The Best Things To Do In Paris – September 2018

It's not yet autumn — all the gardens are still in bloom. September in Paris means la rentrée, when thousands of Parisians return from their long summer vacation and transition back to city life. The "back to school" feeling in Paris is palpable – tout le monde are talking about what they did on their summer vacation and looking forward to a new period of activities and events. The Paris cultural season begins with a stellar line-up of ballet, opera, dance and theater events.

The Most Popular Activities

Things to Do in Paris September 2018

Skip the Line at the Eiffel Tower Tours

When we're in Paris we don't want to waste time standing in line. That's why we choose skip-the-line tours, especially at sights as busy as the Eiffel Tower, where there is always a long lineup. Breeze past the line and follow your guide up the tower while she relates tales about the the most famous tower in the world. This tour gets you you to the very top — the third level.

List of Eiffel Tower Tours

Eiffel Tower skip-the-line tour schedules tend to change and to sell out. If you can't find your date on the above tour, consult this complete list of Eiffel Tower tours. To go to the very top, choose a "summit" tour.

• Big List of Eiffel Tower Skip-the-Line Tours…

Eiffel Tower + Moulin Rouge + Seine River Cruise

Here's an iconic activity that's a complete night on the town. It starts with an evening dinner on the Eiffel Tower. After a classic French meal, you stroll to the banks of the Seine for an evening river cruise. But the night's not over! Next up is the famous Moulin Rouge to enjoy the show — while sipping champagne. All the details are taken care of.

Other Molin Rouge Evenings We Like

• A NIGHT IN PARIS WITH HOTEL PICK-UP
  This is the same action-packed evening in Paris, made better when your driver meets you at your Paris hotel. Includes the Eiffel Tower, a river cruise, dinner, and the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret.
  → Check Availability…
• EIFFEL TOWER DINNER, MOULIN ROUGE SHOW & SEINE RIVER CRUISE
  Dine on the Eiffel Tower at restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel, then cruise the Seine and visit the Moulin Rouge. Includes hotel drop-off at the end of the evening.
  → Check Availability…

Bateaux Parisiens Dinner Cruise on the Seine

A Paris Insiders Guide Favourite

Travelers love this nighttime dinner cruise, and it's easy to see why. It's fun, it's romantic, and everything's taken care of for you – starting when your driver meets you at your hotel. At the Seine you board your bateau for a relaxing cruise and 3-course French meal. Watch the lights of Paris pass by while sipping wine. When the cruise ends, your driver will be waiting.

Eiffel Tower Dinner + Nighttime Seine River Cruise

This is another magical evening in Paris. Dine at restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel, on the tower it's named for, then cruise the city's famous river when the lights of Paris are bright. Your priority-access tickets let you bypass the line at the tower, for a classic 3-course French dinner at a restaurant with a fabulous view. Hotel pick-up and return is included.

Skip-the-Lines at the Eiffel Tower and The Louvre + Seine Cruise

• Travelers have liked this 3-part activity that gets you past the lines at two uber-famous attractions. You meet your guide at the Tower to skip past the line-ups, learn fascinating facts, and get to the summit. You also get tickets for the Louvre and a river cruise, which you can take day or night.
  → Check Availability…

Skip the Lines at the Louvre

With nearly 10 million visitors a year, the Louvre Art Museum is an über-popular site in Paris, which again means long, long lines. Another great insiders tip is to book a guided tour of the museum, which leads you past the lines and right to the most famous works of art, also allowing you plenty of time to wander. Another tip — these tours sell out, so be sure to book early.

Skip-the-Line Evening Louvre Tour + Wine Tasting

• Fine wine + fine arts. Our personal favourite way to see the Louvre.
  → Check Availability…

Champagne Cruise Along the Seine

The days and nights are still warm, so what better way to celebrate your stay Paris than a champagne-fuelled cruise down the Seine — the most romantic river in the world. You'll discover this is the very best way to see the sights of the city as you glide past the monuments on a bateaux while sipping bubbly.

