The best things to do in Paris in 2025

What is it? One of Paris’s biggest and best art galleries, which has just reopened after four years’ (and €466 million) worth of restorations. 

Why go? Well firstly, because you can. And because it looks brand-spanking-new – the central nave and its surrounding galleries have been completely revamped, and there’s a brand-new pedestrian entrance. But thirdly, the Grand Palais will now hold works from Paris’s iconic Centre Pompidou, which will be closed from late summer 2025 until some time in 2030. 

Don’t miss: Save some time to wander through its gardens – there’s around 60,000 new plants to admire. 

Address: 3 Avenue du Général Eisenhower, 75008 Paris

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am-8pm (Fridays until 10.30pm). Last admission 45 minutes before closing

What is it? It was rumoured for years, but now it’s finally here – you can actually go swimming in the River Seine this summer. 

Why go? After a €1.4 billion investment into cleaning up the city’s river, it’s finally been declared safe to swim in without getting sick (for the first time in 102 years, we’ll point out). But that doesn’t mean you can jump in anywhere – head to Bras Marie, Bras de Grenelle or Bercy for changing rooms, showers, beachy furniture and all the rest of it. Around 300 people are expected to be able to visit at one time. 

Don’t miss: It’s perfectly safe, but if the thought makes you squirm, head to one of our favourite (actual) swimming pools in Paris instead. 

Bras Marie: Quai des Célestins, 75004 Paris, France

Bras de Grenelle: 4 Port de Grenelle, 75015 Paris, France

Bercy: 183 Quai de Bercy, 75012 Paris, France

What is it? The place to be during the summer months (running from July 23 to August 17, 2025). 

Why go? Spread out over 35 hectares, this is the largest of Paris’s parks, and every summer it hosts an annual open-air cinema festival. There’s always a good vibe, and yes, we have witnessed a crowd of more than 2,000 get up and dance beneath the stars at the end of Grease. Tourists, don’t fear: English films are shown in their original language, with French subtitles. The best part? It’s completely and utterly free to visit. 

Don’t miss: Bring a picnic with you for park chilling beforehand, and then round off the night at beach-style nightclub Plage du Glazart, which is kitted out with sand and deckchairs.

Address: 211 Avenue Jean Jaurès, 75019 Paris

Opening hours: Films shown at nightfall

What is it? Our la dame de fer needs no introduction, but we’ll give her one anyway. It took two years to build her (and some 18,000 pieces of metal), and she was once the tallest thing in the entire world – though New York’s Chrysler Building ended up overtaking us. 

Why go? The Eiffel Tower is the most quintissentially Parisienne thing you can do – and it’s earned its spot as our top tourist attraction in the city. On a clear day, the views are fantastic, and it’s in a great spot for a day of sightseeing. We’ll say it now: tourist attractions don’t get much better than this!

Don’t miss: The view of the Iron Lady from one of our favourite rooftop bars in the city, Ombres. 

Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris

What is it? Undoubtedly the world’s best-known graveyard.

Why go? For those who enjoy immersive, unusual places, Père-Lachaise is a must. It’s also beautifully picturesque: a vast, shaded labyrinth with snaking hillside paths and pretty stone stairs. In this maze, you’ll find graves belonging to a long list of cultural icons including Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde. 

Address: 16 Rue du Repos, 75020 Paris 

Opening hours: Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday 8.30am-6pm, Sunday and public holidays 9am-6pm (summer hours)

What is it? One of the few listed swimming pools in Paris, the Butte-aux-Cailles pool is a true pioneer of Parisian bathing culture.

Why go? Its red brick façade hints at Art Nouveau, while inside, the vaulted ceiling and large arches give it an almost ecclesiastical feel. Best of all: the water is naturally warm, drawn from artesian wells. Renovated in the early 2010s, this gleaming pool features a 33-metre indoor pool and a 25-metre outdoor pool open year-round, with a timeless, almost otherworldly atmosphere.

Don’t miss: The outdoor area also includes a paddling pool and a solarium.

Address: 5 Place Paul-Verlaine, 75013 Paris

Opening hours: Tuesday 7-9pm, Wednesday-Friday 7-8.30am, 11.30am-6pm, Saturday 10.30am-8.30pm, Sunday 8am-6pm, closed Monday

What is it? A small food market that feels like – and is? – the ‘real’ Paris.  

Why go? This historic Parisian market takes its name from the Enfants Rouges (Red Children) orphanage, which was built in the 16th century and closed down just before the revolution. We recommend Enfants du Marché, but don’t expect starched white tablecloths, veggie-friendly options, and discrete service: more of a market counter than a restaurant, food is enjoyed standing at the bar (there’s no ceiling, so expect to be chilly in winter) and accompanied by the charismatic and cheeky presence of Michael Grosman, maître d', sommelier, and winner of Best Host in Paris at the Time Out Food and Drink Awards. Chef Shunta Suzuki’s hearty, meaty dishes are as delightful as they are pricey: think iconic Groix mussels in a gorgonzola sauce, tempura brains (don’t be afraid), and more. 

Don’t miss: You’re slap bang in the middle of the Marais, one of our top picks for places to stay in Paris, so once you’ve paid l’addition, take a stroll around the area. 

Address: 39 Rue de Bretagne, 75003 Paris

What is it? Two of the best museums near the Eiffel Tower.

Why go? In the heart of the 16th arrondissement, two museums with equally impressive programmes – but entirely different vibes – face each other. The first, the Palais de Tokyo, combines installations, videos and new-age icons, cementing its status as a temple of contemporary art, while the second, the Musée d’Art Moderne, pays tribute to the Avant-gardistes.

Don’t miss: The exceptional bookshop in the basement of the Palais de Tokyo, which is famed for its selection of titles covering fashion, contemporary art and more.

Palais de Tokyo: 13 Avenue du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris

Musée d’Art Moderne: 11 Avenue du Président Wilson, 75116 Paris

What is it? Michelin-starred chef Bertrand Grébaut’s unique restaurant venture in Faubourg Saint-Antoine, and one of the best restaurants in Paris.

Why go? Septime's classy setting – which, with its weathered wooden tables, blackened steel, and soft lighting, is reminiscent of a London gastropub – has not aged a bit since it opened in 2011. Nor has Bertrand Grébaut’s Michelin-starred cooking, which remains sharp and pioneering: highlights of the seven-course tasting menu (€135) include braised sucrine lettuce with a wafer-thin slice of bacon, tender scallops paired with bone marrow and brilliant grilled veal sweetbreads with harissa accompanied by couscous broth, arguably the high point of the meal. To enjoy these dishes to their fullest potential, the intelligent, well-travelled and perfectly calibrated wine pairing (€75) is pretty much essential.

Don’t miss: Book early, as it can fill up a year in advance. If you can’t get a table, try Septime La Cave next door.

Address: 80 Rue de Charonne, 75011 Paris

What is it? A different take on the world’s most famous museum.

Why go? With over 35,000 pieces on display, it would be impossible to feel like you’ve ‘completed’ the Louvre in just one visit. Instead, we’d suggest trying one of the niche tours of the museum, like a feminist tour, or even the Beyoncé and Jay-Z tour, which showcases the iconic creations featured in the ‘Apeshit’ music video filmed at the Louvre in 2018. Géricault's Raft of the Medusa, the Venus de Milo and, of course, the Mona Lisa.

Don’t miss: Have your very own Night at the Museum experience, with evening tours starting at 6.30pm on a Friday evening.

Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris