11 things to see and do in Paris by night

We often plan what we're going to do during the day on our travels, but then night falls and sadly we call it a day. If your next adventure will be in Paris, you're in luck, because here's your guide to making the most of the night time and not wasting your nights in one of the cities that shines the most when the sun goes down, and there's a reason they call it the city of light!

Taking a boat trip around Paris is always a good idea, but what better way to do it than at night and see the city lit up? Few plans can compare to enjoying a pleasant stroll with a view of the illuminated Eiffel Tower or monuments such as the spectacular Pont Alexandre III, one of the most beautiful in the French capital.

These cruises last between 40 minutes and an hour, but there are different options from which you can choose "extras" such as a combined visit to the Eiffel Tower plus a cruise on the Seine or a night cruise on the Seine River with music and an aperitif while you enjoy the views.

Useful information

• Prices: from 50 €.
• Times: 2 hours.
• More info: Check out the 6 best Seine cruises and more information about Seine cruises by night.

If Paris's most emblematic monument surprises by daylight, at night it is a real spectacle. This colossal tower, which was built in 1889, is illuminated at night by more than 300 light bulbs and can be seen in different ways, although you can't leave Paris without seeing it at night.

The night visit to the Eiffel Tower will allow you to watch the sunset from one of the strategic points of the city and you will also be able to see numerous monuments such as the Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Trocadero Gardens or the Dome of the Invalides among many others, without doubt an experience that will be worthwhile.

The last visit is at 22:30 h., but access depends on the season and public holidays, so I recommend you book your ticket for the Eiffel Tower in advance to avoid surprises and make sure you can make this great experience. Of course, it is only available during the summer season. Here you have the link to know all the possibilities that exist to climb the Eiffel Tower.

Useful information

• Prices: from 89 €.
• Opening hours: every day until 10.45pm at night and from mid-June to the beginning of September, as well as on some long weekends that coincide with spring or Easter, until midnight.
• More info: Find out everything you need to know to climb the Eiffel Tower at night.

The setting for cabarets and even a famous film, booking tickets for the Moulin Rouge is another must-do on your visit to Paris. Inaugurated in 1889 during the famous "Belle Époque", this place has been for many years a place of reference in social and even cultural and economic aspects in the capital of France.

Countless celebrities have graced the stage, from Liza Minelli to Frank Sinatra, and during the shows you can enjoy a great line-up of performers including jugglers, dancers, tightrope walkers and over a thousand costumes!

The Moulin Rouge is located in the Montmartre district and is very easy to find, but here's an article on how to get to the Moulin Rouge so you don't get lost. Note that you can always opt for a combined ticket for the Moulin Rouge and a cruise on the Seine- you'll save a bundle!

Useful information

• Prices: from 335 €.
• Times: shows take place at 6.45pm.
• More info: Find out all the details of the Moulin Rouge show.

If you've already enjoyed the Moulin Rouge and want to see other cabaret shows in Paris, you can enjoy cheaper shows that will still give you the chance to experience the magic of the Parisian nightlife.

• Crazy Horse Paris: one of the city's most famous cabaret clubs where you can enjoy the show "Tottally Crazy ", a set of hilarious acts celebrating the legendary club's 65th anniversary. Tickets for the Cabaret Horse Paris will give you an unforgettable time and you can also accompany it with champagne or even aperitifs for the full experience.
• Cabaret Paradis Latin: a theatre reconstructed by Gustave Eiffel himself in the heart of the Latin Quarter of Paris awaits you to experience a cabaret show in a unique setting. With tickets to the Cabaret Paradis Latin you'll enjoy a performance in which lust, humour and poetry come together to leave you wanting more. And of course, when you choose your tickets you can add dinner and drinks to the show.

The Louvre Museum is a jewel among French and European museums, so a visit to the Louvre is a must on your trip to Paris. However, although the Louvre Museum is usually open from 9am to 6pm, there are two days a week when the rest of the museums and tourist activities close, this incredible museum opens its doors to anyone who wants to visit it until 9.45pm.

Without a doubt, the biggest advantage of this timetable is that there are fewer people, so enjoying the best works of the Louvre Museum will be a much easier task than at any other time.

Contrary to popular belief, the artificial light to illuminate the works of art does not detract from the quality of the visit, as even during daylight hours most of the rooms are also unlit, so there will be no difference. As night visits end at 21:45, you'll hopefully have started to get the munchies by then. If so, and you have no idea where to go, here's a list of the best places to eat near the Louvre.

Useful information

• Prices: Find out the ticket prices for the Louvre Museum in this post.
• Opening hours: Check all the information about opening hours of the Louvre Museum
• More info: Before your visit, read the post Louvre Museum tickets and how to get to the Louvre Museum to make the most of your visit.

The building that inspired the famous play The Phantom of the Opera should not be left out of your visit. During the tour of its interiors you will be able to see the luxury and ostentatious decoration typical of the most stately buildings of the time, largely adorned with gold leaf and spectacular mosaics.

There are two ways to see the inside of the Opera Garnier, one of them is by booking a guided tour of the Opera Garnier and the other is by attending a performance of a play.

If you choose the first option, my recommendation is to choose the last performance of the afternoon, as the visit is likely to be less crowded, you will enjoy the majestic building at night and you will have had the rest of the day to do other activities that are more worthwhile in the daylight.

Useful information

• Prices: the private guided tour starts at €304.
• Opening times: daily, from 10am to 5pm.
• More info: Find out all the details about the visit to the Opera Garnier.

