Things to do in Paris in 2027: the 15 visits that shape a stay

The iconic Paris monuments to see in 2027

Three silhouettes sum up the city on postcards, and you can visit all three from the inside or from the top. Combining them in a single stay gives you three very different viewpoints over Haussmann's urban plan.

Eiffel Tower

Built by Gustave Eiffel's company for the 1889 World's Fair, the Iron Lady can be climbed by lift or by the stairs to the second floor, then by lift to the summit. Late-afternoon slots are the most sought after: book early if you are aiming for sunset, and allow for the security check at the entrance to the esplanade.

Arc de Triomphe

Commissioned by Napoleon after Austerlitz and inaugurated in 1836, it towers over the Place Charles-de-Gaulle. You reach it through an underground passage, never by crossing the roundabout, then climb 284 steps to the terrace from which the twelve avenues of the Étoile radiate. Beneath the vault lies the Unknown Soldier, whose flame is rekindled every evening.

Les Invalides and the Army Museum

Founded by Louis XIV to house wounded soldiers, the complex holds the Musée de l'Armée and, beneath the gilded Dome, the tomb of Napoleon I. A single ticket covers the collections and the Dome; allow two hours for a balanced overview.

Paris museums: things to do in 2027 for art and collections

The capital is home to some of the most visited museums in the world. The trick is never to string more than two together in a day, or fatigue sets in.

Louvre Museum

A former royal palace that became a museum in 1793, it closes on Tuesdays and runs on timed entry. The museum is going through a period of change: after the theft of jewels from the Galerie d'Apollon on 19 October 2025, the “Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance” renovation programme, announced in January 2025 and including a dedicated room for the Mona Lisa, is entering its works phase. Some rooms may therefore be closed on the day you go; a guided tour helps you build a coherent route despite these changes.

Musée d'Orsay

Housed in the railway station built for the 1900 World's Fair and opened as a museum in 1986, Orsay holds the most famous Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh, Cézanne. It closes on Mondays; the Thursday late opening lets you enjoy the great nave more calmly.

Rodin Museum

In the Hôtel Biron on Rue de Varenne, the sculptor lived and worked at the end of his life. The garden, where you come across The Thinker and The Gates of Hell, is one of the most soothing green spaces on the Left Bank. An hour and a half is enough, which makes it an ideal stop before or after Les Invalides next door.

Medieval and sacred Paris: what to do on the Île de la Cité and in Montmartre

The historic cradle of the city fits on an island, and one of its most picturesque hills dominates the north of the capital. Two complementary half-days.

Notre-Dame de Paris

Reopened to the public on 7 and 8 December 2024 after five years of restoration following the fire of April 2019, the cathedral can be visited free of charge; booking a slot is optional but shortens the wait. A guided tour of the Île de la Cité links Notre-Dame with the church of Saint-Séverin, just across on the Left Bank, and brings the medieval city to life.

Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie

A few steps away, inside the Palais de Justice, the Sainte-Chapelle built for Saint Louis in the 13th century dazzles with its fifteen stained-glass windows. The neighbouring Conciergerie, a former royal palace turned Revolutionary prison, recalls the trial of Marie Antoinette. A combined ticket or a guided tour brings the two sites together.

Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur

On the hill, the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur is free to enter; the funicular linking it to the bottom of the slope takes an ordinary transport ticket. The lanes, the Place du Tertre with its portrait painters, the vines and the old artists' studios are best discovered with a guide, early in the morning, before the groups arrive.

Paris Catacombs

Beneath the Place Denfert-Rochereau, the ossuary laid out from 1786 in former quarries holds the remains of millions of Parisians. The route of about 1.5 km is at a cool, constant temperature, with one staircase going down and another coming up; the exit is some distance from the entrance, on Rue Rémy-Dumoncel. Places are limited, so book ahead.

Day trips beyond central Paris: bigger things to do in 2027

Two destinations in the Île-de-France region justify a whole day each, provided you leave early.

Palace of Versailles

Louis XIV's palace, its gardens and the Trianon estate form a vast ensemble. The Passport ticket covers everything; the palace closes on Mondays. The RER C runs to Versailles Château Rive Gauche station, about ten minutes' walk from the main gates. On Musical Fountains Show days, in season, the groves come alive with fountains set to music.

Disneyland Paris

At Marne-la-Vallée, the Marne-la-Vallée – Chessy station, served by the RER A and by TGV high-speed trains, opens straight onto the two parks. The second park, formerly Walt Disney Studios, was renamed Disney Adventure World on 29 March 2026, with an area devoted to Frozen and a large central lake. Choose a one-park or two-park ticket to suit your pace.

