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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 💥
You don’t experience Paris the same way with two people as with six. As a couple, you look for a sunset view, a restaurant where you can hear each other talk, a stroll with no plan. With friends, you want a fast pace, thrills, places where you can laugh out loud and stay out late.
We’ve been to Paris several times, mostly as a couple, and we’ve come to understand one thing: most articles on “things to do in Paris” list the same monuments for everyone. But the Louvre for two on a Tuesday morning and the Louvre for five on a Saturday are not the same day 😅.
One thing surprised us while planning these trips: Disneyland Paris works really well for couples and groups of friends, even though people almost always associate it with families 🏰. We come back to it further down.
In this article, we’ve sorted our ideas by profile. You’ll find what works for couples, what works with friends, unusual activities off the beaten path, the ones that are truly worth the price, and day trips around Paris for when you have an extra day.
- The Eiffel Tower at sunset
- A cruise on the Seine
- Le Secret de Montmartre, a treasure hunt
- A magical day at Disneyland Paris
- The Catacombs of Paris
- A treasure hunt or a game bar
- A night out in Oberkampf
- A fun day at Disneyland Paris
WHICH ACTIVITIES TO CHOOSE IN PARIS AS A COUPLE OR WITH FRIENDS? 🎯
As a couple, choose activities where you can take your time: the Eiffel Tower at sunset, a Seine cruise, the Musée de l’Orangerie, a day at Disneyland Paris. With friends, look for a faster pace and things to share: the Catacombs of Paris, a game bar, a night out in the 11th arrondissement, a day at a theme park.
Three things make all the difference when choosing 👇:
- How much time you can spend ⏱️: As a couple, you can sit on a terrace for an hour without anyone getting impatient. With five or six people, you’re better off with a plan, or the day goes by deciding what to do.
- Quiet or lively 🔊: A dinner for two in a noisy restaurant doesn’t work. Neither does a night out for six somewhere too hushed.
- Everyone’s budget 💶: As a couple, you decide fast. In a group, you need an activity everyone can afford without feeling awkward.
THINGS TO DO IN PARIS AS A COUPLE 💑
As a couple in Paris, the safe bets are the Eiffel Tower at sunset, a Seine cruise late in the day, the Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Musée de l’Orangerie. For the evening: dinner at a Parisian bouillon, an immersive dinner at Jungle Palace by Ephemera, or a day at Disneyland Paris all the way to the nighttime show.
What changes everything for two is the pace ⏱️ You have no one to wait for and no one to convince, so make the most of it: one big visit a day, a real meal in the evening, and time to wander in between.
THE EIFFEL TOWER AT SUNSET 🗼
It’s our best Paris memory, by far 😍. If you go up around 7 p.m., you see Paris by day, at sunset, then at night, all with the same ticket. Three vibes for a single trip up.
At the top, at 278 meters (912 feet), you don’t feel the height. You see Paris in 360°, and the moment the sun sets over the city is simply incredible ✨. In our opinion, it’s the best place in Paris to watch a sunset, whether you’re a couple or a group of friends.
Three levels, three experiences:
- The 1st floor 🪟: The most affordable, with its glass floor and an already wide view over the Champ-de-Mars.
- The 2nd floor 👀: The best compromise for photos: high enough to take in Paris, low enough to recognize the monuments.
- The top 🌆: Only reachable by elevator, and that’s where the effect is strongest. It’s the one we recommend if you only go up once.
👉 Looking for more outing ideas in France? Theme parks, hikes, romantic weekends: find all our ideas, region by region, on our France travel blog.
A CRUISE ON THE SEINE 🚢
It’s the ultimate Paris cliché, and it really works. From the water, you get the perfect angle on just about every monument in Paris, without walking 🙂 And it’s one of the few activities where you see Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, the Conciergerie and the Eiffel Tower within the same hour.
There’s an option for every budget:
- The sightseeing cruise 🎫: About an hour with commentary, for under €20 per adult. It’s the option we recommend for a first time.
