Paris Insiders Guide
Paris Insiders Guide
  • What's On

    What's On in Paris

    June 2025 in Paris
    July 2025 in Paris
    August 2025 in Paris
    September 2025 in Paris
    Paris Activities Month by Month
    • What's On

      What's On in Paris

      June 2025 in Paris
      July 2025 in Paris
      August 2025 in Paris
      September 2025 in Paris
      Paris Activities Month by Month
      Paris Events Calendar
      Museum Exhibitions Calendar

      Performances

      Paris Ballet Calendar
      Paris Opera Calendar

      Holidays

      Christmas in Paris
      Christmas Day in Paris
      New Years Eve
      New Years Day in Paris
      Easter in Paris
      Valentines Day in Paris
      Bastille Day Celebrations
      Christmas in Paris

      Christmas in Paris

    • What to See

      The Eiffel Tower

      Skip-the-Lines at the Eiffel Tower
      Visiting The Eiffel Tower
      See all…

      Paris Attractions

      The Top 8 Tourist Attractions
      5 Paris Itineraries
      See all…

      Monuments in Paris

      The Arc de Triomphe
      The Panthéon
      See all…

      Landmarks

      Palais Garnier Opera House
      Hotel de Ville – The City Hall
      See all…

      History Museums

      Cluny Museum Paris
      Arts et Metiers
      See all…

      The Louvre Museum

      Louvre Art Museum Tours
      Mona Lisa In The Louvre
      See all…

      Musée d'Orsay

      Get the Most from Your Visit
      Top 10 Van Goghs at d'Orsay
      See all…

      The Top Paris Museums

      Musée de l'Orangerie
      Centre Pompidou
      See all…

      Artist Museums

      Musée Picasso
      Rodin Museum Paris
      See all…

      Unusual Paris Museums

      Guimet Asian Arts Museum
      Galliera Fashion Museum
      See all…
      Louvre Art Museum Tours

      Louvre Art Museum Tours

    • What to Do

      Visiting Versailles

      Skip-The-Line Tours
      Guided Versailles Tours
      Versailles Bike Tours

      The Essential Day Trips

      Visit the Champagne Region
      D-Day Landing Beaches
      Monet's Gardens at Giverny
      See all…

      More Iconic Day Tours

      Mont Saint-Michel
      Monet + Van Gogh
      VIP Private Day Trips
      See all…

      What to Do in Paris

      10 Ways to Skip the Paris Lines
      5 Top Activities In The Marais
      1st Time Visitors Guide
      See all…

      Seine River Cruises

      Top 6 Paris Dinner Cruises
      Lunch & Brunch Cruises
      Cruises with Extras!

      Paris Hidden Gems

      Les Halles Paris
      Impressionists In Paris
      Arcades of Paris
      See all…

      Night In The City of Light

      The 6 Best Evenings In Paris
      Moulin Rouge
      See all…

      Paris City Tours

      The 6 Best City Tours
      Hop-on, Open-Top Buses
      See all…

      Walking Tours

      Top 10 Walking Tours
      Mysterious Walking Tours
      See all…
      Romantic Dinner Cruises

      Romantic Dinner Cruises

    • Where to Stay
      The Top Left Bank Hotels

      Where to Stay in Paris

      Where to Stay in Paris

      Top-Rated Hotels in the Marais
      The Best Left Bank Hotels
      10 Affordable 4-Star Hotels
      See All …

      Preferred 5-Star Hotels

      Fouquet's Paris
      Hotel Napoleon Paris
      Hotel Le Burgundy
      See All…

      Top Hotels Near…

      Saint-Germain-des-Prés
      The Eiffel Tower

      Small Hotels of Paris

      Latin Quarter Hotels
      Top-Rated Montmartre Hotels
      Favorite Designer Hotels
      See All…

      The Palaces of Paris

      Shangri-La Paris
      Hotel George V Paris
      The Royal Monceau
      See All…

      Affordable Hotels

      Ibis Hotels
      Les Hotels de Paris
      Best Western Hotels
      See All…
    • Eat & Drink
      Food & Wine Tour in Montmartre

      The Foods of Montmartre

      Food & Wine Activities

      Top 10 Food Experiences
      Paris Wine Tastings
      Chocolate Tours
      See All…

