The Ultimate Paris Bucket List By a Local Parisienne

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This is a collection of Ultimate Paris bucket list items ! I have lived here for almost three years now, so I’m definitely not a native Parisian. Although some people may disagree, I consider myself a bona fide local. This blog post includes all of the must-see places in Paris. It’s actually the list that inspired me to create a blog.

I have hyperlinked all of the sites so that you can easily create your own bucket list for Paris. It should also help you to find their business hours, addresses, and any other additional information.

When To Visit Paris:

Personally I think spring and fall are the best times of the year to visit Paris. May and October would be the ideal months to visit Paris, but I love this city and agree with Audrey.

“Paris is always a good idea.”

Audrey Hepburn

Where To Stay in Paris:

I actually get asked this question a lot by friends or friends of friends visiting the city. This could be a whole blog within itself, but my recommendation to anyone is to stay near the river close to line 1. Even if you are not comfortable using the metro, staying by the river allows easy walking to most of the major attractions. The Marais and the Latin Quarter are the best in my humble opinion for first time visitors.

Recommended Hotels:

Luxury Hotel Stay Recommendation: l’Aubusson Hotel This hotel is located in the perfect location. It’s cozy and romantic with a fireplace in the lounge, a beautiful garden, and live jazz performances. It’s located close to the river, the metro, and right in the heart of the city. I’ve never personally stayed here but I have had many French tutoring lessons in the lounge!

Mid-Range Hotel with City Views: The Hyatt Etoile is a hotel that has panoramic views of the city. Even if you don’t stay here, try to stop by their Windo Bar for a cocktail and their incredible panoramic views of the city!

Mid-Range Hotel Stay Recommendation: Residence Foch is not in the Latin Quarter or the Marais, but it is located in more of a residential area. Honestly, this place is the best kept secret in Paris. Your room will be smaller but you can easily walk to the Champs Elysses, the Arch de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, and most importantly some amazing restaurants. We stayed at this hotel before we moved here and we absolutely loved it.

Montmartre is also a popular area, but it’s an area that people either love or hate. Therefore I wouldn’t suggest it for a first time visitor. It is one of our favorite areas so if you read the provided link, you will find my hotel recommendation for that arrondissement.

Don’t forget your travel insurance! We recommend World Nomads. Make sure to have coverage that includes medical expenses, trip cancellations, and coverage for your belongings from theft or damage. If needed, you may also want to include car rental insurance as well.

Ultimate Paris Bucket List Tours:

Walking and Biking

When we first moved overseas, I started to write and plan out our Paris must-see places in a journal. Then it became must-see places in different near-by countries. Soon enough my journals and phone were filled with tons and tons of travel notes. And voila! Quietnomad.com was born.

If you don’t have time for the Covered Passages Tour, make sure to see the Passage des Panoramas, which is located close to Galeries Lafayette.

Parisbymartin.com is a walking or biking tour that I was fortunate to be a part of right before moving to France. It was the perfect tour to take before moving to the “city of love” because Martin made the city feel like it could be mastered. It gave me the false self confidence that I needed at the time to hop ship and move overseas!

Streetarttourparis.com offers small group tours that are lead by passionate insiders of Paris. Most of them are artists themselves and know the stories that are behind each of the images.

Montmarte is full of history. It’s also full of hills and steps so be prepared to burn some calories with a Montmarte Walking Tour. If you don’t get a chance to do this walking tour, make sure to find the Wall of Love while in Montmarte.

River Cruises

Secret Wine Door is one of the best wine tasting experiences that we have been to while living here in France. The guide is super knowledgeable and friendly.

The Wine Museum is a little quirky museum close to the Eiffel Tower. They offer wine tastings as well as dining experiences.

Paris Divin is another small group tasting venue that includes a slide show, food pairing guides, and wines from all around the world.

O-Chateau is a wine experience that is close to the Louvre. It can be included in your Paris Pass Experience.