- The lunch cruise 🍽️: Longer, with a meal served on board, in a mid-range price bracket.
- The gourmet dinner cruise 🥂: Up to more than €200 per person for the most upscale options, with a set menu and sometimes live music.
THE LOUVRE MUSEUM 🖼️
It’s a must, and we won’t pretend otherwise: it’s hard to come to Paris as a couple without stopping at the Louvre 😍. It’s one of the most visited monuments in the world, and the sheer size of the place is part of the experience.
Our tips so you don’t spend the whole day there:
- Book the first time slot, at 9 a.m. It’s when it’s least crowded, by far.
- Go see the Mona Lisa first, before the line gets long 😑
- Plan at least 2 hours, and more if you take your time. We went fast and spent two full hours there.
- The museum is closed on Tuesdays. It’s the most common planning mistake in Paris 📅
💡 If you only have an hour or one of you isn’t passionate about painting, go for the Musée de l’Orangerie just below instead. And above all, don’t do the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay on the same day: you won’t enjoy either one.
THE MUSÉE DE L’ORANGERIE 🎨
Our museum pick for a couple, rather than the Louvre. Monet’s Water Lilies fill two oval rooms designed for them, and the visit takes an hour. It’s short, it’s beautiful, and you come out with energy for the rest of the day 🌸.
We haven’t done it ourselves yet, but it’s the museum we recommend first to a couple who only has an hour to spend on art.
JUNGLE PALACE BY EPHEMERA 🌿
If you’re looking for an evening that’s truly out of the ordinary, this is our recommendation. Jungle Palace by Ephemera, in the 10th arrondissement, is an immersive restaurant designed like a forgotten temple deep in a tropical forest, where nature has taken over again 🌴
As soon as you walk in, you go through a curtain and tip into another world. Under a five-meter (16-foot) ceiling, hanging greenery blends with a video-mapping system that changes the setting in real time:
- Animals that cross the walls 🦜: Parrots, butterflies and more mysterious creatures
- Weather effects ⛈️: Morning mist, tropical storms with lightning and virtual rain
- Carefully crafted sound 🎧: footsteps, forest whispers, birdsong
- Attention to detail: All the way to the custom tableware and the restroom decor, which is worth the trip on its own 😄
On the plate 🍛, cuisine with exotic touches: fish cooked in banana leaf, Crying Tiger, shrimp curry, marinated chicken skewers. For dessert, the house signature is a chocolate cacao pod you break open 🍫. The cocktail and mocktail menu follows the same fruity, spicy inspiration.
Budget: expect €20 to €40 per person, which is remarkably affordable for this kind of experience. Reservations strongly recommended, the place is in high demand.
💡 Our take: it’s the kind of place you remember for a long time, whether for a slightly different dinner as a couple or for a birthday or night out with friends. In Paris, few places offer this level of staging at this price 👏.
DINNER AT A PARISIAN BOUILLON 🍽️
It’s a real experience to have at least once, as a couple or with friends, and it’s one of the few in Paris that costs almost nothing 👌. A fixture of the Parisian landscape, bouillons have been enjoying a huge revival for a few years now. They were born in the late 19th century to give workers hot, simple and very affordable meals. The formula hasn’t changed: a large dining room, waiters in uniform, a menu of traditional dishes and checks that make you smile when you know Paris prices. Eggs mayonnaise, leeks vinaigrette, blanquette de veau, beef bourguignon, profiteroles or rum baba 🥄.
What makes the experience unique:
- The decor ✨: Many bouillons are listed historic monuments. You dine in a setting some Michelin-starred restaurants don’t have.
- The prices 💶: Starters often begin under €5, mains around €10 to €15. A full meal usually costs less than a set menu at a touristy brasserie.
- The atmosphere 🔊: The dining rooms are big and lively, and you’re often seated close together. It’s perfect with friends, and more convivial than romantic as a couple: pick it for lunch or a relaxed dinner rather than a romantic evening.
