Paris is a must-visit destination for any happy couple. Writers, painters, and filmmakers have long documented the romance of Paris and it’s the perfect place for an intimate break. The French Capital is famous for its 19th-century cobblestone lanes, iconic landmarks, world-class museums, beautiful parks, and exquisite culinary delights. There are endless romantic Paris attractions whether you’re a young couple traveling on a budget, going all out on a special Valentine’s Day, or taking a celebratory anniversary trip. This guide includes an extensive list of romantic things to do in Paris for couples as well as everything else you need to plan the most magical romantic getaway in Paris.
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Table of Contents
How To Get Around Paris
There are multiple options for getting around Paris: metro, bus, tram, train, bike, taxi, and even funicular. There’s only one way you shouldn’t consider and that’s renting a car. Traffic is a nightmare, the streets are narrow, and you’ll never find parking.
The best way to get around Paris for most couples will be the underground metro system. It’s efficient, affordable, and connects most areas of the city. As of 2024, a single ticket for the Paris metro, bus, or regional train service is only €2.10. You will need to purchase it before boarding. All of the ticket machines can be operated in English and take cash and card payments.
Because the metro is so simple and the network is extensive, you can probably avoid traveling by bus or tram. Paris’s regional RER trains are useful because they connect Paris city center to the airports, Disneyland Paris, and Versailles.
Taxis and Ubers are expensive in Paris just as in other large cities like London or New York. Expect to spend at least €7.10 on a minimum service fee and a couple of Euros per kilometer. You will also pay more for airport transfers and peak times. It’s better to avoid taxis when possible, but if it’s raining or you’re running late for an opera at Palais Garnier grab one!
Cycling in Paris is not for the faint of heart, but if you stick to the banks of the River Seine or other green spaces, it could be very romantic. You can use the city’s Vélib’ Métropole bike-sharing program or rent bikes from companies like Fat Tire Bike Tours.
Top Things To Do on a Romantic Trip to Paris
1. Visit Top Paris Museums
One of the best things to do in Paris with your partner is to check out the top cultural sights. These are some of the can’t-miss museums and art galleries we recommend:
- Louvre Museum
- Musée d’Orsay
- Musée de l’Orangerie
- Musée Rodin
- Pompidou Center
- Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris
Of course, the Louvre is the most important museum in Paris. It houses artworks throughout history including the Ancient Egyptians and Romans. It’s most famous for displaying Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa painting and the Venus de Milo sculpture. Even the Louvre’s pyramid-shaped entrance is a work of art and you’ll enjoy sharing this experience with your partner. However, visiting the Louvre on a romantic Paris couples’ vacation could easily take a wrong turn once you see the long lines. Book tickets with timeslots in advance so you don’t have to wait.
Musée d’Orsay should be next on your list. Located in a former railway station, the historic architecture and features of this museum are enchanting. This is worth visiting on a Romantic Paris trip because it houses some of the best European artworks of the 19th and 20th centuries. Don’t miss standing behind the iconic large clock and taking in the city views!
If you and your partner love visiting museums, consider investing in the Paris Pass to save money.
2. Walk Along Canal Saint-Martin
Some of the most romantic spots in Paris are by the water, but not just on the banks of the River Seine. Canal Saint-Martin is a 4.5 km-long shipping canal built in 1825 to transport goods from this formerly industrial neighborhood to the Seine.
Today, it’s a vibrant, bohemian area with cafés on every corner, tree-lined streets, canal locks, and cute bridges. It’s the perfect setting for an intimate couples’ trip. Take a romantic stroll along Canal Saint-Martin holding hands with your partner. It’s a beautiful place to be in summer or in the fall when the leaves turn various shades of yellow, orange, and brown.
3. Enjoy the City Views
Finding romance in Paris isn’t difficult – you just need to look outside of your hotel window! But there are several spots in Paris where you can witness some spectacular views.
