Place des Vosges
sightParis' oldest planned square (1612), symmetrical red-brick arcades around a gravel garden. Victor Hugo's house on the corner is a free museum.
In Le Marais →Things to do in Paris
10 editorial picks across 2 neighborhoods — named restaurants, sights, bars, cafés, parks, and shops. Every entry lifted from our deep-dives, not an AI list.
— 5 picks
Sights & landmarks in Paris.
The monuments, museums, and photo spots actually worth the queue.
Musée Picasso
sightPicasso's personal collection housed in the 17th-century Hôtel Salé. Underappreciated by tourists who default to the Louvre. €14 entry.
In Le Marais →Sacré-Cœur Basilica
sightFree entry to the basilica; €8 to climb the dome. Arrive 30 minutes before sunset for the best view; the dome queue is shortest before 10 a.m.
In Montmartre →Clos Montmartre
sightThe last functioning vineyard in Paris — open to the public during the October harvest festival, otherwise admired through the gate. 1,600 vines, 30 grape varieties.
In Montmartre →Cimetière de Montmartre
sightQuieter than Père Lachaise. Degas, Truffaut, Berlioz, and Nijinsky are buried here. Open 8-6, free entry, maps at the main gate for €2.
In Montmartre →— 2 picks
Where to eat in Paris.
Editor-picked restaurants from the neighborhood deep-dives — no tourist traps.
L'As du Fallafel
restaurantThe falafel pilgrimage spot on Rue des Rosiers — queue outside, €11 sandwich, serves the neighbourhood since 1979. Closed Saturdays.
In Le Marais →Breizh Café
restaurantBuckwheat galettes and cider in the Brittany tradition, elevated. Expect a 20-minute wait at lunch. The best Breton meal in Paris outside Brittany itself.
In Le Marais →— 2 picks
Cafés & coffee in Paris.
Morning stops, espresso counters, and bakery classics.
Café des Deux Moulins
cafeThe Amélie café, still a functioning bistro on Rue Lepic. Coffee is decent, the crème brûlée is the reason to order anything.
In Montmartre →Le Consulat
cafeThe pink-fronted corner café painted by Van Gogh and Utrillo. Absurdly photogenic, food is an afterthought — drink the coffee, take the photo, eat elsewhere.
In Montmartre →— 1 picks
Shops & markets in Paris.
Souvenirs that aren’t embarrassing and the markets worth an hour.
Merci
shopThree-floor concept store in a converted factory — fashion, homeware, books, a café. The red Fiat 500 out front is an Instagram set piece.
In Le Marais →— FAQ
Planning Paris.
- What are the top things to do in Paris?
- We've listed 10 named places across 2 neighborhoods on this page — every one a real editorial pick, not an AI-generated suggestion. The grouped sections above (sights, food, bars, cafés, parks, shops) let you pick by intent. If you only have one day, work the "Sights & landmarks" list top-to-bottom.
- How many days do you need in Paris?
- Three full days is the honest floor for a first visit to Paris — enough to cover the essential sights without a march, plus two meals per day in different neighborhoods. Five days lets you add day trips. Anything less than three and you're queuing instead of experiencing.
- Are guided tours in Paris worth booking?
- For major sights with skip-the-line value (Vatican, Colosseum, Alhambra-tier queues) yes, almost always. For neighborhood walks — usually no, our free deep-dives cover the same ground in more honest detail. The CTAs on this page go to Expedia's tours inventory if you want to compare.
- What's the best neighborhood to base yourself in Paris?
- Depends on your trip style — our /hotels/paris page ranks the neighborhoods by price and vibe. Generally: central for first-timers, residential-adjacent for return visits, canal/waterfront if the city has one.
- Are these recommendations updated?
- Yes. Every named place on this page is sourced from our neighborhood deep-dives, each of which carries a "last verified" date. We re-check openings, prices, and closures at least twice a year and flag anything that's changed.