Paris, France is one of the most popular vacation destinations every year. With so many bucket-list landmarks, attractions, and activities littered across the city, chances are that you will need to narrow down your options.
If you want to experience the best of the best that Paris has to offer, here are six must-do activities to pencil into your itinerary!
1. Pamper Yourself at a Local Spa
First things first. Achieving a sense of balance is the key to a fulfilling trip. On one hand, you may be tempted to cram as many busy activities as possible into your travel agenda. However, it’s important to not only pace yourself but also wind down after a day filled with walking, sightseeing, and adventure.
One of the best ways to achieve this is by booking a visit to a French spa. While you can easily enjoy a spa session stateside, there are dozens of spas and wellness centers located in Paris alone. Take some time to recharge so that you can fully enjoy other activities and attractions!
2. Climb to the Top of the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is undoubtedly Paris’ most recognizable attraction, and to leave the city without seeing it up close would be to miss out on an opportunity you might never get again.
Of course, there are multiple ways to experience the iconic tower. You might be content snapping a selfie while standing in front of it. For those who want to be able to say that they climbed the tower, however, there are a few options available.
If you take the elevator, you can ascend to the very top. If you choose to take the tower’s 1,665 steps, on the other hand, keep in mind that only 674 are available to the public and you will only be able to go as far as the second floor. In any case, be sure to purchase tickets well in advance. If you elect to stand in line, the wait may be anywhere between 30 minutes and several hours.
3. Stroll Through Le Marais
If shopping and eating are more your pace, spend some time walking the cobblestone streets of Le Marais. This historic district is home to all types of restaurants, boutiques, bars, and other shops. You can sample a wide range of French cuisine with one of the area’s food and wine tasting tours.
Otherwise, pick up lunch at one of the local restaurants and bring it over to Place des Vosges—a beautiful park where people are free to lay out on the lawns for a picnic.
Once you have finished eating, walk over to the one historic house that is still open to the public—the home of Victor Hugo, author of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables.
4. Book a Cruise on the River Seine
A cruise on the 485-mile-long River Seine is not only a great way to relax after a long day of walking around the city but also a great way to tackle multiple attractions at once. While you won’t get to tour them up close, these landmarks are clearly visible from various points on a typical River Seine cruise.
Most of these cruises and boat tours run about an hour long, and some even include a meal. Keep your eyes peeled for views of the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Musée d’Orsay, and more!
5. View the Iconic Art at the Louvre
Next to only the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre is perhaps the most recognizable landmark in all of France. The largest museum in the world, the Louvre is filled with thousands of iconic pieces—including the Mona Lisa, Liberty Leading the People, and The Venus de Milo, to name only a few.
To fully experience the Louvre and its 73,000 square meters of exhibits, you may need more than one day to explore it. Just be sure to buy tickets well in advance, as the museum’s lines tend to be long. The most-visited museum in the world, the Louvre sees about 15,000 visitors every day!
6. Wander Through the Catacombs
So long as you’re not the kind of person who is easily spooked, consider a journey through the Paris catacombs. This enormous tunnel system, located roughly 65 miles beneath the city’s surface and spanning several hundred miles, was formerly a limestone mine.
In the 18th century, however, the bones of over six million bodies were transferred into the tunnel system due to a health concern linked to the city’s above-ground cemeteries. Today, the Catacombs see roughly 550,000 visitors each year!
