Activities & experiences
The Eiffel Tower is just the starting point. Paris's depth is in its arrondissements, its covered passages, its Sunday markets, and the version of the city that isn't on any poster.
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Housed in a Beaux-Arts railway station on the Left Bank, the d'Orsay holds the world's largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces — Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Cézanne. Book a timed slot at least 24 hours ahead; it sells out reliably in summer.
The finest of Paris's 19th-century covered passages — a glass-roofed arcade near the Palais Royal with mosaic floors, antique booksellers, a wine bar, and almost no tourist foot traffic. Free to walk through at any hour.
The most local of Paris's daily markets in the 12th arrondissement — produce, cheese, olives, and a covered flea market attached. Open every morning except Monday. Significantly cheaper than the tourist-facing Rue Cler and better for self-catering.
The Canal Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement is the most local outdoor experience in Paris — iron footbridges, tree-lined quays, independent cafés, and almost no coach parties. Best on a Sunday when the road alongside is closed to traffic.
Worth doing once — ideally at dusk when the city softens into the light. Book the summit ticket online at least three days ahead; the queue for walk-up tickets regularly exceeds two hours. The second floor offers the most complete panorama without the wind.
The Palace of Versailles is 35 minutes from Paris on the RER C — a remarkably quick escape from the city. The Grand Apartments and Hall of Mirrors require advance booking; the gardens are free outside fountain show dates and are vast enough to absorb the crowds.
From the archivist
Most Paris museums are free for EU residents under 26 — bring ID. First Sunday of the month is free for all visitors at the Louvre and several national museums.
The Musée d'Orsay and Louvre both require timed-entry booking in peak season; same-day tickets are rarely available. Book the night before at minimum.
Canal Saint-Martin is closed to boats on Sundays and the adjacent road becomes a pedestrian promenade — the best version of the walk.
Versailles is extremely crowded in July and August; the gardens are the best way to absorb the visit without feeling hemmed in.
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The Musée d'Orsay over the Louvre if you only have time for one — it's smaller, more focused, and the building itself is part of the experience. A walk along Canal Saint-Martin on a Sunday. A proper croissant from a boulangerie every morning. The Palais Royal gardens in the afternoon. And at least one meal in the 11th or 20th arrondissement away from the monument cluster.
Less than the city's reputation suggests for the cultural highlights. The Louvre (€22), Musée d'Orsay (€16), and Eiffel Tower (from €29.40) are the main outlays. Much of what makes Paris special is free: the covered passages, the markets, the parks, the Seine quays. Budget €50–80 per day excluding accommodation for a comfortable mix of paid and free activities.
Versailles is the classic day trip — accessible on the RER C in 35 minutes and genuinely worth a full day including the gardens. Giverny (Monet's garden) is two hours by train and bus, best April to July when the water lilies are in bloom. Chartres Cathedral is an hour by train from Montparnasse and one of the finest Gothic buildings in Europe.
From the journal
Three days is enough to feel a city if you stop trying to see everything. Here's how to plan for depth, not coverage.
21st of April 2026
What things actually cost, which splurges are worth it, and where to find the value.
14th of April 2026
Find your stay and sort the logistics — then focus on the activities.