      Most Popular Paris Food

      10 Best Cheese Shops
      The Best Baguette in Paris
      Food Markets of Paris
      See All…

      Memorable Paris Dining

      L'Assaggio
      Best Paris Terraces
      Seine Dinner Cruise

      Best Paris Restaurants

      Le Jules Verne
      Astrance Paris
      Il Carpaccio
      See All…

      Paris Restaurant Guide

      How to Choose a Restaurant
      Bistros & Brasseries
      The Best Paris Bars
      See All…

      Bistros & Brasseries

      In the Marais
      On the Left Bank
      Historic Brasseries of Paris
      See All…

      Top-Rated Restaurants

      Michelin 3-Star Restaurants
      6 Michelin-Star Restaurants
      See All…
    • More Paris Fun
      Visit the Champagne Region

      Visit the Champagne Region

      Historic Churches

      Notre Dame Cathedral
      La Sainte Chapelle
      See all…

      Paris Miscellanea

      Napoleon's Paris
      Hemingway's Paris
      Medieval Paris
      See All…

      Visiting Burgundy

      VIP Burgundy Wine Tour
      Burgundy Hotels
      See all…

      You Ask, We Answer

      Paris Hotels for Christmas?
      Best Restaurants in the 8th?
      Best Way To Visit Versailles?
      See All…

      Paris Gardens & Parks

      Jardin des Tuileries
      Jardin des Plantes
      Palais Royal
      See all…

      Unusual Paris Sights

      Pere Lachaise Cemetery
      The Catacombs
      See all…

      Top Ten Lists

      10 Tips For Visiting Paris
      7 Vestiges of Roman Paris
      13 Hidden Places In Paris
      See All…

      Your Own Private Paris

      Private Tours of Paris
      Champagne & Shows
      See all…
    • Essentials
      Things to do in Paris

      What's On When You're Here

      Airports & Transfers

      Airport Transfers
      Paris Airports
      Airport Taxis

      Getting Around Paris

      The Paris Metro
      Paris Metro Tickets
      Paris Taxis
      See All…

      Paris Travel Guide

      Where To Stay In Paris
      Top 10 Tips For Travelers
      Choose The Perfect Hotel
      What to Pack for Paris
      See All…

      Paris Essentials

      What's On When You're Here
      Where to Stay in Paris
      Seine River Dinner Cruises
      Paris Restaurant Guide
      Visiting Versailles
      The Eiffel Tower
      The Louvre Museum

      Train Travel

      Train Travel From Paris
      Eurostar: London & Paris
      See All…

      Paris Arrondissements

      The Marais
      The Latin Quarter
      Saint-Germain-des-Pres
      See All…

    The Handy Guide To Activities In Paris For The Infrequent Visitor

    You already know that there are a lot of experiences in Paris to be had. That's why you're visiting. The thing is, though, which activities do you choose? Where do you start?

    Don't worry, we're here to help. Our mission is to see that you have the best trip to Paris ever, with the least amount of stress, of standing in lines, and time-wasting planning. We'll start with some basic things that you're going to want to do and see — to help you have all the fun you can while you're here. Let's get started. Bon voyage !

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    7 Top Recommendations for First-Time Visitors

    1. Seine River VIP Dinner Cruise

    Seine River VIP Dinner Cruise

    This is our top piece of Paris travel advice and our #1 recommendation. First of all, it combines two, maybe three things in one glorious evening activity — a cruise along the world's romantic river, a multi-course French dinner with wine and champagne, and a Paris city tour, riverside! It's one thing to to see the Paris monuments from the city streets; it's an entirely different thing to see them at night from the river, lit up for your viewing enjoyment.

    Reviews from travelers are great; our personal review may be even better. We loved being on the river at night, when there was nothing else to do but gaze at the City of Light and dine on classic dishes. Be sure to choose the Service Premier option for a better table, champagne, and the greatest overall experience,

    Check Availability

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    The Eiffel Tower and the Seine River seen from a dinner cruise boat

    Paris Dinner Cruises on the Seine

    Dine in style as you glide past the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and the Louvre on a magical Seine River cruise. Gourmet food, champagne, and Paris lit up at night – it’s unforgettable.

    Reserve your table…

    Paris Dinner Cruises on the Seine

    Dine in style as you glide past the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, and the Louvre on a magical Seine River cruise. Gourmet food, champagne, and Paris lit up at night – it’s unforgettable.

    Reserve your table…

    2. Taste French Wines in Paris

    French Wine Tasting in Paris

    "France" + "Wine"… pretty inseparable, no? So it makes sense while you're in Paris that you take an hour or two to learn about French wines. This popular wine tasting class is a good one to choose — it introduces you to the major wine-growing regions of France.

