What To Do in Paris – The Ultimate Things to Do in Paris
What to Do in Paris – Explore the must-see sights and unforgettable activities that make the city so iconic. However, do not forget to follow what resonates with your heart. PARIS BY EMY offers 10 curated themes to explore. We design personalized tours based on your profile and interests, complete with tailored recommendations. Experience its story, art, culture, gastronomy, romance, sacred sites, fashion, and iconic neighborhoods.
Top Things To do in Paris
Top Things to Do in Paris : From its iconic landmarks to its charming neighborhoods, the capital offers a plethora of experiences for every traveler. If you’re planning a visit to the City of Lights or take the best tours in Paris, here are top monuments to see.
- Official Licensed Tour Guide – English Speaking
- From €850 for 1 up to 6 persons – 4 hours
- The tour is combining guide and driver
- Fully optimized itinerary
- Exterior visits with brief stops, highlights
Your Top preferred Paris landmarks with historical highlights
The itinerary focuses on stopping at your preferred landmarks with historical highlights, to admire their exteriors, and take photographs. PARIS BY EMY incorporates historical districts such as Montmartre, Saint Germain, Latin Quarter, Le Marais, Louvre Rivoli, Opera Madeleine... upon your preferences.
Indeed, we personalized the tour if you want to focus on different themes such as history, Paris church, parks and gardens, shopping, coffee break and more such as hidden gems in Paris. The best way to travel is to follow your heart, not social media. Let PARIS BY EMY guide you with personalized recommendations.
For safety reasons drivers do NOT also serve as a guide
- The driver’s primary duty is to focus entirely on driving
- Distractions can compromise the safety
- You may choose either a private driver only
The Cathedral of Notre Dame, the most visited Holy place in Europe. About 30,000 people are visiting Notre Dame during the day ! Thus 32 people per minute ! 13 millions a year !
They are higher than the attendance at St. Peter’s Church in Rome. Have a Notre Dame area walking private tour guide
The Sacred Heart Basilica based Montmartre from the rooftop of Paris. Have a Montmartre area walking private guided tour
The Moulin Rouge is a Parisian cabaret founded in 1889 located in the Red Lights district, in Montmartre
The Louvre Pyramid, the biggest Museum of Art and Antiques in the world. Ask for a Have a Louvre museum private tour
The Eiffel Tower, the Parisian Icon by Excellence, Paris does not go without Mademoiselle Eiffel! Learn more about our private tours of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The Arc de Triomphe on the so famous Champs-Elysées Avenue
Place Vendôme, epicentre of Parisian elegance in the Opera Madeleine district. The Vendôme Column was erected by Napoleon I
Nestled in the Left Bank, the Luxembourg Gardens offer a serene retreat from the city hustle
Place de la Concorde underwent numerous events, a site for public executions during the French Revolution
Originally a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, the Panthéon now serves as a mausoleum honoring France’s most illustrious figures. Have a Latin Quarter area private tour
Place des Vosges is Paris’ oldest square, once home to Victor Hugo, is now surrounded by art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants. Have a private guided tour of Le Marais district
Exploring the Seine River from the Left or Right Bank is a must, whether on a walking tour guide or a private boat tour in Paris
Enjoy a coffee break at a famous café or dine at a historic restaurant like Le Procope. where famous people used to go such as Voltaire, Danton, la Fayette in the famous Saint Germain area. Have a private guided tour in Saint Germain
Discover the Marquis de la Fayette, the man of the two revolutions, the French Revolution and walk in the footsteps of history
Indulge in a walking shopping tour guide while discovering Paris or a luxury experience with a private driver in the fashion capital
Take a private gourmet tour in Paris focused on fine French foods, pastries, macarons and authentic local products.
Follow What Resonates with Your Heart
PARIS BY EMY offers 10 thoughtfully curated themes to explore the City of Lights. Private tours with Parisian guides, premium services, amazing leisure activities, and top day trips from Paris are tailored to your unique profile and interests.
