Valentines Day in Paris 2018 – Nineteen Fabulous Things To Do

There's no shortage of romantic things to do in Paris, and that's especially true when it's Valentine's Day in Paris! 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, or getting to the tippy top of the Eiffel Tower with a skip-the line access tour (waiting in line is so not an aphrodisiac). Some of our romantic things to do fly just under the radar — like wandering through the gardens of Rodin's studio, spending the day in the Marais, or taking in a fabulous concert at the Palais Garnier, Opera Bastille, or even Notre Dame Cathedral. This year, Valentine's Day falls on Wednesday, February 14.

An Evening in Paris – Valentines Day 2018

1. Eiffel Tower Michelin Experience at Le Jules Verne

Paris beneath you, your love across the table, you're dining on the Eiffel Tower! Romance has met its match with this dinner reservation at one of the most exclusive restaurants in the world. And, we've found the only booking that guarantees you a window seat — plus you get other special goodies, like a complimentary glass of champagne to commence the evening. This is definitely going to sell out for Valentine's Day.

2. Romantic 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 3-course dinner. And there's another reason we like this activity — you are picked up at your hotel and returned at the end of the evening. This popular cruise is likely to sell out, so be sure to book early.

3. Dinner & Show at the Moulin Rouge, with Hotel Pickup

Turn Valentine's Day into a celebration with dinner and a show at the top rated cabaret in all of Europe. All the planning has been done for you — round trip transportation? Check. Multi-course dinner with wine? Check. Historic cabaret show? All taken care of. You must reserve soon to secure a table on this special night.

Top Activities For Valentine's Day 2018

4. Romantic City Tour + Versailles + Seine River Cruise

Make the most of your short Valentine's Day visit with this action-packed full-day activity. Visit the Chateau de Versailles, return to Paris for lunch, tour the best of the city, and finish off with a Seine River cruise.

5. Skip the Lines at the Eiffel Tower

Waiting in line is really 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.

6. Paris Ballet & Classical Music

Around Valentine's Day in Paris in 2018 you have to chance to take in ballet and chamber music throughout the city's best venues. Hear the music of Chopin, Satie, Beethoven, and Vivaldi performed in candlelit performances in the historic churches of Paris. It will be a memorable experience.

7. 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.

8. Learn to Make Macarons

If chocolate is the #1 rated food on the Day of Love, macarons are in a close second place. Paris is the absolutely best place to take a cooking class that deciphers the ingredients and techniques that will make your Valentine's Day memorable.

Day Excursions from Paris on Valentine's Day 2018

9. The Best of Versailles in One Day

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.

10. Sip Champagne in Champagne

It's one thing to drink champagne on Valentines Day, it's another to visit the area where the bubbly is produced. You can visit this historic wine region on a day trip from Paris. All the details are arranged for you, including hotel pickup and return.

11. Castle Hopping In 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 DaVinci's famous staircase, and overlook the countryside from the rooftop. It's an easy day trip from Paris. Be sure to choose the option that includes hotel pickup.

Romantic Museums Of Paris

12. Musée de la Vie Romantique

Yep, there's even a museum in Paris dedicated to the romantic life, la vie romantique. After visit to this quaint and lovely museum, it's a short walk uphill to explore Montmartre.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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

17. Course Saint-Valentin – 2018 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.

• February 10, 2018
• Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
• Website…

18. Jardin de Luxembourg

Once the private residence of Marie de Medicis, 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.

19. 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.