Ranking Everything We Did in Paris (Best Things to Do & Itinerary)

I spent 9 wonderful days in Paris when Alex was invited to attend a work conference there. Free hotel in Paris? Count me in!

Now I'll be the first to admit: I'm not as much of a fan of Europe as your average traveler. The crowds can be crazy and for an American, there aren't as many novel experiences in Europe as there are in places like Africa, Asia, or South America.

That being said, Paris blew me away. I fell head over heels in love with this city. The only other city I care for this much is New York, my home for the last seven years.

The list of things to do in Paris is practically endless, and most travelers don't have the luxury of spending 9 days there. To help you prioritize your time, I've ranked everything we did, from the overrated to the unforgettable, so you can make the most of your visit to this incredible city.

15. Notre Dame

You might be surprised to see Notre Dame at the bottom of my list. It's one of the world's most famous churches and the setting of the classic Victor Hugo novel (later turned into a Disney movie), The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Recently, it made international news when it was engulfed in flames in 2019. It remained closed for repairs for more than five years afterwards until it reopened in late 2024.

It was near the top of my must-see list, but I found it to be a little underwhelming. The exterior of the church is stunning, but the interior paled in comparison to many other churches I've seen around the world, including Paris's Sainte-Chapelle and Germany's Wieskirche. I recommend walking by the church, but you don't necessarily need to wander inside.

If you have your heart set on stepping inside, you can walk in or make reservations in advance. We stood in line for less than 5 minutes to get in, and the official website claims an average wait time of less than 20 minutes. Though not necessary, you can make reservations online up to 2 days in advance if you prefer, but often the tickets sell out (meaning you need to wait in line instead).

14. Conciergerie

Admittedly I had seen the lukewarm reviews of the Conciergerie online before I decided to visit, but I had taken a keen interest in the life of Marie Antoinette after watching a few documentaries and visiting the Palace of Versailles, so I was intrigued enough to stop by after a visit to the neighboring Sainte-Chapelle.

The Conciergerie was a prison that housed prisoners during the French Revolution in their final days before they would face the guillotine. Its most famous prisoner was Marie Antoinette. She spent 76 days here before her execution. Another famous prisoner was Charlotte Corday, who assassinated the radical, incendiary newspaper man Jean-Paul Marat.

The one thing I found disappointing was that the Conciergerie no longer looks like a prison, so it's hard to envision what it would have been like during the French Revolution. Marie Antoinette's cell, for example, is now a small chapel. You are provided with a tablet upon purchasing a ticket that recreates what the prison looked like in a certain spot when you point your tablet in that direction, but the experience still fell flat for me. I learned a few things, which as a history nerd I appreciated, but wouldn't recommend this experience on a tight itinerary in Paris.

13. Sainte-Chapelle

Sainte-Chapelle is a small Gothic chapel famous for its beautiful stained glass windows that date back to 1242 (70% of the stained glass is still original).

I'll admit I wasn't blown away by Sainte-Chapelle. It's quite a small church. If you're in the neighborhood, it's worth a quick stop but I wouldn't design my itinerary around a visit.

12. Context Travel WWII Nazi Occupation Tour

I've already admitted to being a history nerd. If you are too, you might enjoy this Nazi Occupation and French Resistance Walking tour.

On the tour, we stopped at the Place Saint-Michel and Memorial of the Shoah, among other places associated with the German occupation of Paris. At the Memorial, we learned that 76,000 French Jews were deported during the Holocaust, and only 4,000 returned after the war.

Perhaps the most inspiring part of the tour was learning about the "Righteous Among the Nations," ordinary French citizens who risked their lives to shelter and save Jewish people during the Holocaust. Israel has officially recognized thousands of these individuals for their bravery.

I liked the small group size, but felt that the tour could have gone into more details than it did, so it didn't earn a spot on my top 10 list of best things to do in Paris.

11. Eating Your Way Through Paris: Try Macarons and Crookies

I found macarons to be the perfect cure for the jet lag I was experiencing on my first day in Paris. After trying a couple at one shop, I suddenly had a burst of energy and committed to walking many blocks more to another. Macarons are delicious.

I am usually a fan of more bitter flavors, like chocolate or coffee. I found myself gravitating towards the sweeter, fruitier flavors here though, because they packed a punch. My favorites (after trying at least 15 flavors over the course of 9 days) were the passionfruit and raspberry. I also liked the popular Marie Antoinette flavor, which is supposed to taste like tea, but reminded me of the fruity pebbles cereal I would eat as a kid.

