First-time visitors
First-time visitors often start with the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower’s second floor or summit access, and a Seine river sightseeing cruise departing near the Eiffel Tower.
See suggested experiences
Preview travel guide
Things to do in Paris
A practical preview guide to landmarks, museums and tours in Paris — including the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, Disneyland® Paris and Seine cruises. Below are bookable picks via Headout, GetYourGuide, Tiqets and Viator, plus a brief planning outline while our full editorial guide expands.
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Editor’s preview picks
Bookable experiences in Paris
A short list of bookable tours and tickets in Paris — Louvre access, Eiffel Tower entry and Seine river cruises among key picks.
4.5(26683)
via Headout
1-Day Ticket to Disneyland® Paris
From $61
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4.4(1674)
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Beauvais Airport to/from Paris Bus Transfer (Porte Maillot & La Villette)
From $21
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4.2(27315)
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Louvre Museum Reserved Access Tickets
From $58
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4.5(9888)
via Headout
1-Hour Paris Illuminated Evening Sightseeing Cruise
From $20
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4.7(11911)
via Headout
Seine River 1-Hour Sightseeing Cruise from the Eiffel Tower
From $20
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4.2(21400)
via Headout
Eiffel Tower Guided Tour by Elevator: Reserved Entry to the Summit or Second Floor
From $34
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Plan by travel style
How are you travelling?
A starting point for shaping the trip around the way you actually travel — not a fixed itinerary.
Families
Families tend to prioritise Disneyland® Paris with a 1-day ticket and may use bus transfers to Beauvais Airport for easier arrivals and departures.
See suggested experiencesCouples
Couples frequently choose an evening Seine river cruise to see Paris illuminated and guided tours of the Eiffel Tower for panoramic city views after sunset.
See suggested experiencesCulture lovers
Culture-focused visitors often select reserved access tickets to the Louvre and may book guided tours of historic sites in central Paris including Île de la Cité.
See suggested experiencesFood & local flavour
Food lovers look for experiences around Paris markets such as Marché des Enfants Rouges or may book food-focused walking tours in the Marais or Latin Quarter.
See suggested experiencesEasy wins / short stays
For 2-3 days, practical picks include Eiffel Tower guided tours, Louvre tickets, plus a 1-hour Seine river cruise to see multiple landmarks efficiently.
See suggested experiencesTop experiences by type
Browse by what you want to do
Landmark tickets
Look for Eiffel Tower guided tours, Louvre Museum reserved access, and Disneyland® Paris 1-day tickets.
See optionsMuseums & culture
Louvre Museum, Musée d'Orsay, and Centre Pompidou are notable museums with bookable tickets.
See optionsWalking tours
Walking tours are popular in the Marais district, Latin Quarter and Montmartre neighbourhoods.
See optionsFood & wine
Book food tours featuring local markets like Marché d’Aligre or tastings of Parisian bakery and cheese specialties.
See optionsRiver & boat tours
Seine river cruises departing near the Eiffel Tower and evening illuminated tours are commonly booked.
See optionsDay trips
Popular day trips include Versailles Palace, Disneyland® Paris, and Château de Fontainebleau.
See optionsFamily activities
Disneyland® Paris and Seine river cruises provide family-friendly activities.
See optionsTransfers & practical travel
Beauvais Airport to Paris bus transfers (Porte Maillot & La Villette) are a common practical booking.
See optionsTrip-planning notes
A short guide to Paris
What should you book ahead in Paris?
Advance booking is essential for the Eiffel Tower, especially for summit access and during peak months of May through September and December holidays. Louvre Museum reserved access tickets also sell out quickly in spring and summer. For families, Disneyland® Paris 1-day tickets should be secured weeks ahead to ensure availability during school holidays. Similarly, popular day trips like Versailles Palace tours often require early reservations to avoid long lines and sold-out slots.
What can usually wait until you arrive?
Casual activities such as visiting open-air markets like Marché des Enfants Rouges or wandering neighbourhoods like the Marais and Latin Quarter generally do not require advance booking. Similarly, casual dining and street cafés throughout Paris operate on a first-come basis. Walking tours in less busy districts or spontaneous river cruises outside peak evening hours can often be booked on the day.
Tickets, guided tours or passes?
Single tickets, such as Louvre Museum access or Eiffel Tower elevator entry, are straightforward for those with fixed plans. Guided tours add value when they include skip-the-line privileges and expert commentary, for example, an Eiffel Tower guided tour by elevator. Combo passes might suit visitors intending to cover multiple landmarks, but in Paris, single tickets or guided tours generally offer better control over timing. For day trips like Disneyland® Paris, single-day tickets are standard.
A simple first-trip plan
Day one could start with a morning Louvre visit, followed by lunch in the nearby Palais Royal area. Afternoon can include a walk along the Seine to the Eiffel Tower and a guided tour ascending to the second floor or summit. Evening offers a 1-hour illuminated Seine river cruise departing from near the Eiffel Tower. Day two might focus on the Marais district for a walking tour and market visit, finishing with dinner in the Latin Quarter. Day three could include a day trip to Versailles or Disneyland® Paris.
Quick answers
The short version
Direct answers to the questions most travellers actually ask before they book.
- Best things to do in Paris for first-time visitors
- First-time visitors should see the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, and take a Seine river cruise. Adding a visit to Montmartre or a day trip to Disneyland® Paris rounds out a typical introduction.
- What should you book ahead in Paris?
- Book Eiffel Tower summit tickets, Louvre Museum reserved access, and Disneyland® Paris day tickets well in advance. These sell out quickly in spring and summer.
- Best Paris experiences by travel style
- Families benefit from Disneyland® Paris and Seine cruises; couples enjoy evening river tours and the Eiffel Tower at sunset; culture lovers focus on the Louvre and Montmartre; food visitors look for markets and bistros with regional cuisine.
- How to choose tours and tickets in Paris
- Ticket-only options suit those comfortable with self-guided visits, while guided tours add value at landmarks like the Eiffel Tower. Passes may save money if visiting several paid sites.
- Simple first-trip plan for Paris
- Spend the morning at the Eiffel Tower, afternoon on a Seine river cruise, and evening in a central neighbourhood. Next day, visit the Louvre, then wander the Latin Quarter.
Compare booking partners
Compare more Paris tours and tickets
Each partner has a different sweet spot. Use this as a shortcut to the right catalogue for what you're trying to book.
Headout
Best for Eiffel Tower tours and river cruises
Headout offers competitive pricing and skip-the-line options for Eiffel Tower and Seine river cruises.
Browse HeadoutGetYourGuide
Best for day trips and combined experiences
GetYourGuide provides a wide range of day trips including Disneyland® Paris and Versailles with flexible cancellation.
Browse GetYourGuideTiqets
Best for museums and timed entry
Tiqets specializes in timed entry tickets to major museums like the Louvre with mobile ticket options.
Browse TiqetsViator
Best for day trips and broad selection
Viator offers extensive day trip options from Paris including guided tours with detailed itineraries.
Browse ViatorFAQ
Frequently asked questions about Paris
- First-time visitors should plan to visit the Louvre Museum, ascend the Eiffel Tower with reserved access, and take a Seine river cruise departing near the Eiffel Tower to see key landmarks.
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