Check out part one of 30 Things to Do in Paris for 15 more fun and interesting things to do in Paris.
Part two is a mixed bunch of things to do in Paris. From eating and shopping to entertainment for children and adults, art and culture, lovely places to relax away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and getting to know some of the city’s dead and buried a little better.
Lets just dive straight into part two of 30 things to do in Paris with the final 15.
Eat Something Sweet
Whether your a sweet tooth or not, you can’t visit Paris without trying at least one of the sweet this city is famous for. You’ve all probably tried one or two French pastries in your life, probably from your local bakery or supermarket. Delicious buttery croissants are sold worldwide but it’s in Paris where you’ll find the best! Along with them you’ll find crepe vendors on nearly every corner selling sweet crepes filled with simple lemon and sugar or go all out and have a nutella crepe, my favourite. It’s difficult to wander around Paris and not be enticed by Patisserie windows filled with macaroons, tarts and pastry. Don’t think about your waist line, just go for it. You never know when you’ll be back again.
Address: You’ll find patisseries and crepe vendors are always close by.
Cost: From as little as a few euros for a simple croissant.
Hours: Patisseries general open from early in the morning until mid to late afternoon. Crepe vendors in busy parts of the city will be open late.
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Jardin du Luxembourg
This 23 hectare garden in the centre of Paris is an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The gardens along with Luxembourg Palace within the gardens, was created in 1612 by the Medici family as a new family residence. Today the gardens are owned by the French Senate, who meet in the Palace. Throughout the gardens are beautifully planted flower beds, tree lined paths, the lovely Medici Fountain and shady areas perfect for relaxing.
Address: 6th Arrondissement
Cost: Free
Hours: 08:00 until dusk
Disneyland Paris
For young ones and those young at heart, you can’t go past a visit to a Disney park anywhere in the world. In Paris you have the choice of two parks, Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios. Disneyland is similar to other Disneyland’s around the world except it has more of a European feel. The park is split into lands with themed rides, attractions and shows in each land. Walt Disney Studios is all about Disney on the big screen with themed rides and attractions based on popular Disney movies and TV shows. It is possible to visit both parks in one very long day or you can choose just one or you can enjoy them over two or more days.
Address: Two minutes walk from Marne-la-Vallée/Chessy train station which can be reached in around 20 minutes from the centre of Paris.
Cost: Ticket prices start from €60 for adults and €54 for children under 11. Check the website below for multi park and day ticket prices.
Hours: Hours vary depending on the day of the week and time of year. Check the website below for more details.
More Information: http://www.disneylandparis.com/
Sainte Chapelle
This royal medieval gothic chapel on the Île de la Cité is quite simply breathtaking. From the outside its blends with its surroundings and really is nothing too special. But it’s inside where its true beauty lies. As soon as you step inside this long narrow chapel your completely surrounded by one of the most extensive collections of 13th-century stained glass anywhere in the world. As one of the earliest surviving buildings of the Capetian royal palace, Sainte Chapelle was restored in the 19th century after being damaged during the French revolution.
Address: 4 boulevard du Palais, Île de la Cité, 1st Arrondissement
Cost: Adult €8.50, Concession €5.50, Free for under 18 with a paying adult and for 18-25 EU residents
Hours: March to October 09:30-18:00 | November to February 09:00-17:00
More Information: http://sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr/
Culinary Tour
As I mentioned earlier, sweets can be found everywhere in Paris but this is only a very small part of French cuisine. The best way to get a truly local experience is to take a tour with a local, someone who knows the most authentic places to eat in town and can help you steer clear of the tourist traps. Culinary Tours of Paris offer four tours in and around Paris with groups sizes kept below eight people making it a more intimate experience. Each explores a different area and includes a three course meal with wine and cider matching. You guide really knows their food and the city well and will entertain you with stories of the places and areas you visit.
Address: Tours depart from centrally located areas.
Cost: Tours start from €75.00 and include all food and drinks.
Hours: Lunch time and evening tours available.
