First Time in Paris: What to Do and Where to Stay
Paris is the first place I ever visited solo.
I had just spent a week in Burgundy with friends, and they headed home while I kicked off an additional month of solo travel with a few days in Paris. I was alone in Europe for the first time, and I was in love.
No, not with a person. With travel! And with Paris, specifically.
I was delighted with the architecture, the food, the art, the everything. I bought bread and wine and ate it on Champ de Mars while watching the Eiffel Tower’s lights turn on. I stood slackjawed in Sainte-Chapelle, totally awed by the magnificent stained glass windows. I wandered through Père Lachaise Cemetery, thinking about life and death and the art created by some of its best-known residents, like Oscar Wilde and Édith Piaf. And on and on.
After that trip, I didn’t return to Paris for another eight years. But in my second trip there, I loved Paris even more, and found myself dreaming about returning over and over again.
And if you’re now planning to visit Paris for the first time, I want to help you love it just as much! In this post, I’ll tell the best things to do during your first trip to Paris, where you should stay, and what else you should know about visiting Paris (including how to communicate while in Paris!).
This is what to know about planning your first time in Paris.
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10 Things to Do During Your First Trip to Paris
On your first trip to Paris, you’ll want to see the top tourist sites and iconic global symbols while also experiencing the city’s unique cultural treasures and dining opportunities.
Here are 10 of the top things I recommend you do during your first time in Paris.
1. Admire the views from the top of the Eiffel Tower.
I don’t care if it’s a cliche: I really do think the Eiffel Tower is worth visiting. While the views from the tower won’t include one of Paris’s most iconic sights — the Eiffel Tower itself, of course! — they’ll include pretty much everything else.
The Eiffel Tower has particularly great views of Sacre-Coeur, the Arc de Triomphe, and Hôtel des Invalides. And yes, I actually do recommend visiting the top level!
I’ve visited the Eiffel Tower during the day and at night. While there’s an undeniable romance to standing atop the tower while it’s sparkling at night (more on the sparkle schedule in a bit!), I do recommend visiting the tower during the day, when it’s much easier to actually see and admire the fantastic views.
Alternatively, try to time your visit for sunset and plan to stay on the tower long enough to get some photos in the light, enjoy the sunset, and watch the city sink into the evening.
Learn much more about what it’s like to visit the Eiffel Tower here:
2. Visit a museum.
On the list of the world’s greatest museum cities, Paris must be near the top. It’s particularly known, of course, for its spectacular art museums, which hold some of the world’s most iconic works of art.
Even if you’re not a huge museum person, I do recommend visiting at least one museum during your first trip to Paris. I don’t think a trip to Paris would be complete with experiencing at least a bit of art!
Here are some of Paris’s best-known museums:
The Louvre
It needs no introduction, I’m sure, but here it is: the Louvre is the world’s largest art museum and possibly its most famous as well. Housed in a former palace, the museum has near-innumerable claims to fame: the architecture, the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, the glass pyramid, and on and on.
Do I recommend that you visit the Louvre on your first visit to Paris? …Maybe! Yes, if you want to experience Paris’s most famous museum. Yes, if it’s important to you to see the Mona Lisa (duh!). Yes, if you super love art museums.
If none of those things are true for you, a different museum might be a better choice! Learn more about my thoughts on whether the Louvre is a good match for your own schedule and interests here:
Musée d’Orsay
Musée d’Orsay is a great choice if you’re wary of classic art museums like the Louvre. Don’t get me wrong, Musée d’Orsay is a very traditional art museum, but it’s located in a unique and especially beautiful space: a former train station.
The result: an expansive main hall, massive clock windows with great views of Sacre-Coeur, and more…in addition to all that incredible art. And it is incredible, particularly if you like Impressionist paintings — the d’Orsay has one of the world’s most remarkable Impressionist collections.
Musée de l’Orangerie
Musée de l’Orangerie is known for one thing, but what a thing it is: two rooms that permanently house eight of Monet’s huge paintings of water lilies. In fact, these rooms were built for the express purpose of holding these works!
