Best Things to Do in Paris: A Licensed Guide's Honest Shortlist
Search "things to do in Paris" and you'll drown in lists of fifty attractions ranked by nobody in particular. This isn't that. After years guiding visitors as a licensed Guide-Conférencier, here is the honest shortlist I'd give a friend arriving for the first time.
The three you shouldn't leave without
- The Louvre — but choose your battle. Don't try to "do the Louvre." Pick a thread — the masterpieces, the Mona Lisa's real story, the newly reopened Apollo Gallery — and go deep. Start with our Louvre Masterpieces tour.
- Versailles — the full spectacle. The Hall of Mirrors, the royal apartments, the endless gardens. It deserves a proper half-day. See the Versailles Palace & Gardens tour.
- Montmartre — the village on the hill. Cobbled lanes, the last vineyard in Paris, the white domes of Sacré-Cœur, one of the best free views in the city. See Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur.
The views worth the climb
- Sacré-Cœur steps — free, sweeping, best at sunset.
- The Eiffel Tower — obvious, still worth it, especially lit at night.
- Galeries Lafayette rooftop — a free, little-known terrace over the rooftops.
- Arc de Triomphe terrace — the Eiffel Tower and the twelve avenues beneath you.
The Paris beyond the checklist
Spend an unhurried morning in Le Marais — 17th-century mansions, hidden courtyards, the best falafel in the city. Wander the Latin Quarter and the Île de la Cité, where Paris was born. This is where Paris stops being a list and becomes a place.
If you have a spare day
Paris is the perfect base for a day trip — Versailles for spectacle, Giverny for Monet's garden, Normandy's D-Day beaches for history that moves people. A private driver-guide makes these effortless. Our private car tour can be shaped into whatever day you want.
The honest logistics
- Skip-the-line matters. For the Louvre, Versailles and the Eiffel Tower, timed or guided entry saves hours.
- Walk more than you plan to. Paris is compact and beautiful on foot.
- Pace yourself. Two attractions a day done well beats five done badly.
- Book the big things ahead — the best morning slots sell out in summer.
Paris rewards depth over breadth. Choose fewer things, go deeper, and let someone who lives here show you the layer underneath.
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