I recently went to Paris on a girls trip for one of my best friend’s hen dos. It was my first time visiting the city in over 10 years so I was excited to see some familiar sights plus places I hadn’t been to before.
France’s capital is the perfect destination for a city break with your besties, your other half, or your family. There’s so much to do, it’s easy to get to from the UK, and it’s seriously photogenic.
Read on to find out my favourite fun things to do on a trip to Paris.
How long do you need in Paris?
How long is a piece of string?! We spent three days and three nights in Paris but there is loads to do in the city so you could easily stay longer.
If it’s your first visit then three days is probably enough to see the main sights without being too much. Also, Paris is expensive (I’d say food, drinks, and attractions are similar to London prices if you want to compare European cities), so the longer you stay, the more spending money you’ll need.
What is the best month to visit Paris?
I don’t believe that there’s a wrong time to visit Paris. It is magical at Christmas, beautiful in the spring, and there’s plenty to do in the summer. My favourite time to visit is autumn when the city is bathed in gold and browns and the weather is mild.
The rainiest months to visit Paris are April, May, October, and December but I don’t feel like rain ruins your visit. Just bring a brolly with you – Paris is even more romantic in the rain!
How to get to Paris
Paris is super easy to get to from the UK with flights from all major UK airports, plus the Eurostar from London St Pancras train station. We flew from Birmingham with Air France and the flight took just an hour.
There are three airports in Paris:
- Charles de Gaulle
- Orly
- Beauvais
We chose to fly into Charles de Gaulle as it is the closest one to the city, making it the quickest and easiest journey. Sometimes there are cheaper flights available to the other airports but you’ll need to weigh this up against the cost of transport to the city centre once you get there.
Air France were brilliant to fly with. They let us check our hand luggage into the hold and you get drinks and a snack on board.
Take the Eurostar from London
If you’re based in London then probably the easiest way to get to Paris is the Eurostar. It’s also a nice, relaxed journey and travelling by train is a bit of a novelty compared to flying – not to mention it’s more sustainable.
The journey usually takes just under two and a half hours.
How to get around in Paris
Paris is easy to get around. From hopping on the metro to exploring on foot, it’s a city that’s easy to navigate.
How to get from the airport to Paris city centre
There are a few options for getting into Paris city centre from Charles de Gaulle airport, including:
- RER train
- Taxi or ride share like Uber
- Private or shared transfer
We decided to get an Uber from the airport, as it was about the same price as the train for three people and it was easier than schlepping through the streets of Paris with our suitcases.
Paris metro
The Paris metro is easy to navigate and cheap. I always use the CityMapper app when I travel as this plans the journey for you, telling you where to get on and off and change trains. It even tells you which exits to get out at, if there are more than one, and sometimes which is the best carriage to get on.
Top tip: Rather than buying a travel card from the station which costs €2, you can get one for free on your phone. Just go to your wallet, click on add travel card, and add the Navigo card.
You can then buy tickets on here to use and just tap your phone on the turnstiles to enter. Each single journey costs €2.
Walking around
Lots of Paris is walkable with most of the major sights close together. Paris is full of beautiful architecture so walking around is an absolute treat.
It’s a great way to get to know the city and you’ll probably see things you hadn’t planned on seeing.
Fun things to do in the day in Paris
Summary – fun things to do in the day in Paris
- Free walking tour
- Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower
- River cruise on the Seine
- Explore Montmartre
- Get a hot chocolate at Cafe de Flore
- Go for a run around
- Take a day trip to Disneyland Paris
Free walking tour
Paris is a notoriously expensive city and there aren’t that many free things to do in Paris but a walking tour is one of them.
Taking a free walking tour is one of my favourite things to do in any city and I like to do it early on in the trip as one of the first activities. It’s a great way to orient yourself and will help you find your way around for the rest of your time in the city.
Stops on this free Paris walking tour include:
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- Pont Neuf
- The Louvre
- Arc de Triomphe
- Musee d’Orsay
Your guide will tell you more about the history of Paris and some interesting facts. You can also tap into their local knowledge and ask them for some recommendations for restaurants and attractions.
Just a quick note – although a free walking tour is technically free, tips are welcome if you can afford to.
Book a free Paris walking tour
Go to the top of the Eiffel Tower
A trip to Paris wouldn’t be complete without going to its most famous landmark – the Eiffel Tower. Built in 1887, the Eiffel Tower is 1,082 feet (330 metres) high and is the most recognisable structure in Paris.