Musée de l’Orangerie does have a few other exhibit areas, but the Water Lilies are definitely the main attraction. To enjoy Monet’s work in peace as much as possible, I recommend booking a ticket for the first entrance slot of the day and heading straight to the Water Lilies rooms. They do fill up pretty quickly!
Musée Rodin
Whether you know it or not, you’ve probably seen images of the work of Auguste Rodin, who is best known for his sculpture work — The Thinker is one of the most famous sculptures in the world! You may also be familiar with The Kiss, The Three Shades, or The Gates of Hell, among other famous Rodin works.
I love Musée Rodin, which is housed in a former hotel. It’s another great option if you’re not typically a fan of art museums, as the building and grounds are particularly beautiful and delightful to walk around.
3. Watch the sunset from Arc de Triomphe.
I previously recommended that you considering watching the sunset from the Eiffel Tower — but actually, my pick for the top sunset location in Paris is Arc de Triomphe. It has my favorite view of the Eiffel Tower in all of Paris, plus one of the best views of Sacre-Coeur (my actual favorite building in Paris!).
Arc de Triomphe is great at any time of day, but if you have the time and the interest, I strongly recommend timing your visit so you’ll arrive on top at least 30 minutes before sunset. You can enjoy the golden hour glow over the city, watch the sun set behind La Défense (Paris’s skyscraper-laden business district), and see the lights on the Eiffel Tower turn on for the night. If you’re willing to hang around for a bit, you can even watch the tower sparkle (which it does for five minutes at the top of the hour every hour after the sun sets!).
Learn more about what it’s like to visit Arc de Triomphe here:
4. Explore Montmartre.
Remember Sacre-Coeur — that white, domed hilltop church I love so much? Be sure to go see it from up close by visiting Montmartre, the quirky little neighborhood where Sacre-Coeur is located.
When Montmartre was founded, it was its own village outside of the city of Paris. Now, centuries later, the city has spread and sprawled and Montmartre is well within the borders of Paris — but retains its unique look and feel.
Most notably, Montmarte has long been a haven for artists and creators, particularly during the Belle Époque era, when people like Picasso and Modigliani lived and worked in Montmartre.
Today, Montmartre remains a great place to find art in Paris — including paintings and drawings of Paris itself, as well as portrait art and caricature art.
I recommend giving yourself at least half a day to explore Montmartre. First, and foremost, you can (and should!) check out Sacre-Coeur (be sure to climb to the top for fantastic views of Montmartre and the rest of the Paris!) and its gorgeous interior mosaics. But there’s plenty more to see and do in Montmarte, including:
- Place du Tertre — a rather touristy but lively square full of artists (particularly caricature and portrait artists) and cafes
- La Maison Rose — a picturesque, pink restaurant sitting on Rue de l’Abreuvoir, widely considered to be one of the most beautiful streets in Paris
- Moulin Rouge — the famed Cabaret venue sitting at the foot of Montmartre
5. Visit a cafe or two (or five).
No trip to Paris would be complete without plenty of cafe time. In fact, during my last trip to Paris, I decided that the optimal Paris itinerary involves a cafe stop every other activity or so. Wake up, eat breakfast, visit a church, stop at a cafe, visit a museum, eat lunch, climb a tower, stop at a cafe, explore a neighborhood, stop at a cafe, eat dinner, have a cocktail at a cafe…you get it.
The point is: see a cute cafe? Pull up a seat and order a drink. It’s a true pleasure of the Paris experience.
Need some help finding the best cafes? Keep an eye out for people who look like locals rather than tourists. It’s a bit of a tongue-in-cheek recommendation, but the more people smoking, the better!
6. Watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle from the Trocadéro.
Directly across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower is the Trocadéro — an area that once contained Trocadéro Palace, a controversial building constructed for the 1878 World Fair. Now, you’ll find the Jardins du Trocadéro and the Palais de Chaillot, a large building with arced wings that house several museums.
