Your first time in Paris? Perfect! From watching the sunrise at the Eiffel Tower to taking in the beauty of the Louvre, here are some of the best things to do in this city.

Okay, okay, okay. I’ve got something to admit – I’ve never been to Paris before. I know, I know, I’m a travel blogger who’s never been to Paris, it’s pretty shocking. Anyway, I thought it was time I did something about it, so last week I hopped on a quick 40-minute flight from London with Air France and finally it was hello TO the capital of France!

As I only had a couple of days in the capital of France I wanted to pack in as much as I could, so as soon as I landed I was off on a photo tour of Montmartre taking in the incredible views from the Scare-Coeur before watching sunset at the Louvre Museum the Louvre that evening. Also, I couldn’t visit Paris without tucking into some steak and fries followed by a carafe of Bordeaux red!

A couple of other sites I was dying to see were the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Pompidou Centre, and obviously, no trip would be complete without taking in the sheer magnificence of the Eiffel Tower. I really can’t believe it’s taken me this long to get over to Paris, but much like everyone else who’s visited the city I fell in love with it. Especially when there are so many fun facts about Paris too. If you’ve never been before then here are some of the top things to do in the city on the Seine in my beginner’s guide to the city!

Save it for later if you don’t have time to read it right now.

Watch the sunrise from the Eiffel Tower – Paris

As I’ve already said, a trip to Paris wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Eiffel Tower. The best time to go is super early in the morning, around 6 am, to watch the sunrise.

Not only do you get beautiful golden light illuminating the Eiffel Tower, but you’ve practically got the place to yourself unlike later in the day! Win-win!

 

 

 

Recommended: In Belgium – 8 best things to do

 

Take in the views from the Sacre-Coeur

There’s no doubt about it, the views from the Sacre-Coeur are among the best in Paris. The steps to the top may look daunting, but it’s 100% worth it. You can also take the 270 steps to the top of the Basilica (tickets cost €5) and the views get even better! Just take it in and enjoy the beauty of Paris!

But don’t forget to turn around and see the beauty of the Sacre-Coeur itself! I think this was my favorite building in Paris, and that’s saying something. I really think this is one of my favorite things to do in Paris.

 

Recommended: 6 Magical Places To Spend Christmas

 

Explore Montmartre while on a photo tour – Paris

While I was there I went on an Airbnb photo tour of Montmartre with Paulette, our guide and teacher for the afternoon. She took us around our favorite spots and taught us one or two things with the camera too! This was such a great way of exploring one of the more popular areas of the city and I felt that really came across in my photos!

Come across some cool graffiti all over the city

No matter where you are in Paris you’ll always come across some really colorful and creative graffiti so make sure you keep your eyes peeled.

Being France, you’ll come across a few pieces that are typically French too so make sure you stop to take these in! I mean, come on, you’d only find this one in France…

Find a cute little cafe to have a coffee or two in – Paris

Dotted all around Paris are cute little cafes with just a handful of tables inside. When it hits summer these tables spill out onto the street and they’re always a great place to have a coffee and watch the world go by. I think grabbing a coffee at a cute cafe has to be one of the most popular things to do in Paris. You might be surprised to learn that there are actually quite a few different types of coffee in France, so check out this guide on how to order a coffee in Paris. It might save you from making a fool of yourself!

 

Recommended: 15 Best Places to Spend Christmas in Europe

 

Stand and appreciate some of Paris’s amazing street musicians and performers

Around the city of love, there are some amazing street musicians and performers looking to entertain the crowd, so make sure you find five minutes to take it all in.

I found these two on the corner of a market in Montmartre and I was astounded at how good they were. Nothing quite like a bit of classical music in Paris!

Take in the sheer brilliance of the Notre-Dame Cathedral – Paris

The Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most popular sites, and if you don’t get here early then you could be waiting half the morning just to get inside!

However, it’s worth coming here just to see how beautiful the cathedral is. Also, if you climb to the top of the tower then there are some more incredible views of the city.

Go for a relaxing walk along the Seine

The River Seine cuts through the middle of Paris and this is a great place to go for a relaxing walk down by the water.

During summer there are several pop-up bars serving food and drink, and often there’s some live music, so perfect for those mini summer festival vibes. Also, if you’re into your sunbathing then this is the place to do it!

So there you have it, some of the best things to do in Paris. Do some of these and you’ll have an amazing time in the city! Just let me know how you get on, okay!?