Best Things to Do in Paris at Night

The Champs-Élysées is one of the most popular attractions in Paris. This prestigious boulevard is lined with high-end shops, boutiques, cafes, theatres, and other interesting things, making it a great place to explore at night. The 1.9 km-long avenue runs along the 8th arrondissement, starting at the Place de la Concorde towards Place Charles de Gaulle, where you’ll find the majestic Arc de Triomphe.

Considered as the most beautiful avenue in the world, the Champs-Elysees look even more fabulous at night when the beautiful buildings that line the street are lighted. The street itself is beautifully illuminated, which gives off a truly romantic vibe! Strolling along this famous avenue is definitely one of the most romantic things to do in Paris late at night.

Climbing at the top of the Eiffel Tower is a popular tourist activity in Paris, but climbing the tower at night is a more magical experience where you will be rewarded with the breathtaking views of the city from the top. Aside from enjoying the views, there are several other activities to do on top, such as taking a tour of Gustave Eiffel’s apartment, dining at a restaurant, and more.

Since climbing the top of the Eiffel Tower is a popular activity, you can expect a long queue at the ticket counter. There will be different queues, depending on how you want to get to the top, either by stairs or by the lift. To avoid the queue, it is best to book your ticket in advance. Climbing the Eiffel tower is a truly fun activity that you can enjoy with the entire family even with kids in tow. When visiting with kids, it is best to take the lift. The tower is completely enclosed with a fence on all sides so it’s totally safe for everyone.

After a whole day of touring the famous sites and attractions in Paris, the best way to end your day is with a glass of your favorite wine. Thankfully, Paris is home to some of the best wine bars in the world. Just make sure you arrive early in the evening since most bars will not allow reservations. Settle with a good bottle of your favorite whine paired with cheese and other nibbles.

One of the most recommended wine bars in the city is the Le Verre Volé, an edgy bar along the banks of the Canal St. Martin. Offering wide range of delicious wines, as well as appetizing gourmets served in small plates, Le Verre Volé is a great place to share a glass of wine with your loved one while enjoying the relaxing vibe of the place.

For romantic night sightseeing in Paris, taking the cruise at the River Seine is highly recommended. Traveling down the river, the cruise will be passing by the city’s most iconic sights that look very picturesque at night. Some of the sights that you’ll be seeing during your cruise are the Louvre, the Assemblée Nationale, the Pont des Arts, the Notre Dame and of course, the Eiffel Tower. All these sights are beautifully illuminated to achieve magical effects at night!

There are different cruise packages on offer depending on your budget and preferences. For a more fulfilling experience, take the one that comes with a dinner. But if you would rather eat somewhere else, then you can choose a package that doesn’t include a meal. Regardless of the type of cruise that you’ll book, don’t forget to bring your camera so you can capture the magical sights as you pass by!

When it comes to the things to do in Paris at night, the most obvious activity for many is to attend a traditional Parisian cabaret show. Cabaret has long been an important part of the Parisian culture and watching the show is an activity that you should not miss. Depending on your tastes, there are different cabaret shows that you can book.

For a crazier and more artsy show, the Crazy Horse is highly recommended. The show features distinctly burlesque aesthetic with a more contemporary style. However, this show is strictly for adults only. If you’re taking along the kids, check out the other theater performances such as English plays and musicals that are more suitable to the younger crowd.

The Bouillon Chartier is one of the most historic restaurants in Paris. So if you’re looking for a great place to dine in the city, this restaurant should be on top of your list. In fact, this place is popular to both the locals and the tourists since they are known to serve inexpensive but tasty traditional Parisian dishes.

The interiors of the Bouillon Chartier restaurant are tastefully decorated in the lovely art deco theme. Eating here is like getting transported back to about a century ago when it first opened. Nowadays, the restaurant is one of the most iconic dining spots in the city and one of the most recommended places to visit in Paris at night. You might find yourself queuing for a seat, but it’s definitely worth it!

The French capital is a great place for lovers of theaters, musicals, and operas. When nighttime comes, opera fans can be seen lining up for their favorite show. Watching the opera is a great activity for everyone and among the best things to do in Paris at night with family.

There are many great places in Paris to watch operas, but the Opera Bastille is highly recommended. This modern opera house is famous in the city for its program that includes both contemporary and classic performances that includes the La Boheme and The Magic Flute. The Opera Bastille is also known for its enigmatic opera shows!

If you fancy a dip at a pool at night, then head over to the Piscine Pontoise, a lavishly decorated art deco style pool located in the historic area of the Latin Quarter. This pool is very iconic that it has been used as backdrop for many films. The pool is covered and heated and has a truly relaxing ambiance.

