26 Romantic things a local will tell you to do in Paris
Ah, sweet romantic Paris! You can almost hear the classic accordion musette playing as you ponder skipping down its cobblestone streets with your eyes dancing about its wonderful architecture.
If you are planning to visit the City of Lights and hoping to sweep that special someone in your life off their feet, I have a few ideas for you for a scintillating and sultry holiday. With the best French love songs playing in the background, here are my most romantic things to do in Paris for couples. Allons-y!
Book a lunch or dinner cruise on the Seine.
Taking a cruise is one of the most romantic ways to see Paris, and when you add first-class service, you will get your holiday off to a wonderful start.
Enjoy a lunchtime or evening cruise with a luxurious 3-course meal with wine on a glass-enclosed boat, while you float by Paris’s top attractions. This can fill up quickly, especially on Valentine’s day and in the summer time. You can make your reservations here.
Have a scavenger hunt in Paris’s Montmartre.
Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement used to be a village on its own, before it got absorbed into Paris. It still retains that small village charm though, with its narrow roads, cobblestone paths and tiny little boutiques that are hidden at the end of alleyways.
So why not have some fun with a private scavenger hunt à deux. Look for clues and cheer each other’s successes as you wander around Montmartre.
Travel through history as you pass Place d’Anvers to the Sacré-Coeur, and back to Pigalle while answering a few various challenges. You can book your scavenger hunt here.
Reserve a photoshoot on Pont Alexandre.
With Pont des Arts no longer allowing locks to be attached (thank goodness!), head on over to what is probably the most beautiful bridge in Paris: Pont Alexandre III.
Just a hop-skip-and-jump away from the Champs Elysées, it is one of the top spots for newlywed Parisians taking their wedding photos. Book your own professional photographer to make some memories that will last a lifetime. You can reserve your professional Photographer here.
Visit the Passage du désir boutique.
Get a little frisky with a visit to the Passage au désir, one of Paris’s adult toy stores. There is nothing vulgar about this shop. With beautiful product displays, their products range from massage candles to games to aphrodisiac oils, as well as items for the more daring.
It is located at 22 Rue du Pont Neuf, 75001, and a second shop at 23 Rue Sainte-Croix de la Bretonnerie, 75004 Paris.
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Have a cocktail on the top floor of the Eiffel Tower.
You can’t be in Paris and miss the romantic possibilities that the Eiffel tower presents. Instead of just going up the tower, stop by the champagne bar on the 3rd floor of the Eiffel Tower.
There is 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. Alternatively, pack your own picnic and watch from the Champs de Mars. You can reserve your Eiffel Tower skip-the-line tickets with a guide here.
Sip wine at the Maison Blanche rooftop restaurant.
Located on the chic Avenue Montaigne, just steps from the Champs Elysées, Maison Blanche is set up on 2 floors with different styles. The downstairs “Bay Window” has a panoramic view of the west of Paris with an extraordinary glass roof.
The upstairs “Mezzanine” has a lively bar and terrasse with views of the Eiffel Tower. It is located at 15 avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris.
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Visit the Musée de la Vie Romantique.
The Museum of the Romantic Life is located in a sumptuous hotel particulier on the edge of Montmartre and was built by painter Ary Scheffer 1830.
The museum recreates the romantic era of George Sand and the Belle Epoque with portraits, furniture, and jewelry from the 19th century. There is also a lovely tearoom in the gardens called the Rose Bakery.
The entrance to the permanent exhibitions is free. It is located at Hôtel Scheffer-Renan, 16 rue Chaptal in 75009 Paris. You can find more free museums in Paris here.
Have a picnic on the quai of the river Seine.
Pick up a few supplies at your local french grocery store and head over to the quais of the Seine River, for a romantic date by the water.
A favorite of locals young and old, this is surely one of the most romantic things to do in Paris! You can organize your own lunch or reserve a picnic hamper here.
Go on a private champagne tasting.
If you don’t have time to go on a trip to the Champagne region, you can still have a private tasting right in Paris. Tickle your tastebuds with a private champagne tasting at a local wine bar.