- PARISIAN ICONS
- HISTORICAL PARIS
- FRENCH CUISINE
- ART & MUSEUMS
- SACRED PLACES
- LANDMARKS & SIGHTSEEING
- SHOPPING
- ENTERTAINMENT
- GREEN PARIS
- OUTSIDE PARIS
What To Do in Paris - Must Do in Paris
Let the City Tell You What to Do in Paris
Through our Parisian tours with locals, we provide customized recommendations so you can truly experience the city of lights — not just visit it. Discover the soul of Paris through its rich history, vibrant art, diverse culture, world-class gastronomy, romantic ambiance, sacred sites, timeless fashion, iconic neighborhoods, serene nature, and chic shopping.
TOP PARISIAN ICONS
Come up with story by those who made it. Above, Gustave Eiffel portrait, a fabulous engineer with amazing forces. Did you know that many notable Parisians have decried the Eiffel Tower project ? Despite of it, the Eiffel Tower became the parisienne icon by Excellence.
Enjoy emblematic figures playing a key role in the construction of the social imaginary and collective identit. Parisian Icon can be a person, famous or anonymous, French or not, a woman or a man, a symbol, related to an institution, a monument, an atmosphere, a way of life and great accomplishments.
To name a few of them : King Saint Louis, Louis XIV The Sun King, Queen Catherine de Médicis, Queen Anne d’Autriche, Queen Marie Antoinette and her husband King Louis XVI, Sainte Geneviève, Joséphine Baker, Edith Piaf, Sarah Bernhardt, George Sand, Colette, the hunchback of Notre Dame autor Victor Hugo, Balzac, Napoleon, Gertrude Stein, Hemingway, Emile Zola, Oscar Wilde, Verlaine, Rimbaud, Henri Bergson, Albert Camus, Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir, Suzanne Valadon, Picasso, Renoir, Van Gogh, Rodin and Camille Claudel, Marcel Duchamp, Molière, Coco Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Georges-Eugène Haussmann, André Le Nôtre, Pierre and Marie Curie, Louis Pasteur, Auguste and Louis Lumière, André-Marie Ampère, Joseph-Louis Lagrange, Antoine Bequerel, LaFayette, Saint Simon, Auguste Comte, the defender of freedom Voltaire, Olympe de Gouges, Danton, Robespierre, Louise Michel, Jean Jaurès, Charles de Gaulle, Simone Veil, Jean Moulin …
Discover the great people, painters, writers, French philosophers, politicians, kings and queens, religious, scientifics, … When reality often goes ahead fiction. Experience their story, their soul, their accomplishments. Find out where they used to live or have coffee where they used to sit and talk. Walk on their steps, feel their soul and relive historical events.
THE HISTORICAL CITY
Paris is a city with an amazing history starting from the third century B.C. From Roman-era ruins to post-World War II memorials, these famous and oldest sites of Paris are offering keys to understanding the city’s evolution and at the same time are taking your breath away.
Learn historical facts and details of this crucial time of France’s history, Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, Danton, Robespierre and the people of France during the biggest key French Revolution worldwide.
Discover how the Frenc Cpaital and its people manage to overcome the German Occupation during WWII. Get a unique perspective on the major facets of this worldwide historical conflict, the dark days of the Holocaust, and the heroic resistance for the Liberation.
One of Europe’s oldest and most esteemed universities, the Sorbonne in the Latin quarter was founded by Robert de Sorbon, confessor of King of France Saint-Louis. Emerging around 1150 as a corporation associated with the cathedral school of Notre Dame de Paris, the University is born in the XIII th century. The Sorbonne is one of the oldest universities in the world like Oxford and Cambridge in UK.
FRENCH CUISINE – What to do in Paris ?
Where to have dinner in Paris with more than 13 000 restaurants ? Discover historical brasseries parisiennes, gourmet restaurants, cafés art nouveau style. Have a gastronomic dining with French wine, Champagne, at least once during your trip. Taste typical French meals, pastry, delicatessen… Walk through food markets and enjoy a custom foodie tour in Paris.
Indeed, French cuisine is amazing: it has evolved enormously, from the Middle Ages over the centuries. The first cookbooks appeared in the XIII century for the kingship, the aristocracy and the clergy. This impetus initiated by several great leaders is the consequence of the various social and political movements. Experience a cooking class or a wine tasting.
Over the years, different names have been given to the French cooking styles that have been codified by different Master Chefs. Throughout their lives, these leaders have been held in high esteem for their contributions to the country’s culture. The French cuisine was mainly developed in the city of Paris with the Royal Chefs, but it finally spread to the whole country and across the seas.
