The Top Events & Activities In Paris – The November 2021 Edition

Though the days are shorter and there's a tinge of winter in the air, Paris events in November can still warm your heart. The cultural season is back, after a year-long delay. And high on our list of things to do are skip-the-lines visits to the Louvre and Versailles. Let's take a look at the best events and most exciting activities this month.

After the effects of an historic pandemic lockdown museums are welcoming visitors and many of the special exhibitions have been rescheduled from 2020. There are once again a lot of activities to sign up for, with more announced every week. We'll keep the information on this page updated with best things to do and the greatest ways to explore and enjoy the city we love.

Most Popular Activities

Things to Do in Paris November 2021

Bateaux Parisiens VIP Dinner Cruise with Live Music

Gliding along the Seine at night, with the lights of Paris drifting past, is a memorable activity. And to do this while dining on a traditional 4-course French meal makes it absolutely magical. What with wine & champagne included, it's no wonder so many travelers love this activity. Choose the 8:30 PM sailing and the Service Privilege option for the best seating, best meal, and the ultimate experience.

Skip the Lines at the Louvre Museum

60,000 square feet, 35,000 pieces of artwork. Do you really want to wait in line and then wander around until you're lost? Instead, join a tour that gets you inside with skip-the-line priority access. Then experience a guided visit to the highlights of the world's most popular museum — Venus de Milo, Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace and other influential pieces.

Louvre Skip-the-Line Guided Tour

Museum tours in Paris have been slowly getting back to normal, but it's always good to have a back-up choice. To that end, here's another Louvre tour that we like with up to three daily departures.

VIP Twilight Tour – Champagne Cruise + Eiffel Tower

Unwind after a busy day of sightseeing with a sunset cruise on the Seine while sipping champagne. Refreshed by the bubbles, you then proceed to the Eiffel Tower for skip-the-line access to the second floor. From the second level you can see Paris at your feet. A little insider tip, you don’t really need to get to the summit to enjoy the magnificent views. Available every day.

Eiffel Tower Skip-the-Line Priority Access

By now you know that we hate to waste time standing in lines. There is no attraction more popular than the Eiffel Tower, which means there are always lines. That's why we love tours that allow you to bypass the lineup, go directly to the priority entrance, and then up the tower. This guided activity gets you up to Level 2 for what we think are the best panoramic views of Paris. Also check the Big List of Eiffel Tower Tours…

Summit of the Eiffel Tower

If you're not going to be satisfied until you get as high as you can in Paris, choose this skip-the-line activity that gets you up to Level 3 of the Eiffel Tower, the very top. Find out what it is that all those birds are cheeping about.

Night Bike Ride + River Cruise

We like this one, first of all, because it's two great activities in one fun evening. Also, it gets you on the city streets as well as along the river. Following your expert guide, cycle around the ancient and modern streets of the city, visiting the the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Champs Elysées. Cycling completed, hop on a river boat for a nighttime cruise on the Seine. A glass of wine is included, of course!

Dinner on the Seine River + Eiffel Tower VIP

Here's another 2-in-1 activity and one more fantastic night in Paris. From the banks of the Seine board your dinner bateau for a cruise viewing the iconic monuments of Paris while savoring a classic French meal. Then combine that once-in-a-lifetime activity with another, at the Eiffel Tower, where your VIP ticket gets you skip-the-line access to enjoy birds-eye views of Paris. Sailings everyday.

Dinner Cruise + Eiffel Tower + Moulin Rouge Cabaret

Once again you can take in the best of Paris at night in this unforgettable extravaganza that starts with a classic French dinner on a bateau cruising along the Seine. Next up will be the Eiffel Tower, where your skip-the-line ticket will give you priority access. Finally, you are zipped across town to the iconic Moulin Rouge, for an evening cabaret, with champagne, of course! Revel in the magic and wonder of Paris during one memorable evening.

Montmartre Private Evening Tour – Bites & Sights

Get off the tourist track and get an Insiders view of Montmartre, one of the most picturesque quartiers of Paris. On this culinary tour, you'll see local landmarks, from the Moulin Rouge to the real-life locations of the classic French film Amelie. Of course, you'll stop along the way for refreshments — think wine, cheese and other French specialties. Read the reviews, they're all glowing. Offered daily.