TIP: The Paris Pass or the Paris Museum Pass may be helpful for you to have on your trip. They could save you time and money if you are planning on visiting a lot of the main attractions.

Ultimate Paris Bucket List: Views and Sites

Of course the Eiffel Tower has amazing views of the city. Make sure to also see the Eiffel Tower from the Trocadero Circle.

The Arch de Triomphe also has stunning views of the city. You can visit the top of the Arch. The entrance is found by going underground through the Charles de Gaulle metro tunnel. Once you arrive under the arch, you will go through security and then arrive after the 284 steps to the top!

The Arch of La Defense is another arch to see just outside of the city. La Defense is a booming business district of Paris. It’s more modern and has offices and a nice mall located right beside of it called Les Quatre Temps.

Montparnasse Tower has a great view and you can pay extra for a glass of champagne at the top!

Galeries Lafayette is known for its beautiful stained glass ceiling and its breathtaking views. There are two locations. Make sure to visit the Haussman location for the view. There is also another Galeries Lafayette location on the Champs Elysees.

Historical Buildings and Sites:

The Pantheon is a mausoleum. It’s known as being the “balcony of Paris.” It has limited seasonal and scheduled viewing times, so check online before visiting.

One of my favorite buildings to walk by is the Paris City Hall. It’s definitely a building that you will enjoy seeing if you are a lover of architecture. It was constructed less than 150 years ago and it’s a copy of the original Renaissance Hall.

Another site to see is The Liberty Flame, which honors the life and death of Princess Diana.

Paris Columns:

Here are a few lesser known historical monuments that you can try to find in Paris.

The Obelisk on Place de la Concorde is the oldest column and it’s located in the 8th arrondissement. It was created in Egypt 3,000 years ago.

There are two columns worth checking out in the 1rst arrondissement. The Medici column is one that the queen used to climb to read the stars! The other column to look for is the Column on Place Vendome.

The tallest column is located in Bastille and its called the Colognne de Juillet or the July Column.

Bucket List Cathedrals, Churches, and Religious Sites:

There are churches all over Paris, but here are a few that you don’t want to miss! I learned that Notre Dame is the only one that is truly classified as a cathedral… The rest are “just churches.”

Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge is Paris will lead you to Notre Dame and Saint Chapelle. You can still walk around Notre Dame while it’s under construction, but the scaffolding and walls will limit your ability to get close to it.

Saint Chapelle is known for its breath-taking stain glass windows. Sacre Coeur is located in Montmarte and known for its bright white color and views of the city.

Bucket List Gardens and Parks:

The Luxembourg Gardens are located on the West Bank of the city and they are next to the Luxembourg Palace. It’s now a place for the Senators, but the gardens are open to the public.

Right beside of the Louvre, you will find the Tuileries Gardens. Hopefully you will be able to visit in the spring or summer while the gardens are the most picturesque.

Bois de Bologne is a huge park located west of the city where you find endless biking and running paths. It also offers boat rentals in the spring and summer. The Jardin d’Acclimation is a part of the Bois de Bologne. It’s great to visit with small children. They have a farm, small rides, and puppet shows. Fondation Louis Vuitton is another interesting venue to see located inside of Bois de Bologne.

Bucket List Art Museums:

From October to March on every first Sunday of the month, almost all museums of the city offer free visits. There are 130 museums in Paris, so I’m only listing the ones that I have visited.

The Monet Museum is located in the 16th arrondisement close to the Passy area. It also has an audio guide and it’s decently sized. See below the link about visiting Giverny as a day trip if you are a fan of Monet.

Pompidou is located right in the heart of city center. It’s designed to look like a building turned inside out! There is a nice cafe, a children’s area, a library, and a gift shop inside. (P.S. You will go through security, but you can skip the long tourist lines by entering through the library entrance.)

The Picasso Museum is my favorite museum in Paris. It’s in a great location, has an audio guide, and it’s not as overwhelming as the Louvre or The Orsay Museum. Plus I adore Picasso’s work.