    You'll learn how to pair the wines with the best French cheeses and charcuterie. Nicely centrally located, the class is held in a popular wine bar near the Louvre. You can book the wine tasting directly, but it is also included free with the Paris Insiders Pass.

    Reserve Your Glass
    Guide to Paris Wine Tastings

    3. Visit the Eiffel Tower – The Easy Way

    Visit the Eiffel Tower

    One of our best pieces of advice is this — book a skip-the-line guided tour whenever you can. Paris is a busy place and the top attractions always have line-ups. If you just show up without a plan, you're either going to be disappointed or you're going to wait in line a long time.

    We used to think we could do it all on our own; we learned our lesson the hard way. Now, we always opt for a guided, skip-the-line tour whenever one is available. That particularly applies to the most popular monument in the world, the Eiffel Tower. So, take a tip from us and our readers and get to the top without the hassles of waiting in the long line ups. It's easy, and, honestly, it's the only way to do it.

    Eiffel Tower Skip-the-line tours

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    In the vineyards of Champagne a guide explains the making of the bubbly

    Champagne Day Trip from Paris

    Escape to the Land of Bubbly on a small-group day tour from Paris. Taste at top Champagne houses, meet boutique producers, enjoy a leisurely lunch, and toast to a perfectly sparkling day.

    More Information…

    Champagne Day Trip from Paris

    Escape to the Land of Bubbly on a small-group day tour from Paris. Taste at top Champagne houses, meet boutique producers, enjoy a leisurely lunch, and toast to a perfectly sparkling day.

    More Information…

    4. Musée d'Orsay

    Musée d'Orsay

    To our way of thinking, the best of the bigger museums in Paris is Musée d'Orsay on the Left Bank, just across the river footbridge from the Tuileries Garden. This museum is dedicated to Impressionism and other 19th-century art, and there's some great stuff here. The best of Manet, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh. In recent years the Orsay Museum has seen a renovation which dedicated even more area to the Impressionists.

    Not only is the artwork phenomenal, the building itself is something you don't want to miss. It started life as a Belle Epoque train station, and it's a large, beautifully decorated space, filled with natural light and is the perfect place to view all these great 19th-century works of art.

    But once again, you want to avoid the line-ups. To that end we recommend this popular, five-star guided tour of Musée d'Orsay that concentrates on the best of the Impressionist masters.

    Musée d'Orsay Skip-the-Line Impressionism Tour
    Our Guide to Musée d'Orsay

    5. The Louvre

    Louvre Art Museum

    It's the Big One. The museum that rules over all the others. The Louvre is so huge and packed with so many amazing works of art that you sim;ply cannot see it all one trip. You won't be surprised to hear that our recommendation is to book a tour that gets you past the long lines and directly to the Mona Lisa.

    The Top Louvre Museum Tours
    Our Guide to the Louvre Museum

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    Paris Hotel Deals

    Browse our hand-picked Paris hotel deals with real-time discounts of up to 20%. Stay in the Marais, Saint Germain, the Latin Quarter, the Left Bank near the Eiffel Tower… every arrondissement is on the list.

    Search for your hotel…

    Paris Hotel Deals

    Browse our hand-picked Paris hotel deals with real-time discounts of up to 20%. Stay in the Marais, Saint Germain, the Latin Quarter, the Left Bank near the Eiffel Tower… every arrondissement is on the list.

    Search for your hotel…

    6. Champagne Cruise Along the Seine

    Champagne Cruise Along the Seine

    Here's a truism, at least according to Paris Insiders travelers — when you're in Paris, you must take a Seine River cruise. Paris simply looks different as you glide past all the famous landmarks and get a panoramic view from the river.

    You've probably noticed by now that our recommended experiences tend to include champagne. So, when it comes to choosing a river cruise, this one is right at the top of the list. What could be better than Paris, the romantic river, viewing all those famous sights while drinking bubbly?

    Check Champagne Cruise Availability

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    Delectable Food Tours in Paris

    Discover the Food & Wine of the Marais
    Visit the top food & wine shops in the historic Marais, tasting the best of French foods. There's plenty of sampling on this small-group tour.
    Check Availability…

    Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cellar
    In the cheese-aging cellar of a Paris fromagerie you discover 7 classic French cheeses and the wines that pair with them. Lots of sampling!
    Check Availability…

    Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cellar
    In the cheese-aging cellar of a Paris fromagerie you discover 7 classic French cheeses and the wines that pair with them. Lots of sampling!
    Check Availability…

    7. Walk, Gawk & Dine

    Walk, Gawk & Dine

    No, that isn't the name of a new Paris tour. It's our last bit of advice. To wit, don't miss the sheer beauty of being in Paris. Make sure you set aside time to walk the quartiers, to stand on a bridge or two admiring the Seine, to explore the bustling streets of the Marais or Montmartre, to gaze up at the architecture and monuments, and to dine every single night in one of the world's best restaurants.