Here are some of the best viewpoints in Paris:
- Top of the Eiffel Tower
- Arc de Triomphe
- Montparnasse Tower
- Sacré-Cœur on Montmartre Hill
While climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower is a bucket-list activity and it does have great views of the city, ideally you’d want views of the Eiffel Tower! After all, it’s a UNESCO Site and an iconic French landmark. Climbing the Arc de Triomphe will give you a fantastic view of the Champs-Élysées and the famous tower, as will the Montparnasse Tower.
The Montparnasse Tower is infamous for being an eyesore. By climbing to the rooftop and enjoying the views from the tower, you can avoid snapping photos of it. Views from Montmartre Hill are a little further away from the Eiffel Tower, but it’s free and you can see the whole city. The steps of the Sacré-Cœur are the perfect spot to watch the sunset.
4. Book a Local Tour
It can be tempting to stay in your own little bubble when you’re on a romantic Paris trip. Resist the urge, and head out on a local tour. There are so many great tours and experiences you can book with local guides to make your trip all the more special. This chocolate and patisserie walking tour will ensure that you don’t leave Paris without tasting the sweetest treats the city’s master bakers have to offer. You’ll visit some well-known haunts like Café de Flore and some hidden gems too.
Although the French didn’t invent perfume, they’ve certainly made it their own. Paris is one of the biggest perfume manufacturing bases in the world, and you can create your own scent at this perfume-making workshop. Better yet, create one as a gift for each other.
Selfies and photos taken by strangers aren’t how you want to remember this incredible trip, so book a professional photoshoot at the Eiffel Tower. They will make sure you leave the city with more than memories and the photographer will edit your best shots too.
5. Day Trip to Versailles
No romantic Paris trip is complete without visiting Versailles. Travel just 40 minutes out of the city and you’ll be standing in front of one of the most opulent, extravagant estates ever built.
The Palace of Versailles is an 18th-century, gilded royal building with acres of manicured gardens. Stop by grocery stores like Aux Pains de la Ferme boulangerie for some bread and other lunch essentials and enjoy a romantic picnic sitting in the park. Head to the Grand Canal and hire a rowboat so can bask in the sunlight and admire the views together.
6. Day Trip to Giverny and Monet’s Garden
While the gardens of Versailles are beautiful, there’s one garden outside of Paris that’s even more celebrated. Impressionist painter Monet produced his famous waterlily paintings while living in Giverny, just 90 minutes outside of Paris.
Visit the house of Claude Monet and stroll hand in hand with your partner as you walk over bridges where Monet once walked. Check out the Museum of Impressionism, one of the most romantic styles of art, where you can see many of Monet’s best pieces and find appreciation for the art and the subject. Make it extra special and book a private tour with an art historian.
7. Nighttime Ride on the Tuileries Ferris Wheel
With the holiday lights and crisp winter weather, Paris is one of the most romantic cities to visit at Christmas. Every December (and also for a month in the summer), a funfair named Fête Foraine des Tuileries pops up in Tuileries Garden. There are fairground rides, food stalls, and games. The Tuileries Ferris Wheel at Place de la Concorde is a popular spot for couples.
You’ll both be swept away in the fun of the fair and enjoy the views of Paris sparkling against the dramatic backdrop of the night sky.
8. Take a Cooking Class
One of the most romantic things to do in Paris for couples is learning new skills together. Why not learn to bake French treats on your romantic Paris vacation?
This macaron Class at Galeries Lafayette will take you through the art of baking these vibrant, delicate French patisserie step-by-step. Or, if you prefer breakfast pastries, learn how to make French croissants in a baking class led by a master baker. You can surprise your partner at home by baking these treats while reminiscing about the wonderful time you had.
9. Stroll Through Parisian Neighborhoods
The romantic Paris you read about in Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast or watched in movies like Amélie (2001) isn’t by the Eiffel Tower, it’s in the bars and bookshops of the neighborhoods. Take a romantic walk through areas of the city on the Left Bank of the Seine like the Latin Quarter or Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Visit Le Marais, the former Jewish Quarter and former home of Victor Hugo, which is now filled with galleries and boutiques.