The terrace in front of the Palais and above the gardens has a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower. I recommend heading here one evening to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle. After nightfall, the tower sparkles for five minutes at the top of every hour until either midnight or 1 a.m., depending on the time of year.
Brace yourself, though — it can be a bit of an overwhelming experience, as you’ll be one of many, many people admiring the view from there. Be prepared for plenty of men trying to sell you light-up trinkets, musical artists performing for tips, and quite possibly a marriage proposal or two.
7. Shop along the Seine.
If you get anywhere near the Seine — which you will, inevitably — it’s impossible to miss the bouquinistes of Paris.
The bouquinistes are vendors who sell books, art, and other wares out of stalls along wide swaths of both banks of the Seine.
When the stalls are closed, they just look like nondescript green boxes along the river. When the stalls are open for business, you’ll find loads of used books, postcards (new and old), art (new and old), other souvenirs, and more.
8. Experience the restored Notre-Dame.
If you never visited Paris before the 2019 fire at Notre-Dame, you may not fully appreciate the change between the dark, dingy space that it once was — when the interior stones showed centuries’ worth of dirt — and the bright white space it now is, with a freshly cleaned interior. The difference is night and day.
Of course, Notre-Dame is not only worth seeing because of its restoration — the centuries of history make the cathedral one of the most iconic buildings in Paris, and well worth visiting during your first trip to Paris.
For what it’s worth, though, I do think Notre-Dame is a bit overrated. There are other churches in Paris that I think are just as beautiful (or more beautiful!) than Notre-Dame — including Saint-Sulpice and La Madeleine — but attract much smaller crowds (and therefore can be much more enjoyable to visit). If you have time, I recommend that you visit them in addition to Notre-Dame!
9. Learn about French history at the Panthéon.
It may look like a church, but the Panthéon is no place of worship — or if it is, it’s dedicated to the worship of France itself.
Inside the towering Panthéon are monuments to France’s art, history, and science, with a giant Foucault pendulum, a sculpture commemorating the First Republic of France, and much more.
Even more notably, the crypt holds the tombs of many of France’s most famous citizens, including Voltaire, Marie Curie, Victor Hugo, Rousseau, and many others.
Depending on the timing of your visit, you may also be able to climb to the Panthéon’s rooftop terrace, where you can find excellent views of Paris.
10. Eat fantastic food.
Okay, maybe this goes without saying. Great food is all over Paris! But I do recommend being intentional about finding some wonderful places to eat. Here are a few of my favorites:
Le Gentil
Le Gentil was a random find during my last visit to Paris — I just happened to walk past it while exploring the 7th arrondissement and decided to give it a chance after seeing its fantastic reviews online.
And whew buddy — those reviews were so right. This is my new favorite restaurant in Paris!
Le Gentil is run by a Japanese chef and his wife; they serve up classic French food with a delicious Japanese twist. I ate the best steak of my entire life there, for real.
My only regret is that I discovered Le Gentil at the end of my trip and was only able to eat there once! I will definitely be back during my next trip to Paris.
Le Gentil is quite small and cozy so I do recommend making a reservation, which you can do on their website here.
Chez Janou
Chez Janou is pretty well-known for being popular with tourists, so it’s no hidden gem…but if you ask me, it’s beloved for good reason! (For what it’s worth, a lot of locals — and some tourists — do think it’s overhyped…but I still love it. Sue me!)
I’ve eaten at Chez Janou with friends late at night and alone at lunch, and had a 10/10 experience both times. They serve up Provencal cuisine in a very cool little space. I think it’s a particularly great place to dine solo if you’re willing to eat at the bar (which I loved). I recommend the scallop risotto!
Because Chez Janou is quite popular, I definitely recommend making a reservation. (You’ll need to call for this — they don’t take reservations online.) I did manage to get a seat on the spot during my last visit, but this is only because I showed up before they opened for lunch and was willing to eat at the bar.