    If, as we claim, visiting Paris is all about creating memories, we can't think of a better way to do it.

    • Visitor's Guide to the Marais…
    • Visitor's Guide to Montmartre…
    • Restaurants In Paris – Guide To Eating In The City Of Food…
    • Four Favorite Bridges of Paris…

    Paris Planning Guides

    Paris Metro Guide Paris Metro Guide Link to Left Bank Paris Hotels Left Bank Hotels Info for Travelers Info for Travelers Learn about Day Trips to Champagne VIP to Champagne

    What to Do in Paris While You're Here

    • The Top 10 Activities In Paris…
    • 5 Best Latin Quarter Activities…
    • 5 Top Activities in The Marais…
    • First-Timers Guide to Paris…
    • Best Things To Do In Spring…
    • 9 Most Romantic Things To Do…
    • Open-Air Bus Tours…
    • Carnaval de Paris…
    • Saint-Germain Jazz Festival…
    • Swimming in the Seine…
    • 5 Unusual Things To Do…
    • Paris for Kids…
    • Paris Zoological Park…
    • Skip-the-Line Museum Tours…
    • Proposing in Paris…
    • Paris Honeymoon Planning…
    • Paris Department Stores…
    • Viaduc des Arts…

    Discover What's On When You're Here

    • July 2025 Things to Do in Paris…
    • Bastille Day Celebrations…
    • August 2025 Things to Do…
    • September 2025 Things to Do…
    • October 2025 Things to Do…
    • November 2025 Things to Do…
    • December 2025 Things to Do…
    • Month-by-Month Calendar…

    Paris Essential #1:
    Romantic Dinner Cruise

    Marais Food Tour
    Evening Seine River Cruise +
    A Classic French Meal

    Paris Essential #2:
    Chateau de Versailles

    Visit Chateau de Versailles
    Visit the Magnificent Chateau & Gardens of the Royal Estate

    Paris Essential #3:
    The Louvre Museum

    Visit The Louvre Museum
    Take in the Best of the Louvre,
    Bypass the Long Lines

    Paris Essential #4:
    The Eiffel Tower

    The Eiffel Tower
    Skip the Line and Enjoy the Views of Paris from Above

    Paris Essential #5:
    The D-Day Beaches

    The D-Day Beaches
    Visit the Historic That
    Changed the Course of WWII

    Paris Essential #6:
    Delectable Food Tours

    Marais Food Tour
    Discover the Best
    Food & Wine of Paris
    Plus d'Info

    Vacations in France
    Free Paris Planning Guides
    411

    French for Travelers
    Ask Your Paris Questions
    About

    About
    Praise From Our Readers
    Paris Insiders Guide

    Contact
    Website Information

    Copyright © 2010-2025 Voconces Culinary Ltd, all rights reserved. Original photos © Mark Craft, all rights reserved.