Alain Ducasse stands out as the most starred chef in the world with 20 Michelin stars and some in Paris of course for 34 addresses. The magazine “Le Chef” asked 512 starred chefs to establish the ranking of the 100 chefs with whom “you must have been”. Result: six French people in the top 10 with Pierre Gagnaire in the lead, Michel Bras, Eric Frechon, Yannick Alleno, Paul Bocuse (1926-2018) and Alain Ducasse of course.
TOP ART MUSEUMS
There are more than 200 museums, plus foundations, institutions, about sciences, history, “visual arts” such as painting, sculpture, drawing. Moreover, Sacred art is amazing in Paris Sacred places. Indeed, we have true masterpieces and Holy treasures.
Enjoy Paris architecture, design, fashion, music, cinema, movie tour in Paris, media arts, and photography institutions. Let me know what is your favorite art or artist and I will show you the best of it in Paris. Go visit prestigious museums of impressionism, modern art, contemporary art, art galleries… We can reserve skip the line entrance’s tickets for you, for priority access, just tell us about your aspirations and needs. If you want to, you can ask for a certified guide for a Paris museum guide, to give you a very precise lecture in art history during your museums visit. Museums offer audio guides in every language as well. Come & say hello to Mona Lisa at the Louvre !
UNIQUE SACRED PLACES
Paris is a Catholic stronghold with its 160 churches, the cathedral of Notre Dame, Saint Denis Basilica… Furthermore, you have more than a hundred houses of worship to discover in every district of Paris, from all religions– conservative, reformist, liberal…– such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, for all communities — African, American, Arabic, Asian, European, Indian, Latino/Hispanic, Maghreb/Middle-East, Russian…
Indeed, I would be more than happy to present you the Sacred places of Paris and share a celebration with you. You have the possibility, for churches, to have private tours by parishioners, guides and volunteers. It is a great source of admiration, true exchanges and spiritual meditation. Every single church of Paris has its very own story, architecture, arts, and Saints. The Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris is the most visited place in the entire Europe. It’s about 14 millions of visitors every year.
THE BEST DISTRICTS – MUST-SEES
What to do in Paris within its 20 districts ? Paris has 20 districts, called in French arrondissements. In every district, you have something to see, the architecture, the non-tourist zone, Paris la Rebelle, by night, the hip, the glamorous, the chic, the mythic, the popular, the artistic, the romantic, etc. Discover the historical Paris sightseeing such as Le Marais, Saint Germain, Latin Quarter, Montmartre, Les Halles… In addition, there are the suburbs of Paris with very interesting sightseeing and activities.
What to Do in Paris with more than 2 200 landmarks ? Enjoy our top Paris monuments. If it is your first time in Paris, you may want to see the big classics such as the Eiffel Tower, les Champs-Elysées, the Arc de Triomphe, la Basilique du Sacré Coeur, the pyramide du Louvre… Likewise, you may want to go off the beaten track , the secret places. Just let us know what your aspirations are.
TOP LUXURY SHOPPING IN PARIS
The City of Lights is the perfect place for shoppers, sustainable shopping, chic shopping, arts and crafts, clothing, accessories, paintings, object of decoration, jewelry. Appreciate fashion, elegance and Paris luxury shopping with private meeting and a private chauffeur. There is shopping for foodies such as delicatessen, chocolate & sweets, wines & spirits. Furthermore, there is shopping for Parisian services like getting a tattoo, a relooking, a new haircut, wellness activities. Else, you have lots of shopping malls centers, department stores, concept stores, outlets, second hand stores and petites boutiques parisiennes, the Made in Paris.
There must be something that you would like to buy, for Paris souvenir, for a gift or because you enjoy this thing in particular and you would like to have it Made in Paris, Made in France, to bring back home. Let’s have a walk into the most famous luxury districts, such as Saint Germain Rive Gauche, Le Marais, Le Faubourg Saint Honoré, rue Saint Honoré, Place Vendôme, Avenue Montaigne. You may look as well for Parisian well-being services such as Spa in Parisian palaces. Ask for a custom made Private Shopping Tour.