- The service ⚡: Fast, efficient, old-school. Some waiters still write your order on the paper tablecloth.
Our tips:
- Expect to wait at peak times, especially on weekends. The line moves fast, but there is one unless you’ve booked.
- Don’t expect fine dining. You come for the place, the atmosphere and the price, not for refined plates.
The one we tried: Bouillon Pigalle. It’s the pioneer of the new generation, the one that relaunched the bouillon trend in 2017, at 22 boulevard de Clichy in the 18th. The atmosphere is very lively, with big shared tables and an upstairs terrace. They even host the Egg Mayo World Championship 🥚
It’s the place we recommend if you want to discover the concept: it’s easy to reach from Montmartre, it takes reservations, which isn’t the case everywhere, and it gives you a very good idea of what a bouillon is today.
MONTMARTRE AND ITS OUTDOOR ESCAPE GAME 🌇
Head up to Sacré-Cœur in the late afternoon, then wander back down through the village’s little streets. It’s the most touristy neighborhood in Paris during the day, and one of the quietest once night falls 🤗.
Our favorite in Montmartre 🕵️: Le Secret de Montmartre, an outdoor treasure hunt by Mysteries Hunt, played right in the streets of the Butte.
The storyline 📜: in 1935, an old artist discovers a treasure hidden beneath Montmartre since the French Revolution. After spending part of it, he hides the rest in the neighborhood and scatters clues in his notebooks. The notebooks were found, but no one has ever managed to decipher them. Your turn to play 🔍
How it works:
- 2 hours of play, outdoors, in the streets of Montmartre 🥾
- Welcome by Chloée, the investigator, who introduces the story and hands you the case files
- Hunting for clues and solving puzzles on the Butte, at your own pace
- Winning team announced at the end, with the explanations
- Meeting point: 10, rue de la Bonne, Paris 18th 📍
- €29 per person, and a private option at €35 for groups and team-building.
- Available in English, and payable with Chèque Vacances Connect 🎟️
♿ Accessibility: the neighborhood is what it is, with its steep streets and cobblestones, but no puzzle requires climbing stairs. A stair-free route lets you complete the whole investigation.
It’s one of the activities we recommend most in this article. You investigate as you walk, discover spots you’d have walked right past without noticing, and see Montmartre differently than with a map in hand 👏 It works just as well as a couple as with friends, and it’s even the ideal format for a group since everyone takes part.
A DAY AND EVENING AT DISNEYLAND PARIS 🏰
It’s a complete break in your trip ✨ The castle at the end of Main Street, the music along the paths, the decorations that change every season: for one day, Paris disappears and you rediscover your inner child, together.
Plan the whole day, from opening until the nighttime show. That’s what makes all the difference: as a couple, you can take your time on the rides in the morning, have a relaxed lunch, watch the parade in the afternoon, then have dinner on site before ending the day in front of the castle 🎆.
What we loved, as a couple: Not having to decide anything for an entire day. You go through the turnstiles, and the only question left is which activity to do next. You go from one to the next, you wander, and you always end up getting lost in the shops, which is part of the fun too.
When it comes to thrills, I’m an easy sell: Space Mountain is still a must for me, and the new Avengers Assemble: Flight Force ride is a real success. There’s plenty to do if you love a rush 🎢.
We went at Halloween and at Christmas, and we loved both atmospheres. They’re two completely different experiences: the decorations, the shows, the vibe along the paths, everything changes from one season to the next. And both times, our favorite moment was the nighttime show, when the whole day wraps up in front of the illuminated castle ✨.
THINGS TO DO IN PARIS WITH FRIENDS 👯
With friends, go for activities you can share: the Catacombs of Paris, a treasure hunt in Montmartre, a night out in the 11th or at the Butte-aux-Cailles, the Seine riverbanks or the Marché des Enfants Rouges, and a day at a theme park.
In a group, the hard part isn’t finding something to do, it’s agreeing on it 😅 The bigger the group, the more an improvised day turns into endless discussions in front of a metro map.
