Best Free Things to Do in Paris

THE 10 BEST Free Things to Do in Paris

Best Free Things to Do in Paris

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  • Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, number of page views, and user location.
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What travelers are saying

  • michaelmbuff
    Niagara Falls, NY78 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Restored and beautiful. We visited fairly early in the morning & were able to enter after only a short wait. Very crowded inside but still enjoyed the beauty of the Church. We walked by in the late afternoon and the line to enter was quite long, so seems like the earlier in the day you can visit, the better.
    Written March 16, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Melanie Dielmann
    McKinney, TX143 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    We loved these gardens, early morning walks and afternoon strolls. We had lunch here, & lounged while reading. People watching, bird feeding, kids playing. The city is living in this park. So beautiful!
    Written March 11, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Just travelling
    Port Hedland, The Pilbara, Western Australia50 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Sacre Coure is absolutely beautiful.
    So peaceful and the inside is stunning.
    Wonderful views over Paris
    Highly recommended, lots of stairs to climb though!
    Written March 9, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Nino G
    57 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Despite the cold and strong wind, this place is an absolute must-see. You can take a funicular-like ride, but if your knees can handle it, the stairs offer their own charm. The view from the top is truly breathtaking, but it’s even better to visit on a sunny day to fully enjoy the scenery.

    Written March 4, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Katherine M
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Agustina (our tour guide) was an absolute pleasure! She was extremely knowledgeable, about all things French, and certainly about all things surrounding Marais. She took the time explaining to us about this beautiful neighborhood. A neighborhood that has historically kept its arms opened to different people who were in need of acceptance at different times throughout turbulent moments in history. It is an absolutely charming neighborhood that is rich in history. The stories, some of them heartbreaking and some of them uplifting remind us that humanity is often cruel, but is often very kind as well. Especially in terms of communities working together.
    We were so lucky to have such a personable, knowledgeable, and kind tour guide to show us this beautiful corner of Paris. She answered every question without hesitation, and was so easy to engage in conversation. She was an absolute delight! I strongly recommend this tour, and if you can request yourGuide? I suggest you request Agustina. I promise she will not disappoint!
    Written March 1, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Ami L
    Florida3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    This bridge is beautiful. Simple and elegant. If you’re lucky enough to be there on a sunny day, the way the sun lights up the golden statues is just incredible!!
    Written December 16, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • HerschbeinCPA
    Wayne, NJ200 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    So much to see - take your time. There is so much more here than just stores or the street itself. Lots of artwork, cafes, restaurants, and smaller streets and alleyways to explore, plus the Arch is at the end.
    Written December 31, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • aar0815
    Danvers, MA134 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The achitecture was 10/10 the service in some department was awful ! The charlotte tilbury counter attendant on 3/8 was extremely rude.
    Written March 11, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Augusto
    La Plata, Argentina393 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A beautiful, well kept square that you can't miss on your visit to Place de la Bastille. We came here at there were kids playing, couples talking, and most importantly, it wasn't packed full of tourists, so we could relax and mingled with the Parisians.
    Written March 13, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • CodyDC
    Washington DC, DC7,160 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    While visiting Paris, made my way to Jardin des Tuileries while walking from Concorde Place to the Louvre. I stopped for the Christmas Market which I wanted to see. It was just ok, it's not as good or nice as the Christmas Markets in Germany. There are food and drink options, but it felt like a carnival instead of a Christmas Market
    Written December 24, 2024
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Mairwen1
    United Kingdom12,320 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    If like us, you enjoy walking while exploring, then Saint-Germain is a small but vibrant, fashionable area. We enjoyed strolling through the streets past upmarket boutiques, smart bistros and beautiful architecture. This was the area where the Paris literary and artistic set used to hang out in cafes. In the early 20th century, it attracted writers, painters, sculptors, musicians. If you were in the right spot at the right time, you might have had Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus or Pablo Picasso at the table next to you.
    Although there are a handful of sights to see here (Delacroix Museum and the Church of Saint-Germain-des-Prés), we simply enjoyed it as a very pretty area through which to walk.
    Written January 15, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Rosthepenguinfan
    Sheffield, UK10 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    The Pere Lachaise Cemetery is one of the biggest cemeteries in Europe, where many famous people have been put to rest. It is a beautiful location, and a very fascinating place.

