Things To Do In Paris At Night: 24 Stops For A Major Main Character Moment

After you take your photos of the Eiffel Tower lights sparkling at night, what’s next? 

Paris nightlife is some of the best in Europe, but it can be super overwhelming if you haven’t spent much time in the city. 

From champagne-filled evenings at cozy wine bars to secret cabaret shows and ideas if you don’t drink (I’m not a huge drinker myself), these are the best things to do in Paris at night.

23 Stops to Make Your Night in Paris a Major Main Character Moment

1. Dinner Cruise on the Seine 

Seeing a city from the water is on the top of my bucket list! When I was in Paris, we didn’t have a chance to take any type of cruise, and I regret it! And sunset boat tour? Pure magic! The Seine river cruise is one of the best ways to see the lights of Paris at night. 

If you time it right, you can even see the Eiffel tower light show reflecting off the water. The boat will also cruise by Notre Dame Cathedral, giving you a unique view of the Cathedral.

An evening on the water is a great way to end a day full of sightseeing and exploring, or even a spectacular way to kick off a night on the town. Choosing a sunset boat cruise is sure a sure way to romanticize your life. 

Depending on which cruise you choose, this is also one of the best things to do in Paris at night with family. It’s sure to wow everyone, regardless of age. When you get done you might be so in awe that you’ll have to take a moonlight walk along the river Seine to your next destination!

2. Bambino Wine Bar

Bambino Wine Bar is a go-to spot, day or night. This cafe by day, wine bar by night is a must see. Drawing inspiration from across the globe, you are guaranteed good food and music. They have an extensive record collection display and great sound system. 

The space is designed to transition throughout the day, so a great option at any hour. And if you’re not too tired from exploring Paris all night, they have late night dancing! Not my cup of tea (I actually literally prefer a cup of tea!), but definitely gives main character energy! If you are planning an epic night out in Paris, make sure to include this spot! 

3. Palais Garnier Opera

Palais Garnier Opera floored me. I saw photos before visiting, but they truly don’t do it justice. And visiting at night? For a show? Sign me up! It’s perfect or the art, architect, theater lover with grand hallways, galleries, and a library. There is almost more to see in the opera house than on the stage. 

They have various shows, from operas and ballets to concerts and recitals for you to choose from. There is definitely something special about dressing up for a show in such a gorgeous location.

If you are interested in a more intimate experience beyond a show, you can also book a guided or self-guided tour, and they even have a children’s game you can download, making it a perfect family outing.

You might even be able to catch a showing of Swan Lake like Emily did in Emily in Paris! 

4. Sainte Chapelle Night Concert

Another great option for architecture enthusiasts, the Sainte Chapelle cathedral. It’s one of Paris’ most visited monuments known for its many colorful, intricate stained glass windows. 

To make your visit here even more special, get tickets for one of their classical concerts. Some of the best composers play in their concert series. There’s even an option that includes champagne with the concert, and another with wine and tapas from a Parisian chef – only in Paris! 

5. Some Girls

A favorite of Whimsy writer Mel during her time studying abroad in France, Some Girls is a rock n roll bar in Bastille. It’s an American style bar, perfect for tourists visiting Paris who want to feel a bit more at home in a foreign country. Nightlife can be a little intimidating, especially when you don’t know what to wear.

6. Rue de Lappe

Rue de Lappe street is in all of the travel tips for the best nightlife in Paris. It’s renowned for being the mecca of Parisian bars. Since there are so many options on one street, you can check out a bunch of places to find the one with the right vibe for you. 

There are also lots of cafes and dancing spots along this discreet, but very much alive street for you to explore! Really, you can’t go wrong with the bars here and it can be such a great place to start. 

If being out in a city at night also isn’t your forte, it’s a great place to explore and go cafe hopping during the day! For more places to explore at night, check out Rue Mouffetard and Rue Montorgueil –  pedestrian streets lined with tons of must try food and lively nightlife! 

7. La Java Night Club

Want to experience all the Paris nightlife has to offer? Definitely plan on visiting this Paris night club (or discotheque). Some of the greats like Edith Piaf & Django Reinhardt have performed at La Java.It’s a perfect spot for live events, and a lively dance floor. 

Consistently described as unpretentious, this nightclub is a great classic yet exciting addition to any night out. If you are wondering what to do in Paris after midnight, look no further!

PS – try watching French series on Netflix prior to your trip so you can chat a bit with locals!

