Paris At Night – 11 Best Things To Do in Paris at Night For a Beautiful Parisian Evening

Paris at night is equally, if not more enchanting than by day. The city of lights truly comes alive as the sun sets transforming into one of the most romantic settings in France. 

We visited Paris not long ago on a cold and dreary January to attend the world-famous Maison du Monde interior design trade fair. Of course, a trip to Paris couldn’t simply comprise of all work and no play. So we took the opportunity to stay a few extra nights and make the most of our stay in the city of love. 

Admittedly, I’m always guilty of planning ahead and filling our days with tons of sightseeing and activities, but I often neglect to plan for the evenings. I was determined to turn the tide and plan some interesting and fun things to do in Paris at night, so we could make the absolute most of our stay.

I absolutely fell in love with the city and would definitely want to return in the spring or summertime when the weather is slightly warmer to experience a different side to beautiful Paris. In the meantime, I wanted to share with you some of the best things to do in Paris at night, to hopefully inspire you too to plan a night in Paris that you’ll never forget!

Regardless if you are travelling to Paris on a budget or not, this list will no doubt have you covered! Here we’ll outline all the best Paris bucket list ideas and things to do at night!

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What To Do in Paris at Night

Paris, France is known as ‘the city of lights’ and with a vast array of amazing things to do in Paris at night – experiencing them in the evening makes them extra special.

Paris is home to some of the most popular French tourist attractions including the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe. The European city oozes art, architecture, fashion, culture, history, and cuisine making it one of the most sought after destinations on just about any bucket lists and is simply one of those places you have to visit at least once in a lifetime! 

Most people dream of spending a night in the city of lights at least once in their lifetime, but you might be wondering what to do at night in Paris. Whether it is for the romance, the culture or the gastronomy, and regardless how long you plan to stay in Paris, here are 11 of the best things to do at night in Paris. 

1. The Louvre at Night

Located in the heart of Paris, France, the Louvre is the world’s largest art museum and historic monument, most well-known for housing the treasured and beautiful Mona Lisa. 

The Louvre Museum, once the Louvre Palace, is an absolute must when visiting Paris. The gorgeous architecture and grandeur of the building is a masterpiece on its own during the day, but at night it lights up and delivers an equally magical experience. 

With over 460,000 objects and 35,000 artworks, the museum is majorly popular and can get a bit overcrowded. For a fabulous Paris night tour, book your guided tour of the Louvre at night, and you can enjoy everything it has to offer with the added advantage of seeing far fewer crowds. 

2. The Seine River – Indulge on a Romantic River Cruise

A muse for many famous impressionist paintings, the Seine is France’s third-longest river located in Paris. 

At night, the river reflects the city of lights creating a romantic backdrop, perfect for almost any love scene. Stroll along the sidewalk and embrace the Parisian culture, or enjoy a luxurious nighttime cruise with champagne along the Seine.

Unfortunately, during our stay, the Seine was flooded and the water level was dangerously high, so we sadly missed the opportunity to see the city from the waters. Having said that, this is definitely at the top of my list of things to do in Paris at night for when we return again!

An interesting fact about this landmark is that Joan of Arc’s ashes were scattered in the Seine River at the Port City of Rouen. 

3. Cabaret Shows

If you would prefer to see something a little different to the French Opera or ballet, then Paris has hundreds of cabaret shows to keep you entertained. 

Some well-known cabaret shows in Paris include the Crazy Horse, Paradis Latin, Libo de Paris and Cesar Palace. Not to mention one of the most popular French cabaret shows, Moulin Rouge. This divine dinner theatre is fully inspired by the 1952 film. 

Enjoy a magical evening of entertainment and performances full of music, dance and drama. We can guarantee you that a night at the cabaret will not disappoint. 

4. Eiffel Tower at Night

This one goes without saying. The elaborate Eiffel Tower is one of the most common bucket-list attractions in the world, and it’s obvious why. 

The gorgeous structure, that was once loathed by the local Parisians, characterizes the Paris skyline and has been mimicked all over the world, including Las Vegas, United States.

Climbing the Eiffel Tower and admiring the views out over the city is one thing to do during the day, but it is a whole other experience at night. Not only is it a jaw-dropping moment on its own, but you can also enjoy the Eiffel Tower Illuminations light show to ogle at the sheer splendour of the Eiffel Tower at night. 

