Paris · Things to do
Things to do in Paris: art, gardens and landmark choices
Paris offers Louvre Museum, Musée d’Orsay, Petit Palais, alongside the other places below. Choose by neighborhood and interest: this guide combines cultural stops, outdoor space, and places to explore at a slower pace, with admission notes and official sources for planning an outing.
A Paris visit becomes easier when you give one major museum enough time. The Louvre and Musée d’Orsay are alternative big anchors rather than a compulsory double booking. Tuileries and Luxembourg Gardens add pauses between art and meals. Carnavalet brings the Marais into the plan; Petit Palais offers a different collection near the Champs-Élysées. The Eiffel Tower requires a dedicated ticket and journey if you want to go up, while looking from outside is a shorter experience.
01 · 1st arrondissement
Louvre Museum
An extensive art and antiquities museum in the former royal palace beside the Seine.
Reserve this as the main activity of the day. Choose a small group of rooms and leave the rest for another visit, then use the Tuileries rather than a second major museum as your break.
- Budget
- Paid admission; eligibility-based exceptions
- Visit time
- 3–4 hours
- Location
- Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris
Before you go: Book through the official site and check closures and the entry route.
02 · 7th arrondissement
Musée d’Orsay
An art museum in a former railway station, with painting, sculpture, and decorative arts collections.
Use this as a Left Bank art anchor and choose the rooms you most want to see. Cross the river for the Tuileries afterward if you still want a walk, leaving a meal break before another activity.
- Budget
- Paid admission; check exceptions and exhibition rules
- Visit time
- 2–3 hours
- Location
- Esplanade Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, 75007 Paris
Before you go: Check museum closing days and whether your exhibition needs a separate ticket.
03 · 8th arrondissement
Petit Palais
The City of Paris fine arts museum in a decorative building near the Champs-Élysées.
Choose this for a shorter art visit after a Tuileries walk. It can be a complete indoor stop without adding the larger Louvre on the same afternoon, especially if you want a slower pace.
- Budget
- Permanent collection free; temporary exhibitions may be paid
- Visit time
- 1–2 hours
- Location
- Avenue Winston Churchill, 75008 Paris
Before you go: Check temporary exhibitions separately from permanent collection access.
05 · 6th arrondissement
Luxembourg Gardens
Formal gardens around the Luxembourg Palace with paths, planted areas, and places to sit.
Use the gardens as a Left Bank pause after a meal or museum. Choose a modest circuit and allow time to sit rather than assigning every avenue to a walking checklist.
- Budget
- Free garden access; activities and refreshments extra
- Visit time
- 45–90 minutes
- Location
- Rue de Médicis, 75006 Paris
Before you go: Check the seasonal closing time; garden activities may have separate fees.
06 · 1st arrondissement
Tuileries Garden
A formal garden between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, useful for a central Paris walking break.
Connect the Louvre area with the western end of central Paris through the garden. Take a seated break here before deciding whether another indoor visit still fits the afternoon.
- Budget
- Free garden access; attractions and cafés extra
- Visit time
- 45–75 minutes
- Location
- Place de la Concorde to the Louvre, 75001 Paris
Before you go: Check garden gates and any event restrictions.
07 · 7th arrondissement
Eiffel Tower
A Paris landmark with ticketed viewing levels and different stairs and lift options.
Make an ascent a dedicated booked activity rather than a quick detour between museums. If tickets or queues do not suit, choose an outside viewpoint and keep the rest of the outing nearby.
- Budget
- Paid tower access; outside viewing separate
- Visit time
- 1.5–3 hours for tower visit
- Location
- Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris
Before you go: Use official tickets, check entry level and lift availability, and allow security time.
08 · 5th arrondissement
Jardin des Plantes
A botanical garden that sits within a larger natural-history museum complex on the Left Bank.
Choose the garden for a quieter Left Bank outdoor stop. Decide beforehand whether you want a paid museum facility too, since adding a gallery or zoo can turn a short walk into a half-day activity.
- Budget
- Main garden access free; museum galleries, zoo and glasshouses separate
- Visit time
- 1–2 hours
- Location
- 57 Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris
Before you go: Confirm which garden sections are open; surrounding facilities have separate tickets.
How to plan this Paris outing
Use Métro or buses between the Marais, Left Bank, and Eiffel Tower area, then walk within each cluster. Plan museum entrances and station exits rather than assuming every landmark is a short walk away. Check current transport works and accessibility with the operator before using a fixed route.
Keep a gallery alternative for rainy days and carry water for summer garden walks. Garden hours change with the season, and winter daylight limits an ambitious outdoor evening. Choose the museum day according to its current opening calendar instead of assuming all attractions open on both weekend days.
Choose one neighborhood before choosing more stops
Use this list as a menu, not a checklist to complete in one day. Choose one indoor anchor and one nearby outdoor stop, then leave time for lunch and the journey back. If a venue needs a timed ticket, build the day around that slot. A second distant attraction is usually less useful than time to enjoy the first one.
Before making the plan final
Visit times are planning allowances. Confirm current hours, admission, access, and availability using each place’s official link.
Questions, answered
Should I visit all these Paris places in one day?
No. Paris is easier to explore by grouping nearby stops and leaving breaks. The listed visit times are planning allowances, not guaranteed queue times or travel estimates. Pick the places that fit your available time, then check their current opening hours and your starting location.
Can NextMove personalize these Paris ideas?
Yes. Enter Paris, your available time, interests, budget, group size, and transportation in NextMove for iPhone to generate an outing. These website guides are free to read. App features require NextMove Pro, and generated stops still need their own hours, access, and availability checks.
Sources for this guide
- Louvre Museum: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- Musée d’Orsay: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- Petit Palais: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- Musée Carnavalet: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- Luxembourg Gardens: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- Tuileries Garden: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- Eiffel Tower: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
- Jardin des Plantes: official visitor information — checked 2026-10-02
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