Addis Ethiopia
During my last trip to Paris, I tried to visit the Gustave Moreau Museum and its famous spiral staircase. I failed — the museum was closed because the employees were, stereotypically, on strike — but managed to make my journey there worthwhile when I stumbled on Addis Ethiopia just around the corner.
I’m a huge fan of Ethiopian food, but there’s no Ethiopian restaurant in the city where I live, so I’m always thrilled to find it while I’m traveling. Addis Ethiopia did not disappoint, with fantastic food and generous and friendly service. I recommend the Yefeseg beyonetou, which is a great sampler platter of Ethiopian food!
Where to Stay for Your First Time in Paris
Trying to figure out where to stay during your first trip to Paris can definitely be a little overwhelming! But after visiting Paris several times, I have some pretty specific opinions about the most convenient areas to stay in — and I want to share them with you.
Geography of Paris
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, here’s what to know about how Paris is laid out.
The center of Paris is roughly circular, with a ring road (the périphérique) surrounding most of it. It’s bisected by the Seine — the area north of the Seine is called the Right Bank, and the area south of the Seine is called the Left Bank.
More formally, the city is divided into 20 arrondissements, or districts. They are laid out in a clockwise spiral starting near the center of the city, like this:
Best Areas to Stay in for Your First Trip to Paris
Many of the top tourist destinations in Paris are near the Seine, and a large majority of them are within the first 10 arrondissements.
So, as a general rule: the closer you stay to the center of the city, the closer you will be to many of the sights you’ll likely want to see.
During my own first visit to Paris, I stayed in the 15th arrondissement, near the Seine. I wouldn’t particularly recommend it! It was not near any of the sights or areas I wanted to visit other than the Eiffel Tower.
That said, it’s worth noting that most of Paris is easily accessible via public transportation (more on that below). If you find a great deal outside of the major tourist areas and don’t mind spending some time on the bus or the metro, go for it! Even when I was in the 15th during my own first trip, getting around was no big deal because I was close to a metro stop.
But if you’d like to be within walking distance of as many top sights as possible during your first trip to Paris (which I do recommend!), I suggest choosing one of the following areas:
- Anywhere in the 1st or 4th
- Anywhere in the 2nd or 3rd, but especially toward the southern areas
- The northern half of the 5th or 6th
- The eastern part of the 7th
Or, to make it more simple, anywhere roughly within the highlighted area:
Lodging Recommendations in Paris
Now that you understand how Paris is laid out, here are some specific places to consider staying during your first trip to Paris.
On my last trip to Paris, I stayed at WS Louvre – Casanova, which I REALLY liked. It was super walkable to several of Paris’s top tourist destinations — including the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Palais Garnier (the opera house), and plenty more — and my room was clean and cute, with a great view of classic Parisian buildings to boot. I would definitely consider staying there on future trips to Paris!
For other convenient lodging options for your first time in Paris, take a look at the following:
BUDGET
- Grab a bed in a super inexpensive dorm room — or a private room for a bit more cash — at The People.
- The incredibly central Hotel de Nesle has very affordable rooms, especially if you’re willing to share a bathroom. (I’ve done it! It’s not so bad!)
- Hotel des Nations Saint Germain is just around the corner from the Panthéon and near Notre-Dame.
COMFORT
- The stately Hôtel Duc De St-Simon gets fantastic reviews for its classic rooms and convenient location.
- I love the look of Miiro Le Grand Hôtel Cayré, which even has rooms with Eiffel Tower views (fair warning, though: they come with a considerably higher price point!).
- Meliá Paris Vendôme has a great location between Place de la Concorde and Place Vendôme.
- Stay at Royal Saint Michel for incredibly easy access to Notre-Dame and Sainte Chapelle.
- Hôtel Le Regent has uniquely decorated rooms, including several with terraces.
LUXURY
- The classy Hôtel Confidentiel is just around the corner from the Louvre.
- The 5-star L’Hôtel is best known as the last place Oscar Wilde lived — you can even splurge on the Oscar Wilde Suite!