8. Moulin Rouge Show

This wouldn’t be a complete list of Paris night activities without a cabaret show! For a night of fun, feathers and cancans, definitely check out the Moulin Rouge Cabaret Show. 

At the Moulin they also have a rooftop bar terrace where they serve cocktails and tapas you can enjoy before or after the show. If you want to go to show, you definitely need to buy tickets well in advance as they’re almost always sold out. There are other caberet shows around town you can choose from, but Moulin Rouge is pretty iconic. 

9. Louvre Museum at Night

A staple of the Parisian experience, the Louvre Museum is even more stunning at night. On Wednesdays and Fridays the museum stays open until 9:45 which just might have less crowds to fight! 

Even if you don’t go in, stopping in the courtyard at night to see the pyramid illuminated is so worth it. The entire courtyard just screams, I’m in Paris, surrounded by beautiful architecture, tourists bumbling around and locals heading home. 

10. Rooftop at Printemps

The Rooftop at Printemps is one of the best things to do Paris at night for free. It’s a rooftop of a shopping complex that is accessible for free, and has one of the absolute best views of the Eiffel tower in the entire city. 

As you can expect, there’s great shopping, but it closes at 8. So be sure to visit before it closes, snap a photo with the tower, and pick up a new outfit for your night out! For more Eiffel tower sparkle views, check out these 15 Paris hotels with stunning views! 

11. O Chateau

If you are feeling extra classy or are a wine aficionado, this wine bar is a must stop! They offer over 50 types of wine and their selection rotates weekly. That means you have to go multiple times during your visit or on return trips, right? 

Even if you’re new to wine and interested in learning more, they have various wine and food tasting experiences (many in English too!) that you can reserve. Some of these tastings, like the Tour de France Wine Tasting!, are extremely informative and will have you ordering French wines like a pro. 

12. La Favorite St. Paul

This might be one of the most instagrammable spots on this list, which is actually saying something in Paris. 

Beautifully decorated with delicate pink flowers, this cocktail bar is so much more than just that, it is an entire experience. Plus if you like it enough you can come back for Brunch too! 

The dinner and cocktail menus change frequently throughout the year, and “the art of eating” is pièces de résistance. The plates really bring the wow factor, and are as gorgeous as they are delicious. 

13. Florida Les Halles

Another spot decorated with spectacular flowers, the red accents and unique decorations give this restaurant immaculate vibes. Parisian food is amazing, but if you are looking for some different cuisine, definitely add Florida Les Halles to your list. 

Their menu is inspired by travel and offers cuisine from around the globe. The inside is so elegant, making it a perfect stop for a round of drinks. It’s also converted from two old breweries so lots of space to not feel so crowded.

14. Le Voltigeur

This cafe/cocktail bar is definitely one of the best hidden gems in Paris. They are well known for delicious quiches and a variety of unique pastries. If you know me, you know I love a good pastry! So how could you not love a cafe that’s also a cocktail bar? It’s open till 2am – way past my bed time! But I would have a hard time leaving! 

15. Trocadéro Gardens

Another great option for exploring Paris at night, the gardens get you up close and personal with the luminous Eiffel tower at night. This was one of my favorite places to stop for my main character moment, and is also one of the few free night activities in Paris. 

The tower lights up every hour on the hour for five minutes so be sure to plan your visit to the garden around that. It is so gorgeous and is such a fantastic photo op to remember your time in Paris forever! 

16. Ghost Tour

Any city with as much history as Paris has is bound to have some ghosts and plenty of ghost stories. If you are the type of person that wants to mess around with ghosts, this night tour is for you! 

It’s a guided tour where you’ll learn so much about Paris that you might have not otherwise. If you scare easily (like me!), this might not be one of the best things to do in Paris alone at night. 

On the tour you’ll visit some of the locations of the dark side of Parisian history, who knows, you might actually see a ghost 👻 

17. Comedy Show in English

If you are in the mood for a good laugh, you can learn more about France while watching a comedy show! Comedian Olivier Giraud has a show called “How to Become Parisian in One Hour” that might help you understand Paris culture on a whole new level. 

This show is completely in English, making it a great option for tourists at night. Paris can be intimidating, especially if you don’t speak the language, so laughing about the things you don’t quite get can help you loosen up a bit! 

18. Paris Catacombs at Night

This is probably the one thing on the list I wouldn’t do. But you do you! Exploring the Paris Catacombs during the day is creepy enough, but at night?! Definitely more eerie and somber since there’s literally no light at the end of the tunnel, the catacombs are fascinating and contain the remains of many of Paris’ past residents. 