The Salvador Dali Museum is small, but quirky and located in Montmarte.

More Art Exhibits:

If you are a photography lover, check out the House of European Photography.

Fondation Louis Vuitton, which is located inside of Bois de Bologne is a lovely venue to visit at sunset. Here you will be able to capture amazing Paris cityscape photos.

Bucket List of Quirky Sites:

The Paris Flea Market is a place to visit where you can find everything from cheap quirky finds like small beads to extremely expensive antiques.

Paris has its own Vampire Museum which I ‘ll be saving to visit in October!

Pere Lachaise Cemetery is where you will find the graves of Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde. Several other famous residents are buried here and the tombs are quite elaborate.

The Catacombs are underground ossuaries that are filled with the remains of six million people. The history of the place is quite fascinating.

My last quirky site is the Paris Sewer Museum. I haven’t visited and not sure that I want to….but I’m adding it to the bucket list for others who may like this type of thing.

Ultimate Paris Bucket List: Entertainment

A performance at the Palais Garnier, the Paris Opera, is definitely on my bucket list. You can also tour it during the day without booking a show.

Oh My God She’s Parisian is a solo female comedian show in English!

How To Become Parisian in One Hour is a solo male comedian show in English! We loved this show. It will have you rolling!

Lost in Frenchlation is a fun way to see a film without being fluent in French!

Sporting Events:

France won the World Cup in 2018, so watching a French football match should definitely be on this Paris bucket list! Visit Stade de France or Stade Jean Bouin to watch the champions in action. The Stade Jean Bouin is located within the city and easily accessed by metro line 9.

The Tour de France is another Paris bucket list event that ends on the famous Champs Elysees in July.

Favorite Souvenir Shop:

Shakespeare and Company is an iconic bookshop in Paris. This is a quirky spot where you might find a student asleep in the corner, a cat who wants to snuggle up to you, and a few bashful friends quietly playing a piano in the corner. It’s lined with old photos, quotes, and lots of books. Why not grab book about Paris as a souvenir?

There is also a famous Wallace fountain in front of the shop!

Bucket List Day Trips:

This Paris bucket list from a local wouldn’t be complete without including a few day trip recommendations from Paris.

Giverny and Fountainebleu are a few other quick day trip options from Paris.

Versailles in a large site to see so its best to see it by bike! Visit Versailles by Bike

Visiting Saint Mont Michel can also be visited in one day. If you want to explore the region in more depth by visiting the D-Day beaches, then you will want to make it an overnight trip.

Paris Disneyland is another day trip option if you are traveling with kids or just a kid at heart yourself!

Reims, France

My number one recommendation for a day trip would be to visit Reims, France. The Reims Tour through Viator.com is unforgettable! They provide a tour of the town and will take you to several vineyards, champagne houses and caves. It is pricey but it’s 10 hours long, provides transportation, a meal, and a memory that will last a lifetime. Even if you don’t take this tour, you can still walk to the best champagne makers in the world. G.H. Mumm is walking distance from the train station and you can choose from a variety of different touring experiences. They range from €23- 42 euros.

I would recommend trying to stay overnight in Reims to see the seasonal cathedral light shows.

Ultimate Paris Bucket List: Overnight Trips:

You may also want to check out some of our other blogs about France. We have travel tips for Lyon, Strasbourg, Chablis and Auxerre, Bordeaux, Brittany, Normandy, and the Loire Valley!

I hope you have enjoyed this Ultimate Paris Bucket List by a “local.” I will constantly be updating this blog post as long as we live here. If you would like to know more about visiting the historic district of Montmartre in Paris, I have linked it here: Montmartre blog post.

We also have a French Inspired Amazon Shop and an online Photo Gallery that you can checkout.

What’s on your bucket list? I’d love to know in the comments below.

Please share with friends or family if they are visiting this beautiful city! A bientot!

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