Stade de France tour

In Saint-Denis, just north of the city, the national stadium can be toured on non-event days: behind the scenes, changing rooms and pitchside, depending on the day's route. The RER B (La Plaine – Stade de France) and the RER D (Stade de France – Saint-Denis) get you there in a few minutes from the centre.

Paris by night and on the water: things to do in 2027 after dinner

The capital changes face once darkness falls, when the façades light up and the Eiffel Tower sparkles for a few minutes at the start of every hour.

Seine river cruise

A commented cruise of about an hour glides past the Louvre, the Île de la Cité, the Musée d'Orsay and the Eiffel Tower. The most common boarding points are near the foot of the Eiffel Tower and at the Pont-Neuf. At dusk, low light raking across the dressed stone makes for the best photos.

Crazy Horse Paris cabaret

Founded in 1951 on Avenue George-V, a stone's throw from the Champs-Élysées, the Crazy Horse stages a choreographed revue in which light sculpts the dancers. The show is for adults only; smart dress is appreciated. Packages with drinks are available if you would like to make an evening of it.

Where to stay in Paris in 2027: what to do by neighbourhood

Your choice of area shapes your daily journeys. A few pointers for the fifteen visits above:

• Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the 7th: walking distance to Orsay, Rodin, Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower; a calm atmosphere and historic cafés.
• The Marais and the Île de la Cité: in the medieval heart, close to Notre-Dame, the Sainte-Chapelle and the Louvre; lively until late at night.
• The 8th and 16th arrondissements: wide avenues, the Arc de Triomphe and the Crazy Horse nearby, many upmarket hotels.
• Montmartre and the 9th: a village feel, often gentler budgets, quick access to the Gare du Nord and Gare de l'Est.
• Around Châtelet: a metro and RER hub that simplifies days out to Versailles, Disneyland or Saint-Denis.

Inner Paris is compact: many visits follow on from each other on foot along the quays, which is part of the pleasure of the stay.

Getting around Paris: transport and passes to do it all in 2027

Since the fare reform of January 2025, the old t+ ticket is no longer sold in the Île-de-France region. It has been replaced by a Metro-Train-RER ticket at €2.50 and a Bus-Tram ticket at €2 (indicative fares, checked October 2026; confirm the current price), loaded onto the contactless Navigo Easy card or a smartphone. This single ticket also covers train journeys within the region to Versailles or Marne-la-Vallée, while airport links have their own fare.

• Navigo Easy: a rechargeable, non-personalised card sold for €2, handy for a short stay.
• Navigo Découverte: a personalised card (€5, with photo) onto which you load a weekly pass valid from Monday to Sunday; worthwhile if you arrive early in the week and travel a lot.
• Museum pass: the Paris Museum Pass, valid for several consecutive days, opens the doors of many museums and monuments; some sites still ask you to book a time slot. Compare its price with the total of your entry fees before buying.

Bike-share and the many cycle lanes are a pleasant alternative along the Seine, especially in spring.

When to come to Paris in 2027: things to do in every season

The city can be visited all year round, but the experience varies a great deal by month.

Spring: gardens in bloom at the Tuileries and the Rodin Museum, the Musical Fountains at Versailles, and from late May to early June the Roland-Garros tennis tournament. Summer: long evenings perfect for cruises, the Fête de la Musique on 21 June and the 14 July parade on the Champs-Élysées; it is also the busiest period in the museums. Autumn: European Heritage Days in September, golden light on the quays and more reasonable visitor numbers. Winter: festive illuminations, quieter museums on weekdays and ideal weather for the Catacombs, whose coolness never changes with the seasons.

Paris2027 also follows the year's concerts and major sporting fixtures: cross-check those dates with your visits so you are not caught on days when transport to the Stade de France or the concert halls is saturated.

Things to do in Paris in 2027: checking places by date

Every activity page in this section has a calendar. Select the day you have in mind, then click “Check availability”: we show whether places remain on that date and, if you wish, send you an email when the situation changes. This method lets you build a day-by-day programme, slotting in the visits with strict timed entry first (Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Catacombs) and fitting the more flexible activities around them.

For a first four-day stay, a balanced sequence could be: the Île de la Cité and the Louvre on day one; Orsay, Rodin and Les Invalides on day two; Versailles on day three; Montmartre, the Arc de Triomphe and a sunset cruise on day four. Sports fans and families can swap one day for the Stade de France or Disneyland.