Our rule: one big activity booked in advance per day, and the rest left free. You have an anchor in the day, and nobody spends an hour deciding where to have lunch 🎯.
THE CATACOMBS OF PARIS 💀
The most talked-about activity of all our trips. An underground ossuary holding the remains of about six million people, with tunnels that seem to go on forever 😱.
We did it as a couple, but it’s exactly the kind of place that’s even better in a group 👥 What stays with you isn’t so much what you see as the atmosphere down there: the silence, the cool air, and the idea that you’re walking among thousands of human skulls. You come out having learned something.
What to know before you go:
- Plan about 45 minutes for the route, 20 meters (65 feet) underground, over a little more than a kilometer (0.6 miles) 🥾.
- It’s pleasantly cool all year, even in the middle of August.
- Book online. Without a timed ticket, the line on Place Denfert-Rochereau can be very long.
A TREASURE HUNT OR A GAME BAR 🎲
Our number one recommendation with friends: Le Secret de Montmartre, the outdoor treasure hunt we mentioned above 🕵️ Two hours of puzzles in the streets of the Butte, with a private option from €35 per person before tax for groups.
It’s the ideal format for a group, for one simple reason: everyone takes part instead of tagging along. On a classic guided tour for six, there are always two who tune out. Here, everyone searches, suggests, gets it wrong, and the mood builds on its own 😄 It’s also a great option if your group mixes people who know each other more or less well: the puzzles do the work for you.
If you’d rather stay indoors, Paris has lots of board game bars, especially in the 11th and the 5th. The idea is always the same: one drink, access to a library of several hundred games, and often someone to explain the rules.
The range of classic indoor escape games is also one of the densest in France, with scenarios for every level.
NIGHTS OUT IN THE 11TH AND AT THE BUTTE-AUX-CAILLES 🍻
Oberkampf, rue Jean-Pierre Timbaud and the Butte-aux-Cailles in the 13th have the most affordable and liveliest bars in Paris. That’s where prices stay reasonable, unlike the Champs-Élysées and the Trocadéro.
THEME PARKS FOR THE DAY 🎢
With friends, a theme park often gives you the best ratio of memories made to planning effort: one booking, a full day of things to do, and nobody to convince once you’re there.
Disneyland Paris 🏰: For the magical atmosphere, the rides and the nighttime shows, in front of the castle at Disneyland Park and in front of the lake at Disney Adventure World. 40 minutes from central Paris on the RER A, and open all year, which makes it the only viable option in the dead of winter. We give it a full section just below.
Parc Astérix 🛡️: For big thrills and roller coasters, it’s the go-to in the Paris region. It does close for part of the winter, though, and its Halloween season offers night events with haunted houses that work really well in a group, as long as you like being scared 😱.
THE SEINE RIVERBANKS AND THE BARGES 🌉
When the weather’s nice, it’s what Parisians do themselves: you head down to the riverbanks with some snacks and settle in by the water 🥖 The Left Bank, near the Pont Alexandre-III, and the Quai de Valmy along the Canal Saint-Martin are the liveliest spots.
It’s free, it works with any number of people, and it’s often the best moment of a trip with friends. Several moored barges also become bars or clubs in the evening, with terraces on the water.
THE MARCHÉ DES ENFANTS ROUGES 🍽️
The oldest covered market in Paris, in the Marais. Stalls with food from around the world, shared tables, and the chance for everyone to eat whatever they want without negotiating. It’s exactly the format that works in a group.
DISNEYLAND PARIS AS A COUPLE OR WITH FRIENDS: IS IT WORTH IT? 🏰
Yes. Disneyland Paris isn’t just for families: the rides, the parade, indoor shows like “The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands,” the nighttime shows, Disney Tales of Magic in front of the castle at Disneyland Park and Disney Cascade of Lights in front of the lake at Disney Adventure World, Disney Village, the restaurants, hotels and shops make it an outing that works just as well for couples as for friends. There’s truly something for everyone. The parks are 40 minutes from central Paris on the RER A and stay open all year.