Champagne Cruise Plus Eiffel Tower Skip-the-Line Tour

• Top a champagne cruise along the Seine with a skip-the-line visit to the Eiffel Tower. We recently signed aboard for this activity and found it to be fantastic. Night in the City of Lights!
  → Check Availability…

Versailles Bike Tour with Skip-the-Line Entrance

A great way to end the summer is this 2-in-1 tour. Follow your guide as you cycle around the countryside near Versailles — through forests and pastures — and then picnic in the gardens of Versailles. After touring the grounds you use your VIP skip-the-line pass to explore the magnificent Chateau de Versailles. It makes for a wonderful day, but it's likely to sell out.

More Great Bike Tours

• VERSAILLES BIKE TOUR WITH SKIP-THE-LINE CHATEAU PASSES
  This version of the Versailles bike tour may suit your schedule better. It runs every day except Mondays.
  → Check Availability…
• PARIS NIGHTTIME BIKE TOUR + RIVER CRUISE
  More fun on two wheels in the City of Light — at night. This tour also includes an evening river cruise for two activities in one.
  → Check Availability…

Dinner & Show at the Moulin Rouge with Hotel Transportation

No need to worry about how to get to the cabaret, your driver meets you at your Paris address. In Montmartre, at the Moulin Rouge, you dine on three traditional French courses and view the famous show. Moulin Rouge regularly sells out weeks in advance, so book as early as you can.

More Fun Moulin Rouge Ideas

• MOULIN ROUGE SHOW WITH ROUNDTRIP HOTEL TRANSPORTATION
  Just want to see the show? Then choose this activity that gets you from your hotel to the Moulin Rouge… and back again.
  → Check Availability…
• MOULIN ROUGE VIP SEATING WITH CHAMPAGNE
  We don't know about you, but we love a little VIP treatment now at then. Here at the Moulin Rouge that means exclusive seating on a private balcony, where you watch the show while sipping champagne and tasting macaroons made by Dalloyau.
  → Check Availability…

Paris-in-One-Day

Louvre + Seine River Cruise + Eiffel Tower. With this combination activity it is possible to see most of the best of Paris in just one day. Since everything is included — entrance fees, lunch, river cruise — this is perfect for first-timers and for those short of time. No senseless dawdling or getting lost. At the Eiffel Tower you see the city from restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel. But you're not done yet — visit Notre Dame Cathedral on the picturesque Île de la Cité.

Ghosts, Mysteries and Legends Night Walking Tour

Visitors to Paris seem to love this (somewhat) creepy nighttime tour. Follow your knowledgeable guide along the winding streets and the hidden alleys to visit the little-known spots of a city with over 2,000 years of history, mysteries and legends. That makes for an action-packed evening. You'll learn about the slightly darker side of the City Light. Ooooo.

Montmartre Impressionist Walking Tour

With Skip-the-Line Musée d'Orsay Ticket

Explore Montmartre, the neighborhood that inspired legendary artists. See where Van Gogh lived, the Montmartre windmill that Renoir painted, and Moulin Rouge that inspired Toulouse-Lautrec's paintings. The tour ends with stunning views of the city from Sacre Coeur Cathedral. Also includes skip-the-line entrance ticket to Musée d'Orsay where you will see their paintings, up close and personal.

Airport Transfers

Here is one of our best and most appreciated Paris tips — know what's going to happen when you arrive by pre-arranging transportation from the airport into the city center. A popular and affordable way is to book a shuttle van service from the airport right to your hotel. It's convenient and cheaper than a taxi.

Our Recommended VIP Airport Transfer Service

An even better tip — and a real Insiders secret — is to arrange to have the driver we personally trust the most meet you for a relaxing, private transfer in a luxurious Mercedes S-Class. We appreciate the comfort and peace of mind after a long flight. Therefore, we always have our Paris pal, Manu, meet us at the arrivals gate and whisk us into the city. Honestly, it's the only way to do it!

The Top Day Trips From Paris

Things to Do in Paris September 2018

1. Best of Versailles with Skip-the-Line Priority Access

Meet your driver in central Paris and head off to the royal estate where you use your priority, skip-the-line tickets to avoid the throngs. Head directly inside to experience the grandeur of the chateau on a guided tour that includes the state apartments, the Hall of Mirrors and the Queen's Chambers. Afterwards, stroll through the equally-stunning gardens at your leisure until you meet up for lunch on the Grand Canal. Later, there's plenty of time to visit the Grand Trianon and Marie Antoinette's fantasy village farm.