You can savor several aromas as your sommelier tells you about each Champagne’s terroir, production, and characteristics. You can book your champagne tasting here.
Stroll through the Jardin du Luxembourg.
Go on a walk in Queen Marie de Medicis gardens at the Jardin du Luxembourg in between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter.
The garden contains just over a hundred statues, monuments, and fountains, scattered throughout the grounds, along with figures of several French queens standing on pedestals.
Sail a toy boat together in the large reflecting pool, and then wander over to find the secluded Medici fountain. It is located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris
Indulge in a goûter at Angelina’s.
You simply cannot come to Paris and not try a few French pastries. Head over to Angelina’s and order a classic millefeuille or Paris-Brest. Compliment your pastry with a tea, coffee, or juice.
But if you can’t get enough chocolate, try an exquisitely creamy chocolat chaud as it was meant to be made. You can read more about foods and drinks to try in Paris here. It is located at 226 rue de Rivoli 75001 Paris.
Dine at a Michelin star restaurant.
Paris has 119 Michelin star restaurants in the world, 2nd to Tokyo. The list is compiled by Michelin, the (French) tire company.
The initial idea was to provide French people with good eating options when on road trips across France. From there is spread to becoming renowned as a status for excellence in dining.
With some of the best French chefs having their restaurants in Paris, there is no shortage of Michellin recognized restaurants in the city. Some popular names 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
You can read more French food facts and what to eat in Paris here.
Imagine being royalty in the gardens of Palais Royal.
Wander through the quiet gardens of Palais Royal in the heart of Paris. Find its hidden entrance near the Louvre Museum, and admire the ornate residence that was built for Cardinal Richelieu, but then became a royal palace for the French monarchs.
You cannot go inside Palais Royal unless it is during Journée du Patrimoine, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the garden. Duck behind the columns to steal a kiss or just sit together on a bench and enjoy one another’s company. It is located at 8, rue Montpensier, 75001 Paris.
Row a boat at the Palace of Versailles.
You may have visited the palace and the gardens packed with tourists, but for a private moment alone, take a boat out onto the canals at the Palace of Versailles. A tranquil moment on the water, that Marie Antoinette herself enjoyed with her loved ones.
Tickets for the boat sold directly at the Grand Canal, but you can buy your entrance tickets to the Palace and Gardens in advance. You can get your skip-the-line tickets here.
Eat ice cream on Ile Saint Louis.
A lovely romantic thing to do in Paris is to wander around Ile Saint Louis arm-in-arm. Look into the little boutiques that line the street and stop for some ice cream at Bertillons. Single scoop or double?
Bertillons’ is located at 31 Rue St. Louis en l’Ile, 75004, but there are other restaurants and cafés around the Marais which also sell the trademark ice cream.
Look for the Statue of Liberty on l’Ile aux Cygnes.
Go hunting in complicity for the replica of that famous French emigré, the Statue of Liberty. She is located on a small artificial island on the river Seine that was created in 1827 to protect the Pont de Grenelle bridge.
A romantic and secluded place to ponder the longstanding friendship between France and the United States. It is located at Ile aux Cygnes in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. You can catch views of it on foot, as well as on the Bateaux Mouche boats that travel along the Seine.
Have a candlelight dinner with fireworks at a 17th-century castle.
One of the most romantic things to do in Paris is a magical candlelit evening at the Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte. Have a look around the castle and then enjoy a 3-course meal at the exclusive Charmilles restaurant, overlooking the château and its gardens. There will also be a fireworks show at 11:00 pm.
This is only available in the summer months, and all arrangements are taken care of with transport to and from your hotel in Paris. You can reserve your dinner at Chateau de Vaux le Vicomte here.
Buy flowers at the Marché aux fleurs et aux oiseaux.
Just steps from the Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Conciergerie, the Marché des Fleurs is a beautiful flower market. The market opened in 1830 and has both outdoor stalls as well as indoor stalls housed in cast iron pavilion.
