If you’re looking for things to do in Paris and want to visit all of the iconic spots, then here is a Paris bucket list guide.
1. Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most iconic monuments in the whole world, and in our opinion the best time to see it is at sunrise.
There are so many photo Eiffel Tower Photo Spots In Paris, that we’ve written a whole blog on them.
From our experience, we recommend hitting the Trocadero Steps at around 6am.
It will make a great start to your trip and put a huge tick on your things to do in Paris bucket list.
For us it was a sunrise moment that we’ll never forget.
There is also of course the option to climb to the summit or the second level of the Eiffel Tower.
You can do this either of two ways:
With a guide: Eiffel Tower Guided Summit or 2nd Floor Priority Access Tour.
Or alone: Eiffel Tower Second Floor Priority Access.
Either way we recommend booking your tickets in advance to skip the queue. These options save precious time at the Eiffel Tower with a priority-access ticket and there is always a queue to visit!
To reach the Eiffel Tower we recommend catching the metro to Trocadero station, which drops you just metres away from the viewing platform, and you will walk out to the most incredible view!
If this doesn’t set you up for an awesome Paris bucket list trip, then we don’t know what will.
2. Arc De Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is another of the most famous monuments in Paris.
Standing at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, the Arc De Triomphe honours those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
It has the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces.
You will need tickets to visit the Arc De Triomphe rooftop, which we recommend booking in advance Skip-the-Line Arc de Triomphe Rooftop Tickets.
Tickets cost £11 per person, and allow you to skip the lines to reach the top of the Champs-Élysées and feast your eyes on breathtaking panoramas of the world-renowned City of Love.
Easy to reach from anywhere in the centre of Paris, this is an absolute must on your things to do in Paris bucket list!
Quick tip: If you head there early enough, there will be less traffic on the roundabout and hardly any tourists.
3. Sacre-Coeur
After the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre-Coeur is actually the second highest point in the city!
Standing at the top of Montmartre Hill, you’ll have to climb the many steps to reach the famous Roman Catholic Church. However, attracting around 10 million visitors per year, the view from the top is worth the walk.
The option is there again to take a tour with a local guide, around not only the Sacre-Coeur, but the whole Montmartre area.
Or alternatively, if you like to explore at your own pace, you can book a Sacré-Cœur and Its Surroundings Audioguide.
Looking over the whole of Paris, the Sacre-Coeur itself is like no other religious building we’ve ever seen.
So add it to your things to do in Paris bucket list and take your time exploring its history, before heading down for lunch.
Book your Sacre-Coeur Tour: Montmartre 2-Hour Walking Tour
4. Louvre
The Louvre, or the Louvre Museum, is the world’s largest art museum and a historic monument/central landmark of the city.
Although we didn’t have time to venture inside, it’s most widely recognised as being home to the most famous painting in the world – the Mona Lisa.
Tickets for the Louvre are €15 per adult if bought at the entrance, however the queues can be huge for the this attraction. So we recommend the Louvre Museum Timed-Entrance Ticket.
With this ticket you will be given a time that you must enter, allowing you to skip the queues and spend as much time as you like inside the museum to explore at your own pace.
Alternatively one of the top rated tours in Paris is the Ultimate Louvre: Fast-Track Guided Tour With Ticket.
This tour allows you to head in faster and see art from an expert guide’s perspective, whilst following a smart route through the Louvre to get up close to “Mona Lisa”.
The Louvre buildings comprise two former royal palaces – the Louvre and the Tuileries. It began life as a 12th-century fort, but was massively expanded, and rebuilt, by a succession of French kings. All of which were huge fans of arts.
In short, King Francois I persuaded Leonardo da Vinci to move to France in 1517. He of course brought the Mona Lisa with him, and eventually died in the arms of the king in 1519.
5. Cathedral Notre Dame
Ok so being huge Disney fans, we couldn’t visit the city of love without adding Quasimodo’s home to our Paris bucket list!
From the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral is just a 15 minute walk along the canal.
Apart from being featured in a Disney movie though, this medieval Catholic cathedral is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture to date.
Sadly, on April 15, 2019, the spire and the oak room collapsed after a fire destroyed a large part of Notre Dame. The fire burned for several hours, and it took more than 400 firemen to contain it.
With over €800 million raised in two days that followed, there are current plans to renovate and rebuild the church. However for now, there still lies a hole in the heart of the French capital.
6. Sinking House Of Montmartre
The Sinking House Of Montmartre has become a bit of a Paris Instagram spots in recent years, and we can see why.
This spot located right next door to the Sacre-Coeur makes for a great postcard photo.
This photographic illusion seems as though the grand old block of flats is falling to it’s death. However of course it’s a simple tilt of the camera and WE are in fact supporting ourselves from rolling down the hill!
