Best Things to Do in Paris Checklist (for First Trip to Paris & Second Trip to Paris)

09/25/20

Best Things to Do in Paris Checklist

So finally, you are traveling to Paris! Before your trip, you hardly got a chance to breathe let alone organize your time on-site. What to do when you arrive in the City of Lights?

With a city spanning thousands of years in the making and a diverse collage of arrondissements and neighborhoods spread far and wide over the whole city, it’d be no surprise if you simply couldn’t fit in everything you wanted to get done during your stay.

But we can help! We have narrowed down a list of top things to do in Paris, a Paris checklist with all the must-see attractions and points of interest for first-timers in Paris.

Also, there’s a second Paris checklist for those who have been to the city already and want to go beyond its main sights.

Whether you are visiting Paris for the first time or this is your second trip to Paris, there’s always something for everyone in the French capital, and finding a great day out in Paris has never been easier!

First Time in Paris Checklist

This is a Paris to-do list for those who are visiting Paris for the first time. It covers the main Paris tourist attractions and popular things to do in Paris.

By ticking most of the items on this Paris checklist, you will get a good idea of what the city has to offer.

At the end of this Paris to-do list, you will also find itineraries to visit Paris in 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 days that include most of these Paris tourist attractions.

TIP: Visiting Paris for the First Time? Check out these insider travel tips for a unique trip to Paris

Monuments and Museums

 Louvre Museum (check  here how to visit the Louvre in 2 hours or less!)

 Sainte Chapelle

 Beaubourg – Centre Pompidou

 Notre Dame de Paris (from outside)

 Opéra Garnier

 Orsay Museum

 The Eiffel Tower

Squares, Parks and Gardens

 Tuileries Garden

 Palais Royal Garden and the Buren Columns

 Luxembourg Gardens

 Place Vendôme

 Place des Vosges

 Place du Panthéon

Paris Walks

 Stroll along the banks of the Seine

 Le Marais, with its elegant private mansions and secluded gardens

 Saint Germain-des-Près

 Montmartre Walking Tour

Other Things to See & Do in Paris

 Wake up with the view of the Eiffel Tower from your room

 Coffee and people watching in a Parisian café

 Look for the best view of the Eiffel Tower

 Enjoy a traditional meal in a Parisian bistro

 Learn about French Wines

 Admire Paris’ skyline from a rooftop bar, cocktail in hand

 Taste some typical Parisian pastries

 Watch a Parisian Cabaret

 Enjoy a Seine boat tour

Day Trips from Paris

 Versailles Palace & Gardens (Ile de France)

 Monet’s House and Garden at Giverny (Normandy)

 Mont Saint Michel (Normandy)

These are the top things to do in Paris. We recommend visiting these sights in the following Paris itineraries:

• 1 day in Paris itinerary
• 2 days in Paris itinerary
• 3 days in Paris itinerary
• 4 days in Paris itinerary
• 5 days in Paris itinerary

Second Time in Paris Checklist

For your second (or third) time in Paris, we understand that you have a good knowledge of the main tourist attractions in Paris.

This is a Paris to-do list for those who want to go beyond Paris’ main sights, for those who are looking for lesser-known or off the beaten path places and activities, perhaps with a more local feeling.

By ticking most of the items on this second Paris checklist, you will discover more about the city, especially about local life.

Monuments and Museums

 The Arènes de Lutèce

 Grande Galerie de l’Évolution

 Les Invalides – Army Museum

 Quai Branly Museum

 Catacombs of Paris

Squares, Parks and Gardens

 Place Dauphine

 Jardin des Plantes

 Park Buttes-Chaumont

 Père Lachaise Cemetery

Paris Walks

 Montorgueil /Les Halles neighborhoods

 Covered Passages of Paris

 A stroll along Canal Saint-Martin

 Ernest Hemingway in Paris

 Promenade Plantée /Coulée Verte

 Street Art in Paris 13

 La Petite Ceinture (we recommend the section in Paris 15)

 French Revolution Walking Tour

Other Things to See & Do in Paris

 Go beyond Montmartre’s main sights

 Visit a local market or take a food tour

 Enjoy a picnic in a Parisian park

 Visit a Parisian flea market for some vintage shopping

 Have fun like the locals with a Paris Treasure Hunt

 Visit the Flower Market on Ile de la Cité

 Sail Canal de la Villette on a self-drive electric boat

 Enjoy a Paris Food Festival

Day Trips from Paris

 Châteaux de la Loire

 Champagne Tasting in Champagne Wine Region

 Normandy D-Day Landing Beaches

 Château de Chantilly

 Check out all the best day trips from Paris

Do you Need Last-minute Help with your Paris Packing List?

We have split the Paris Packing Checklist into 4 different guides for men, women, and all the seasons:

» Paris Packing List Spring – Summer for Women

» Paris Packing List Spring – Summer for Men

» Paris Packing List Fall – Winter for Women

» Paris Packing List Fall – Winter for Men

» Travel Day Bag Checklist for Exploring Paris

Join France Bucket List – Our France Travel Planning Facebook Group

Need more help? You are also welcome to join France Bucket List our France Travel Planning Facebook Group – it is a great resource to enable you to ask questions about your upcoming trip to Paris or France!

Click here to read more Paris Tips

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