More Ways to Spend a Royal Day at Versailles

• BEST OF VERSAILLES WITH SKIP-THE-LINE ACCESS + HOTEL PICKUP
  In this version of the above tour, your driver picks you up at your Paris address and whisks you off to the royal estate. This is a small-group tour is limited to no more than eight people. A private tour is also available.
  → Check Availability…
• VIP PALACE OF VERSAILLES GUIDED TOUR, WITH PRIVATE VIEWING OF THE ROYAL QUARTERS
  See the parts of Versailles most tourists will never see — Louis XVI's private apartments, his personal library, and the Royal Chapel built for the wedding of Louis and Marie Antoinette. If you opt for the morning tour, you get priority access to the Hall of Mirrors just as the doors of the palace open and before the crowds arrive.
  → Likely To Sell Out…
• EXCLUSIVE – CHATEAU DE VERSAILLES + MARIE-ANTOINETTE'S PETIT TRIANON
  This 5-hour activity from Paris includes guided tours to the highlights of Versailles — the famous chateau itself plus Marie-Antoinette's private enclave, including her hamlet and the Petit Trianon. There's also time to explore the luxuriant gardens.
  → Likely To Sell Out…

Wine-Tasting Trip to the Champagne Region

The beautiful and world-famous Champagne country is only one hour from Paris. Spend the day focusing on the bubbly, with guided tours and tastings at some of the most famous champagne houses. In between, enjoy lunch at a boutique winery. Sample as much as you want, your expert guide is doing the driving!

Other Wonderful Days in Champagne

• SMALL-GROUP VISIT TO CHAMPAGNE WITH HOTEL PICK-UP
  This version of the tour provides transportation in a luxurious Eurovan with pick-up right at your Paris hotel.
  → Check Availability…
• VIP PRIVATE CHAMPAGNE REGION TOUR
  Your private driver meets you at your Paris address and whisks you off to the Champagne Region for a day among the bubbly & vines.
  → Check Availability…
• SMALL-GROUP TOUR TO THE CHAMPAGNE REGION
  If your dates aren't available on the above tours, try this small-group tour that is also highly rated. Available every day except Sundays. Also available as a private tour.
  → Check Availability…

Loire Valley Chateaux + Wine Tasting

A Paris Insiders Guide Favourite

Yes, you can get from Paris to to the splendid chateaux of the Loire in a day. This tour not only takes you on leisurely visits to the magnificent castles on the banks of the River Loire, it also includes sampling the spectacular wines of the region. September is a superb month to see the gardens, mazes and moats of the Renaissance castles.

Small Group Tour to the Loire Valley & Its Chateaux

• Prefer to concentrate on the castles? Then choose this small-group tour in a luxurious Eurovan (hotel pickup included) that whisks you to the Loire Valley for priority visits to the famed chateaux of Amboise, Chenonceau, and Chambord.
  → Check Availability…

Monet's Magical Gardens at Giverny

In September, the gardens of Claude Monet at Giverny are spectacular — and less crowded — and should not be missed. Your driver/guide picks you up at your Paris hotel and whisks through the lovely French countryside to Giverny, where you'll have plenty of time to wander among the gardens, flowers, Monet's house and the pond. Includes Paris hotel pickup.

Other Popular Ways to Visit Monet's Gardens

• HALF-DAY VISIT TO MONET'S GARENS
  If you're short on time, try this popular activity that gets you to Giverny and back again in five hours, with plenty of time to explore the gardens and house.
  → Check Availability…
• VERSAILLES AND GIVERNY IN ONE DAY
  This is a great day out from Paris, getting you to two essential attractions. Lunch is included.
  → Check Availability…

D-Day Tour – Remembering WWII

The most famous battle sites of World War II are found on the landing beaches of Normandy. On a small-group tour you visit the most important sites on a day trip from Paris, and return to your hotel the same day. On the beaches and at the monuments, museums and dedicated cemeteries, remember those who fought here. It's a powerfully emotional experience. Includes Paris hotel pickup.