Within certain dates you are allowed to sit on the grass to the right of the Sacre-Coeur as you face it, and you’ll see immediately why they call it the ‘Sinking House Of Montmartre’.
If you take a Montmartre 2-Hour Walking Tour, I’m sure you’re guide will point this photographic illusion out to you from the base of the Sacre-Coeur.
7. Montmartre
One of the quirkiest and most tourist friendly places in Paris.
The streets of Montmartre are old, cobbled lanes and some of the cutest you will find.
Filled with famous cafes such as Le Consulat or La Mansion Rose, you can spend all afternoon cruising around, admiring the Parisian feel.
With so much to see and taste if you’d prefer to have everything organised for you, there is the highly rated Montmartre 2-Hour Walking Tour available to book in advance.
We spent a couple of hours trawling the narrow streets and picking up snacks and souvenirs. Just be sure to wear comfortable shoes!
8. Moulin Rouge
If you have the time, you must add a show at the famous Moulin Rouge to your Paris bucket list.
This world-famous cabaret, performed in a 19th-century windmill, has been exciting audiences since 1900.
There are two shows each night at 9.00pm and 11.00pm, both lasting 1 hour 30 minutes each.
Tickets must be booked in advance, and the best place to get them is here Moulin Rouge Show with Champagne.
We didn’t manage to get tickets, however if you plan ahead, those that have seen the performance only have great things to say about the fiery can-can show.
So if this sounds like your kind of thing, then a cabaret show and fancy dinner could end your Paris bucket list perfectly!
Another fancy option, maybe for those celebrating in Paris, is the Eiffel Tower, Dinner, Cruise, & Champagne at Moulin Rouge Package.
Enjoy breathtaking views of the capital from the Eiffel Tower, then cruise along the Seine River. Have dinner either at the tower or on a dinner cruise. Finish with a revue show at the iconic Moulin Rouge.
9. Galeries Lafayette Shopping Mall
Situated in the centre of Paris, the beautiful architecture that houses this shopping mall has made it a popular tourist attraction.
Completed in 1912, it has stunning Art Nouveau staircases and, the absolute jewel in the crown, a massive, beautiful glass and steel dome. Making this building one of the most iconic architectural monuments in Paris.
Spread over 5 floors, this is an absolute shoppers paradise, selling a massive range of goods. Including top of the range designer clothing, jewellery, cosmetics, homewares, food, electronics and more.
Galeries Lafayette Shopping Mall also hosts a popular weekly fashion show for visitors. To book a ticket in advance go to Fashion Show at Galeries Lafayette Haussmann.
In addition, you can go up to the roof top terrace on the 7th floor where you will find the Cube Bar as well as lots of open space.
From here you get the most spectacular views across the city of Paris, especially at sunset.
10. Picnic At Champ De Mars
To end our Paris bucket list, we grabbed a picnic and headed to the southern side of the Eiffel Tower, known as Champ De Mars.
The huge grassy park area is packed out with locals and tourists come sunset. All laying out their blankets in hope of a pink sky and an incredible end to their stay in the city of love.
We recommend grabbing a bottle of wine or some macarons before you get there. As there are no shops nearby and the locals walking around selling items are extremely over priced.
We got lucky on our final night and spent it laughing away with friends. As the natural light disappeared it called a magical close and a huge tick on our things to do in Paris bucket list!
Where To Stay In Paris
Luxury – Brach Paris
Brach Paris is set in the 16th arr. of Paris within easy reach of the Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro.
This Parisian 5-star hotel features a fitness club with pools, sauna, hammam and massage rooms. As well as a barber shop.
The bright and spacious rooms and suites come with a high quality sound system and soundproofing.
They feature tailor-made toiletries, high quality bedding, a dressing room and an elegant desk.
Some rooms and suites offer a terrace and views over Paris and Haussmanian facades.
Mid-Budget – Generator Paris
Generator Paris is a designer hostel located in the lively 10th district in Paris.
is available and it features a stylish area with games room.
You can enjoy locally inspired dishes at the on-site Café and listen to DJs music while having a drink from the bar.
Each of the contemporary rooms here provide air conditioning, bed linen and a with a shower. Some rooms also offer a private terrace.
Budget – ibis budget Paris Porte De Montmartre
Located in the north of Paris near Boulevard Périphérique, ibis Budget Paris Porte De Montmartre is just a 10-minute walk from .
Stadium is 2.5 miles away.
Decorated in soft pastel colours, the rooms are contemporary in style and offer an LCD TV.
Each also has a private bathroom with a shower and a separate toilet.
For more places to stay in Paris, you can check the latest prices on Booking.com.
More Europe Blogs
Instagrammable Places In Paris – Ultimate Guide
Eiffel Tower Photo Spots – The Ultimate Guide
Top 7 Awesome Things To Do In Berlin
11 Things To Do In Brussels In A Weekend
Pin It For Later!