Be sure to wear comfy shoes for this one! There’s LOTS of stairs on the way down, and the ground can be uneven which I’m sure is even more difficult to navigate at night. It’s well lit, of course, but you never know! 

What I loved about visiting the Catacombs was the history lesson. I’d seen the photos of skulls and bones, but didn’t know how they got there. Essentially, there was a time when the city was plagued and there were too many bodies and not enough burial grounds, so they were sadly put altogether underground. After a while, someone decided to give these people a proper memorial. Since they couldn’t exactly identify the remains, they decided to create this work of art that’s contemplating death.

You can buy a ticket and explore underground quarries yourself, or you can book a tour to learn even more. 

19. Musee d’Orsay After Dark

If you are looking for a more quiet, contemplative evening, definitely check out the Orsay on Thursday nights when they close late. Usually the museum closes at 5 but on Thursdays it is open until 9:30 and tickets are discounted if you get there after 6pm. 

This is perfect if you’re looking for things to do in Paris at night alone! Museums provide a safe, quiet space to explore, plus you’ll likely miss the huge crowds! The Orsay is in an old train station and has a huge collection of impressionist art. 

20. Sacré-Cœur Basilica

The Basilica is open until 10:30pm daily so you can definitely check it out at night. It’s quite a hike to the top, so wear comfy shoes and also dress appropriately for visiting a place of worship. Because first, and foremost, Sacré-Cœur Basilica is an operating church where people come to pray and for their regular services. Just outside is one of the best panoramic views of the city (see daytime photo below!) so a great way to see the city lights. 

If you stop by earlier, you can take a Dome Tour! Up and additional 300 stairs, you’ll be at the very tippy top of the basilica. Hours vary by time of year, but entry is only 7 euros for adults (at time of publishing). For that view though, it’s definitely worth both the fee and the stairs. 

This is definitely one of the most unique places to visit in Paris at night. I can’t even imagine how glorious a sunset would be from the top of the dome. 

21. Art Deco Swimming Pool

Did you imagine swimming to be on the a list of things to do at night in Paris? Add a night swim to your list at one of Paris’ Art Deco pools! The rumor is they’re gorgeously lit up at night, and you can’t miss it! 

A great option to start is the Pontoise swimming pool which is open to the public. or 5-star Molitor hotel pool that was in the movie, Life of Pi.

22. Attend A Soccer Game

A live soccer game is one of the most unique things to do in Paris at night. Paris Saint Germain plays the majority of their games at night so there’s a good chance you can fit a game into your visit. 

This is also a great activity for family fun for the soccer or sports loving group. Sporting events can be a fun vacation addition since you get to see a different side of sports, and who knows, maybe you’ll learn some French chants along the way!

For basketball or tennis fans, Paris also has teams in various sports worth watching, including the French Open tennis tournament hosted yearly. 

23. Versailles Light Show

If you happen to be in Paris between June and September, head to Versailles (the old French capital just outside the city) on Saturday night to watch the glorious fountain light show. We pratically got lost in the gardens during our visit, so I can only imagine an evening stroll through the gardens with all of the fountains are lit up. So fun! 

During the show, the garden also has bubbles and thousands of lights illuminating the gorgeous landscaping and statues. As if that weren’t enough, the show ends with fireworks! 

24. Eat the Best Crepes in Paris

Something about me, especially since meeting my boyfriend, I LOVE crepes! We make them at home all the time after visiting Paris. Trying to recreate some of the best crepes ever, but not sure we’ll ever hit the mark. When searching for the best crepes in Paris, Breizh Cafe kept coming up. 

I was hesitant at first since it’s a chain, but wow was it life changing. We visited in the evening and it was popping so make a reservation if you can. The cafe offers all sorts of savory and sweet crepes, but we opted for a late night sweet treat! 

We ordered one with sauteed bananas and ice cream that we tried to take to go, but the staff was insistent we eat there since the ice cream would melt and ruin the experience. And they were right! This crepe was heavenly and I think about it often. 

But you don’t have to go to a fancy restaurant for a good crepe, there are TONS of stands selling crepes everywhere. My favorite was a banana, nutella and almond crepe I got from a seller on Rue Mouffetard. 

No matter what type of experience you are looking for, you’ll be able to find it in Paris at night. I hope these suggestions helped you expand your trip plans! Let me know what you end up doing, especially if you happen to stumble upon a life-changing crepe!