What you don’t realize before you go is how much you switch off 🌍 You go through the turnstiles and Paris disappears: no more metro, no more notifications, no more to-do list. For an entire day, the only decision you have to make is which activity to do next.
And that’s what makes the day so easy to share, whether you come as two or as six. Between the rides, the parade, the shows, the shops, the restaurants, the character meet-and-greets and the walks from one land to another, nobody gets bored and nobody has to convince the others ✨.
It’s the outing that made the biggest impression on us as a couple 💫 A full day of disconnecting, thrill rides, dinner in a themed setting, and a nighttime show that remains one of our best Paris memories 🎆 You come away with memories you’re still telling each other about months later.
DISNEYLAND PARIS: TWO PARKS, TWO VIBES 🎢
Disneyland Paris has two parks side by side, a few minutes’ walk from each other:
- Disneyland Park, the original park, home to Sleeping Beauty Castle and the most iconic rides, with the parade and the Disney Tales of Magic nighttime show 🏰
- Disney Adventure World, the second park, which since 2026 has been home to the new World of Frozen and its icy Arendelle atmosphere ❄️, plus two other immersive lands entirely dedicated to Marvel and Pixar. It’s also where Disney Cascade of Lights plays, in front of the lake 🎆
💡 So each park has its own nighttime show. Since both play late in the evening, you have to choose which one you’ll see that night: another good reason to come back, or to stay several days if you can ✨
The two complement each other rather than resemble each other: Disneyland Park has the must-dos and the castle, while Disney Adventure World brings together the adventure lands and the new additions. The best choice is therefore to visit both parks during your day.
WHY IT WORKS FOR COUPLES 💑
- Rides to do as a couple: Phantom Manor and its haunted mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and Big Thunder Mountain at Disneyland Park, Frozen Ever After at Disney Adventure World 🎠.
- The nighttime show that closes the day: Disney Tales of Magic in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, or Disney Cascade of Lights in front of the lake at Disney Adventure World. Each park has its own, so you have to pick which one you’ll see that night. Projections, music and lights: it’s the moment you understand why people talk about it so much ✨
- Disney Village, accessible without a park ticket: its shops to browse together at the end of the day, its restaurants and bars to keep the evening going.
- The Disney hotels, all decorated for each season, to sleep on site and make the break last until the next day. The Disneyland Hotel, at the park entrance, is the most spectacular.
- The indoor shows, Broadway-style, like “The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands”: real productions with choreography, orchestration and staging 🎭.
- The parade and outdoor shows, which set the rhythm of the day without you having to look for them. You stop, you watch, you move on: that’s what gives a day for two its pace 🎊.
- The themed restaurants, where the decor is part of the meal. It’s a far cry from a theme park cafeteria: each place tells its own story 🍽️.
- Shared nostalgia 🥹 The movies you watched as a kid, the songs you recognize from the first notes: that’s what makes the day surprisingly romantic, much more than you’d imagine before you go.
WHY IT WORKS WITH FRIENDS 👯
- The thrill rides, to do as a group without negotiating the plan 🎡
- A full day organized with a single booking, which avoids endless debates among five people 📅
- Disney Village late in the evening 🍻 Bars and restaurants open late, accessible without a park ticket: you keep the day going without having to look for somewhere to go.
- The parade and outdoor shows, which punctuate the day and give the group natural breaks, without having to agree on anything 🎊.
- The indoor shows, Broadway-style, like “The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride Lands” 🎭.
- The nighttime show, the moment no one forgets and everyone photographs 📸.
- The fun of letting loose together 😄 Dressing up a bit, screaming on the rides, singing along to the songs everyone knows by heart: it’s the kind of day you talk about for years.
OUR TIPS FOR GOING WITHOUT KIDS 💡
- Arrive early, the first hour is worth the next three. If you’re not a morning person, aim for about thirty minutes after opening: you skip the turnstile line and still knock out rides while the park fills up.
