Paris, oh, Paris! France’s capital city has been synonymous with love for centuries—it’s literally known as the City of Love! Hearts race with romance here, thanks to countless songs, books, and films swoonily depicting Paris as the lovers’ destination du jour. From the sparkling evening light shows at the Eiffel Tower to the opulent monument that is the Palace of Versailles, Paris and its surrounds have been the location of many a perfect fairytale moment for visitors.
Thousands of couples make their hand-in-hand pilgrimages to Paris every year, during every season, for trips both whirlwind short and luxuriously long. There’s something for every dreamer in the winding streets, whether you want to go movie-moment big or keep things more intimate. Here’s a list of some of our favorite activities for lovebirds in Paris!
Must-Do Romantic Experiences to Enjoy in Paris
1. Eiffel Tower Evening Light Show
She’s a legend, she’s an icon, and she is always, always the moment. La Tour Eiffel is stunning at all times of day, but of course evenings are when she truly comes alive. Thousands of twinkling golden lights make Paris’ most emblematic monument burst into glittering life every evening from dusk until late into the night.
A popular place to view the show is the Trocadéro, but other options include the Pont de Bir Hakeim (this view comes highly recommended and is a perfect no-cost option for sweeties on a budget) , the Place Victor Hugo, the top of the Arc de Triomphe, or the observation deck of the Montparnasse tower—where tickets that include a glass of champagne to enjoy with your view can be purchased.
And if you happen to be planning for the most romantic moment of your life, well… it might well be that there’s no better place to pop the question than under the light-festooned iron girders of the city’s most iconic symbol. An Eiffel Tower proposal is one you two will be talking about for the rest of your lives.
2. Cruise the Seine on a Bateau-Mouche
There are some who might consider a Seine cruise on one of the legendary glass-enclosed Bateaux-Mouches to be clichéd. Well, perhaps. But evening dinner sailings are a popular lovers’ pastime for a reason, so don’t discount it out of hand!
A gourmet dinner, spectacular lighting allowing you to admire some of the city’s most iconic sights (including the Eiffel Tower light shows!), and live musical entertainment—it doesn’t get much more perfectly City of Love romantic than that.
3. Picnic in a Park
Paris is blessed with an abundance of lovely parks and gardens, ideal for spring and summer sweethearts to take a picnic and spend hours cozily feeding each other special treats during some of the best times of year to visit Paris.
If you’re looking for something great to eat in Paris, a fantastic place to grab a picnic-perfect bite is Bariolés de Maud, whose colorful and crunchy triangular wrap sandwiches are a delicious novelty. Or you can shop one of the many food markets for either prepared food or a baguette and some excellent cheese and wine (ask the shop to open the wine for you if you don’t have a corkscrew!). Gather your bounty and a wide blanket and head off to your location of choice for a charming al fresco date.
4. Visit Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is located outside of Paris, but it truly cannot be missed, especially for couples who share a love of history or who just enjoy lovely buildings and objets d’art. If beauty is what you love, then the palace at Versailles is probably one of the most beautiful places in or near Paris. It’s a top suggestion on lists of European travel tips for a very good reason.
The opulently Baroque palace is a work of art in and of itself, with incredible frescoes, sparkling crystal chandeliers lit by a thousand candles, and exquisitely manicured gardens making up only part of the estate’s priceless cultural offerings. Wherever you go in the palace, you’ll find backdrops fit for the most royally romantic moments you can imagine.
If you have only three or four days planned in your Paris itinerary, Versailles is a gorgeous must-see.
5. Couples’ Treasure Hunt at a Flea Market
Paris is known for her outdoor markets of all kinds. Flea markets are a fantastic place to get lost in, and a fun activity for a couple to do is a twist on the TikTok trend of separating in a shop to buy things your sweetie will enjoy. The bonus is that it’s a fantastic option for doing something romantic in Paris when you’re on a budget!
Just pick a flea market—Les Puces is the largest and most well-known—and split up to pick out treasures. Meet up an hour or two later and head back to your accommodation to enjoy exchanging your gifts over dinner. How fun and cute is that?