Essential Day Trips from Paris

We've just scratched the surface of what you can see from Paris in one day. Read our complete guide to learn about visits to historic Mont-Saint-Michel, to the World War I battlefields, Disneyland Paris, and even London!
• Essential Day Trips in France…

Classical Music, Opera & Ballet

Things to Do in Paris September 2018

Concerts at La Sainte Chapelle

There are many stunning Gothic churches in Paris where classical music is performed performed. But, without doubt, the top venue for classical music is the acoustically-perfect Saint Chapelle in the dead-center of Paris on Île de la Cité. There, surrounded by stunning stained glass windows, with vaulted arches towering overhead, you're swept away by the music of some of the greatest composers who ever lived.

La Sainte Chapelle Featured Concerts in September 2018

• VIVALDI + BACH + MONTEVERDI + AVE MARIA BY GOUNUD
  Most days in September
  → Reserve Your Tickets…

Special Performance at Notre Dame Cathedral

For one day only this month you can hear music of Bach, Charpentier, and Fauré in the spectacular atmosphere of this famous Gothic church.
• September 5, 2018

Open Air Opera – The Marriage of Figaro at Invalides

This is a very special event. Experience opera under the stars. The Marriage of Figaro is one of Mozart's most performed opera and for good reason. The opera buffa is full of plot twists, deceptions, and misunderstandings. The special performances are held in the Cour d'Honneur, the courtyard of the Hotel des Invalides.
• September 7, 8 & 9
• Les Invalides

Performances at Palais Garnier

As we've said many times, you don't want to miss a performance in this stunning (and stunningly restored) Belle Epoque palace. The performances will be magnificent, and you'll find that the Palais is stunning!

Palais Garner Featured Performances in September

• COSÌ FAN TUTTE – PARIS OPERA
  Mozart's most loved opera is the premier of the Paris opera season. It was first performed in Vienna in January 1790. At the time, the theme of adultery was considered scandalous. The action takes place in Naples during the Age of Enlightenment.
  • September 12, 16, 18, 20, 25, 28 & 30
  → Reserve Tickets…
• GEORGE BALANCHINE'S JOYAUX – PARIS BALLET
  Choreography by Balanchine, costumes by Christian Lacroix, music by Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky. You will marvel at the the Paris Ballet company's performance inspired by streetscapes along NYC's 5th Avenue.
  September 22, 23, 24, 26, 27 & 29
  → Reserve Tickets…
• HOMAGE TO MAURICE RAVEL – OPERA ORCHESTRA
  Experience the music of Maurice Ravel 80 years after his death. Fun fact, we once lived in an apartment building in Paris where Ravel lived and composed music. The program includes his Piano Trio in A Minor and String Quartet in F Major, Op. 35.
  September 24
  → Reserve Tickets…

The Merry Widow – Paris Opera

Viennese waltzes, mazurkas and polkas! This opera bursts with intrigue and revolves around the possible marriage between Hanna, the beautiful, rich widow and the dubious Count Danilo. Performed in German with French and English surtitles.
• Opera Bastille
• September 9, 12, 16, 20, 22, 24 & 30

Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande – Paris Opera

Debussy's landmark five-act opera premiered here in Paris in 1902 and is the only opera he ever completed. The love triangle centers on Prince Goulaud, his mysterious wife, Melisande, and the prince's half-brother Pelleas. Performed in French with English surtitles.
• Opera Bastille
• September 19, 23 & 27

Eglise de la Madeleine

First designed as a temple to the glory of Napoleon's achievements, the church of La Madeleine takes a commanding position on the place that bears its name. Today, it's also a popular venue for classical music concerts.