Interesting to note, you should be cautious as it is actually illegal to take and share photos of the Eiffel tower at night. The light display, installed by Pierre Bideau in 1985 is owned by him and in fact, copyrighted. This however has not stopped throngs of tourists from happily clicking away at the gorgeous light spectacle.

Something not many people may know about the tower is that Gustave Eiffel, the architect, actually included a secret apartment at the very top where he would host parties with famous guests.

Why not combine a nighttime river cruise on the seine and access to the tower on this awesome Eiffel Tower night tour & Cruise on the Seine.  

Of course, Paris is known to be home to some world’s most opulent hotels. If you’re looking to spoil yourself with an extra special and romantic stay in Paris, then you simply cannot go wrong with the stunning 5* Shangri-La Paris hotel where some of the rooms and suites offer direct and stunning views of the Eiffel Tower!

5. Paris Catacombs

The Catacombs of Paris are underground vaults that hold the remains of more than 6 million people. The catacombs were created initially to limit the overflow of the city’s cemeteries but are now a tourist attraction to those who dare to explore and definitely one of the top things to see in Paris at night.

If you don’t mind the creepiness of the catacombs, you can explore them at night. Descend twenty metres underground into a maze of galleries and ossuaries and dig deep into the history of Paris.

If the Catacombs sound intriguing to you, then why not book your spot on a 2-hour Catacombs of Paris tour, where you’ll get to discover this incredible sight in Paris.

6. Rue Montorgueil

If you want to ease into the Paris nightlife scene, this neighbourhood is the perfect place to start. Rue Montorgueil is a vibrant pedestrian street home to some of Paris’s permanent markets. 

The street is lined with cafes, wine stores, fresh produce stands, cheese shops, restaurants, fish stores and florist stands. Take a leisurely stroll as the sun begins to set and explore what Rue Montorgueil has to offer.

7. Palais Garnier

France is a country known for its traditional culture and historical heritage, characterized by luxury and royalty. The opulent French Opera is no stranger when it comes to this.

A visit to the opera house in Paris, Palais Garnier is a treat not to be missed out on. In fact, this remains one of my all-time favourite buildings to visit anywhere. The theatre, which can seat more than 1970 guests, is one of the world’s largest opera houses. With gorgeous architecture and intricate interiors including marble and stone, the Palais Garnier truly captures the opulence of a bygone era. 

Partake in an after-hours tour of the opera house in which you can get an exclusive look into the behind-the-scenes, as well as the mysteries, of the French Opera.

8. Rooftop & Wine Bars

As with any holiday destination, you are always going to be on the lookout for some stunning bars for a nighttime drink. There is an endless amount of Rooftop bars in Paris to indulge in when strolling through the streets of Paris – some of the best are even rooftop bars.

Here are some of the most popular French drinks that you simply must try when visiting any Parisian bar. The perfect way to spend a evening in Paris!

Take the guesswork out of deciding where to go to enjoy the best of Paris’ nightlife. Instead, book this 2.5-Hour Wine and Bistro Paris night walking tour through trendy Montmarte and sample and taste some of the best flavours of Paris! 

9. Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is another one of the world’s most famous monuments, located in Paris, France. The building, built between 1806 and 1836, is centred at the juncture of twelve diverging avenues and features traditional nineteenth-century sculptures in honour of the French who fought the Napoleonic Wars. 

Although you might want to view the sculptures during the day, the Arc de Triomphe is lit up at night, not to take away from the beautiful tribute. 

You can also enjoy an open-top bus night tour and take in the Arc, the Eiffel Tower and so much more than the city of lights has to offer.

10. Michelin Star Restaurants

Visiting a Michelin Star restaurant is something you have to do at least once in your lifetime. And what better place to do it, than in the city of lights, Paris! 

The city is full of Michelin Star restaurants, approximately 630 to be exact, from one-stars to three-stars. Whether you are craving a fine dining experience or traditional French cuisine, you are bound to find at least a few menus that will have you salivating. 

Some of the most popular in Paris include Pierre Gagnaire, Le Pré Catelan, Arpége and so many more in France.

11. Piscine Pontoise

The Piscine Pontoise is a public swimming pool, but not just your everyday average one. It is a vintage art deco public swimming pool with a gorgeous glass roof above it and definitely one of the most unique places to visit in Paris at night. 

You might wonder why one would want to go to a public pool when visiting Paris for a night. Every weeknight for a few hours, the pool turns into an after-dark art deco event. All the main lights get turned off, and an array of coloured spotlights transform the building into something special.