Things to do in Paris

Le Moulin Rouge is one of the premier destinations for art conscious tourists. It is also famous for being mentioned a lot in movies, books, and television shows. The most famous movie is probably the one with Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. This place has birthed dance and whole cultures and is one of the best places to discover the gaudy and scandalous past of the city. The best part of visiting Le Moulin Rouge is that the magic is still alive there. A lot of historical places are places where one can go and wonder about how it used to be. The Moulin Rouge is one of those places where you can actually experience how it used to be in the olden times. The French CanCan dance is famous all over the world and the Moulin Rouge is the best place to experience it. Legend has it that the dance was created by courtesans to attract suitors and was adopted by dancers due to its popularity. One of the best things to do in Paris is to visit Le Moulin Rouge which is an amazing experience and the place sells out very early. We highly recommend that you make sure you get tickets and reservations before planning your trip.

If you are an experienced tourist then you will know how great it is to just stroll in a foreign city. Don't think of a destination, just go and discover. Saint Germain des Pres is the best possible place for explorers. If you want to be overwhelmed by great architecture and history while exploring it will be hard to discover a better venue. Saint Germain des Pres is one of the most beautiful quarters of Paris, and there is a lot to see here. Even Proust was overcome with the beauty of this place, and we think it is harder to get a better endorsement than that. You can eat at some of the most famous Cafes of Paris here like Café de Flore, Brasserie Lipp, and the Les Deux Magots. Saint Germain des Pres was the literary capital of Paris. Many foreign artists (such as Oscar Wilde for one) who visited Paris lived in this quarter. Nowadays it is one of the best tourist spots in Paris. One thing we would suggest is that you should visit this place after sunset. It is beautiful in the daytime as well but it is just something else at night. In movies, they show the city at night, with beautiful buildings, and wet roads. There is no other place which embodies that image of Paris as much as Saint Germain des Pres.

The third largest park in Paris, Parc de la Villette lies in the north east of the city and is accessible by two Metro Stations. It engages people of all ages. Attracting a cultural mix, this place consists of Cite des Sciences et de l'Industrie (which is Europe’s largest science museum) and three major concert venues. It also contains the renowned music and dance college Conservatoire de Paris. Its biggest attraction is its ten themed gardens, each representing a different idea of architectural deconstructionism.

34. Palais Royal - Royal Palace - Paris

Palais-Royal has been home to some of the most famous people in French history. After its construction in 1639, the palace has served as the residence of Anne of Austria, Louis XIV, Philippe de Franc, and many other important figures in history. Palais-Royal is actually sort of a divisive figure for tourists. Most tourists love it but some dislike it. The reason is that the Palais-Royal is a place you explore and take in slowly. There aren't gaudy displays here to see, just a palace that stood the test of time. Thus if you are the type of tourist who loves visiting beautiful places this is the perfect place for you. Surrounded by a beautiful garden, you will find peace and beauty here. However if you are the type of tourist who focuses on attractions and activities you may not find a lot to do here. Théâtre du Palais-Royal is also a must visit. With a history of plays of more than 2 centuries, this is a must visit for art lovers. There is a lot of history in this place, and you can visualize how people used to come here for entertainment.

35. Le Marais - Paris

Le Marais is the closest you will come to experiencing medieval Paris. Most of the city that is still preserved consists of historical buildings and museums. We love those places because they show us what Paris used to be like. Le Marais, on the other hand, is naturally how the capital of France used to be. It was a very populated city with a lot of people trying to make ends meet. This was the place where the hard-working Parisians lived and went about their daily lives. Many times there were attempts to finish the Le Marais. After being abandoned during the French revolution, the place was taken up by the poor. The place ended up being so horribly maintained that plans were underway to destroy it. It was only the start of the First World War which stopped the plans, and thankfully, it has not been attempted again. In Le Marais, you will come across small alleys with shops crammed into them. You will see small museums an art shops. If you visit this city and do not go to Le Marais, then you have missed out a lot.

36. Maison de Victor Hugo - Paris

For the lovers of each, history, art, and literature, the house of famous novelist and dramatist Victor Hugo is an amazing place. The house bears the remains of 16 most important and last years of Hugo’s life. Within walking distance from Saint Paul metro station in Paris, the house-converted-museum contains Hugo’s dining room and his deathbed as the most notable places to see. For lovers of Hugo’s works, this is a temple that was incorporated amongst the Paris Musees in 2013.

37. Egouts de Paris - Paris

The sewers of Paris are famous for the time when they were made (the 14th Century). The Paris Sewer Museum bears its history and has mannequins as the form of art that tells the tale. The museum is accessible via the Alma-Marceau Station,. Tours of these sewers have been properly organized since 1889,. Wagons or boats serve the purpose of taking the tourists across the museum to see it from its history to its modern structure. In his book Les Misérables, Victor Hugo referred to these as a Paris under Paris itself.

38. Montparnasse Tower - Paris

Ideally located in the neighborhood of Montparnasse, the Montparnasse Tower offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the City of lights - Paris. The stunning visibility of up to 25 miles covers the most famous attractions like Eiffel Tower and Louvre museum. It’s a tourist’s ideal attraction for many reasons like an exclusive dinner with an exceptional view of the city along with shopping thrills inside the tower. The destination promises to reveal the Paris like never before.

39. Conciergerie Castle - Paris

Located on the west on Ile de la Cite, this was previously a prison but is now used as a law court. It is a part of one of the four buildings of the royal palace and is remembered as the place from where hundreds of prisoners were taken for execution by guillotine in the French revolution. Interestingly, the last queen of France, Marie Antoinette was also a notable prisoner here before her execution. Its western part was originally the site of a Merovingian Palace and is must visit for fans of the middle age.

40. Conciergerie and the Sainte-Chapelle - Paris

On the western part of the ’île de la Cité, the Conciergerie and the Sainte-Chapelle, are considered as the vestiges of the most ancient Parisian royal palace, the Palais de la Cité (City Palace) transformed into a prison in the XVth century. It offers some of the most unique and exciting things to do in Paris. On the location that used to be the residence of Roman Governors and later that of the first Capetians, Philippe le Bel builds, in the early XIVth century, a palace representing his power, described then as the most sumptuous palace of the Middle Ages. Towards the end of the XIVth century, Capetian kings abandon the Palais de la Cité (City Palace) to reside at the Louvre and Vincennes, conceding the place for the Parisian Parliament and the kingdom's central administrations. The Concierge, origin of the word "Conciergerie", nominated by the king to establish and keep the order, as well as to record the names of prisoners, is behind transforming part of the building into a prison.