13 Unmissable Things To Do In Paris At Night

Visiting Paris is a magical experience of a lifetime. But the real magic happens at night. When the sun goes down, the city stays up. No wonder it is called the "City of light."

With so many amazing things to do in Paris at night, from checking out a Moulin Rouge cabaret show on a Saturday night and walking along Les Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe to marveling at the Eiffel Tower twinkling lights and exploring the Paris catacombs, nights in Paris can never get boring.

If you are looking for travel tips on fun things to do in Paris, look no further as this guide will help you experience Paris at night like no other city before. But before you start to explore the most romantic city in the world, make sure to keep all your belongings safe at one of our secure luggage lockers in Paris.

Enjoy a Seine River Cruise

A river cruise is a great way to enjoy a little different view of Paris at night. The Seine River dinner cruise is special to locals and tourists alike. You get to enjoy anywhere from a 1-3 hours ride along the River Seine and see most of the major landmarks in the city, beautifully lit at night.

This river cruise passes by the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, The Louvre and many more fabulous attractions. Some of these cruises include a 3-course dinner, drinks and snacks and are audio-guided in up to 14 languages. You will get to learn about Paris, its history and the monuments as you are passing by. Most tours start at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and are one of the best things you can do in Paris at night.

Discover the covered passages of Paris

Discover this intriguing city's culture in the famous covered passages of Paris. They were originally built for the upper class in the 19th century mainly close to busy streets so the clients could get out of the rain. Today, in these beautifully decorated passages with glass ceilings you will find many small shops, art galleries, theatres and restaurants serving all kinds of international dishes.

Some of the most popular are Passage des Panoramas, Galerie Colbert, Galerie Vivienne and Passage du Grand-Cerf. Most of these hidden gems are located in the central Arrondissements of Paris so you can walk from one to another on foot. With a few exceptions, they are open Monday to Saturday from 6 am until midnight.

Ride the Ferris wheel

For another spectacular view of Paris at night from above, take a ride on the Ferris wheel. Located at Place de la Concorde, the wheel with 32 booths that take 8 people each, stands 200 feet tall and offers jaw-dropping views off Paris, both day and night. For up to $15 you get the chance to see the best parts of Paris magically lit up at night.

Experience the Louvre by night

The biggest attraction in Paris after the Eiffel Tower is the Louvre Museum. Housed in the Louvre Palace, this is the world's largest art museum, and home to Leonardo Da Vinci's famous "Mona Lisa" since 1804. The Louvre Museum also houses hundreds of thousands of objects including 35,000 artworks from Egyptian antiquities, Greek and Roman antiquities, Islamic Art, and many more.

Open six days a week from 9 am to 6 pm, the museum is known to get really crowded no matter the time of day or year. If you are were looking to explore Louvre's artwork with fewer crowds, you can get yourself on a night tour. Visiting Louvre at night is one of the best things you can do on your trip to Paris.

Enjoy a date night dinner in Paris

When the sun sets and you have worked up an appetite from your daytime Paris adventures, it is time to sit down and try some delicious French food. And with so many restaurants to choose from in the city, you really don't know where to begin from. Here are some of the most visited date night bars and restaurants in Paris that offer delicious dishes for meat lovers, vegans or vegetarians.

Explore Parisian cuisine in La Tour d'Argent, one of the oldest restaurants in Paris where you can sip champagne with views over the Seine and taste Michelin-starred food. Enjoying dinner in an intimate atmosphere in Le Train Bleu is well worth your time and money. If you don't like to eat meat, try Le Potager du Marais, a strictly vegetarian restaurant in the heart of Le Marais.

Whether you are looking for a simple or romantic dinner, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Paris at night.

Nightlife in Paris

Paris is a synonym of art and architecture, wine, delicious food, shopping, extraordinary monuments and, of course, nightlife. At night Paris takes partying on a new level with all the events happening at literaly every street corner of the city. From wine bars and clubs to cabaret shows and various interesting places to hang out, a night in Paris is no doubt a fun night out.

Some of the best places to hang out in Paris at night, especially during hot summer nights, and experience Parisian nightlife like a local are Le Marais, Montmartre, Pigalle, Canal Saint-Martin, and Oberkampf. Wherever you decide to go, Paris will make sure you will have a night to remember. Sleeping in tomorrow? Grab a fantastic Paris brunch when you are ready to hit the town again.

Enjoy an opera performance in Palais Garnier

One of the quintessentially French things to do in Paris at night is to enjoy a night in the opera. Built in the 1800s, Palais Garnier, home to the "Phantom of the Opera" is one of the most famous and among the oldest opera houses in the world.

