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Going to Paris for the first time? From sunrise at the Eiffel Tower to Notre-Dame and the Louvre, here are the best things to do, plus up-to-date prices.
Okay, okay, okay. I’ve got something to admit – I’ve never been to Paris before. I know, I know, I’m a travel blogger who’s never been to Paris, it’s pretty shocking. Anyway, I thought it was time I did something about it, so last week I hopped on a quick one-hour flight from London with Air France and finally it was hello Paris!
As I only had a couple of days in the capital of France I wanted to pack in as much as I could, so as soon as I landed I was off on a photo tour of Montmartre taking in the incredible views from the Sacre-Coeur before watching sunset at the Louvre Museum that evening. Also I couldn’t visit Paris without tucking into some steak and frites followed by a carafe of Bordeaux red!
A couple of other sights I was dying to see was the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Pompidou Centre, and obviously no trip would be complete without taking in the sheer magnificence of the Eiffel Tower.
Quick overview
Getting there: Eurostar from London St Pancras to Gare du Nord in around 2h15
Getting around: Metro tickets cost €2.55 on a Navigo Easy card or your phone
How long: Three days is perfect for a first trip
Best time to visit: Spring and autumn, when the queues are shorter
Book ahead: Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Notre-Dame towers
| Attraction | Adult price | Booking |
|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower | €14.80–€36.70 | Official site, timed slots |
| Sacré-Cœur basilica / dome | Free / €8 | Dome tickets on site only |
| Notre-Dame / towers | Free / €16 | Free slot recommended / towers must be booked |
| Louvre | €32 non-EEA, €22 EEA | Timed slot recommended |
| Arc de Triomphe | €16–€22 (seasonal) | Online or on site |
| Seine swimming | Free | No booking (July–August) |
Want the day-by-day version? My 3-day Paris itinerary shows you exactly how to fit all of this into a long weekend.
Things to do in Paris for first-timers
Watch the sunrise at the Eiffel Tower
As I’ve already said, a trip to Paris wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Eiffel Tower. The best time to go is super early in the morning, around 6am, to watch the sunrise. Not only do you get beautiful golden light illuminating the Eiffel Tower, you’ve practically got the place to yourself unlike later in the day! Win win!
The tower itself opens at 9.30am, so sunrise is one to enjoy from the ground. Trocadéro gives you the classic view, while the Champ de Mars is usually quieter. The sun rises just before 6am in June and closer to 8.45am in December, so check the time the night before.
If you want to go up, tickets start at €14.80 to take the stairs to the second floor. The lift to the summit costs €36.70. Book on the official website to pick your time slot.
Take in the views from the Sacre-Coeur
There’s no doubt about it, the views from the Sacre-Coeur are among the best in Paris. The steps to the top may looking daunting, but it’s 100% worth it.
You can also climb the 280 steps to the top of the dome (tickets cost €8, or €5 for under-16s) and the views get even better! Tickets are sold on site only. The entrance is outside, down to the left of the basilica, and it closes briefly at lunchtime. Just take it in and enjoy the beauty of Paris!
But don’t forget to turn around and see the beauty of the Sacre-Coeur itself! I think this was my favourite building in Paris, and that’s saying something. I really think this is one of my favourite things to do in Paris.
Explore Montmartre while on a photo tour
While I was in Paris I went on an Airbnb photo tour of Montmartre with Paulette, our guide and teacher for the afternoon. She took us around favourite spots and taught us one or two things with the camera too!
This was such a great way of exploring one of the more popular areas of the city and I felt that really came across in my photos!
Come across some cool graffiti all over the city
No matter where you are in Paris you’ll always come across some really colourful and creative graffiti so make sure you keep your eyes peeled.
Being France, you’ll come across a few pieces that are typically French too so make sure you stop to take these in! I mean, come on, you’d only find this one in France…
Find a cute little cafe to have a coffee
Dotted all around Paris are cute little cafes with just a handful of tables inside. When it hits summer these tables spill out onto the street and they’re always a great place to have a coffee and watch the world go by. I think grabbing a coffee at a cute cafe has to be one of the most popular things to do in Paris.
Also, I couldn’t visit Paris without tucking into some steak frites followed by a carafe of Bordeaux red. If you want to eat out and are in a group, make sure to book a restaurant in Paris in advance. There are so many amazing restaurants to choose from you won’t want to miss out!
Stand and appreciate some of Paris’s amazing street musicians and performers
Around Paris there are some amazing street musicians and performers looking to entertain the crowd, so make sure you find five minutes to take it all in.
I found these two on the corner of a market in Montmartre and I was astounded at how good they were. Nothing quite like a bit of classical music in Paris!
Take in the sheer brilliance of the Notre-Dame Cathedral
Notre-Dame reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire, and it’s one of the most popular sights in Paris. Entry to the cathedral is free. Book a free timed slot on the official website, though, or you could be waiting a long time in peak season.
