What to do in Paris this weekend

What to do in Paris this weekend

During a weekend in Paris, alone, with your partner or with the family and children, take the opportunity to discover the city as you have never seen it before. From the most emblematic sites to the most secret, you won’t be bored as there are so many places to discover. Cultural visits, unusual activities, walks, museums, shows, we offer you ideas for visits and a range of outings to do if you don’t know what to do in Paris this weekend. 

The must-see places

Some of the capital’s sites are truly emblematic and must be discovered if you come to spend the weekend in Paris. Opt for a guided tour in Paris to see the must-see places that contribute to the city’s attractiveness. 

• The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower, in the 7th arrondissement, is without a doubt the symbol of the City of Light. Built in 1889 for the Paris Universal Exhibition, it now welcomes Parisians and tourists from all over the world. You can climb the 300-metre high staircase or use the lifts to get a breathtaking view of the city. On the 1st and 2nd floors, you can even enjoy a gourmet break at the restaurant. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, the Champ de Mars park invites you to relax on its lawn. 

• The Sacré Coeur Basilica

Head for the Montmartre district, in the 18th arrondissement, to visit the Sacré Coeur basilica. After the Notre Dame de Paris cathedral, the basilica is the second most visited religious monument in Paris. Located at the top of the Montmartre Hill, it offers a panoramic view of the capital. Inside the basilica, the ceiling and its mosaic are breathtaking. Discover also the dome and the crypt. Then stroll through the district, between the charming cobbled streets and the Place du Tertre, famous for its restaurant tables and painters’ easels. 

• The Louvre Museum

The former palace of the kings of France, in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, is today the largest museum in the world: the Louvre Museum. Through its three wings and its different visiting routes, it gathers a wide range of works of different arts: paintings, drawings, engravings, sculptures, furniture, textiles, jewellery, ornaments, writings, inscriptions and objects, among the most famous: Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or the Venus de Milo. The collections follow one another through the galleries, giving visitors the pleasure of discovering them in a place steeped in history.

The unusual excursions

Discover Paris in a different way with its atypical facet. There are many different ways to visit the capital city, depending on whether you are an art lover, a history buff or a tourist… 

• The covered passages

Plan a tour of the city through the covered passages. There are about twenty covered passages in Paris that lead you from one boulevard to another via galleries with curious architecture and which house shops and restaurants. You can take the passage des Panoramas, the oldest, the passage Brady or the passage Verdeau. 

• The street art

Art lovers will appreciate the open-air museum that is the city of Paris. Some of the buildings in Paris are home to works by great street art artists such as D*Face, David de la Mano, C 215… Look up and admire the colourful frescoes, stencils, collages and other graffiti that decorate the streets. This is an unusual way to discover Paris!

Activities

Wondering what to do this weekend in Paris? The City of Light offers a wide variety of activities to occupy your days. 

• Cruise on the Seine

Cruises on the Seine allow you to discover the capital in a different way and to see the monuments along the river. In the middle of the day or at sunset, come aboard the boat and admire the scenery that unfolds along the Seine. 

• Show at the cabaret

Paris is also known for its iconic cabarets such as the Crazy Horse, the Moulin Rouge or the Lido. Booking your seat for an incredible artistic show in the heart of one of the capital’s legendary cabarets promises you a magical evening. 

Many events are also organised throughout the year in Paris: workshops, festivals, exhibitions, plays, fairs, etc. Follow the city’s agenda to make sure you don’t miss any of the programming!