FAMOUS PARIS ENTERTAINMENT
Everyone can have fun, kids, adults, elderly. In fact, one of the famous entertainment places is Disneyland Paris for kids and adults. Parks, gardens, museums offer activities for kids. Paris proposes many different ways to have fun with music hall, opera, ballet, concert, jazz music, blues, classical music, rock. Spend one night in one of the most prestigious cabarets of Paris, Le Moulin Rouge, le Lido, le Crazy Horse, le Paradis Latin.
With all the social events of the City of lights, all year long, you always find something that fit in your profile such as leisure activities to do in Paris, festivals, sport events, celebrations, fun fairs, exceptional art exhibitions. Enjoy the Fabulous Paris by Night. Experience clubbing, dancing tango, salsa by the Seine river.
RIVER PARK & GARDEN
The City of Paris is engaged in a process of developing an “urban resilience strategy”. It aims to strengthen its efforts to become more resilient to the social, environmental and economic shocks and challenges it faces. The mayor of Paris invites you to enjoy this strategy with the urban greening, the revegetation, walks, bicycle. With the Vélib, ride and feel the air, the sun on your face, we offer a historical-packed itinerary along the River Seine and its canals. From the center of Paris as far as the suburbs far East or West, enjoy a journey with our great partners by bikes.
Furthermore, Paris forests, parks, gardens, such as le Jardin des Tuileries next to the Louvre, le Jardin du Luxembourg in the Latin quarter, le Bois de Vincennes, East of Paris, with its castle, botanical garden and zoo, are soothing places in the City of lights. Those places give you peace you need while being in a big city. Opt for a discovery bike route along the Seine. Appreciate a true Parisian picnic in one of our beautiful parks !
We can recommend the local actors involved in the ecological transition in and around Paris: food & agriculture, education & training, mobility with biking, outings & culture, fashion & beauty … You can find organic stores, small local producers, thrift stores, craftsmen, designers, entrepreneurs and a whole bunch of environmentally friendly initiatives with great products and services in a logic of sustainable development.
TOP DAY TRIPS
Discover our magnificent castles outside Paris such as Versailles but also Normandy from Paris, Giverny, Auvers sur Oise, little villages with their local products and their landscapes, the region of Champagne to taste the King of wines. Discover the Loire Valley châteaux, as well as the small villages around Paris in a bucolic atmosphere. The regions of Seine et Marne, the villages and countryside of the impressionists where they painted on the banks of the Marne. Visit the Cathedral of Reims to feel Joan of Arc spirit there, Hautvillers with the monk Dom Pérignon who invented the champagne with a private chauffeur and a guide. it is also very convenient to travel from Paris, across France and Europe by train and by plane.
What to do in Cosmopolitan Paris ?
The City of Lights is also a cosmopolitan city where you can find in all these districts, all the continents, all the cultures of the world. You can discover Tango and Salsa lessons in famous places or on the banks of the Seine, Asian quarters, the House of Culture of Japan, the Swedish Institute, Indian quarters, the Ganesh temple, English and Irish pubs, African restaurants, the Jewish quarter, the Institut du Monde Arabe, the American Church in Paris, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral and many other holy places from all religions and continents.
What To Do in Paris
Absolute Must See in Paris
These iconic sites hold centuries of history, places shaped by powerful stories, remarkable events, and extraordinary people who built a nation with both courage and vision. Some left their mark in grandeur, others in struggle, but all contributed to France’s incredible legacy. Go beyond the typical tourist routes with PARIS BY EMY, your personal travel planner, and discover Paris through tailor-made private tours designed just for you.
Must see in Paris – What speaks to your heart ?
You must See in Paris, magnificent forests, little villages & castles around Paris, taste typical French patisseries, and see Paris historical districts, cafés, great Parisian institutions not so popular.
Go shopping Made in Paris as well, into boutiques, walking into the streets full of Luxury stores, into Parisian art galleries.
Ask for a customized Private walking guided tours in Paris or Private tours of Paris by car upon your “must do” and “must see” preferences.
Must See in Paris from PARIS BY EMY
Paris’s must see captivate visitors with their beauty, history, and cultural significance, whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler.
LE BOIS DE VINCENNES
Cristian Bortes from Cluj-Napoca, Romania [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)]
The Bois de Vincennes, a total area of 995 hectares (2,459 acres) East of Paris, is the largest ‘green lung’ of the city. It is all about wood, wildlife, arboretum, zoo, lakes, boat ride, biking, picnic, castle, concerts, horse racing, museums, restaurants… It was created between 1855 and 1866 by the Emperor Napoleon III. This park is 3 times bigger than Central Park, great to explore and a marvelous place to relax in a big city like Paris.
