Ever since I started living in Paris, I have had friends, family, and followers asking me for suggestions of things to do while visiting the City of Light.
It’s taken me almost 2 years to compile a really substantial list of things to see and do in Paris.
I have been blessed to see Paris through the eyes of the incredible women I have connected with—not to mention the man I may have moved to the city for in the first place.
I feel like I could regurgitate all of the things I have ever seen and done in Paris, but I wanted to keep the list as succinct, yet informative, as I could. If you ever have specific questions, feel free to leave a comment, direct message me on Instagram, or send an email.
Recommendations for What to See and Do in Paris, France
- Recommendations for What to See and Do in Paris, France
- Favorite Paris Walks
- Favorite Monuments and Museums in Paris, France
- Favorite Cafés in Paris, France
- Favorite Restaurants in Paris, France
- Favorite Bars in Paris, France
Favorite Paris Walks
You can’t really go wrong walking anywhere within the center of Paris.
Rue de Seine walking route
I like walking along rue de Seine—starting at Jardin du Luxembourg, passing by Saint Sulpice, walking through Saint Germain des Prés, seeing the terraces of Les Deux Magots and Cafeé de Flore, then taking a right somewhere back onto rue de Seine, walk out to the Seine onto Pont des Arts across from the Bibliothèque Mazarin.
Estimated Walking Time: Approximately 25 min
Seine River walking route
Then there’s the long walk along the Seine itself—starting from Pont Alexandre III, catching a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower, facing Musée d’Orsay across the way, walking the length of the Louvre and the Tuileries gardens, walking by Pont des Arts, Pont Neuf, Notre Dame and ending on a quiet island behind the cathedral called Île Saint Louis. You get to see Rive Gauche and Rive Droite alongside each other.
Estimated Walking Time: Approximately 50-60 min (read: wear sensible shoes)
Rue Cherche-Midi, Rive Gauche walking route
One of my favorite walks I’ve ever been on was enjoying sundown with a close friend along rue de Cherche-Midi—we started at her apartment in Montparnasse, finding our way to rue de Cherche-Midi, cutting through a side street to the historic Bon Marché, then weaving our way towards the newly opened Beau Passage.
Estimated Walking Time: Approximately 30 min
Montmartre walking route
I also enjoy walking through Montmartre and playing tour guide for friends… but I would advise first-timers in Paris to be very careful because it’s a high-volume tourist destination. It’s still safe, it’s just that there are pickpocketers and vendors who will approach you if you’re openly speaking English. If possible, visit Montmartre early in the morning to avoid crowds.
Estimated Walking Time: Approximately 30 min
Favorite Monuments and Museums in Paris, France
Let’s cover the obvious hitlist.
Louvre
There is nothing about the Louvre that is overrated. Do. Not. Miss. It. The ticket line is annoying and the museum itself is enormous—and yes, you can spend an entire day if you wanted to—but you must visit it once in your lifetime, even if only to see the major historical works.
Musée d’Orsay
It’s one of the most beautiful museums in Paris and houses an important collection of Impressionist paintings.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Basilica de Sacré Cœur at Montmartre
Arc de Triomphe
Eiffel Tower
And last, but certainly not least, the Eiffel Tower. If you’re pressed for time, I don’t think it’s necessary to climb it—I believe the best views of Paris include the Eiffel Tower in the photos. The panoramic view of Paris from the top of the Arc de Triomphe is jaw-dropping.
Moving on to my personal favorites and hidden gems…
Petit Palais
I love Petit Palais—the exhibits may not be the finest, but I enjoy having a reasonably priced tea time and a quiet moment in the courtyard café. Naturally, Grand Palais is across the street from Petit Palais. You’ll find larger-scale exhibitions that appeal to most audiences.
La Maison de Victor Hugo
La Maison de Victor Hugo is a small museum located in Place des Vosges, the heart of Le Marais. You’ll learn how one of the great French authors lived in his apartment.
Musée Bourdelle
Musée Bourdelle is another small museum with a very unique layout—it’s a sculptor’s studio with exceptional grounds in the heart of Montparnasse. I discovered it while searching for various fashion exhibits.
Musée des Arts Decoratifs
Musée des Arts Decoratifs is renowned for its fashion exhibits—it hosted the groundbreaking Dior exhibit in 2017. Their visiting lecture talks open to the public are equally compelling (note: they’re in French).
Other Fashion Museums to Visit in Paris, France
If you’re a fashion addict—comme moi—also be sure to visit Musée de Yves Saint Laurent and Palais Galliera.
Favorite Cafés in Paris, France
For any digital nomads, I am obsessed with Café Craft on rue des Vinaigriers near Canal Saint Martin—I would have purchased a monthly pass there if I lived in Paris full-time. Great co-working space with excellent coffee and freshly prepared food.
Café Kitsuné is slightly overrated for locals, but it’s still a great place to snap a few Instagram photos and a beautiful place to take a café pause in the middle of Palais Royal. Note: there’s no indoor seating, just tables, and chairs in the garden.
I had the pleasure of stopping Treize Bakery before they relocated to a larger space by Jardin du Luxembourg—the smell of their homemade American Southern-style biscuits is intoxicating.
If you’re looking for a modern Parisian bistro, I would recommend Café Charlot in Le Marais, a great people-watching spot to feel almost like a Parisian.
For those with dietary restrictions or want clean eating— gluten-free and organic—Café Pinson is your spot.
Café Craft
Café Kitsuné
Treize Bakery
Café Charlot
Café Pinson
Favorite Restaurants in Paris, France
For the most part, I actually cook at the apartment whenever I’m in Paris, so I’m a bit limited in my restaurant recommendations.
Au Pied de Cochon is a traditional French restaurant perfect for any first-timer in Paris—the place is open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
My boyfriend and I found Le Garde Temps in Pigalle after passing up the long queue for Pink Mamma down the street. The wine list and traditional French menu make this gastronomic restaurant an incredible find.
Any of the restaurants in the Big Mamma Restaurant Group have a cult following in Paris. Pink Mamma’s highly Instagrammable interior has made it a social media sensation, but the “no reservations” rule makes it tough to get in at a reasonable hour. The older East Mamma location has a warm atmosphere and delicious Italian food.
For lunch, a friend and I went to ASTAIR in Passage des Panoramas. We got there early to take photos and grab a table before the crowds came in—the parmentier de confit de canard on the prix fixe menu tasted like a true traditional homemade dish in a French home.
If you want to try something completely different, my boyfriend found a Tibetan restaurant called Lithang on Rive Gauche. We tried it on a freezing winter night and it was well worth trekking out from our apartment in Neuilly-sur-Seine.
Au Pied de Cochon
Le Garde Temps
Big Mamma restaurants
ASTAIR
Lithang
Favorite Bars in Paris, France
So. I’m probably the lamest American in Paris because I don’t go out.
However. Le Comptoir Général in Canal Saint-Martin is still a fun option for those visiting Paris for the first time—you’ll be hard-pressed to find French people, it’s mostly tourists or English speakers.
La Favorite for cocktails. Period.
Also, I have recently confirmed that the Yellow Mad Monkey in Le Marais is still around from when I studied abroad in January 2014 and remains one of the best places to let out your inner Hot Mess Express…
The magic of Paris—or any city, really—is that no matter how well you think you may know a place, there are always new things or hidden gems.
It bears repeating that this is by no means an exhaustive list. There are so many wonderful places that I have yet to discover or places that I’ve heard of but haven’t had the time to go…
At least, not yet.
New England Parisienne 
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