La Madeleine Featured Concerts in September

• VIVALDI'S FOUR SEASONS
  September 2, 5, 12 17, 20, 26 & 30
  → Reserve Tickets…
• VIVALDI'S FOUR SEASONS & PURCELL'S FAIRY QUEEN SUITE
  September 8, 2018
  → Reserve Tickets…
• MOZART'S REQUIEM
  September 16, 2018
  → Reserve Tickets…
• MOZART'S REQUIEM & PARIS SYMPHONY
  September 22, 2018
  → Reserve Tickets…

Opéra Comique – Salle Favart

This beautiful opera house is a national treasure, rivalled only by Palais Garnier. It has recently undergone a multi-year renovation and is finally re-opened. Salle Favart is one of oldest French drama and music institutions in Paris, founded in 1714 by Louis XIV. Come to see the magnificent restored staircases, chandeliers, mosaics, murals and to be dazzled by an eclectic and adventurous performance. Opéra Comique is located in the 2nd Arrondissement on Place Boieldieu.

Opéra Comique Featured Concert in September

• MIRANDA – MUSIC BY HENRY PURCELL
  Conductor Raphael Pichon explores Bach's Baroque cantatas along with the music of Henry Purcell. The story, inspired by Shakespeare's The Tempest, is set in a small town in modern day England. A family is gathered at the funeral of their wife and mother, Miranda.
  September 25, 27, 29, 2018
  → Reserve Tickets…

Performances at Saint-Ephrem

Set in the Latin Quarter, this small church with tall ceilings makes for perfect acoustics. Add to that candelabras for atmosphere and you have the perfect ingredients for a magical night in Paris. Saint-Ephrem a classified historical monument of Paris. The current chapel is the third structure on the site, the first chapel was built in 1334. Three hundred years later, Irish priests converted it into an Irish College. In 1733, the current chapel was built. In 1925 it went through another transformation, becoming the the Syrian Catholic Mission.

Saint-Ephrem Featured Concerts in September

• BACH'S GOLDBERG VARIATIONS
  September 2 & 17
  → Reserve Tickets…
• SATIE, LISZT & BEETHOVEN
  September 3, 13 & 24
  → Reserve Tickets…
• CHOPIN'S WALTZES & BALLADS
  September 6 & 16
  → Reserve Tickets…
• BACH SUITES FOR VIOLONCELLO SOLO
  September 7, 10, 19 & 28
  → Reserve Tickets…
• MOZART, TCHAIKOVSKY, RAVEL & RACHMANINOFF
  September 23 & 30
  → Reserve Tickets…

Eglise Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Looking for a reason to visit the oldest church in Paris? Step inside this historic Gothic building to enjoy a classical music concert. Take note of the marble columns, the last survivors of the 6th-century abbey, and the colourful 19th-century frescoes.

Saint-Germain-des-Prés Featured Concerts in September

• VIVALDI'S FOUR SEASONS, VITALI & SCHUBERT + DINNER
  September 9
  → Reserve Tickets…

Classical Music in Paris – September 2018

Here we only have room for a few of the stellar classical music performances coming in September — there will be more this month at the Philharmonie de Paris, Opera Bastille, and more events at the grands opera houses. Be sure to check out what will be playing when you're in Paris in September.

Top Paris Food & Wine Activities

Things to Do in Paris September 2018

Chocolate & Pastry Walking Tour

Now we're getting to the good stuff! On this tour you wander between the city's iconic chocolate & pastry shops to learn the secrets and techniques of each, while you sample all along the route. It's a small group tour with hands-on attention, and it goes at a relaxed pace. With only 8 people you get to sample a lot!

Wine Tasting Near the Louvre

These fun wine tastings cover a lot of wine territory. Professional French sommeliers deliver (in English) an extensive tasting of award-winning wines — from Champagne to Sancerre, from Bordeaux to Burgundy, from Alsace to the Rhône. It all takes place in a wine bar steps away from the Louvre. We heartily recommend the 2-hour tasting.

Wine Tasting with Cheese and Charcuterie Lunch

• For even more fun sign up for this wine tasting that includes an extensive sampling of the delicacies of France. In the cellar of the city's most popular wine bar take a guided tasting tour of French wines. Learn how to inspect, choose and taste wine and how to pair each wine with French specialty cheeses and charcuterie.
  → Check Availability…

Gourmet French Food Walking Tour

On the Left Bank, the gourmet haven of Paris, walk with an expert good guide to learn all about the foods that France is most famous for. Start at a traditional fromagerie to learn about the country's cheeses. Sample there and move on to freshly baked baguettes. You'll also take in French wine and even foie gras!