- Take the RER A to the end of the line, Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy, about a 5-minute walk from the entrance. About 40 minutes from Châtelet-Les Halles.
- Stay until the end without worrying about getting back: The RER A runs on the park’s schedule: trains still run after closing to get back to Paris.
- Go on a weekday, ideally not a Wednesday: that’s the day families most easily come for the day (French kids often have Wednesdays off). The park breathes, lines are shorter and you do more rides.
- Book early for a better choice of dates and prices 🎟️
WHAT UNUSUAL THINGS CAN YOU DO IN PARIS? 🔮
Among the unusual things to do in Paris: the Catacombs, the covered passages of the Grands Boulevards, the hammam at the Grand Mosque, the Petite Ceinture, 59 Rivoli and its artist studios, and the Arènes de Lutèce.
- The covered passages 🏛️: Passage des Panoramas, Galerie Vivienne, Passage Jouffroy. Free, covered, and almost empty on weekdays.
- The Grand Mosque of Paris 🕌: For about €5, a visit to the oldest Muslim place of worship in mainland France. We went with no expectations and it was a lovely surprise 👏. The adjoining tea room serves mint tea and Middle Eastern pastries.
- The Arènes de Lutèce 🏟️: A Roman amphitheater right in the 5th arrondissement, free, that most visitors completely overlook.
- Galeries Lafayette Haussmann 🛍️: You go for the department store, you stay for the dome. The 1912 Art Nouveau glass dome, rising more than 40 meters (130 feet), can be admired from the balconies on each floor, and access is free.
- The Petite Ceinture 🚂: The old railway line that circled Paris, turned into a walking path along several sections.
- The Jardin des Plantes and its zoo 🌱: The second-largest garden in Paris, much calmer than the Tuileries.
WHAT ARE THE MOST MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES IN PARIS? ✨
The three experiences that stuck with us the most: going up the Eiffel Tower at sunset, heading down into the Catacombs, and the nighttime show in front of the castle at Disneyland Paris.
- The top of the Eiffel Tower at sunset 🗼: Being all the way up, at 280 meters (918 feet), just as the sun goes down over Paris. It’s simply beautiful, and it’s the memory that has stayed with us the longest.
- The Catacombs of Paris 💀: It’s not the setting that stays with you, it’s the history of the place and the idea that you’re walking among thousands of human skulls. You come out having learned something, which is rare for a 45-minute visit.
- The Disneyland Paris nighttime show 🎆: Projections on Sleeping Beauty Castle, music, lights. It’s the moment no one forgets, which is why you should never leave before it. Disney Adventure World, the second park, also has its own nighttime show.
- A Seine cruise at sunset 🚢: Watching the Eiffel Tower light up from the boat, with the bridges gliding by: it’s perfect!
WHICH ACTIVITIES ARE TRULY WORTH IT IN PARIS? 💶
The real criterion, in our opinion, isn’t what you pay, it’s what you take away 🤔 Some visits are over before they’ve even started, others fill a whole day and leave you with memories for years.
- The Eiffel Tower 🗼: It’s the most powerful experience in Paris. Do it once in your life, and late in the day to get three vibes for one ticket.
- The Catacombs of Paris 💀: It’s not the cheapest activity in Paris, but it’s worth the price, especially for the story it tells. You come out understanding how this place became what it is today.
- The Grand Mosque of Paris 🕌: A few euros for a real discovery.
- A day at Disneyland Paris 🏰: It’s the only activity on this list that fills an entire day, from opening to the nighttime show. You’ll find rides, shows, restaurants, decorations that change every season, and a show at the end of the evening. Our tip to make the most of it: stay until the very end ✨
WHAT ARE THE MUST-DO ACTIVITIES IN PARIS? ⭐
For a first visit, seven sites cover the essentials in Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, the Arc de Triomphe, the Musée d’Orsay and a walk along the Seine. On the scale of the region, Disneyland Paris joins this list: it’s the only Disney park in Europe. If you’ve already been once, the question changes a little: it’s as much about finding what you loved as discovering what you haven’t seen yet 😉
It’s often left out of Paris must-see lists because it’s 40 minutes from the center. Yet it’s been one of the most visited tourist destinations in Europe since it opened.