Sightseeing buses are always a good idea, because in about half an hour you can see almost all of the city's major sights, and it's also a good way to rest your feet while you continue sightseeing.

If you book a night bus tour of Paris, keep in mind that most of these excursions usually take place during the day, but there are cities like Paris that are well worth seeing lit up. If it's not too cold, taking a night ride on a panoramic bus while enjoying the sights of the city of light is a plan that won't disappoint.

For more information, here's everything you need to know about the best sightseeing buses in Paris so you can choose your best option.

Paris is one of the most jazz-heavy cities in Europe, so if you like this musical genre, you're in luck. In the Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter of Paris), located in the south of the Ìle de la Cité, you'll find plenty of places to enjoy the music, as well as a great atmosphere.

So, if you like the idea of spending an incredible evening with good live music in one of the most characterful neighbourhoods of the French capital, I recommend you book a tour of the Latin Quarter and here are a few suggestions:

• Le Petit Journal Saint Michel: a cosy club located very close to the Luxembourg Gardens, it transports the spectator to the 50's, a charming place where you can also enjoy a dinner during the concert.
• Le Caveau de la Huchette: this is a classic among the jazz clubs in Paris. The atmosphere here is spectacular, with lots of people dancing and audiences of all ages. However, you should keep in mind that, as it is such a well-known place, there will be a lot of tourists as well as Parisians.
• Le Caveau des Oubliettes: it is a small jazz bar and also a perfect place if you feel like enjoying live music and, best of all, you will have the opportunity to go out on stage yourself to show your skills as an artist every Wednesday for soul, every Thursday for jazz and every Sunday for blues.
• Aux Trois Mailletz: another journey through time, weather and energy. It's open until the wee hours of the morning and you can also enjoy dinner while you watch the show.

Paris is undoubtedly one of the gastronomic capitals of Europe, but it is also one of those places where, when it comes to eating, there is so much to choose from that you might end up making a mistake. If you don't want to miss out, don't hesitate to book a gastronomic tour of Paris.

In my opinion, the best time to try these foods is in the evening, as you can dedicate more time to them and enjoy the experience more, without rushing and without having to interrupt your sightseeing, so here I show you the French foods you can't miss and, in addition, I also tell you the best places to eat in Paris

• Foie Gras: this delicacy is nothing more than duck or goose liver pâté and is usually spread on a piece of bread or accompanied by another dish. A star food in French gastronomy, with a strong and delicious flavour that you can't miss. One of the best places to eat foie gras in Paris is Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie.
• Ratatouille: this French dish, also famous for the Disney film of the same name, is traditionally made with tomato, onion, aubergine and courgette, although chefs sometimes vary some of these ingredients to give it their own personal touch. It can also be eaten as a main dish or as a side dish to meat dishes. Ratatouille is a good vegetarian option, it's delicious and the best place to eat it is in the Montmartre district.
• Fondues, raclettes and French cheeses: France is known for its great variety of cheeses and in Paris you can find cheese shops on almost every street corner. But if you are a fan of cheese, you can't leave Paris without trying a fondue or a raclette, both of which are techniques in which cheese is melted to accompany other foods. I recommend the restaurant Le Chalet Savoyard where you will enjoy a real spectacle for your sense of taste.
• Sweets and pastries: although you may have heard wonders about French pastries, you won't realise how delicious they are until you try them, and for that you can book a tour of pastry shops in Paris. Macarons, croissants, crepes, pain au chocolat, praline... Paris is a paradise for those with a sweet tooth, and to enjoy these sweet treats I recommend Café Pouchkine and Mère de Famille, an incredible 200-year-old patisserie where you can choose from more than 1,200 sweets. And if you want to try crepes, here is a list of the best creperies in Paris.

Parisians are generally very film-literate, and going to the cinema is not only entertaining, but also a great way to learn about art and culture. It is true that ideally you should know the language to make the most of this experience, however, there are occasions when foreign films are shown in their original version, so French would not be an impediment.

There are thousands of cinemas where you can enjoy a good film, however, my recommendation is to go to a classic cinema like La Filmothèque, very well known in Paris, where classic films are shown and where film festivals are held frequently. This place has two different cinemas and is located in the Latin Quarter. You can also book a 20th century cinema and TV tour.

However, if you want to see the latest releases, you can go to one of the many cinemas in Paris with the latest offerings such as the UGC Cine Cité les Halles, the MK2 Beaubourg, the UGC Montparnasse or Le Grand Rex among many others.

When you think of a night out, the first thing that comes to mind is a nightclub, which is why this is a must in our guide to what to do in Paris at night.

The truth is that, being a big city, there are plenty of places to choose from to go out and party. For example, Le Marais is a very trendy area lately and the Bastille area is also very popular among university students, although if you're looking for a more exclusive atmosphere, the Champs Elysées is the place for you, although you should keep in mind that access to the places is not so easy, as they don't let just anyone in.

In any case, here is my selection for you to see the best options:

• Le Balajo: ideal for Latin music lovers, as they dedicate each day to a different musical genre and also offer salsa and bachata classes. If you like dancing, Le Balajo may be the perfect place for you. It is located on Rue de Lappe.
• Le Duplex: this place is perfect for the younger ones, as it is known for its university atmosphere and if the discotheque is not enough for you, the place also has a bowling alley and a restaurant. Le Duplex is located at Avenue Foch 2bis.
• Le Carmen: Opened in 1875, this place is worth a visit, if only to see it. It is located at 34 Rue Duperré and its spectacular decorations that evoke luxury and sensuality will transport you to another era. At Le Carmen you can enjoy small live concerts, DJ sessions and shows.