Best Things To Do In Paris

I once heard that the best thing to do in Paris is nothing. Upon hearing this I thought, "That is absolutely absurd, Paris is a city full of treasures waiting to be explored you can't possibly do nothing!" After having experienced the magic of the city several times, I can honestly say that you truly CAN do literally nothing and have a splendid time in Paris. And that is the beauty of Paris, you don't even have to try to have a great time, it will just happen naturally! With the pressure to have a great time out of the way, I'm sharing a few of my favorite things to do in my favorite city, aside from doing nothing of course! 

Have a glass (or three) of champagne on top of the Eiffel Tower

Having a glass of champagne on top of the Eiffel Tower has been on my bucket list for years, and believe me, it did not disappoint! Seeing the city from the summit of the Eiffel Tower was breath taking and exhilarating. The bubbles get to your head a bit more quickly at the summit, so thats extra fun (lol). I skipped the long line and went straight to the top through Fat Tire Tours. Here is the link for the VIP Eiffel Tower access. 

Have afternoon tea at a Salon de Thé

Tea shoppes are a very "old Paris" thing. They are a bit regal and I find them terribly charming. I highly recommend Nina's (pictured above) as well as the legendary Laudrée. You can spend a few hours here just sampling teas or having a bit of lunch (mainly at Laudrée for the best selection of delicious food - I highly recommend it). 

Put a lock on Pont d'Amour

Love locks are just for lovers, you know. On my first trip to Paris I put a lock on Pont Amour just for me. It was a special way of saying I commit to care for and love myself. Of course if you have a special person in your life you can write both your names on the lock! The tradition is to toss the key into the Seine after you lock your lock to the bridge to symbolize your commitment to the person you share the lock with. The bridge is really called Pont des Arts and is located near the Pont Neuf metro station.

Tour a fabulous museum (or Five)

Paris is clearly a city known for its history of fine art. From the classical Baroque art to the bold Impressionist movement, Paris has always been a haven for creatives. The city boasts more than 130 museums with fabulous works from all over the world with the Lourve being the most popular cite. My advice for the Louve is this: make a small list and see a few key pieces of art then get the hell out of there. There are many more precious places to see and the Lourve will eat an entire week of time if you let it. See Venus de Milo or the Winged Victory of Samothrace (which made me cry) and then jet. Hit up the Musée d'Orsay to see the impressionist masters Degas and Manet. Stroll along the Jardin des Tuileries and pop into the Musée de l'Orangerie and see 360 degrees of Monet's stunning water lilies (pictured above). My final favorite is Musée de la Vie Romantique, a quaint little studio with a cafe and green house perfect for a quiet afternoon. 

Picnic Under the Eiffel Tower

Picnicking on the lawns all around the city is a Parisienne favorite! With a bottle of rosé and a few delicious treats, you can spend hours just watching the world go by. Fat Tire Tours will even  organize a chef-prepared fresh meal ready to be enjoyed right next to the Eiffel Tower on Avenue de la Bourbonnais. This was one of my absolute favorite experiences in Paris and truly a must-do. You can schedule your Parisienne picnic here. 

See the City's Historic Sites By Bike 

I normally don't recommend anything too athletic, but a Paris bike tour is so damn fun. You get to see the touristy parts of the city in a unique and active way, zooming through the avenues on a precious red bike. You can learn a ton about the city's history from seeing its architectural monuments, and doing so by bike is a blast. I went through Fat Tire Tours and scheduled by tour here. 

Sit at a sidewalk cafe and people watch

Last on the list, but perhaps my favorite thing to do, is to find a sidewalk cafe and people watch. Order a glass of rosé and maybe a few nibbles and stay for as long as you like. The people of Paris do this as their sport of choice and it is truly fabulous. Like I said before, the most brilliant thing about Paris is that you can do absolutely nothing and have a marvelous time.