Eiffel Tower Gourmet Dinner

Picture this — you & your loved one(s) overlooking the city of Paris while enjoying a traditional French 3-course dinner on the Eiffel Tower. It's the stuff of which dreams are made — if your dreams involve being treated like a VIP in Paris. Includes skip-the-line ticket for fast access.

Dinner Cruise on the Seine with La Marina de Paris

There's nothing quite as special as cruising along the Seine at night, watching the famous sights drifting by, as you sip champagne before dining on a 3-course French meal. La Marina de Paris is your host, and their glass-walled boats allow for perfect viewing — Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay, the Louvre, and the islands of Paris.

Market Tour & Classic French Cooking

Shopping, cooking, eating — they make for a great day of our fave food activities. Visit one of the best open-air markets, where the chef explains all about the typical French foods found at the markets. You shop for lunch and then move on to the cooking studio where you learn, hands-on, how to turn your purchases into a fabulous meal.

The Best Events in Paris

Things to Do in Paris September 2018

Le Grande Classique – Paris to Versailles Run & Walk

The Grande Classique is a…well, classic walk from Paris to Versailles. This popular annual event has been taking place for more than 30 years. It start at the steps of the Eiffel Tower and ends 10 miles (16 km) later at the gates of Château de Versailles. The Grande Classique is open to walkers over the age of 16, and, if you don't want to do the walk, it's fun to cheer from the sidelines!
• September 24, 2018
• Website…

Le Festival d'Automne à Paris – The Autumn Festival

Visual arts, performance, theater, dance, music and cinema, The Paris Autumn Festival incorporates all of the arts. You'll find events throughout the city at 40 different venues starting in September and moving right through the Fall. Find out more information and how to buy your tickets at the website. Le Festival has been fostering the French arts since 1972.
• Website…

Fete de la Gastronomie

• A three-day food event that celebrates the gastronomy of France.
  • September 22 to 24, 2018
  → Information…

Jazz de la Villette

• A festival of soul, funk & jazz. The coolest event in September!
  • Parc de la Villette
  • First two weeks of September, 2018
  → Information…

Maison & Objet

• Decoration, design, furniture, accessories, textiles, fragrances & tableware.
  • Paris Nord Villepinte
  • September 8 to 12, 2018
  → Information…

Paris Design Week

• Discover the best in design in this week-long event.
  • Les Docks, Cité de la Mode et du Design
  • September 8 to 16, 2018
  → Information…

Fete de l'Humanite

• The Festival of Humanity has been celebrated in Paris since 1930.
  • Parc Courneuve
  • September 15 to 17, 2018
  → Information…

Croque Anime — The Festival of Animated Film of Paris

• An international film festival, and it's free!
  • Theatre de Ménilmontant
  • September 20 to 26, 2018
  → Information…

European Heritage Days in Paris

• You're invited to explore inside monuments & buildings normally restricted, like the Senate, Elysée Palace & various private chateaux. This is a very popular event among Parisians.
  • Paris!
  • September 16 & 17, 2018
  → Information…

Prêt-A-Porté Fashion Show

• Join the beautiful people for the unveiling of the new ready-to-wear collection. The fashion event of the season.
  • September 26 to October 3, 2018
  → Information…

What's On at the Museums

Things to Do in Paris September 2018

Petit Palais

Anders Zorn, 19th-Century Swedish Painter. This is the first Paris retrospective of Anders Zor (1860-1920). The exhibition showcases Zorn's work as a champion of Swedish folklore from the National Museum in Stockholm.

• September 15 to December 17, 2018
• Website…

Jeu de Paume – Concorde

• ED VAN DER ELSKEN
  A retrospective of 20th-century Dutch documentary filmmaker and street photographer.
  Ends September 24, 2018
  → Information…

MEP – Maison Européene de la Photographie

• LIU BOLIN, PABLO BARTHOLOMEW
  September 6 to October 29, 2018
  → Information…

Musée du Quai Branley

• AFRICA AT THE CROSSROADS
  Ends November 12
  → Information…