You can buy all sorts of seasonal and exotic flowers here, so treat your Other Half to a romantic bouquet that says “I love you“. Queen Elizabeth II is renowned have it on her list of favorite things to do in Paris, and so the market was renamed after her on her last visit to France.
Every Sunday, this market transforms into a Bird Market as well. It is located at 37 Place Louis Lépine, 75004 Paris.
Get a hotel room with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
What could be more romantic than sitting on your own private balcony with your chéri, watching the Eiffel Tower twinkle at night? Revel in the luxury of it all with a beautiful experience at one of Paris’s top hotels.
Some wonderful hotels in the area are:
- €€€ – Hôtel Eiffel Turenne
- €€€€ – Hôtel de la Bourdonnais
- €€€€€ – Le Narcisse Blanc
Share a fondue.
Even if you are in Paris in the summer, eating a fondue is a must. There are normally two types, meat or cheese fondue, however you can also split a chocolate fondue.
Fondue comes from the French word “fondre” which means to melt. There are several places in the 5th arrondissement that have fondues, but my favorite is La Refuge des Fondues in Montmartre. These delicious dishes are perfect to split en couple.
Take a romantic ride through Paris.
Treat your loved one to a once-in-a-lifetime tour across the City of Romance. Whether you prefer a luxurious limousine or a vintage 2CV, you will feel like you like a star as you travel the streets with your own private driver.
Get a different perspective on the major sights of the city such as the Eiffel Tower and the Champs Elysées, and take in its glorious architecture and ambling boulevards.
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Make a perfume.
France is renowned for its luxury perfumes, so learn how to make your own perfume with your other half.
Blend your own scent with help from experts from some of the leading perfume shops in the world. You can see options to make your own perfume here.
Play pétanque together.
A variation of lawn bowls and the Italian game of bocce, pétanque originated in the early 20th century in La Ciotat (a beach city near Marseille) in Provence.
But that is not to say it is only prominent in the south of France. Pétanque has become so popular as a sport in France, there are leagues of players and competitions are carried live on sports tv channels.
Today, it is as well-loved in France as bowling in the U.S. or curling in Canada. One of the most secluded and romantic places to play pétanque in Paris is Place Dauphine, a tiny quiet square right on Ile de la Cité, in the center of busy Paris. (You have to bring your ownset of pétanque balls.)
There are also bars along the picturesque Canal d’Ourcq and Canal Saint Martin which lend pétanque balls, along with your drink order.
Explore the Aquarium de Paris.
About 500 meters (1/3 mile) from the foot of the Eiffel tower is the Aquarium de Paris. The entrance is slightly hidden because the aquarium itself is underground, but if you ask someone, you should easily be able to find it.
Built underground, the aquarium was constructed at the same time as the Eiffel Tower in 1867. After a massive 21-year renovation in 2006, the Aquarium covers an area of 3.5km and houses over 10,000 different species of fish.
Giant shark tanks, alien-like octopuses, little seahorses, there are a wide variety of sea creatures to look in awe at.
It is located at 5 Avenue Albert de Mun, 75016 Paris, on the Metro stop Trocadero. You read more about visiting the Aquarium de Paris and buy your skip-the-line tickets here.
Propose at the Temple of Sibylle in Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
In a quiet park in the North of Paris, look for the secluded grotto that has been decorated with fake stalactites in the style of the romantic 19th century English gardens.
Then climb to the top of the hill and propose to your beloved at the Temple de la Sibylle, a miniature replica of the famous ancient Roman Temple of Vesta in Italy.
The temple was finished in 1867, looking down upon an artificial waterfall that cascades from the top of the cave and down through the grotto. The perfect place to pop the big question.
Located at: Parc Butte Chaumont, Paris 19th arrondissement
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Watch the sunset from the top of Arc de Triomphe.
Watch the lights come on at the Champs Elysées from atop the Arc de Triomphe.
With beautiful views all across the city, this is the perfect way to end your romantic holiday in Paris. You can buy your skip-the-line tickets here.