It’s worth coming here just to see how beautiful the cathedral is. The towers have reopened too, with 424 steps up to the gargoyles and some incredible views of the city. Tower tickets cost €16 (under-18s go free) and must be booked online in advance.
Go for a relaxing walk along the Seine
The River Seine cuts through the middle of Paris and this is a great place to go for a relaxing walk down by the water.
During summer there are a number of pop-up bars serving food and drink, and often there’s some live music, so perfect for those mini summer festival vibes. Also, if you’re into your sunbathing then this is the place to do it!
You can even swim in the Seine now. Three free, supervised spots open each summer: Bercy, Bras de Grenelle near the Eiffel Tower, and Bras Marie by Île Saint-Louis. There’s no need to book, and in 2026 they ran from 4 July to the end of August.
Go on a cheese tasting experience and learn all about French cheese
One of the things that I always associate with France is a good stinky French cheese, so while I was in Paris I went on an Airbnb experience learning all about different tastes, textures and where it comes from here.
My teacher was Fabrice and he was brilliant at going through what makes the perfect French cheese. Needless to say but it was all absolutely delicious, and there were even a couple of glasses of wine in there to wash it down too!
Climb the Arc de Triomphe for views down the Champs-Élysées
For one of the best rooftop views in central Paris, head up the Arc de Triomphe. It’s 284 steps to the terrace. From the top you’ll see 12 avenues fanning out in every direction, with the Champs-Élysées running all the way towards the Louvre.
It stays open until 11pm in summer and 10.30pm in winter, so it’s great for sunset or after dark. Tickets cost €16 from October to March and €22 from April to September (€16 on Wednesdays). Under-18s go free.
Whatever you do, don’t try to cross the roundabout! Use the underground passage from the top of the Champs-Élysées.
Watch the sunset from the Louvre
Finally, to finish off your trip to Paris, head to the Louvre for sunset. There’s no real bad time to go to the Louvre but at sunset things hit to another level when the sun starts filtering through the glass. I think this was my favourite photo spot and the perfect way to end my trip in Paris!
The glass pyramid sits in the Cour Napoléon, which is free to wander and open from 7.30am to 9pm. From May until late August the sun sets after it closes, so this one works best in spring, autumn and winter.
If you’re heading inside, the museum is closed on Tuesdays and open until 9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. Tickets cost €32 for visitors from outside the EEA (that includes us Brits) and €22 for EEA residents. Under-18s go free. Book a time slot online to skip the ticket queue.
What’s new in Paris for 2027?
There are a few big changes to know about if you’re visiting Paris in 2027.
- The CDG Express opens – From 28 March 2027, a new non-stop train will link Charles de Gaulle Airport with Gare de l’Est in 20 minutes. Trains run every 15 minutes and tickets start at €25. It’s a big upgrade on the crowded RER B.
- New stained glass at Notre-Dame – Six new windows by French artist Claire Tabouret are being unveiled in December 2026. They sit in the chapels of the south aisle and show the Pentecost. They replace 19th-century windows, which has split opinion in France, so go and make up your own mind.
- The Palais de la Découverte reopens – Paris’s science museum reopens in March 2027 in the west wing of the Grand Palais, in time for its 90th birthday. Expect a new visitor route, a planetarium and plenty of hands-on experiments. It’s a great one if you’ve got kids in tow.
- See the Palais Garnier while you can – The opera house stage closes for major works from summer 2027 until 2032. Its heritage tours could also be off limits for up to two years. If the Grand Staircase is on your list, go in the first half of 2027.
Getting there and around
Getting to Paris from the UK
The easiest way to get to Paris from London is the Eurostar. Trains run from St Pancras to Gare du Nord in around two and a quarter hours, and you arrive right in the city. You can compare train times and prices on Omio.
Flying takes about an hour and a quarter, but you’ll need to factor in getting to and from the airport. From Charles de Gaulle, the RER B into the city costs €14 on the airport ticket.
Getting around Paris
The metro is the quickest way to get around. A single Metro-Train-RER ticket costs €2.55 and is valid for two hours, including changes. Paper tickets have been phased out, so load yours onto a Navigo Easy card or the Bonjour RATP app.
Honestly though, Paris is best seen on foot. Plenty of the places in this guide are linked by the Seine, and you’ll stumble across far more on the way.
Travelling around France? Then check out my guides to Cannes, Chatel and Saint Tropez to help plan your trip.
I’m guessing a lot of you have been to France before, so what are some of your favourite things to do in Paris? Let me know in the comments below!
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Really enjoyed this post and fantastic pictures as always. We’ve been to Paris a few times but haven’t yet made it onto the roof of the Pompidou Centre – one for the next trip.
Last time we were in Paris we took a canal boat trip along the Canal Saint-Martin from Place de la Bastille, that was really interesting as it takes you through some quieter spots of Paris.
Ah, thank you so much! I really appreciate that! Yeah, the Pompidou Centre is definitely worth checking out the next time you’re there. I didn’t have time to do a river cruise but I hear they’re an amazing way to see the city!