Enjoy opera or a ballet performance and admire the Italian-style, 1,979-seat auditorium at the Place de l'Opéra in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. To enjoy this classic tour even more, arrive at least half an hour ahead of time to explore and admire the grandeur of the opera house built at the behest of Emperor Napoleon III.

Watch the sunset from Montparnasse Tower

Paris is a romantic city but if you want to take it up a notch and enjoy Paris even more, watching the sun set from the Montparnasse Tower with your loved one is a night in Paris you will always remember. At 689 ft tall, the observation deck offers one of the best 360 panoramic views of the city. It is free for children 4 and under, and you can save money if you get the Night & Day ticket.

Head to one of the best rooftops in Paris

Paris has some of the most impressive rooftop bars and terraces where you can get the best Parisian views at night. The Paris skyline is spectacular at night, especially if you enjoy it from a rooftop bar with a cocktail in your hand overlooking the river Seine, Arc de Triomphe or the magnificent Eiffel Tower.

Some of the most popular rooftop terraces are Bar Le Perchoir, The Shed, 43 Cocktail Bar and Mama Shelter Rooftop Bar. Grab a partner and after a long walk along the Seine, head up to any of these rooftop terraces and treat yourselves to a well-deserved glass of French wine.

See the Eiffel Tower sparkle

It goes without saying that the Eiffel Tower is a must-see while in Paris. But out of all the things to do in Paris at night, this has to be it! Named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, the Eiffel Tower has been the highlight of Paris since 1889.

The 3 floors, 1,063ft tall steel tower can be seen from almost everywhere in Paris. But at night, it is best to enjoy it from the 2, 574ft long park Champs de Mars that stretches from the foot of the Eiffel Tower to the Military school to the southeast.

When the night falls, the Iron Lady lights up in 20, 000 light bulbs every day from sunset to 1 am in what is called the Eiffel tower light show, which also includes a beacon shining from the very top.

Watching the Eiffel tower sparkle at night is undoubtedly a night in Paris well spent.

A night dip in an Art Déco pool

If you are looking for some unusual nighttime activities in Paris, such as a late night swim, here is a good one! Located in the Latin Quarter in Paris, you will find Piscine Pontoise, an indoor, 33-meter public swimming pool situated in a grand Art Deco building.

This is one of the things to do in Paris at night when you want to impress your date with a romantic midnight swim in the heart of the city. Enjoy delicious cocktails at the poolside bar, admire the grandeur architecture and dip in the illuminated water in blue. It will be an unforgettable night in Paris.

Enjoy traditional French cuisine in a brewery or bistro

When in France, do as the French do. This goes for all the gourmands out there who are not afraid to taste traditional dishes from each country they visit. Luckily, French cuisine offers some of the best food in the world; your stomach will thank you for it.

After a busy day exploring Paris on foot, find yourself a nice French bistro or "brasserie." The city has many, you won't know where to begin. A night in Paris is complete when you have tried some of the French bistro classics like ratatouille, boeuf bourguignon, strawberries in champagne with crème chantilly, or coq au vin.

Parisian Cabaret

Paris cabarets have been a great part of Paris nightlife since the 1880s. If you want to truly experience Paris at night and in style, you have to book yourself a seat at one of the most famous cabaret shows in the world, the Moulin Rouge. Prepare for a night of dancing, acrobatics, burlesque, choral singers and musicians.

If you have seen Moulin Rouge, try to get yourself a spot at the Lido de Paris cabaret show, Paris Crazy Horse, or the Paradis Latin Paris cabaret show - just to name a few. Most cabarets in the city have a dinner option or a glass of champagne. If you are looking for a fun thing to do on a Friday night, there is no better French authentic experience than a cabaret, with a dinner and a drink. Because why not?

Wine tasting with a professional sommelier

French wine and cheese anyone? One of the best things to do in Paris at night is enjoying not one but many of the unique French wines along with a selection of the best French cheese and fruits. You can go wine tasting on your own but to make sure you get the best experience, you should get yourself on a guided tour.

These tours are created especially for you to enjoy your beautiful night in the city, learning about wine and satisfying your sophisticated palate in a very relaxed atmosphere.

Paris nightlife at its best

With so many things to do in Paris at night, you will never have the time to feel bored, nor tired! From Arc de Triomphe and the Notre Dame Cathedral to a romantic Seine river cruise, and exciting late-night cabaret shows, Paris is one of the best cities to visit, especially at night!