And as adults, the experience takes on another dimension ✨ The castle at the end of Main Street, the music along the paths, the decorations that change every season, and above all the nighttime show: you become a spectator again, you let yourself be carried away, and you leave feeling like you completely switched off from everyday life.
If you’ve never done it, it’s a must, just like the Eiffel Tower. And if you went as a kid, going back as an adult is a completely different experience
DAY TRIPS AROUND PARIS AS A COUPLE OR WITH FRIENDS 🚆
Six day trips are easy from Paris, by train or RER, without a car and in an hour’s travel at most: Disneyland Paris, the Palace of Versailles, Giverny, Fontainebleau, Chantilly and Auvers-sur-Oise.
Only one works just as well for two as for six, and all year round: Disneyland Paris 🏰 It’s also the only one that fills an entire day, from opening to the nighttime show. The others are mostly chosen based on what you want to see and how much time you have.
- For heritage 🏛️: The Palace of Versailles, the must-see, or Fontainebleau, just as beautiful and much less crowded.
- For art 🎨: Giverny and Monet’s house, from April to early November, or Auvers-sur-Oise in Van Gogh’s footsteps.
- For a half day ⏱️: Chantilly, 25 minutes from Gare du Nord, the quickest of them all.
- For big thrills 🎢: Parc Astérix, the go-to in the Paris region, closed for part of the winter.
- Without spending 💶: Auvers-sur-Oise: the village and Van Gogh’s grave are free to visit.
| Destination | From Paris | Travel time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| All year Disneyland Paris | RER A Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy | 40 min | CouplesFriendsFull day |
| Must-see Palace of Versailles | RER C Versailles Château Rive Gauche | 40 min | CouplesFriendsHistory |
| April to November Giverny Monet's house | Saint-Lazare Vernon-Giverny + shuttle | 50 min + 15 | CouplesImpressionismGardens |
| Fewer crowds Fontainebleau | Gare de Lyon Fontainebleau-Avon + bus | 40 min + 15 | CouplesForestPeace and quiet |
| The quickest Chantilly | Gare du Nord Chantilly-Gouvieux | 25 min | CouplesFriendsHalf day |
| Low budget Auvers-sur-Oise | Gare du Nord Auvers-sur-Oise | 1 hr | CouplesFriendsVan Gogh |
OUR TIPS FOR PLANNING YOUR TRIP 💡
- Book a time slot online for the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame and the Catacombs. Without a reservation, we gave up on the Arc de Triomphe after seeing a 4-hour line 😑
- For Disneyland Paris, book ahead: you’ll have a better choice of dates and prices 🎟️
- Check closing days: the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, the Musée d’Orsay on Mondays, the Palace of Versailles on Mondays 📅
- Walk 🥾: Over three days, we walked about 60 km (37 miles). The metro is only useful for long cross-town trips.
- Transit tickets: since 2025, a single ticket covers the metro and RER across the Paris region, including to Marne-la-Vallée–Chessy. Trips to Roissy and Orly airports are still priced separately.
- Free entry to national museums for under-18s, and for 18-25-year-olds who are EU nationals or long-term residents, with ID 🎓
- Restaurants: check Google Maps reviews before you sit down, especially around the Louvre, the Trocadéro and the Champs-Élysées 🍽️
- Keep one evening unplanned. It’s often the one you remember 🌙
- With friends, put one person in charge of bookings. With five people, nobody books and everybody waits 😅
- Schedule your day trip for the second-to-last day if you’re doing one. The last day almost always gets cut short by your departure.