More Information: http://www.culinarytoursofparis.com/
Musée d’Orsay
Housed in a stunning former railway station building, Musée d’Orsay is home to mostly to French art dating from 1848 to 1915. Its collection includes paintings, sculptures, furniture, architechtual pieces and photography. What most people visit for however is to see the worlds largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist masterpieces. Painting by Money, Renoir, Cezanne, Gauguin and of course Van Gogh can all be seen as part of the museums permanent collection.
Address: 1, rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 7th Arrondissement
Cost: Adults €11.00 | 18-25 year old citizens of the EU, after 16:30 Friday to Wednesday and after 18:00 Thursday €8.50 | Free on the first Sunday of each month.
Hours: Daily from 09:00-18:00 and until 21:45 Thursdays
More Information: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/
Père Lachaise Cemetery
This world famous cemetery and the largest in Paris is the final resting place of some of Frances and the worlds most recognised people. The likes of Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and Frederic Chopin are the most visited grave sites on the property, attracting people from all over the world. Even if your not interested in visiting a particular grave, its still a nice place to take a walk, look at some of the interesting and unusual burials plots and enjoy the green leafy surrounds.
Address: 20th Arrondissement
Cost: Free
Hours: Generally 08:00-17:30 daily
Catacombs de Paris
Known as the ‘worlds largest grave’, Paris’ Catacombs contain the remains of around six million Parisians. It all began in 1785 when the city of Paris decided, due to overcrowding in The Cemetery of the Innocents, that it would remove all the remains to a quarry. By 1814 all cemeteries across Paris had moved their remains to this quarry. Today you can take a 45 minute tour underground past the walls and walls of bones. It’s not for everyone, however it does give you a very different insight into the past of the city.
Address: 1, avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 14th Arrondissement
Cost: Adult €10.00, Concession €8.00
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-20:00, Closed Monday and Public Holidays | Limited to 200 people at a time so entrance may be delayed.
More Information: http://www.catacombes.paris.fr/
Musée Rodin
As the name states, this museum is dedicated to the works of French sculptor Auguste Rodin. The museum is split over two sites, the main one being at the Hôtel Biron in central Paris and the other outside Paris at Rodin’s old home. Its collection includes 6,600 sculptures, 8,000 drawings, 8,000 old photographs and 7,000 other works of art, a lot of which came from Rodin’s diverse personal collection. The most famous pieces being Rodin’s The Thinker, The Kiss and The Gates of Hell along with paintings by Monet, Renoir and Van Gogh.
Address: 79 rue de Varenne, 7th Arrondissement
Cost: Adult €7.00, Concession and 18-25 non EU residents €5.00, 18-25 EU residents, under 18 and all on first Sunday of the month Free
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00-17:45 and until 20:45 Wednesday. Closed Monday.
More Information: http://www.musee-rodin.fr/
Visit a Flea Market
As the saying goes, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. And that couldn’t be more true at flea markets across Paris. The history of the flea markets in Paris dates back over two centuries when rag and bone men scoured through the garbage at night to find valuable junk to sell and make a profit from. They have evolved a little since those early days to today where you can find some pretty valuable antique items. There are a few flea markets scattered around the centre of town but the biggest and most popular is at Porte de Clignancourt. Here you’ll find trinkets and antiques, vintage clothing, books, household items and things you probably haven’t seen in some time or maybe, depending on your age, never before.
Address: A few minutes walk from Porte de Clignancourt metro station, follow the crowds. 18th Arrondissement
Cost: Free (unless you buy something of course)
Hours: Saturday 09:00-18:00, Sunday 10:00-18:00, Monday (reduced amount of stalls) 11:00-17:00
More Information: http://www.marcheauxpuces-saintouen.com/
Shop
Once your done bargain hunting at the flea markets, it’s time to do some real damage to that credit card at some of Paris’ best department stores and high street stores. Being one of the fashion capitals of the world, you will absolutely find all of the worlds top brands somewhere in the city. For department stores head to Boulevard Haussmann to visit Galeries Lafayette and Printemps which sell everything luxury from perfumes to clothing to shoes, bags, homewares etc. For designer shopping and trendy chain stores head to Champs-Elysées. Check out Les Halles for major chain shops and trendy boutiques. And finally wander through the Marais for eclectic fashion, unique jewelry, antiques and fine art.