Tour Paris in a Vintage Citroën Traction Avant

You're going to feel like you're in a movie, set in the Paris of the 1940s when you climb into the back seat of a sleek, black Citroën Traction Avant from that era. Dressed in a period outfit, your "gentleman driver" chauffeurs you around the historic sites of the city. The view is made even better with the sun roof opened all the way. As we say in our review, this is "retro luxury from another era."

Paris in One Day – Eiffel Tower + Louvre + River Cruise

If we had only one day in Paris, this would be it. This tour includes a dazzling lineup from the Eiffel Tower to the Seine River to Notre Dame to the Louvre. We love the skip-the-line access – no waiting in line, anywhere. Highlights include a trip to the tippy-top of the Eiffel Tower, a boat cruise along the Seine, a stroll through Île de la Cité to see Notre Dame, plus a guided tour of the best of the Louvre Everything is included, from transportation to guides to full access.

Insiders Guided Tour of Musée d'Orsay

It's not really a secret that the Musée d'Orsay is a very busy place. What is a secret is this small-group tour – the best way to see the highlights of the collection and beat the crowds. You skip the long line and follow your guide directly to the masterpieces of Manet, Monet, Degas, and Van Gogh, all the while learning all about the Impressionists and the story of the magnificent museum that was once a train station.

Champagne Cruise Along the Seine

We don't know about you, but this is our favorite way to cruise the Seine — which should be no surprise if you know anything about us by now. We think you'll agree that the best way to see the sights of Paris is by gliding past the monuments on a bateaux while sipping bubbly. Highly recommended. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays in November.

Ghosts & Mysteries Night Walking Tour

Bundle up a little against the slight nip in the air — and from the chills you'll get during this tour of the ghostly, the eerie, and the downright creepy! Your guide leads you down cobblestone streets and winding alleys as you learn about the darker side of the City of Light. The Black Plague, the Nazis, and the unexplained. Ooooo.

The 9 Top Left Bank Hotels –

Who doesn't love the Left Bank of Paris? It makes you think of Hemingway and the Jazz Age and seems to emanate the very essence of Paris. We think it's the best district in the city to call home. The Saint-Germain neighborhood is charming, and so are the best of the hotels in the quartier. Let's take a look at our top Left Bank hotel picks, updated for 2021, with new ratings and current prices.

Book Your Airport Transfers

Of all the advice we give about Paris travel, this is often the most appreciated. Before you leave home, arrange for your transportation from the airport into central Paris. That way, when you get to Paris tired from jet travel, you'll avoid "arrival stress". An easy and affordable option is book a shuttle van service right to your hotel. Book in advance to know what's going to happen when you arrive at Charle de Gaulle.

The Best Ways to Visit Versailles from Paris

Things to Do in Paris November 2021

Best of Versailles with Priority Access + Grand Canal Lunch

Instead of worrying about trains, maps, ticket lines, and guide books, why not go the royal route on a small-group tour with an expert guide to add illuminating details and make the past come alive with stories of palace life? This activity includes everything — transportation, tickets, a guided tour, a multi-course lunch with wine, and return at the end of the day.

Half-Day, Skip-the-Line Tour of Versailles

If you don't want to spend a full day at Versailles, here's another great way to see a lot while skipping the lines. We like that it's a small-group activity with an expert guide and transportation right from central Paris. A private tour is also available.

Versailles Bike Tour with Skip-the-Line Entrance

Aren't chilly autumn days the perfect time to pedal a bike around the most famous royal estate in the world? Explore the countryside near Versailles — through forests and pastures — and then picnic in the gardens of Versailles. After touring the grounds use your priority-access ticket to explore the magnificent Chateau de Versailles. I

The Top Food & Wine Activities

Things to Do in Paris November 2021

Bateaux Parisiens Seine River Gourmet Lunch

Cruise along the Seine while enjoying a classic 3-course French lunch aboard Bateaux Parisiens. Soak in the views of the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Musée d'Orsay as you choose from an a la carte menu with wine. The extras? Live entertainment and a glass of cool champagne to start your adventure. Choose the Service Privilege option to guarantee a window seat.

Chocolate & Pastry Walking Tour in Saint-Germain

Parisian chocolates are amazing, but if you want to expand your chocolate universe to include fabulous French pastries, then spend an afternoon sampling your way through Paris chocolate shops, patisseries, and boulangeries. As always, a food expert leads the way on this small-group tour.

