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So, you’ve booked your dream journey on the Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express? If you are travelling to or from Paris, the magic doesn’t have to stay on the tracks. Much like the Orient Express, Paris is steeped in history and vintage glamour, making it the perfect backdrop, whether you’re looking to build up the excitement before you board or continue the adventure when you disembark.
If you’re wondering how to fill your time in the city of light, you’ve come to the right place. Here, you’ll find our personal recommendations for where to eat and drink and what to see and do in this unique and beautiful city.
Food and Drink
You truly are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining in Paris, which makes it rather difficult to narrow it down. This city knows gastronomic excellence, and traditional French cuisine is only the beginning. Whether you want a fresh pastry on the go or a decadent brunch, a handmade pizza to take away or a proper beef bourguignon from a traditional bistro, Paris has it all! Here are a few of our favourites.
Best Bakery - Stohrer Patisserie
The oldest operating patisserie in Paris, serving a variety of sweet and savoury pastries. The stars of the show are their eclairs and macarons.
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Best Breakfast (traditional French) - Le Petit Cler
An adorable sidewalk cafe, known for its breakfast set menu. For €13-€15, you get a hot drink, freshly squeezed juice, a fresh pastry, and eggs (either fried or omelette)
Best Brunch - Kozy
A modern cafe serving brunch all day. They serve a variety of dishes, including avocado toast, pancakes, smoothies and matcha. We recommend the pulled pork eggs Benedict!
Best Steak Frites - Le Bon Georges
A classic Parisian bistro that not only serves the most delicious steak, but also has a chalkboard menu of daily dishes made with seasonal produce, along with an extensive wine list
Best Pizza - Pizzeria Popolare
A chic and lively pizzeria with amazing service, and one of the biggest bars in the city, with over 500 drinks on offer. The atmosphere is as good as the pizzas themselves. This place is popular. Booking is a must.
Le Marais Bakery & Pastry Food Tour
Explore the streets of the Marais district of Paris on a walking tour, and indulge in the most delicious crepes, croissants and chocolate the neighbourhood has to offer.
Wine & Cheese Lunch
A social lunch featuring 1 champagne and 4 wines from 5 different regions all over France, paired with 5 delicious French cheeses.
Things to see and do
One of the wonderful things about Paris is that you can easily find wonders around every corner just by aimlessly walking. One minute, you could be gazing up at the Eiffel Tower, and the next you could find yourself in a charming side street without another soul to be seen. If you're in the city for a short time, and you want to see and do as much as possible, we've put together a few ideas.
Père Lachaise Cemetery
This hauntingly beautiful attraction is the largest cemetery in Paris, attracting around 3.5 million visitors each year. As well as fascinating sculptures and an array of stunning trees and plants, you will also find the graves of many famous people, including Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and Frédéric Chopin.
Opéra Garnier
The Palais Garnier, also known as the Opera Garnier, is a masterpiece of architecture. The main entrance alone will take your breath away, and the opera room is draped in red velvet and features ornate balconies, a giant chandelier, and an unbelievable painting by Marc Chagall on the ceiling. You can book to see an opera or a ballet here, but you can also take a tour around the building.
The Louvre at Night
Experience this iconic museum like never before. A personal and intimate tour for up to 6 people, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the artworks without the crowds. If you've been to the Louvre during the day, you'll be aware of the huge crowds gathered around the Mona Lisa. This tour offers the rare opportunity to stand before her, without having to stand on your tiptoes to get a good look.
Seine River Cruise
One of the best ways to see Paris is from a river boat. Take a 1-hour cruise along the Seine and marvel at the UNESCO-listed buildings along the riverbank, including the Eiffel Tower, Les Invalides, Notre-Dame de Paris, and the Conciergerie. As well as these iconic landmarks, you'll also float past bars, restaurants and houseboats.
5 free things to do in Paris
1. Petit Palais
Built in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition, this art museum is the little sister of the Grand Palais, but is equally as beautiful. Inside, the palace hosts a major collection of decorative murals and sculptures commissioned between 1903 and 1925. To give the building the grandeur of an official palace, Girault designed a decorative scheme intended to glorify Paris and celebrate the arts. Artwork was strategically placed in high-traffic transitional spaces—such as the entrance lobbies, garden peristyle, and dome staircase—with murals added only to the two large exhibition galleries. This ambitious decorative campaign took over two decades to finish.
2. Galeries Lafayette Haussmann Rooftop
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is a stunning Art Nouveau department store well worth visiting, but the highlight of this building has to be the rooftop. The open-air roof terrace offers some of the best panoramic views of the city, and it’s totally free! Up there, you can see the Eiffel Tower, Opéra Garnier, Notre Dame, and other iconic landmarks spread across the skyline. This viewing point is usually a little less busy than some of the others, so don’t tell too many people about it!
3. Parc de Bagatelle
Created after a bet between Marie Antoinette and the Count of Artois, Parc de Bagatelle is a tranquil retreat just minutes from the Fondation Louis Vuitton. This magical hidden gem boasts manicured lawns, a small château, vibrant rose gardens, free-roaming peacocks, and an orangerie hosting classical concerts. The Parc de Bagatelle is open at 9.30 every day and closes at 17.00 from October 1 to March 30, and closes at 20.00 April 1 to September 30.
4. Parc de la Villette Open Air Cinema
If you're in Paris during July or August, catch an outdoor movie on the lawn at Parc de La Villette in the 19th Arrondissement. Running Wednesday through Sunday after dark (around 10 PM), the open-air cinema screens everything from indie classics to blockbusters and family films. All movies play in their original language with French subtitles. Arrive an hour or two early to claim a good spot and enjoy a picnic. You can bring your own food and drinks (just leave metal cutlery and corkscrews at home), or rent lounge chairs and grab snacks, beer, and wine on-site. Loved by locals and largely missed by tourists, it’s one of the best ways to experience Paris like a true resident.
5. 59 Rivoli
Formed as a result of artistic squatting in 1999, 59 Rivoli was bought by the City of Paris in 2001 and transformed into a public, artist-run studio space. Today, it houses 30 resident artists, offering free public access six days a week. Visitors can wander through the working studios, talk directly with the artists, and watch the creative process unfold. Independent of commercial galleries, the space also features an exhibition gallery and regular concerts. Operating on a self-managed, non-profit model, 59 Rivoli remains a truly accessible, unfiltered hub for local art.