Address: Various locations across Paris
Cost: Paris isn’t a cheap city for shopping. If it’s something your really keen on doing try visiting during sale times, usually mid year and new year.
Hours: Opening hours vary from store to store but the general hours are 09:00-19:00 with at least one night of later opening and shorter hours on Sundays. You may find some stores closed on Sundays as opening on Sundays is a relatively new concept for France.
Centre Pompidou
Even if your not interested in visiting the attractions inside, I highly recommend you check this place out just for the unusual architecture. The building was building inside out with an exposed skeleton of brightly coloured tubes for mechanical systems. Its unlike anything I’ve seen before. If you do decide to venture inside you’ll find the Bibliothèque publique d’information (a public library), the IRCAM which is a centre for music and acoustic research and finally the most visited of them all, the Musée National d’Art Moderne, which is the largest museum for modern art in Europe.
Address: Main entrance is via the Piazza, Place Georges Pompidou, 4th Arrondissement
Cost: Entry prices vary dependent on what you want to see. Check out the website below for more details.
Hours: The centre is open Wednesday to Monday 11:00-22:00, closed Tuesdays. Individual attractions have different opening hours. Check the website below for more details.
More Information: https://www.centrepompidou.fr/
Place des Vosges
This pretty and symmetrical square is the oldest planned square in Paris. The first building to be built on the square was in 1604 when King Henry IV built a Royal pavilion at the southern end of the square. The King then ordered all 35 other buildings bordering the square to be of the same design forming a symmetrical square surrounded by buildings with red brick and white stone facades, steep slate roofs and dorm windows, all constructed over arcades. The public square in the centre follows the same symmetrical theory, split into four with a fountain in each section and lined with trees.
Address: Located in the Marais district at the crossroads of the 3rd and 4th Arrondissements.
Cost: Free
Moulin Rouge
There are tons of cabaret style shows in Paris, most of which are probably less touristy than the Moulin Rouge but non are quite as famous and iconic. You can’t miss the theatre in the district of Pigalle with the famous neon sign and windmill on the roof. Inside its all glitz and glamour which transfers to the stage. A troupe of 80 artists will dazzle you in their feathered, rhinestoned and sequined costumes on a set that is way over the top. There’s lots of dancing, including the famous can-can, singing, artistic performances and of course boobs and butts. Take it for what it is, a slightly over the top, entertaining and sometimes comical show of talented dancers.
Address: 82, Bd. De Clichy, 18th Arrondissement
Cost: Show prices start from €102.00 with higher prices for dinner and show packages and VIP experiences.
Hours: Daily performances at 19:00, 21:00 & 23:00
More Information: http://www.moulinrouge.fr/
Read More: What is the Best Cabaret in Paris? on World in Paris
Pont Neuf
The oldest remaining bridge in Paris, the first stone was laid to build the Pont Neuf in 1578 under the orders of King Henry III however due to many different delays the bridge wasn’t completed until 1607. This medieval bridge spanning the Seine is composed of two separate spans, one of five arches and one of seven arches with a join in the middle on the western end of the medieval heart of Paris, the Île de la Cité. Its a nice place to get a view of the Seine and the grand buildings that line the river.
Address: The bridge is accessible form the left and right banks as well as Île de la Cité. 1st Arrondissement
Cost: Free
Where to Stay in Paris
Here are three accommodation options to suit all budgets that we recommend you check out. All are centrally located, highly rated and come with excellent facilities.
Budget – Hotel Marignan
Mid-Range – Hotel Le Relais des Halles
Luxury – Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris
Or why not book an Airbnb stay. Use this link to get up to $45AUD off.
Read part 1 of 30 Things to Do in Paris.
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Over to you!
What’s your top pick of things to do in Paris?
Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.
I’d do the free things first like meeting a French girl, then I’d treat her to a giant macaroon.
That’s so nice of you!
Wow so much to see and only 3 days to cram it into. How on earth do you pick where to start.
HI Jacqui, I agree it can be overwhelming but what I suggest is picking the things that most interest you. If you don’t like museums and art galleries, then skip them in favour of something you prefer. Let me know if you want any specific suggestions for your interests and I’ll be happy to help out.