        • June 2025 in Paris
        • July 2025 in Paris
        • August 2025 in Paris
        • September 2025 in Paris
        • Paris Activities Month by Month
        • Paris Events Calendar
        • Museum Exhibitions Calendar
        • Paris Ballet Calendar
        • Paris Opera Calendar
        • Christmas in Paris
        • Christmas Day in Paris
        • New Years Eve
        • New Years Day in Paris
        • Easter in Paris
        • Valentines Day in Paris
        • Bastille Day Celebrations
        • Skip-the-Lines at the Eiffel Tower
        • Visiting The Eiffel Tower
        • Eiffel Tower Information
        • See all…
        • The Top 8 Tourist Attractions
        • 5 Paris Itineraries
        • Gardens & Parks
        • See all…
        • The Arc de Triomphe
        • The Panthéon
        • The Bastille
        • See all…
        • Chateau de Versailles
        • Palais Garnier Opera House
        • Hotel de Ville – The City Hall
        • See all…
        • Get the Most from Your Visit
        • Masterpieces of the Louvre
        • Paintings of the Louvre
        • See all…
        • Get the Most from Your Visit
        • Top 10 Van Goghs at d'Orsay
        • See all…
        • Musée de l'Orangerie
        • Centre Pompidou
        • See all…
        • Musée d'Orsay
        • Musée Picasso
        • Rodin Museum Paris
        • See all…
        • Cluny Museum Paris
        • Arts et Metiers
        • See all…
        • Guimet Asian Arts Museum
        • Galliera Fashion Museum
        • See all…
        • Skip-The-Line Tours
        • Guided Versailles Tours
        • Versailles Bike Tours
        • Visit the Champagne Region
        • D-Day Landing Beaches
        • Monet's Gardens at Giverny
        • See all…
        • Mont Saint-Michel
        • Monet + Van Gogh
        • VIP Private Day Trips
        • See all…
        • 10 Ways to Skip the Lines
        • 9 Most Romantic Things to Do
        • 5 Top Activities In The Marais
        • See all…
        • Romantic Dinner Cruises
        • Lunch & Brunch Cruises
        • Cruises with Extras!
        • See all…
        • The 6 Best Evenings In Paris
        • Moulin Rouge
        • Paris at Night
        • See all…
        • Hop-on, Open-Top Buses
        • The 6 Best City Tours
        • See all…
        • Private Tours of Paris
        • Champagne & Shows
        • See all…
        • Top 10 Walking Tours
        • Mysterious Walking Tours
        • See all…
        • Top-Rated Hotels in the Marais
        • The Best Left Bank Hotels
        • 10 Affordable 4-Star Hotels
        • See all …
        • Latin Quarter Hotels
        • Left Bank Hotels
        • Top-Rated Montmartre Hotels
        • Favorite Designer Hotels
        • See all …
        • Shangri-La Paris
        • Hotel George V Paris
        • The Royal Monceau
        • See all…
        • Fouquet's Paris
        • Hotel Napoleon Paris
        • Hotel Le Burgundy
        • See all …
        • Ibis Hotels
        • Les Hotels de Paris
        • Best Western Hotels
        • See all …
        • Saint-Germain-des-Prés
        • The Eiffel Tower
        • Top 10 Food Experiences
        • Paris Wine Tastings
        • Chocolate Tours
        • See all …
        • 10 Best Cheese Shops
        • The Best Baguette in Paris
        • Food Markets of Paris
        • See all …
        • Le Jules Verne
        • Astrance Paris
        • Il Carpaccio
        • See all …
        • How to Choose a Restaurant
        • Bistros & Brasseries
        • The Best Paris Bars
        • See all …
        • In the Marais
        • On the Left Bank
        • Historic Brasseries of Paris
        • See all …
        • Michelin 3-Star Restaurants
        • 6 Michelin-Star Restaurants
        • See All…
        • L'Assaggio
        • Best Paris Terraces
        • Seine Dinner Cruise
        • Notre Dame Cathedral
        • La Sainte Chapelle
        • Sacre-Coeur Paris
        • See all…
        • Les Halles Paris
        • Impressionists In Paris
        • Arcades of Paris
        • See all…
        • Napoleon's Paris
        • Hemingway's Paris
        • Medieval Paris
        • See all…
        • Hidden Landmarks
        • The Catacombs
        • Pere Lachaise Cemetery
        • See all…
        • Jardin des Tuileries
        • Jardin des Plantes
        • Palais Royal
        • See all…
        • VIP Burgundy Wine Tour
        • Burgundy Hotels
        • See all…
        • 10 Tips For Visiting Paris
        • 7 Vestiges of Roman Paris
        • 13 Hidden Places In Paris
        • See all…
        • Paris Hotels for Christmas?
        • Best Restaurants in the 8th?
        • Best Way To Visit Versailles?
        • See all…
        • Airport Transfers
        • Paris Airports
        • Airport Taxis
        • Train Travel From Paris
        • Eurostar: London & Paris
        • Paris Train Stations
        • See all…
        • The Marais
        • The Latin Quarter
        • Saint-Germain-des-Pres
        • See all…
        • Where To Stay In Paris
        • Top 10 Tips For Travelers
        • Choose The Perfect Hotel
        • What to Pack for Paris
        • See all…
        • The Paris Metro
        • Paris Metro Tickets
        • Paris Taxis
        • See all…
        • What's On When You're Here
        • Where To Stay In Paris
        • Seine River Dinner Cruises
        • Paris Restaurant Guide
        • Visiting Versailles
        • The Eiffel Tower
        • The Louvre Museum