- Hyatt’s Hôtel du Louvre features rooms with beautiful views and 5-star luxury.
- Shell out for a balcony room at the Grand Hôtel Du Palais Royal for your own personal views of the Eiffel Tower or Sacre-Coeur (and then please come back here and tell me all about it!).
More Tips for Visiting Paris
Here are a few more things I think you should know before visiting Paris for the first time.
How to Get Around Paris
I do recommend walking as much as possible while visiting Paris. If you’re able and the weather is good (or at least tolerable!), walking is the perfect way to get to know the city. You’ll see things from the sidewalk that you can’t see from a car or a bus or the metro, and you can truly soak up the vibes of the city.
However, sometimes distances between destinations may be a bit too far to reasonably walk — or perhaps walking is not ideal for you due to health or ability issues. If that’s the case, good news: Paris has an excellent public transportation system, and it’s easy to navigate using apps like Google Maps, which will always tell you which bus or metro line to use to get you where you need to go.
I’m a particularly big fan of the metro system and I think it’s relatively easy to figure out, particularly if you have any prior experience using subway systems in other big cities. My one complaint is that Paris doesn’t yet have direct tap-and-pay, like many other major cities do — meaning, you can’t just swipe into the system by tapping your credit card to an entry turnstile.
Instead, I recommend buying a Navigo card at one of the ticket machines in metro stations (don’t worry, you can select “English” on the machine!) — you can load up your Navigo card with a daily or weekly pass or a pack of individual tickets, depending what best suits your needs. Or you can use the Bonjour RATP app on your phone! It’s up to you, but I personally prefer the physical Navigo pass so I don’t need to worry about relying on an international phone connection in order to access the metro.
Communicating in Paris
If you don’t speak French, communicating with locals in Paris can be a bit intimidating, as they have a bit of a reputation for snubbing foreigners.
In my experience, though, Parisians are super friendly as long as you make even a small attempt to communicate in their native language! The bar is pretty low — most importantly, you should always be prepared to greet people in French when walking into a shop or cafe. This means that you should know how to say “bonjour” (hello) or “bonsoir” (good evening), depending on the time of day. You should also know how to say “s’il vous plaît” (please), “merci” (thank you), “Parlez-vous anglais?” (Do you speak English?), and “au revoir” (goodbye) — and other phrases like “l’addition, s’il vous plaît” (the check, please) can also be helpful (especially since servers in Paris will generally not bring the check until you ask for it — more on that below!).
During my most recent trip to Paris, I thought only one Parisian, a restaurant server, was at all frosty to me — and he thawed right out once I demonstrated a genuine (though poor) effort to speak to him in French. The point is showing respect by attempting to speak their own language (even if you’re not great at it!) rather than immediately demanding that they speak yours.
And for what it’s worth, if they do speak English (as most people who interact with tourists do), they’ll probably be happy to switch to English rather than struggling through your terrible French!
Cafe and Restaurant Service in Paris
I touched on this above, but at casual cafes with outdoor seating (typically small round tables with one or two chairs each), you can generally just pull up a seat. A server will come to help you after they notice you’ve appeared.
For restaurants where meals are served, you need to be seated by a host or server. Be sure to greet them in French before you ask for a table — it’s polite!
If you’re not sure which is which, a good rule of thumb is that you should ask to be seated if the tables in question have cutlery on them. If the tables are empty or contain only a menu and/or ashtray, you can probably just grab a seat as you wish.
Unlike at many restaurants in America, servers in Paris generally will let you occupy a table for as long as you like (within reason, of course), and will not bring the check until you’ve asked for it. (Again, to request the check: “l’addition, s’il vous plaît”!) You are expected to sit and enjoy the experience of your meal (or drink, if it’s a cafe) and will not be rushed through it!
Final Thoughts
For me, even after several trips there, Paris remains a dream destination. If it’s a dream destination for you too, I hope this post helps you have a fantastic first trip to Paris!
Still have more questions about how to make the most of your first time in Paris? Feel free to leave a comment or send me a message — I’d love to help!
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