In honor of the 2024 Paris Olympics (which is long over) I'm revisiting my trips to Paris in 2011 & 2022 to bring you my list of things to do if you have a week to walk around the city. The first time I went to Paris I was 16 years old & was fortunate to see Notre Dame prior to the fire in 2019 which wrecked havoc on the cathedral. My first experience wasn't the most positive as I dealt with a lot of the "rude Parisians" you hear about in movies & online.

Fast forward eleven years & I went to visit a friend who took up a graduate program there. To me that's the perfect excuse to get on an airplane! My second time around was a 180 from the previous visit, so I'm happy to share what I did, even if some of these are more touristy!

Things to Do in Paris

Visit the Eiffel Tower

It's honestly just an old TV tower from the 1889 World Fair that was left up. It's also not silver and shiny like it seems in the movies, it's brown, but it's such an iconic part of the city. It's pretty easy to see from many parts of Paris from a distance but I do recommend going to see it up close. You can also get some amazing photos in front from the side streets! You can definitely go up, but remember one of the most amazing parts of the Paris skyline is seeing the tower! Make this a one and done, there's no reason to keep coming back.

Watch the Eiffel Tower Sparkle at Night

After dusk for five minutes at the beginning of each hour the Eiffel Tower has a light show! You can see it from anywhere the tower is visible, you don't need to be right by it. It's just a fun spectacle!

Have Escargot

If you don't know what escargot is, they're snails. No, they aren't the ones you just find outside! This is a classic French dish & there are even specialized escargot forks to remove them from their shells. If you haven't eaten them before, they're a bit chewy & traditionally covered in a green herb sauce. I highly recommend trying them from L'Escargot as it's their specialty! While you're there don't forget to ask for "une carafe d'eau" for a free pitcher of tap water! This should work at all restaurants so you don't have to pay for water. Bless my friend for teaching me this!

Have Macarons

A classic French cookie sandwich which is quite a difficult confection to get correct. If you ever wonder why they're so expensive, it's because it's very very very easy to mess up! However, when done right they are pillowy soft treats that make angels cry. Dramatic? Perhaps, but they're really good! They also can last a few days so if you want to pick up a box to take home right before you leave, you definitely can! Of course don't forget to check the rules of the country you're flying back to for bringing in food.

Visit Notre Dame

As of typing this, October 2024, Notre Dame is still undergoing restoration from the fire damage but is set to reopen to the public in December 2024. Right now there are barriers wrapping around the building with history about the cathedral & you can still see most of it from the outside, despite scaffolding. If you're going after it's reopened, definitely go & as it's a magnificent piece of architecture. My guess is it will be very controlled access for guests in the beginning so look into any tickets you might need to book in advance.

Visit the Louvre

You might recognize this as the museum with the glass pyramid, from the movie the DaVinci Code, or as the home of the famous Mona Lisa. This art museum is filled with so much history! One of my favorite works in it is the Venus de Milo, truly a breath taking sculpture. Obviously the biggest attraction for most is the Mona Lisa by Leonardo DaVinci. It's clear when you find it as it's heavily guarded & there are stanchions to line up & see it. You also can't get too close, but photos are allowed, just no flash. The painting is small, but I wouldn't miss it if you're already there. I spent four hours walking around this museum! 

Have a Crepe

A sweet, soft, thin pancake filled with goodness! You can actually find crepe carts and stands almost everywhere. If you haven't had one before, my favorites are Nutella with strawberries, lemon and sugar, and raspberry jam. 

Have a Galette

The lesser known savory crepe made with buckwheat is a great snack! Not every crepe cart will also have galette, but I do recommend you try them. I had one with ham & cheese. These are very different from their sweet counterparts!

Day Trip to Versailles

There's so much more to France than Paris & Versailles is a quick train ride away! You can visit the Palace of Versailles, known for the hall of mirrors, and for being raided during the French Revolution. There's also a museum near the palace with old horse carriages that's included if you have a ticket to the palace. 

After the palace I enjoyed an incredible lunch at Le Coup D'Etat with chicken & truffle mashed potatoes, walked around a flee market, and also an indoor farmer's market. Versailles has a lot to offer!

Visit the Wall of Love

This is a fun little spot for photos! What's neat about it is "love" is written all over the wall in hundreds of languages! I definitely wouldn't have known about this one if it weren't for knowing "a local".

Visit the Arc de Triomphe

Another famous picture spot, but do be careful as it's also a very busy area with a lot of cars! What many might not know, is you can buy tickets to go inside. I did not actually do this be honest, but it could be a cool thing to check out!

Drink by the Seine 

This is a Parisian local thing to do! Grab a bottle of wine & just watch the people and boats go by. This is a great daytime or evening activity. I did this on my last night & it was a fun way to wrap up my trip. Did you know you can grab a WHOLE BOTTLE for as little as 1.50€???

Visit the Catacombs

If the dark is a little more up your alley, you can go deep under the streets of Paris where the remains of more than six million people are kept. This ossuary was largely forgotten until it began being used for concerts & private events in the early 19th century. It opened to the public in 1874 for visitation. I do recommend getting the audio guide as it fills in a lot more information than what's on the regular informational signs along the walkways. You do see actual human skeletons, so you've been warned! I still believe this was an amazing part of the city.

Palais Garnier

Is probably the "most famous opera house in the world" and holds an incredible 1979 seats! It was associated with the Paris Opera and Paris Opera Ballet until 1989. It is now primarily used for ballet performances and was established as a monument historique of France in 1923. This awesome piece of architecture truly looks like a house for royalty & is famously known as the setting for 1910's The Phantom of the Opera. The building is also home to the Paris Opera Library-Museum, so it's definitely worth a stop if you're a fan of music history!

Rooftop of Galeries Lafayette

This a great free way to see a rooftop view of the city! Galeries Lafayette is a large department store with many luxury brands, but if you go to top you can find an amazing view that includes the Eiffel Tower!

Montparnasse Tower

Is the tallest building in Paris proper at 210-meters (689 feet) & home to the Paris Montparnasse observation desk & 56th-floor restaurant Ciel de Paris. It's also known to be a massive eye sore to Parisians as it detracts from the city's skyline of shorter, historical buildings.

Coulée verte

This is a linear park built on top of elevated obsolete railway infrastructure & is 4.7 km (2.9 miles) long. It's also the first project in the world to repurpose old railway lines into Urban Gardens! Many other places in the world have followed in it's footsteps such as the Highline in New York City & the Bloomingdale Trail in Chicago.

Place des Vosges

This is the oldest planned square in Paris originally known as Place Royale. It was a very expensive & chic square to live in, in the 17th & 18th centuries & is one of five royal squares in Paris including: Place des Victoires, Place Dauphine, Place Vendôme, & Place de la Concorde.

Cemetery Montmartre

Officially known as Cimetière du Nord located in the 18th arrondissement is a cemetery uniquely built in an abandoned gypsum quarry. It's the third largest cemetery in Paris and was constructed after burying the dead became banned in Paris due to unsanitary conditions in the 1780s. It's the final resting place of a mass grave from the French Revolution as well as many famous artists. The area has incredible tomb stones, mausoleums, & is the home to many adorable stray cats!

Vincent Van Gogh's Paris Apartment

Located in the 18th Arrondissement - Butte-Montmartre, there's a plaque noting Van Gogh lived there. You can't go inside as they're normal apartments, but you can take photo outside!

Final Thoughts

Paris is what you make it! You can try to live your "Emily in Paris" dreams, visit every museum possible, or eat your way through the streets! This city isn't for everyone but I'm glad I gave it a second chance. If you want to plan your next Paris vacation you can use our Ultimate Travel Planner to make it Oh La La Easy!

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