I also recommend stopping by a bakery and trying a crookie: a combination of a croissant and a cookie. Yes, it's pretty rich, especially for the morning, but it's unique and delicious.

10. Arc de Triomphe

For a fantastic viewpoint over the city, climb the stairs to the terrace at the top of the Arc de Triomphe. This was Alex's favorite viewpoint in Paris. I personally preferred the view from Montparnasse Tower which stretched much farther into the distance as we were much higher up. Either way, we both agreed the Arc de Triomphe was worth a visit.

9. Montmartre Tour

Montmartre is one of Paris's most charming neighborhoods. Once home to famous artists like Pablo Picasso and Vincent van Gogh, in some ways it still feels like a small village with its cobblestone streets, lively cafes, and colorful buildings.

It looks nothing like much of the rest of Paris, with its uniform cream-colored apartment buildings, because Montmartre developed as an independent village before being annexed by Paris in 1860. Its distinctive design makes it well worth a visit.

If you want to take a guided tour of Montmartre, I recommend this one by Paris Tours Experiences. We stopped by all of Montmartre's most famous sites, including the Wall of Love, which has "I love you" written in 250 different languages, including Babylonian, braille, and sign language.

We spent a lot of time talking about the lives of the famous artists who lived here years ago. I particularly enjoyed the stories about the eccentric Van Gogh, who famously chopped off his own ear to give to a prostitute as an apology for something he did.

8. Montparnasse Tower

A perfect first introduction to Paris would be the Montparnasse Tower. The Montparnasse Tower sticks out like a sore thumb: it's Paris' only skyscraper. There is an observation deck on the 56th floor which has fantastic views of the city below in every direction. We preferred this viewpoint to the one at the Arc de Triomphe primarily because we were so much higher and could see so much more of the city.

Many people also climb the Eiffel Tower for views of Paris. But don't you want to see the Eiffel Tower, Paris' most iconic building? We think this is a much better alternative.

We visited when we were still quite jetlagged. It was the perfect activity that will force you to stay awake but not require too much energy. You can purchase tickets here.

7. Paris Catacombs

The Paris Catacombs receive mixed reviews. Some visitors are put off by the morbid nature of the attraction, understandably so. Others complain the experience is short yet expensive.

On the other hand, plenty of people rave about them. Museum fatigue is real in Paris, and many people find the Catacombs to be a refreshing change of pace from the churches, palaces, and museums where visitors typically spend the majority of their time in Paris visiting.

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Trigger Warning

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Human bones and skulls in the Paris Catacombs.

I fall into the second camp. Visiting the Catacombs was incredibly memorable, which is the main reason it earned a spot in my top 10 list of things to do in Paris. Walking through miles of tunnels lined floor to ceiling with carefully arranged skulls and bones is unlike anything else I've done.

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Trigger Warning

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Human bones and skulls in the Paris Catacombs.

Another part of what makes the experience so fascinating is the story behind it. A ticket to the Catacombs comes with an audio guide that explains how this unusual attraction came to be.

In the 18th century, Paris faced two major problems. Beneath the city lay hundreds of kilometers of abandoned limestone quarries, some of which had begun collapsing. Above ground, the city's cemeteries were overflowing, creating unsanitary conditions and contributing to the spread of disease. Moving these bodies to the pre-existing tunnels under the city solved both problems, creating a final resting place for Paris' deceased and preventing the tunnel walls from collapsing.

I was admittedly a little nervous going into this experience. Would I feel comfortable wandering through the dark tunnels by myself? Would I be creeped out surrounded by human bones? I was sure they would make appearances in my nightmares for weeks to come, but in reality, I didn't find the experience nearly as disturbing as I had imagined.

6. French Revolution Walking Tour

This one's for the history nerds, myself included. I spent the weeks leading up to my trip binging documentaries on the French Revolution, so I was particularly excited about With Love From Paris's walking tour on the French Revolution.

I ended up being the only person to sign up for the tour that day, so I got a private tour. It was a fantastic experience. My guide, Milan, was incredibly knowledgeable and able to adapt the tour to my interests and prior knowledge. He also had an answer (and a corresponding visual in his binder) for everything. You can tell he is very passionate about history and loves sharing his knowledge with others.