    I really enjoyed going there and exploring the vast area, but, be warned, exploring the Père Lachaise Cemetery involves a lot of walking, so come prepared.

    There are many beautiful and interesting graves, memorials and chapels to find, some from more than 3 centuries ago! So if you’re a fan of history, you’ll love the cemetery!

    The artistry of these graves/tombs is stunning, there are some really interesting and symbolic designs.

    There are also loads of famous people buried here, like Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Frederic Chopin and many others.

    So, if you’re in the area, you HAVE to go and see the Pere Lachaise Cemetery, because it is beautiful, fascinating and an incredible experience!
    Written February 19, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Mairwen1
    United Kingdom12,320 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    If like us, you enjoy walking and exploring on foot, then the Latin Quarter is a lively, vibrant area with a rich history and a lot to see.
    We had already started our morning at the beautiful Luxembourg Garden (one of my favourite free things to do in Paris) and the Latin Quarter was an easy walk from here.
    We walked the following route:
    i) Our first stop was the Pantheon. The eastern section of the Garden (near the palace and Medici fountain) borders the Latin Quarter so if you leave via Rue de Médicis, it's only a short 10 minute walk to the Pantheon.
    ii) From here, we headed down the Boulevard Saint Michel, one of the main arteries running through the heart of the Latin Quarter. The Boulevard has seen a lot of history. During WWII, resistance fighters set up barricades here. You can still see bullet holes in some walls. There are chilling stories of the German tanks rolling down the boulevard and, according to one story, the German army used French men and women as human shields, tying them onto the front of the tanks.
    iii) As we reached the end of the boulevard, we came to the Saint Michel Fountain. This is one of the best known landmarks in the Latin Quarter and is located beside the Seine River, close to the Ile de Cite. The monumental, pink-marbled fountain and the square in front of it always seem to attract a crowd. The fountain features a triumphant Archangel Michael wielding a weirdly wavy sword above a fallen Satan. It’s a dramatic moment and the sword looks like it is about to fall upon Satan’s head at any time. There are fierce, winged, water-spouting dragons and the whole thing is framed by a large triumphal arch and pink marble columns.
    iv) This brought our Latin Quarter walk to an end. We barely scratched the surface but we didn’t have a lot of time and had to make tough decisions about what to see and what to skip. With more time, we’d have strolled through some of the side streets and checked out some of the other sights such as the the Sorbonne and the Church of Saint-Séverin. I’d have liked to have seen the outdoor sculpture museum and the ‘Lady and the Unicorn’ tapestries at the Cluny museum.
    Written January 15, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • AHolliday
    Liberty Hill, TX8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    What a fun market! I could definately see myself living in Paris and going to this market to get a week's worth of food! The produce was great! And the cheese selection was awesome. Just make sure you check what days it is open -- it is closed on Saturdays.
    Written January 13, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Mairwen1
    United Kingdom12,320 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Île De La Cité is is one of the highlights for anyone exploring Paris.
    It’s one of two small boat-shaped islands in the middle of the Seine River (the other is Île Saint Louis). Despite its tiny size, some of Paris’ most famous landmark sights are located here. The star attraction of course is the newly restored Notre Dame Cathedral.
    Other sights include the 13th-century Saint-Chapelle with its dazzling stained glass windows, the Conciergerie where Marie Antoinette awaited execution in 1793, the Palais De Justice, and the Tour De L’Horloge.
    Several bridges connect the island to the mainland. We crossed via Pont Saint-Michel which brought us directly to Saint-Chapelle and the Conciergerie.
    If like us, you haven’t already pre-booked tickets for Saint Chapelle, you’ll be stuck looking from the outside only and, unlike Notre Dame, you can’t see much of Sainte Chapelle from the outside.
    The Île De La Cité is one of those delightful places to stroll. Some of the most scenic views are from the bridges. From any one of them, you get beautiful views of the river and the historic architecture lining the water’s edge.
    Historic Pont Neuf is particularly lovely and is Paris’ oldest bridge.
    Written January 20, 2025
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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