If you want to treat your partner to an extra special gift, walk down the Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement. All the top French designers like Chanel, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton are all here.
Head up to the hills of Montmartre where you can enjoy crème brûlée in Café des Deux Moulins, the café where Amélie worked in the movie. Book a performance at Moulin Rouge which still has live music and dancing every night. Stroll down romantic cobblestone streets like Rue de l’Abreuvoir and visit the Musée de Montmartre for an alternative to the city’s busy, famous museums.
10. Sail on a Seine River Cruise
One of my favorite things to do when visiting Paris is to book a sunset cruise on the Seine. Not only is it a great way to see some of Paris’s landmarks like the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Grand Palais, and Île Saint-Louis, but it shows you just how romantic Paris can be.
You’ll pass underneath some of the most ornate and historic bridges in Paris like Pont des Arts, Pont Neuf, and Pont Alexandre III. Pont des Arts used to be Paris’s love lock bridge before the city removed them due to the weight causing structural problems. Attaching love locks to bridges in Paris is now banned, but there are plenty of places in the city where you can express your love in other ways.
Most sunset cruises offer you a glass of champagne so you can ‘cheers’ to the end of a wonderful, romantic day in Paris.
11. Wander Through Paris Parks
For such a built-up city with row after row of townhouses, cafés, and stores, Paris is still a great place to wander through huge, beautiful gardens with your partner. There are so many to choose from!
Here are some of the top parks and gardens in Paris:
- Jardin du Luxembourg
- Jardin des Plantes
- Place des Vosges
- Place Dauphine and Square du Vert-Galant
- Cimetière du Père-Lachaise
Luxembourg Gardens was built in the 17th century as a formal garden. Today it’s a picturesque green space to be enjoyed by everyone. If you’re taking a romantic trip to Paris but you’re short on funds, grab some cheese, bread, and deli meats from a local boulangerie and enjoy a delicious picnic in the park.
Place des Vosges is a tiny park that packs a punch. It’s the oldest planned square in Paris which is perfectly decorated with trees, fountains, and benches. And although Cimetière du Père-Lachaise is technically a cemetery and not a park, it’s a peaceful and atmospheric place to stroll around! Plus, you can visit the graves of notable people like Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, and Jim Morrison.
12. Day Trip to Loire Valley
France has eleven major wine regions so if someone in your group is an oenophile, be sure to visit at least one. While the Loire Valley is two and a half hours from Paris, it’s doable with an early start on an organized small-group tour.
Enjoy wine tasting at some of the top wineries in the country. Take tours of vineyards and wine cellars and learn about the passion that goes into every glass. Enjoying good wine with the person you love is romantic anywhere, but it’s a little better when you’re surrounded by the lush vines of the Loire Valley!
13. Catch the Sunrise at Trocadéro
While many of the best places to see incredible views in Paris are listed above, don’t miss sunrise at Place du Trocadéro. This grand square offers unobstructed, close-up views of the Eiffel Tower. Yes, it’s well worth booking a professional photographer for a couples’ photoshoot and waking up early to capture memories here.
14. Take Photos at the I Love You Wall
Tucked away in a small courtyard in Montmartre is a wall covered in blue enamel tiles with ‘I love you’ written over and over again in different languages. It’s absolutely one of the most romantic spots in the city and a beautiful place for a couple’s photoshoot or proposal.
Fun fact: “I love you” appears on the Wall of Love in more than 300 languages at least 1,500 times!
15. Stroll Through the Covered Passages of Paris
Around 150 covered passages were built in the 18th and 19th centuries as shopping arcades. Unfortunately, the big retailers pushed them into obscurity in the 20th century. Now, their stained glass windows and tiled floors are a time capsule to La Belle Epoque. Many of the stores sell vintage and antique wares. Strolling through the covered streets of Paris is easily one of the best places to visit on a romantic trip.