FAQ: YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT DISCOVERING PARIS AS A COUPLE OR WITH FRIENDS ❓
These are questions people often ask when they want to discover Paris, whether as a couple or with friends, and you’ll find all the answers here. Feel free to leave other questions in the comments so I can expand this FAQ and answer them 
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The Catacombs of Paris, an outdoor treasure hunt in Montmartre, an immersive dinner at Jungle Palace by Ephemera, the dome and rooftop of Galeries Lafayette, the covered passages of the Grands Boulevards, the Grand Mosque of Paris, the Arènes de Lutèce, the Petite Ceinture and 59 Rivoli. Disneyland Paris as adults: A full day of disconnecting, rediscovering your inner child and making memories as a couple or a group.
Going up the Eiffel Tower at sunset, heading down into the Catacombs of Paris, the nighttime show in front of the castle at Disneyland Paris and a Seine cruise at nightfall. Those are the four experiences we still remember years later.
For a first visit: the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur, the Arc de Triomphe, the Musée d’Orsay and a walk along the Seine. Two days are enough to see them without rushing, and a third lets you spend a full day at Disneyland Paris, 40 minutes from the center.
The Eiffel Tower at sunset, a Seine cruise late in the day, the Louvre, Notre-Dame during the day. In the evening, a Parisian bouillon, an immersive dinner at Jungle Palace by Ephemera, or a day at Disneyland Paris all the way to the nighttime show.
Yes. Disneyland Paris isn’t just for families: the rides, the parade and outdoor shows, the Broadway-style indoor shows, the nighttime shows…
The Catacombs of Paris, an outdoor treasure hunt in Montmartre, a night out in Oberkampf or at the Butte-aux-Cailles, a picnic on the Seine riverbanks and the Marché des Enfants Rouges for food. For a full day, Disneyland Paris: one booking, thrill rides, a parade, shows, and a nighttime show at the end of the evening, your choice between the one at Disneyland Park and the one at Disney Adventure World.
Disneyland Paris for the atmosphere and the nighttime show, 40 minutes away on the RER A and open all year. Parc Astérix for big thrills and roller coasters, but it’s closed for part of the winter.
Yes. It’s actually one of the easiest outings to organize as a group: one booking, a full day of things to do, thrill rides, a parade, Broadway-style indoor shows and a nighttime show of your choice, in either of the two parks. There’s something for everyone, and Disneyland Paris is open all year, unlike the other theme parks within reach of Paris.
The nighttime show in front of the castle, rides that are anything but childish like Phantom Manor, Pirates of the Caribbean or Big Thunder Mountain, the restaurants and bars at Disney Village, and a night at a Disney hotel to make the evening last. Disney Village is accessible without a park ticket.
Yes, for the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre-Dame and the Catacombs. Without a reservation, the wait can top three hours in high season. For Disneyland Paris, booking early gives you a better choice of dates and prices.
OUR REVIEW 💭
Paris is magical, and that’s exactly its strength: there’s so much to do, whether you come as two or as six ✨ You can do something at any time of day and in any season. Wander aimlessly, stroll along the riverbanks, visit a museum, go up the Eiffel Tower, head down into the Catacombs, have dinner at a bouillon, or spend a whole day at a theme park 🎢. It’s a city where you’re never bored and never done discovering.
We’ve mostly done Paris as a couple, and every time it was a great experience. What strikes us looking back is that none of our trips were alike: the monuments are the same, but the vibe changes with the season, and there’s always something new.
In the end, there’s truly something for everyone! Whether you love art, history, good food, thrills or simply walking with no plan, you’ll find your Paris. Pick two or three things that really feel like you, and leave the rest to chance.
MY MUST-HAVE TRAVEL ACCESSORIES 🧳
The question often comes up when planning a trip: “What should I bring?” That’s why you’ll find below some must-have travel accessories to head off on vacation with peace of mind (your documents kept safe) 🛡️ . Planning ahead and getting these items in advance helps you save money and avoid buying some of them on site, where they’ll cost you a lot more 💸 These are the accessories we traveled with and keep using for every destination we go to 👇.
THANKS FOR YOUR FEEDBACK 
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