmartre from the centre of Paris.
Paris by Boat
It is one of the most popular tourist activities in Paris: a boat trip on the river Seine. It is certainly an enjoyable way to see the most important monuments as they have all been built along the river. You can sit down, enjoy a drink, and receive information via the live commentary. There are a few different companies that launch from different spots along the river. They all cost approximately the same and show you the same attractions. If you are unsure which one to book, have a look at the shape of the boat and pick the one that offers the best view from an open-air deck.
Charlie did an alternative boat tour that brought her to a different part of Paris that is lesser known but well-worth a visit: La Villette. It is an area in the North East of Paris with a cultural centre inside historic market halls and a spacious park with different activities, cafes and restaurants. If Charlie had known before, she would have gone a bit earlier to enjoy more of this part. She boarded a boat on the Canal Ourcq to see the canals of Paris and eventually connect to the river Seine.
The boat trip went along the canal Ourcq where you could see a lot of street art alongside both banks of the canal. It was a sunny day in July and Charlie saw a lot of water sports from canoes to pedal boats, and even swimming pools installed in the canal. The boats called “Marin d’eau douce” can be hired and driven along the canal by anybody.
The boat continued on to the Canal St. Martin where they had to pass quite a few locks. The boat would pass the first gate. In between the gates, the water level would lower by about three meters. Once it had reached the lowest level, the gate in front would open for the boat to pass onto the next section. It was quite the highlight to see and a lot of the passengers stood up to see the procedure.
The area around the Canal Saint Martin is very quiet as there is no car traffic, lots of cafes, and plenty of outdoor activities such as park gyms and ping-pong tables.
Towards the end of the journey, the boat drove through two kilometres of tunnels before reaching the Seine. Once on the river, they passed the cathedral of Notre Dame and under the Pont Neuf towards the Louvre.
Paris from above: Eiffel Tower and Tour Montparnasse
It is the one monument that Paris is first associated with, the Eiffel Tower. Built in 1889 as part of the world exhibition and to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution, it is the symbol of the French nation. It probably was the first you thought of when you started making plans for Paris. Charlie has been to the Eiffel Tower when she was a child, on a trip with her parents. You have a nice view from up there and you return home and can say that you’ve been to the Eiffel Tower.
However, when you’re standing on the tower, you get a nice view of the city, but not of its most iconic symbol. Wouldn’t it be better to get a view over Paris in a similar height, but with the Eiffel Tower in the picture? That’s where the Montparnasse Tower enters the stage. It is for miles the tallest building and you can easily spot it when you’re standing in front of Sacré Coeur. It is an office building and not particularly interesting from the outside. But from the 59th floor, the view equals that of a New York skyscraper. Plus, it is cheaper than visiting the Eiffel Tower and the queue is most likely a lot shorter. For up-to-date prices, check their official website as rates change throughout the year. Want the best view over Paris? Visit the Montparnasse Tower!
Museums, Theatre, Art
If there is one thing Paris isn’t short of, it’s culture and art. There is an endless number of theatres and museums; something for every taste. Which exhibitions you visit or which shows you see depends on your personal taste. Charlie likes to visit the Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson as there is usually outstanding street photography on display. That is however Charlie’s personal preference. You might be interested in something else.
If you visit only one museum in Paris, make it the biggest in the world: the Louvre. The building was originally a military fortress to defend the city in the Middle Ages. It became the royal palace in the 14th century and was gradually expanded over time. Even when King Louis XIV. Moved his main residence outside of Paris, to Versailles. Nowadays, the Louvre is home to 360000 pieces of art of which 35000 are on display for the public. It is unlikely that you will see everything. The website of the museum will help you to prepare your visit and plan you route through the galleries. If you want to avoid the crowds and are not into queuing, you might not get to see the famous La Gioconda, the Mona Lisa.
Bonus Tip:
If you want to eat out in Paris without walking into a massive tourist trap, check out the quarter of Le Marais.