We started by walking around the square where the guillotine took the lives of thousands of individuals during the Reign of Terror. I always thought of the guillotine as a medieval form of torture confined to the distant past, so I was shocked to learn that France continued using it until 1977!

We then moved on to a gorgeous cemetery where the Marquis de Lafayette was buried. If you're a fan of the Broadway sensation Hamilton, like I am, the name might sound familiar. In addition to serving as a key figure in the French Revolution, he also fought with George Washington and other Americans in their battle for independence against the United Kingdom. Many relatives of Lafayette's wife were buried in a mass grave nearby after being executed during the Reign of Terror, so the Lafayettes chose this location as their final resting place.

Coincidentally, on another walking tour a few days later, my tour guide asked "does anyone know where the only American flag flying during the German occupation of Paris was?" and thanks to Milan, I knew the answer. The other tour guide said I was the first person in his 10 years of providing tours to know the answer.

After visiting the grave, we took a detour to Milan's garden, where I tried purple green beans, tomatoes, and figs. It was a charming way to end the tour.

I loved this tour because it didn't feel dry or scripted. It felt like two individuals passionate about history talking in depth about little known facts about the French Revolution. If you're a history nerd like me, you'll have a blast.

5. Palace of Versailles

The Palace of Versailles is one of the world's most opulent palaces. It's grand and large, with over 2,300 rooms. At its peak, more than 10,000 people lived there, making it the political center of France for over a century until the French Revolution forced the royal family (most importantly King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette) back to Paris.

One of the highlights of a visit to the palace is undoubtedly the Hall of Mirrors, the room in which the Treaty of Versailles (which ended World War I) was signed. It's also one of the palace's most magnificent rooms.

As you walk through the palace, you can see a handful of rooms where the king and queen would entertain their guests. One of the more surprising things I learned was how poor sanitation was at Versailles. Although chamber pots existed, there weren't nearly enough proper toilets for the thousands of people living and working there. Apparently it wasn't uncommon for guests to duck behind curtains or into hallways to relieve themselves. Yuck! Can you imagine the odor?

We also visited Marie Antoinette's bedchamber, where crowds of spectators watched her give birth to ensure the heir was legitimate. It's hard to imagine having one of the most private moments of your life turned into a public event.

Outside of the palace itself, there are a couple other stops. I highly recommend a walk through the gardens unless you visit in the winter. They are well manicured and dotted with fountains, sculptures, and perfectly manicured hedges.

You can also visit Marie Antoinette's Petit Trianon, her private retreat away from the formal court. We read many reviews from people who said this was the highlight of their visit to Versailles. After visiting ourselves, we were a little surprised by that and wouldn't say the same, as the rooms were rather simple.

What I did like was the Queen's Hamlet, a picturesque fake village with a farm that looked like a Hollywood set. It was so unexpected and wacky and it ended up being one of my favorite parts of my visit.

Plan to spend the majority of the day exploring the Palace and its grounds.

4. Evening Picnic at Eiffel Tower

Out of everything on this list, an evening picnic at the Eiffel Tower was Alex's absolute favorite. I'm usually not the kind of person that likes unstructured time when I travel, but I've got to say: sitting in front of the Eiffel Tower at night is pure magic.

Each night, after sunset, the Eiffel Tower sparkles for five minutes every hour from the top of the hour to five minutes past. Alex and I brought a shopping bag full of goodies and parked ourselves in front of the Eiffel Tower in the Champ de Mars park about an hour before sunset. It rained for just a few minutes, but we were prepared with ponchos. Everyone else cleared out, and we were able to secure a front row seat with a perfect view.

We snapped some photos, ate our snacks, and waited for the Eiffel Tower to sparkle. When it finally lit up, I was mesmerized. We stayed for a few hours to watch it sparkle a few more times.

If you go on Sunday evening like we did, be warned that many fromageries (cheese shops) will be closed. We visited a grand shopping market called La Grande Épicerie de Paris and it was the perfect one stop shop for all sorts of snacks, including Comté cheese, baguettes, macarons, and the juiciest strawberries I've ever had. The only downside is that it's a bit of a walk from the Eiffel Tower.

3. Paris by Mouth East Saint Germain Food Tour

If sipping wine and sampling French cheese sounds like your idea of a perfect afternoon, you're going to love this food tour with Paris by Mouth. It was on this tour that I discovered Comté, France's most popular cheese and my personal favorite (along with goat). It's a small tragedy that it's so difficult to find in America.

