There's no shortage of romantic things to do in Paris, and that's especially true when it's Valentine's Day in the City of Love! In a city that's filled with flowers, chocolates, and champagne, we had to work overtime to gather the les plus romantiques places to go, museums to visit, and romantic activities.

Mind you, some things are obvious, like a nighttime dinner cruise down the River Seine sipping champagne. Some of our romantic things to do fly just under the radar — like wandering through the gardens of Rodin's studio, spending the day sampling pastry and chocolate, or castle hopping in the Loire Valley.

Top Activities For Valentine's Day 2023

Valentine's Evening Dinner Cruise on the Seine

It's nighttime in Paris and you and that Special Someone are cruising down the most romantic river in the world sipping champagne, watching the lights of the City of Light, and being served a classic French 5-course dinner with live music. There's really nothing like viewing the iconic Paris landmarks from the water aboard a luxury dinner boat. This special holiday sailing is likely to sell out, so be sure to book early.

Dining on the Eiffel Tower at Madame Brasserie

Having lunch on the Eiffel Tower is as amazing as it sounds. Diners are raving about Chef Thierry Marx's Madame Brasserie menu. And the views! With Paris 200 feet beneath you, and a glass of champagne in your hand, you'll congratulate yourself on having made this reservation for you and that special someone. We strongly recommend the Menu Madame with drinks option for the best menu, wine, and champagne. This is certain to sell out.

Valentine's Day Lunch Cruise

With Valentine's Day evening dinner cruises at a premium, a smart option is to take your sweetie for a lunch cruise on a bateau cruising down the Seine. As you sip champagne and reminisce about how you met, the landmarks of Paris will pass by, creating another loving memory. But hurry, you must book now!

Moulin Rouge Cabaret + Seine River Cruise

Turn Valentine's Day into a celebration with this 2-in-1 event. Alongside your loved one, discover the lights of Paris on a night cruise along the Seine river. Afterwards, feast your eyes on a stunning cabaret show with at the iconic Moulin Rouge. Relax with a half bottle of champagne while taking in the show. It's a glorious evening in Paris, but you must reserve soon to secure a table on this special night. Did we mention the champagne at Moulin Rouge!

Skip the Lines at the Eiffel Tower

Waiting in line is not romantic, even on a chilly Parisian day. As you probably know by now, we always recommend fast track access to the Eiffel Tower, leaving more time to canoodle, hold hands, and overlook the greatest city in the world. This is the skip-the-line tour our readers love most. It's very likely to sell out, book early.

Chocolate & Pastry Walking Tour

Since chocolate is the official food of Valentine's Day (at least we think so), it seems fitting to wander the cobblestone streets of Paris visiting the top chocolatiers. Nibble chocolates at Left Bank shops as your expert chocolate guide regals you with the history of chocolate in Paris.

Day Excursions from Paris on Valentine's Day 2023

The Best of Versailles + Grand Canal Lunch

Romance is always in the air at the Palace of Versailles. Spend this day exploring what was most certainly the Court of Love, Sex & Romance. This full-day tour includes transportation in a luxury Eurovan, skip-the-line access to the palace, a guided tour, a multi-course lunch with wine, and free time to explore the vast grounds. Skip the Line Entry + Tour + Lunch. A private tour is also available, for just you and your party.

Sip Champagne in Champagne

It's one thing to drink champagne on Valentines Day, it's another to do so in the region where the bubbly is produced. You can visit this historic wine country on a day trip from Paris. You go deep into the the famous limestone caves, visit the tasting rooms, and sample numerous types of bubbly. All the details are arranged for you, including hotel pickup, lunch and tastings.

Chateaux & Wines of the Loire Valley

Chambord, Cheverny, Chenenceau. These are the chateaux of legend, all located in the lovely Loire Valley. Visit the stunning Chateau Chambord and cozy up at the 365 fireplaces, climb Leonardo da Vinci's famous staircase, and overlook the countryside from the rooftop. Even better, a guided tasting of the valley's renowned wines is also included. It's an easy day trip from Paris.

Romantic Museums Of Paris

Musée de la Vie Romantique

Yep, there's even a museum in Paris dedicated to the romantic life — la vie romantique — although in this case the museum celebrates the art and literature of the Romantic Era of the early 19th century. After visit to this quaint and lovely museum, it's a short walk uphill to explore Montmartre.

Picasso Museum & the Marais

Spend the day wandering the Marais, visiting art galleries, boutiques, wine bars, and a few small museums. And we can't think of a more romantic museum than the lovely Musée Picasso housed in the historic 17th-century mansion, Hotel Sale.

Musée Rodin

From the man who immortalized The Kiss comes one of the most romantic settings in Paris. Wander through the grounds and studios at Hotel Biron to see the garden that inspired Auguste Rodin. It's where he lived and worked until his death, one hundred years ago, in 1917.

Musée Maillol

Most first-time visitors to Paris don't realize how many small museums are hidden throughout the city. Musee Maillol is dedicated to the sculptor's fascination with his teenage model, Dina Vierny.

Musée de l'Orangerie

This is the place to see Monet's large-scale masterpiece paintings of water lilies up close and personal, and it's one of the most charming and romantic small museums in the world. The rest of the museum's collection ain't too shabby, either!

Romantic Paris Parks & Valentine Events

Course Saint-Valentin – 2023 Valentine's Day Run

More of a sportif kind of lover? Put on your running shoes and join the festivities in a Valentine fun run.

• Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
• Website…

Jardin de Luxembourg

Once the private residence of Marie de Medici, the mother of Louis XIII, today the 55-acre park in the 6th Arrondissement is a haven of peace and tranquility. On any sunny day you'll find hundreds of Parisians in the park soaking up the rays.

Jardin des Tuileries

Oh, those Medicis did get around. The Tuileries Garden, tucked between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde was once the Medicis' own private garden. Now, the park is open the public, which of course includes you and your honey. Hold hands and follow the trail of French sculptures.

The History of Valentines Day in France

Love, legend, myth. It's really quite difficult to source the real story on how St Valentines day came to be filled with flowers, chocolates, and romance. In France, Valentine cards are cartes d'amities.

It's said that the tradition of writing love letters and cards was started in France by Charles, Duke of Orleans, who wrote the first Valentines card, signing his poem with Your Valentine. This was when he held prisoner in the Tower of London in 1415. During his imprisonment the duke sent poems and love letters to his wife in France.

It later become popular to travel to St Valentin, a quaint village in the Loire Valley. Today you can be married in this city of love, renew your vows, or simply attend the lively Fete de la Saint Valentin.