Swimming at the Piscine Pontoise at night is a picturesque experience as the pool water is illuminated, allowing you to clearly admire the stately architectural details of the building. During summer, the pool is filled with locals and tourists who wanted to escape the city heat although there are usually fewer crowds at night.

It’s hard to miss the Eiffel Tower in Paris but if you want to admire this iconic landmark in all its glory, check out the tower lights show that takes place every hour in the evening until 1AM. During this time, the tower is set aglow with different twinkling lights for a more magical effect.  You can view the light show from a distance in various areas in the city, but if you wanted to enjoy an unobstructed view of the tower, the areas between the Ile de la Cite and the Pont d’Iena offers excellent views of the tower transforming into mesmerizing sparkles. Otherwise, head over to Place du Trocadero where you can enjoy a more dramatic and up-close view of the tower in its dazzling nighttime façade.

Watching the Moulin Rogue is another popular things to do in Paris after midnight. This legendary cabaret show is famous all over the world since it was made into a Hollywood film that stars some of the most famous actors in Hollywood, Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman.

The Moulin Rouge cabaret house is an iconic landmark in Paris that’s instantly recognizable with a bright red facade and has a giant windmill. A lot of tourists would often drop by for a photo op of this iconic place. Watching the actual show is a truly exciting experience. The atmosphere inside the theatre is truly electric. Performers are clad in fabulous costumes made with rhinestones, sequins, feathers, and other colorful materials. There are also topless dancers and acrobatics performing exhilarating moves! But just like with other cabaret shows, the Moulin Rouge Show is strictly for adults only.

One of the best ways to explore the City of Lights at night is on board the Big Bus. The city bus tour will take you to some of the most popular attractions and landmarks in the city that includes the beautifully lit buildings such as the Moulin Rogue, Place Pigalle, and of course, the famous Eiffel Tower.

The tour will take approximately 2 hours. There are also live commentaries on board, which is a great way to learn more about the famous attractions of Paris. This tour is highly recommended to those who prefer a more comfortable and convenient way to see Paris at night. You’ll be on board a spacious bus and comfortably seated into your seat as you admire the beautifully illuminated sights.

Another way to get admire the stunning view of Paris at night is to climb at the top of the

Arc de Triomphe. This iconic landmark was built during the early 1800s to commemorate France’s victory during the battle of Austerlitz. The triumphal arch is one of the largest in the world and underneath it there’s a tomb of an unknown soldier. Most tourists would visit during the day where there’s often a long queue that’s why it’s highly recommended to visit at night, not to mention the fact that the views are more breathtaking during nighttime.

You’ll be climbing through a spiral staircase going to the top. The stairs are located on both sides of the monument. It’s not really a tough climb since it’s only 50 m high, so this activity is safe for small kids and the elderly, making it one of the best things to do in Paris at night with family.

The museums of Paris are among the most famous attractions in the city. Thus, you can expect this place to be very crowded especially during the rush hours. Visiting at night is a great way to explore the museums where there’s less crowd allowing you to have a quiet time as you soak in the various displays, galleries, and exhibits.

Not all Paris museums are opened until late night although there are a few that you can explore until late in the evening. Among these are the Louvre, The Musée d’Orsay, Centre Pompidou, The Musée d’Art Moderne and the Palais de Tokyo.  Just like with visiting the other famous attractions in Paris, it’s a good idea to book your museum tickets in advance.  To save money on your visit to the museums, it is better to book a Paris Pass.

Visiting the Palais Opera Garnier is an experience in itself and watching a live ballet performance at this opulent opera house is an even more exciting experience. The Palais Garnier is a popular opera house not only in Paris but in the world as well. Watching a ballet or opera show at this place is a once in a lifetime experience for most people.

Built by architect Charles Garnier, the opera was built in over a period of 15 years. It has close to 2,000 seats and hosts some of the grandest ballet and opera performances in the world. If you simply want to tour the opera and admire its beauty, you can book the Opera Garnier guided tours where you can join a group of tourists for a guided tour of the beautiful opera house.

Most families heading to Paris will most likely visit the Disneyland, especially those with small kids. Indeed, the Disneyland Paris is a great place to visit for the family. However, instead of only visiting during the day, it’s a good idea to wait until the evening when the firework show starts. The fireworks show will start around 9:30 PM although the show times could vary depending on the season. It generally takes an average of 20 minutes. The fireworks show is truly spectacular, where you get to witness a stunning explosion of colorful fireworks complete with special sound effects to the tune of Disney music that are surely familiar to you and your kids too!