I’ve been to the top a couple of times are the views over Paris are spectacular. In my opinion it is one of the best things to do in Paris. You can also have lunch or dinner at the restaurant here if you fancy it.
Book tickets in advance as the queues are often long.
Book tickets for the Eiffel Tower
River cruise on the Seine
Another good way to tick off multiple sights is by taking a cruise on the river Seine. On a river cruise, you can see the most famous sights in Paris from the water, enjoying expert commentary along the way.
Sights on a Paris river cruise include:
- Les Invalides
- The French Parliament
- Musee d’Orsay
- Notre Dame Cathedral
- The Louvre Museum
- Grand Palais
Explore Montmartre
Montmartre is one of the prettiest areas of Paris, perfect for a wander round. There are lots of independent boutiques and souvenir shops to pop into, plus some famous sights to see.
There are also lots of steps (which make for some pretty pictures!) so be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
Things to see here include:
- The Sacre-Coeur Basilica for fabulous views over the city
- Carrousel de Saint-Pierre
- La Maison Rose – a famous pink restaurant that’s very Instagrammable
- Artists’ Square (Les Artistes de la Place du Tertre) – sit and enjoy lunch and a drink as you watch the comings and goings here.
Get a hot chocolate at Cafe de Flore
I honestly had one of the best hot chocolates of my entire life at Cafe de Flore. Thick, creamy hot chocolate served with whipped cream in a champagne flute as you sit overlooking one of Paris’ streets— absolute bliss!
The hot chocolate here is on the pricey side at around 12 euros but in my opinion it’s worth every penny.
Cafe de Flore became famous in the early 1900s when artists and philosophers like Descartes, Picasso, and Trotsky used to visit.
Go for a run around Jardin Tuileries
If your friends are gym bunnies like mine are then get your exercise fix in with an early morning run around Jardin Tuileries. Seeing Paris at sunrise is a beautiful sight and the streets are usually quiet in the morning so you’ll feel like you have the city to yourself.
Afterwards you can eat all the croissants you want – you deserve it!
Cheese and wine tasting at Archibon
If you and your pals are fans of fromage et champagne then you need to visit Archibon for cheese and wine tasting. We tasted a champagne, two whites, a rosé, and two reds, plus cheese and cured meats to accompany them.
The guide was super knowledgeable, teaching us lots about French wines, and really passionate. Plus, we really got our money’s worth with the measures of wine – they were more like small glasses of wine than tastings.
Take a day trip to Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris is the only Disney park in Europe. With two theme parks and an entertainment complex, it’s a fun day out for you and your pals.
Pose in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, get your adrenaline pumping on some epic thrill rides, and experience the magic of Disney for yourself.
Disneyland Paris is easy to get to from central Paris. It’s a 40-minute train journey on the RER train to Marne-la-Vallee – Chessy from Chatelet station. You can also book a day trip with transfers included.
Fun things to do in Paris at night
The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down in Paris. There’s lots to explore after dark, too. Of course, if you don’t want to plan something, there are plenty of cocktail bars to go to, as well as other activities.
Summary – fun things to do at night in Paris
- See the Eiffel Tower sparkling
- Limo tour
- Go for dinner
- Go to the Crazy Horse Paris
- See the French can can at the Moulin Rouge
See the Eiffel Tower sparkling
You absolutely cannot miss watching the Eiffel Tower sparkling if you’re visiting Paris. It’s such a special experience to share with your nearest and dearest as it’s so beautiful and we all had a little tear.
The sparkles happen every hour on the hour after dusk and last for about five minutes. The last sparkle is at midnight. We stood by the river Seine to watch the sparkles, near to the Princess Diana memorial.
Limo tour
Travel in style around central Paris with a limo tour. Sip on some fizz as you explore the City of Light after dark.
On our tour we stopped at the Eiffel Tower to take some pictures. We were also able to bring our own drinks and hook up our music to the Bluetooth in the car to provide our own soundtrack for the evening.
Go for dinner
If there’s one thing that France is known for then it’s its cuisine. The food scene in Paris is second-to-none and there are some amazing places to get dinner.
From cheap eats to fine dining, there’s something available to every budget and taste. Some restaurants we went to include:
- Les Foodies
- Flora Caffe
- Daroco
Go to the Crazy Horse Paris
See the French can can at the Moulin Rouge
Where to stay in Paris
Le Monsieur by Sweett
