Talk to me about things to do in Paris - I am thinking of going for my 50th

[angeldelightmintchocolate]

Will be me and DH. We are big foodies. Not into art but what else can we do ? obvs will do the Eiffel Tower.

I have visions of Paris being romantic, I am not usually a city-break girl but Paris really appeals to me, I have went once before, but that was about 25 years ago.

I agree with Père LaChaise Cemetery. An interesting and unusual place, and lots of famous people buried there: Sarah Bernhardt, Chopin, Max Ernst, Olivia de Havilland, Marcel Marceau, Modigliani, Molière, Édith Piaf, Pissarro, Marcel Proust, Gertrude Stein, Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison.

There’s a tiny zoo in a park, not the huge main zoo but the Menagerie in the Jardín des Plantes. It was adorable when I went, and very quiet.

The best food we found was down back streets.

Theres a sex museum in Montmartre! It was genuinely hilarious.

Have visited Paris many times and Père LaChaise is memorable. The scale and diversity of the graves is hugely impressive.
Also love Le Marais and whilst I think the Louvre is a bit dull, taking breakfast at Le Cafe Marly and people watching from the arches is a great way to pass an hour.

I don't think many people know but there is also a colluseam. I haven't had the chance to go but it sounds like a cool point of interest.

I’d definitely recommend the Pere Lachaise cemetery. One weird thing we did one year was to go to the catacombs. I’m not sure if they’re still open?

Thanks all
Lots of ideas and places to check out !

We recreated a shot from my favourite film on Pont Neuf. There's loads of places you can do that sort of thing. Such a pretty city! Walk along the river for sure. Great galleries (better than Louvre, which is always like a train station). Super techno clubs. And you say you are foodies so you will be in heaven. Paris is the best city for a romantic city break in Europe in my very well travelled opinion. I like the 25hourhotel at Gare du Nord, you are then well connected to go anywhere.

There's no 'royal opera house' in Paris -- do you mean the Palais Garnier? Or Opéra Bastille? Both of which are wonderful!

Do a cooking class if you're into that
Professional photoshoot (early morning at Trocadero is a popular choice)
Early morning walk to Sacre Coeur so you can get some amazing photos/views with nobody else about, then big breakfast at Holybelly
Go to my friend's restaurant in the 5th arrondissement! It's called La Bete Noire and it's amazing!

Oh and the sex museum in Montmartre is hilarious. Some outright smutty bits as you'd expect but genuinely interesting to tour it.
There's also the carousel museum (Musee des Arts Forains) but you have to prebook that as they are only open at certain times.
The chocolate museum is also really good fun.

The catacombs are well worth a visit.

Things I would do:

Stay somewhere picturesque like the Île Saint Louis
Book a lovely dinner each night with help from trip advisor
Go to a flea market (marché aux puces)
Walk from the Arc de Triomphe all the way down the Champs Élysées and have a hot chocolate when you get to the Tuileries gardens
Take a boat trip down the Seine
(and I do like art so I would go to the Musée d’Orsay but I get that’s not your thing)

These are touristy things but are fun and would help you see and experience lots of the city. Many of the central arrondissements are so pretty that you can just stroll around and enjoy the feeling of being in Paris.

Have a wonderful time, I used to live there and got engaged on a trip there so it’s one of my favourite places!

The Opera Garnier is, as someone says above, brilliant. We were staying round the corner from it in a little hotel - great area to stay.

I'm going next month for the first time, and I am as giddy as a school girl. I can't wait. I know we are doing the river boat along the Seine, and I really want to go to the Louve and Notre Dame, but besides that, I just want to suck it and see.

If you don't mind a long walk, walk up the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, then walk along Avenue Kleber, which will bring you to the Trocadero, and then you get the most fantastic first proper view of the Eiffel Tower over the fountains.

Hop on hop off boat.

Oh and the Fragonard museum is wonderful if you are into perfume.

Went a long time ago but stayed at hotel which was right next door to house empress Josephine lived after Napoleon divorced her that was interesting think area was Malmaison
Was a bit disappointed with Versailles the actual palace but the grounds were lovely mind you this was during summer but if the weathers OK worth a visit
We also did a cruise along Seine
Have a great time

Thanks for the reminder!
<scampers off to move that further up the bucket list>

That's in Rueil-Malmaison I think, which is out on the RER A line. Very pleasant area and if the OP wants to venture out there then I recommend the castle in Rueil-Malmaison that inspired the story of The Count of Monte Cristo, as well as heading out to Saint-Germain-en-Laye (same RER line, same direction, about 20 minutes from Charles de Gaulle-Etoile/Champs Elysees all told), which has a lovely park and town centre (as well as art museums but you don't want those apparently) with plenty of restaurants to choose from.
Another recommendation @angeldelightmintchocolate - 'normal' French shopping along the rue de Rennes. FNAC, clothes shops that normal French women use etc. Always enjoyable and there's plenty of eateries along there too (particularly where it bisects the boulevard Montparnasse - I was going to recommend that you go up the Tour Montparnasse but I see at least one other poster beat me to it). There's a HUGE Monoprix along the rue du Départ that is worth a look too. Finally, ice cream at Amorino is always a good shout, though there are lots of creperies etc in the Pasteur area as you head away from Montparnasse towards the Jardins de Luxembourg.

If you’re into food, Paris is perfect. Book a dinner cruise on the Seine — it’s touristy but really beautiful at night. Try a food tour in Le Marais or Saint Germain, lots of small bakeries and cheese shops to explore. For a relaxed evening, go for drinks and dinner around Canal Saint Martin or Montmartre, both have great local spots.
You can also do a cooking class or a wine tasting if you want something different. And don’t skip a morning croissant from a proper boulangerie, it makes a big difference.

Not read the whole thread sorry if it’s already been mentioned but I went to the Palais Garnier in April and it was stunning www.operadeparis.fr

Me too @KimberleyClark 1993, it was magical.

Angelil
Thats interesting it was a really nice place to stay they had a lovely Saturday morning market there as well
i missed the castle as we were only there for a long weekend but somewhere I would definitely go back to

I can recommend two places📧
Restaurant L' Atlas St Germain de prés.
Andia Chau de la Muette
Andia used to be called Restaurant La Gare and is a converted train Station