If you are visiting France and looking for what to do in Paris at night, you have come to the right place. The City of Lights is buzzing with plenty of restaurants, bars, and nightlife, as well as experiences that you can only have in “Paree“.
The only problem you will have is deciding how to narrow things down, decide what things to do, and where to go for that perfect evening in Paris 😉 So let’s get to it, shall we? Allons-y!
- 1. Watch the Eiffel Tower illuminate
- 2. Watch a ballet at the Opera de Paris
- 3. Visit the Louvre Museum at night
- 4. Marvel at a Cabaret show
- 5. Have a drink on a Rooftop bar
- 6. Dine at a Michelin star restaurant
- 7. Take a Dinner cruise down the River Seine
- 8. Enjoy a cocktail at a Péniche on the Seine
- 9. Apéro with the locals at Rosa Bonheur
- 10. Watch the fireworks and fountains at the Palace of Versailles
- 11. Take a Ghost tour of Paris
- 12. Dance the night away
1. Watch the Eiffel Tower illuminate
If you haven’t had a chance to go to the top of the Eiffel tower during the day, why not go at night? It is one of the most spectacular things to do in Paris at night, the reason that it is called the City of Lights.
The Eiffel tower puts on a light show in the evenings, every hour on the hour up to 1 am, for 5 minutes at a time, so you can enjoy the view from the inside. You can also stop for a drink or dinner at:
- a restaurant and a private lounge on the 1st floor
- a Michelin starred restaurant, Jules Verne, on the 2nd floor.
- a Champagne bar on the 3rd floor
You can read more facts about the Eiffel Tower and get your skip-the-line tickets with a guide here.
2. Watch a ballet at the Opera de Paris
Paris has two main opera houses, the Palais Garnier and the Opera de Bastille. Palais Garnier a beautiful 18th-century building, while the Opera de Bastille is a modern building constructed in 1989.
Both buildings are run by the Opera de Paris and host the crème de la crème of opera productions and ballets in Paris.
The shows are based on the season and tickets go fast, so book early. If you can, combine it with a guided tour before the show starts (book here).
3. Visit the Louvre Museum at night
The Louvre at night is a sight to behold. With its pyramid shining like a beacon at the center of the historic Royal Palace, you can imagine the centuries of history that have occurred within those walls.
Every Wednesday and Friday night, the Louvre Museum is open until 9:45 pm. While it is less crowded than during the day, lines are still long, so book your tickets in advance.
Get your skip-the-line tickets with a guide here.
4. Marvel at a Cabaret show
No evening in Paris would be complete without a visit to the world-renowned French Cancan.
There are plenty of Cabaret shows in Paris, but one of the most famous is the the Moulin Rouge. You can buy tickets to enjoy the show here, with a glass of champagne, and you can have dinner there as well.
5. Have a drink on a Rooftop bar
Rooftop bars are all the rage in Paris at the moment, with several bars opening up on an ephemere basis (for a limited time).
Some of them are on the rooftop of 5-star hotels, and it really depends on the atmosphere you are going for:
- Hip and bobo: Le Pechoir Marais, Pechoir Menilmontant, Café Oz Rooftop
- Luxurious near Eiffel Tower: Terrasse de l’hôtel Raphael, Le Rooftop, L’Oiseau blanc
- Central near Notre Dame de Paris: 43 Cocktail Bar
6. Dine at a Michelin star restaurant
With some of the best chefs in France, there are over 100 Michelin star restaurants in Paris. If you are a foodie, enjoy a night dining at one of Paris’s finest. Some of the most famous include:
- Guy Savoy – in the 6th arrondissement with stunning views of the Seine
- Alléno Paris au Pavillon Ledoyen – in the Champs Elysées Gardens, 8th arrondissement
- L’Ambroisie – in Place des Vosges in the Marais, 4th arrondissement
- Alain Ducasse – on the Seine in the 16th arrondissement
- Pierre Gagnaire – Hôtel Balzac in the 8th arrondissement
Reservations must be made directly. You can read more about foods and drinks to try in Paris here.
7. Take a Dinner cruise down the River Seine
Enjoy an evening cruise with a luxurious 3-course meal with wine on a glass-enclosed boat, while floating on the Seine River past Paris’s most spectacular attractions. A lovely romantic way to spend a night in Paris.
Make your reservations here:
- La Marina de Paris (reservations)
- Bateaux Mouches (reservations) – with live music
8. Enjoy a cocktail at a Péniche on the Seine
If you don’t want to have dinner, there are several floating bars along the Seine where you can go for a cocktail at night. The péniches float, but they usually don’t cruise along the Seine so you can get on and get off whenever you want.
Some of the most famous ones are:
- En attendant Rosa, Port des Invalides, 75007 Paris
- Bateau Phare (formerly Batofar), 11 quai François Mauriac, 75013 Paris
- Le Wanderlust, 32 Quai d’Austerlitz, 75013 Paris
- River King, 108 avenue du Président Kennedy, 75016 Paris
9. Apéro with the locals at Rosa Bonheur
For a cool vibe and cheap drinks, make your way to the original Rosa Bonheur inside the park Buttes Chaumont in the 19th arrondissement.
The place starts to get busy around 6 pm with drinks and an apéro tapas on its outdoor terrasse, so get there early.
The DJ usually turns up the volume inside around 9 pm with merry goers kicking up their heels on the dancefloor. But attention, Cinderella must go home when the music ends at midnight.
10. Watch the fireworks and fountains at the Palace of Versailles
Watch a beautiful musical fountain show in the majestic gardens of the Palace of Versailles. The ornate fountains, designed by famous engineer Andre Le Notre, dance with colorful lights with Baroque music as an accompaniment. The music is followed by a spectacular fireworks display over the Grand Canal to cap off the night.
Book your tickets for entrance to the gardens and transport from Paris here.
☞ READ MORE: Did Marie Antoinette really say “Let them eat cake”?
11. Take a Ghost tour of Paris
Uncover the mysteries of Paris, while strolling the streets with a guide in search of phantoms and ghosts. Be spooked by the dark and violent history that took place at like the Conciergerie and Palais du Justice where many were tortured and killed.
Book now: Ghost Walking Tour of Paris
12. Dance the night away
Depending on when you come to Paris, there are many annual events in Paris at night such as:
- Fete de la Musique – Festival for music on the street (held all across France) in June.
- Grand Bal Masqué at Palace of Versailles – Masked Ball in June.
- Bal des Pompiers (Fireman’s ball) in July.
All summer long there are also special concerts and events along the quays of the Seine and Canal d’Ourcq with plenty of live music, food, and festive atmosphere. In the winter, the Grand Palais turns into a nightclub/ice-skating rink with a DJ.
There are also several famous nightclubs across Paris where you can dance the night away such as Rex Club, La Bellevilloise, and Chez Moune. The Latin Quarter also has several pubs and bars next to each other to go on a pub crawl that you can reserve here.
For more information, check out my article on nightlife in Paris.
So have you narrowed down your favorites yet? I told you it would be hard to choose. Perhaps you will just have to stay longer to squeeze it all in 😉 If you enjoyed that article, you may like to read more about romantic things to do in Paris. A bientôt!