LA CONCIERGERIE
If you visit the Sainte Chapelle, you should visit la conciergerie at the same time. They are next to each other. This used to be a royal residence from the 6th century and then a prison. During the French revolution, it became a place for custody and a court where the most famous prisoner was Queen Marie-Antoinette herself, the last queen of France.
LA PLACE DE LA BASTILLE
The Place de la Bastille is a square in Paris where the Bastille prison stood until the storming of the Bastille. It is the result of its subsequent physical destruction between 14 July 1789 and 14 July 1790 during the French Revolution. Around, you have the modern Bastille opéra, the famous rue de Lappe for a festive night or a bar shopping. The lovely Arsenal Harbor used to be a freight port but it has become since 1983 a marina. Perfect place to have a cup of coffee or a picnic by the Seine River.
LA MAISON DE VICTOR HUGO
Victor Hugo (1802 – 1885) was one of the most talented French poet, novelist, and dramatist of the Romantic movement. Outside of France, his most famous works are the novels Les Misérables, 1862, and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame (French: Le bossu de Notre-Dame), 1831. He lived place des Vosges in the Marais district, an amazing district of Paris, adored by the Parisians.
MUST SEE IN PARIS – LA DÉFENSE BUSINESS DISTRICT CENTER
La Défense is a major business district located 3 kilometers west of Paris. It is Europe’s largest purpose-built business district with 560 hectares (1,400 acres), 72 glass and steel buildings, 180,000 daily workers, and 3,500,000 square meters (38,000,000 sq ft) of office space. The business district contains Les Quatre Temps, a large shopping mall with 220 stores, 48 restaurants and a 24-screen movie theatre. Have a coffee early in the morning to experience the Parisian business life and go for the best shopping places in Paris.
LES TOURS DE LA CATHÉDRALE NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS
Discover the new tour of the Towers of Notre Dame de Paris cathedral. Along the 424 steps, heritage treasures, breathtaking views await you and the heart of Paris. A quintessential Gothic cathedral, building started in 1163 and lasted over 170 years. Until the building of Amiens Cathedral in the 13th century, it was the largest religious building in the West. The reopening of the Notre-Dame Towers circuit was September 20, 2025.
LA FONDATION LOUIS VUITTON
Picture attribution Moktarama [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)]
The Louis Vuitton Foundation is an amazing art museum and cultural center in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. It is a large art exhibitions sponsored by the group LVMH. The building architecture is magnificent, designed by the architect Frank Gehry. LVMH is a French multinational luxury goods conglomerate headquartered in Paris (France). The owner Bernard Arnault made a donation of 200 million euros for Notre Dame cathedral’s renovation as well as François Pinault.
LA FONDATION BOURSE DE COMMERCE – PINAULT COLLECTION
Chabe01, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Paris Stock Exchange is a circular building surmounted by a dome. It is located rue de Viarmes, in the historical Halles district. On April 27, 2016, François Pinault and the town hall of Paris announced in this building contemporary art collections. The art collection is from the businessman François Pinault (10,000 works), managed by the Pinault Collection. The Bourse de Commerce — Pinault Collection offers a point of view on contemporary works. Mr Pinault has brought his collection together for more than 50 years, through a program of exhibitions and events.
PALACE OF VERSAILLES
Just a short journey from Paris lies the opulent Palace of Versailles, testament to the grandeur of French monarchy. Originally a hunting lodge, the palace was transformed by Louis XIV into a symbol of absolute power and excess. Visitors can explore its lavish apartments, awe-inspiring Hall of Mirrors, and meticulously manicured gardens.
Must See in Paris
Let’s embark on a journey through Paris to explore its most famous monuments and amazing Soul. Discover the timeless beauty and cultural richness of Paris through its most captivating landmarks from royal palaces to modern masterpieces. Each site tells a unique story of art, history, and French spirit. Go beyond the typical tourist trail with PARIS BY EMY. Your personal travel planner offers customized private tours in Paris and authentic Parisian experiences.
Check our personalized Paris Tour Package page.