Also Read: Where to Stay in Paris
6. Hot Cocoa Cuddles
Paris in the wintertime can be chilly, but there’s no need to let that cool your ardor! In a twist on the picnic idea from above, why not fill a thermal container with rich Parisian hot chocolate to share while you and your amour stroll arm in bundled-up arm through the city? If you happen to be there on a snowy day, the enchantment factor automatically triples, and you can spend time building tiny snowfolk together or even having a playful snowball fight! Then head back to your hotel to warm up and canoodle some more. It’s one of the most romantic things you can do in a Paris winter.
7. Enjoy Paris’ Iconic Jazz Scene
As a Louisiana native, I can confidently state that there’s nothing better than a night of good drinks and hot jazz. Spend a lively evening dancing holes in your shoes in one of Paris’ many legendary jazz venues.
Two particularly iconic destinations for jazzhounds stand out: Le Duc des Lombards is a famous venue for good jazz, with many a legendary show under its roof since its 1984 opening, while The 38 is a more intimate subterranean (it’s in a 12th century cellar!) venue in Le Marais with an eclectic range of artists and genres.
8. Dinner & A Show at the Moulin Rouge!
When you’re planning how to pack your suitcase for your Paris trip, be sure to put your nicest outfit in there. Why? The Moulin Rouge! It is of course a Paris institution–if not the Paris institution–and taking in the earlier evening show there is a really great excuse to dust off your fanciest togs and have a fun night with a gourmet meal and world-class entertainment.
(and we do mean fancy, there’s a dress code at the Moulin!)
Executive Chef Arnaud Demerville and his staff put together amazing seasonal menus for diners, with dishes such as roast guinea fowl, seared sea bream, and sautéed duck ready to tempt everyone’s taste buds. Delectable desserts and a half bottle of champagne are included to round out a truly revelatory culinary experience.
Once your gustatory senses are fully sated, the curtains rise and you’re treated to the legendary Féerie show, a festival of song, dance, feathers and sparkles that takes you on a journey through art and time. There’s nothing like the Moulin Rouge anywhere else in the world, and it will make for a memorable date night you’ll talk about for years to come.
9. Skip Rocks at Amelie’s Bridge
Do you or a loved one adore the whimsical cinematic gem that is Amélie? It’s one of my favorite movies of all time, and if you haven’t watched it, I can’t recommend it more! It’s certainly a film for lovers and dreamers.
While you could just visit Amélie’s place of employment at Café des Deux Moulins, take photos in a booth at Gare de l’Est, or trace her route up the steps to Sacré-Coeur, one other memorable scene in the film depicts Amélie skipping rocks on the Seine. This takes place on the lock under the pedestrian bridge at Passerelle des Douanes, and it’s worth going out of your way to visit. Reportedly, actress Audrey Tautou wasn’t able to actually skip rocks herself, but maybe you and your sweetheart could give it a try? It could be a free sweet pastime for lovers on a budget in Paris.
10. Wander Through Montmartre
Speaking of Amélie, our plucky, dreamy heroine famously lived and worked in the Montmartre area. It’s been a legendary haunt for artists and musicians for decades if not centuries, and of course it’s been immortalized in film, in books, and in paint.
Montmartre is a bit hilly, so when you’re thinking about what to pack for Paris, be sure to include good sturdy shoes for your promenade! It’s worth it to enjoy peeking in at historic treasures such as Bateau-Lavoir, once home to Picasso and Modigliani; the morbidly beautiful and peaceful Cimitière de Montmartre, final resting place of many artists with scores of lovely stone memorials; or of course the Basilica de Sacré-Coeur. At the summit, be sure to stop at one of the cafés of the Place du Tertre for a drink and consider having a cute couples’ portrait done by a Parisian street artist.
11. Simply Enjoy a Lovers’ Walk
When you can find a musician around any corner, a little bistro to dine in, or a shop to pop into for a bottle of wine, why not enjoy a sweet couples’ stroll anywhere in the city? You can walk along the Seine—the Pont des Arts is a popular visiting spot for lovers—visit the Wall of Love at Place des Abbesses, or just go where whimsy takes your feet. Paris is full of hidden gems, and sometimes, embracing spontaneity is the most romantic thing of all!
12. Love, Actually, Is All Around in Paris
There’s no greater monument to love than Paris, that paradise for new lovers, honeymooners, and long-time amours alike. No matter the stage of couplehood you’re in, a magical time awaits you in the City of Love.