Some of the most beautiful passages are Galerie Vivienne in the 2nd arrondissement, Passage Jouffroy in the 9th arrondissement, and Passage Verdeau also in the 9th arrondissement. Pick up a memento to remember the best times you experienced on this romantic Paris trip together.
Romantic Paris Restaurants
One of the top romantic things to do in Paris is eat delicious French food and wash it down with a glass of wine (also delicious and French).
Bouillon Pigalle
For those seeking more low-key romantic restaurants, head to Bouillon Pigalle. This is a quintessential Parisian brasserie that, one hundred years ago, would have served the unwashed masses of the Red Light District. Today, it’s a very affordable bistro with white tablecloths and hearty traditional French cuisine, even escargot. There’s no good reason to not treat your significant other to an incredible meal just because you’re on a budget in Paris. There’s always a line so arrive early!
Girafe
One of the most romantic restaurants in Paris is Girafe. You’ll find it just off Trocadéro Square which means this upscale restaurant’s terrace has unbeatable views of the Eiffel Tower. It has a gourmet seafood menu and a beautiful setting with a marble bar, a fantastic cocktail menu, and mood lighting on every outside table. Note that the terrace is only open in the spring and summer months to avoid disappointment.
Michelin Starred Restaurants in Paris
If you have the cash, there are 118 Michelin-starred restaurants in Paris with exquisite tasting menus. Some you may want to check out for an extra special date night are La Tour d’Argent, the oldest restaurant in Paris, and Le Jules Verne which is the incredible restaurant at the top of the Eiffel Tower.
Angelina
Finally, you have to visit Angelina if it is your first time in Paris. It’s a Parisian institution! This tea room on Rue de Rivoli opened in 1903 and it looks as if everything from the artwork to the silverware dates to that time. Angelina is famous for its hot chocolate and decadent pastries. There are other locations around the city, but this particular Angelina is by far the best and has the most romantic atmosphere.
Romantic Paris Hotels
While you might not care too much about your accommodation on other trips, picking the right hotel in Paris can make or break an intimate trip with your love! Luckily, there are tons of romantic Paris hotels you can choose from.
Some of the most romantic places in the city are hotels with views of the Eiffel Tower. While the best might be the Shangri-La Paris Hotel, most couples aren’t looking to drop over $1,500 per night on a hotel room!
Hôtel La Comtesse Tour Eiffel is a luxurious, four-star alternative that guarantees an Eiffel Tower view for every single suite. The decor is clean and timeless with many rooms having a wrought iron balcony where you can sip champagne as the lights dance on the Iron Lady.
Another luxurious option is the simply named L’Hôtel in the historic Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood on the Left Bank. This five-star establishment was the world’s first boutique hotel. It boasts dark wood and crushed velvet furniture, marble sinks, and a somewhat kitschy style. Oscar Wilde was a former resident (he died in the hotel!) as well as Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Sinatra, and Jim Morrison.
Couples on a budget don’t have to miss out on romantic accommodation. Hôtel Bienvenue is located in the 9th arrondissement just south of Montmarte. It has a secluded, leafy courtyard and an authentic Art Deco lobby.
Or, book a room at Hôtel Jules & Jim named after a famous 1962 movie by François Truffaut. You’ll find this precious metals factory turned boutique hotel in the artsy 3rd arrondissement. It has a chic industrial design and views of the Sacré-Cœur.
Plan the Perfect Romantic Paris Getaway for Your Next Couples’ Trip
If you and your partner (and other couple friends) want to add your names to the long list of love stories that have blossomed in the City of Light, planning a romantic Paris trip is a no-brainer. It’s a city that all hopeless romantics have to visit at least once!
From the charming, dimly-lit streets and the old-world restaurants serving crème brûlées and champagne cocktails, it’s difficult to not fall in love with Paris and each other. Hopefully, this guide gives you plenty of ideas for the most romantic things to do in Paris so you can plan an unforgettable trip.