The Food & Wine of the Marais

Visit the most popular quartier in Paris on this food & wine tour that's getting rave reviews. Things start out at the oldest food market in Paris where your food-expert guide leads the way. Then go on foot through the ancient neighborhood to visit the top food & wine shops, tasting the best of French food like cheese, charcuterie, baguettes, chocolate, and wine. Oh, and there's lots of sampling!

Cheese & Wine Tasting in a Paris Cheese Cellar

An affineur is a French cheese ager, usually working in a fromagerie that sells a selection of the best cheese of the country. This food activity gets you into the cellar with a Master Affineur at a cheese shop in the Marais. You also sample seven classic French cheeses, along with wines, as you discover how cheese became one of the most revered foods of France. The small group is limited to 10 to ensure there's more cheese for you!

Wine Tasting in the Heart of Paris

Under the guidance of a professional French sommelier (who speaks English) spend a fun afternoon in an informal wine tasting. This tasting covers a lot of wine territory an hour or two, covering the important wines and regions of France. There's an extensive flight of wines — from Alsace, Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhone. We recommend the 2-hour French wine and champagne Masterclass with a charcuterie platter.

Gourmet French Food Walking Tour

There's really no place other than Paris where so much good food is crammed into such a small space. On this gourmet walking tour an experienced guide takes you to a lot of different food markets in the space of just a few hours. In the morning you explore the Latin Quarter markets and food shops, or, if you opt for the afternoon tour, you'll learn all about the foods of Montmartre.

Romantic 9 PM Dinner Cruise with Window Seating

Get the best view of Paris at the best time of day — at night, when the city's monuments lining the Seine are lit up for your viewing pleasure. From a window table on a glass-walled riverboat you will dine on the best of France while reveling in the sights of the City of Monuments — the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Musée d'Orsay, and much more.

The Top Day Trips From Paris

Things to Do in Paris November 2021

Loire Valley Chateaux + Loire Valley Wines

On this day tour from Paris you'll discover the Renaissance castles of the Loire plus the wines produced in this fertile valley. The day begins at the largest castle, Chateau de Chambord. Later, lunch is served at Chateau de Nitray with a selection of fresh, local ingredients and a guided tasting of the best of the region's wines. The final stop is Chateau de Chenonceau, considered the loveliest of the Loire royal castles. Limited dates in November, check the link for availability.

Three Magnificent Loire Valley Chateaux

If you want to concentrate on the castles and pass up the wine tasting, choose this day trip. Spend more time visiting Chenonceau, Cheverny & Chambord, the three most spectacular chateaux in the valley. Mondays in November, but private tours are available on any day.

Spend a Day in the Champagne Region

Pop! — that's one of our favorite sounds and it can only be made by opening a bottle of real champagne. Just over an hour from Paris, it's easy to visit the Grand Maisons de Champagne. Your driver picks you up at your Paris address and whisks you off to Epernay and Reims, through rolling hills and world-class vineyards. You taste the Grands Crus as well as bubbly from small family producers.

Mont Saint-Michel

Just off the Normandy coast is the fairytale island of Mont St-Michel. On this tour you explore the Benedictine abbey that becomes separated from the mainland during high tide. Wander along the narrow streets, visit the shops and the abbey's ramparts. This small-group tour (no more than 8 people). Fridays in November.

D-Day Beaches Tour Plus Cider Tasting

The D-Day beaches of Normandy are the most famous battle sites of World War II. This is where the Allied troops came ashore to liberate France and to carry on across Europe to end the war. This guided tour lets you visit the beaches on a long day trip from Paris. Take a day to step back in time on a trip that returns you to hotel the same day. Saturdays in November. A private tour is also available.

What's On at the Museums

Things to Do in Paris November 2021

Montmartre Impressionist Art Walking Tour + Musée d'Orsay

Learn about the history of the historic hilltop quartier of Montmartre through the lives of the famous artists who once lived here. Explore the shops and streets that still seem to have an artistic flair. This fun tour focuses on the the artists — Van Gogh's house, the windmill cabaret painted by Renoir, the site of Picasso's early studio, and more. Also included is a skip-the-line ticket for Musée d'Orsay. This activity has hundreds of 5-star reviews.