We tried six other cheeses aside from the Comté. I still dream about the herbed goat cheese I tried. It was divine. My favorite moment of the tour, though, was when Alex tried the moldy blue cheese. He looked terrified! He was not a fan, but I didn't think it was so bad.

Along with the cheese, we tasted apple strudel, chocolate, wine, and a couple desserts. Our guide was so friendly, and it was a small intimate group on the tour. It was good fun and a nice change of pace from the history-heavy museums and tours.

2. Musée d'Orsay

I went back and forth so many times trying to decide if I preferred the Louvre or the Musée d'Orsay. I drafted so many versions where the Louvre won the #1 spot on my list, and so many more where the Musée d'Orsay clutched the win. Ultimately, I gave it to the Louvre, but my official verdict is that you should absolutely visit both.

The two museums offer completely different experiences. The Louvre is grand and large and has many priceless pieces that carry so much historical significance. By contrast, the Musée d'Orsay is modern, quirky, and beautiful. Without knowing anything about what you're looking at, you'll be able to appreciate the artistic talent and creativity it took to create these pieces.

Unlike the Louvre, where one could easily spend days and never see everything, the Musée d'Orsay is surprisingly approachable. We covered the majority of the museum in 3 hours. It's also delightfully uncrowded by comparison, with the exception of the Impressionist floor that houses famous paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, and Renoir. Ever heard of Van Gogh's Starry Night Over the Rhône? You can find that painting here.

During my visit, I discovered my new favorite artist, a post-Impressionist painter named Henri-Edmond Cross. This was one of my favorite pieces in the entire museum.

The artwork isn't the museum's only highlight. The Musée d'Orsay is housed inside a beautifully restored former train station. It's absolutely gorgeous.

I would recommend getting an audio guide when you visit. This made the experience a little more engaging than the one we had at the Louvre. Even though we booked our Louvre tickets 2 months in advance, the audio guides were sold out, so we had to research the artwork we planned to see in advance with ChatGPT.

I'll close with this: I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm not a huge fan of museums in general, but this one exceeded my expectations and I think most people would really like it. It needs to be on your Paris itinerary!

1. Louvre

A trip to Paris would be incomplete without a visit to the Louvre. It's the most visited museum in the world with 10 million annual visitors.

Our guide at the Montmartre tour told us that around half of the Louvre's visitors visit only the Mona Lisa and stay for less than 15 minutes. Don't be one of those people! There is so much incredible artwork to see here.

Here's my personal list of the must-see pieces in the Louvre, arranged in order so that you can minimize backtracking through the museum:

• The Winged Victory of Samothrace

  
• The Mona Lisa
• The Wedding at Cana

• The Coronation of Napoleon

  
  Did You Know?

  You might recognize the painting above, the Coronation of Napoleon, if you've been to the Palace of Versailles. Jacques-Louis David actually painted two nearly identical versions. The biggest difference is the color of one of Napoleon's wife's sisters' dresses.

• The Raft of the Medusa
• Liberty Leading the People
• Venus de Milo
• Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss

• The Great Sphinx of Tanis

  
• The Code of Hammurabi

If you, like me, were not able to secure an audio guide, I recommend googling these pieces in advance for some historical context. You can also choose to take a guided tour.

In addition to the amazing artwork at the Louvre, prepare to be wowed by the building's interior. Before becoming a museum, the Louvre was a palace, so there are many grand halls and ornate ceilings to admire as you walk around.

One of the most ornate rooms in the entire building is the Galerie d'Apollon, which was said to inspire the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles.

The Galerie d'Apollon recently made international news when thieves disguised as construction workers stole several historically significant pieces of the French Crown Jewels from this room in October of 2025. Several people have been arrested in connection with this crime, but sadly none of the jewels have been recovered. I consider myself extremely lucky to have visited one month before and to have seen the jewels with my own eyes.

The Galerie d'Apollon has been closed since the heist but the museum plans to reopen it in July 2026. If you visit when it's open, I recommend checking it out after you see Liberty Leading the People and before you see Venus de Milo.

Itinerary

Here's how I would structure a trip to Paris.

With More Time

With more time, take a cruise down the Seine River, wander down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, visit the Musée de l'Orangerie, or explore the Palais Garnier.

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