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Things to do in Paris
Instead of a list of a hundred things, this is grouped by what actually shapes a trip: budget, time, whether you are travelling with children, and the weather.
The essentials
Climb the Arc de Triomphe to understand the city's layout; sail the Seine to see it from the water; walk the embankments, a World Heritage site; and get lost in the Marais at dusk. That alone is Paris, even without setting foot in a museum.
Without spending a thing
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier under the Arc, with the flame rekindled every evening. The Luxembourg and Tuileries gardens. The interiors of the great churches. The covered passages of the 2nd arrondissement. And the viewpoint at Montmartre, free and a match for any paid terrace.
With children
The Seine cruise works particularly well: an hour long, everyone seated, always something to look at, plus a child fare. Under 18s get into the Arc de Triomphe free, though the 284 steps need weighing up by age. And the Luxembourg gardens have model sailboats to hire on the pond.
If it rains
The Seine boats have a glazed indoor area, so the cruise still works in bad weather — and the river in the rain has its own appeal. The covered passages in the centre let you walk for miles under shelter, and the department stores on Boulevard Haussmann have domes worth seeing even if you buy nothing.
What to do in Paris when it rains
Paris in one day: an hour-by-hour itinerary Paris at night What to see