Picasso – Rodin

This clever and much-anticipated exhibition is showing at both of the museums dedicated to the title artists — the Musée Picasso in the Marais and the Musée Rodin in the 7th Arrondissement. It demonstrates (perhaps for the first time so graphically) how the two artists, in their own ways, heralded a turning point in modern art.

• Musée Picasso & Musée Rodin
• Ends January 2, 2022
• Information…

Signac, the Collector

Paul Signac (1863-1935), the inventor of pointillism, was also a keen art collector. See his fabulous collection of Bonnard, Matisse, and Fauves.
• Musée d'Orsay
• Ends February 13, 2022
• Information…

Dalí – The Endless Enigma

Be immersed in the surrealistic and metaphysical landscapes of the world of Salvador Dalí. Paintings scattered around around the world are featured in this dazzling digital exhibition, including works from the Gala-Salvador Dalí Foundation at Figueres, the Dalí Museum in Florida, the Reina Sofía Museum in Madrid, and MoMA in New York.
• Atelier des Lumieres, 38 Rue Saint Maur, 11e
• Ends January 2, 2022
• Information…

The History of Still Life at the Louvre

Believe it or not, the last time a still life exhibition was shown at the Louvre was back in 1952! This new show will pay homage to Charles Sterling's love of still life. Sterling was an art historian, who was the curator of paintings at the Louvre for 32 years, from 1929 to 1961.

• Louvre, Hall Napoleon
• Octobre 12, 2022 to January 23, 2023

Petits Papiers du 20e siècle

Paul Destribats (1926-2017), was an avant-garde collector and scholar. This exhibition showcases 12,000 of his leaflets, posters and documents that have been donated to the Kandinsky Library.

• Centre Pompidou
• Ends January 31, 2022v
• Information…

Cinema at Last! French Entertainment from 1833 to 1907

Discover 300 films and related paraphernalia by well-known artists from Pierre Bonnard to Auguste and Louis Lumière, the inventors of cinema.

• Musée d'Orsay
• Ends January 16, 2022
• Information…

The Narcissus Theorem – Jean-Michel Othoniel

Contemporary French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel is taking over Petit Palais' museum and garden with his art installation. It's his biggest solo show since his retrospective at the Pompidou.

• Petit Palais
• Ends January 2, 2022
• Information…

Chaïm Soutine/Willem de Kooning – Painting Embodied

Discover how Chaïm Soutine (1893-1943), a Russian painter of the School of Paris, influenced Willem de Kooning, (1904-1997), the Dutch/American Abstract Expressionist.

• Musée de la Orangerie
• Ends January 10, 2022
• Information…

Precious Objects from Elsewhere

Since ancient times, carnelian, lapis lazuli, ebony, and other precious materials have circulated along trade routes. This exhibition highlights these precious materials as well as exotic animals who have traveled between the continents since the Middle Ages.

• Louvre, Petite Galerie
• Ends July 4, 2022

Victor Hugo – Dessins/Drawings

Who knew the Hugo, in addition to being a writer of fame, could also draw? This exhibition presents a unique collection of drawings by the creator of Quasimodo, the maker of Les Misérables, the man himself, Victor Hugo.

• Maison de Victor Hugo
• Ends November 21, 2021
• Information…

The Best Events in Paris

Things to Do in Paris November 2021

Armistice Day, November 11

Armistice Day in Paris is remembered with a military parade followed by the President of France laying wreaths during a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe. There may be pandemic changes to this year's activities, so check back again.
• Arc de Triomphe, Place Charles de Gaulle
• November 11, 2021
• 11:00 AM: Wreath-Laying Ceremony
• 9:00 PM: Vigil Ceremony

Salon de la Photo

Also in November (usually!) is the giant photography trade show at the Paris Expo, out at Porte de Versailles, where you'll have a chance to see all the latest in international photography, equipment and other displays. There may be some changes this pandemic year, so check the website before you go.
• Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles
• November 2021 dates TBA
• Information…

Beaujolais Nouveau Day

Fireworks, festivals, and music start on the 3rd Thursday in November to mark the arrival of the new vintage of Beaujolais. Head to any wine bar in Paris and you'll find tastings — a few euros will get you a fresh glass of Beaujolais Nouveau or Beaujolais-Villages Nouveau.
• November 2021 dates to be confirmed
• Information…