1) Take in the Sights - There are lots of historic sights to see in Paris between the museums, churches, gardens, Arc de Triomphe and of course the Eiffel Tower. To make best use of your time in a chic and memorable way, reserve a vintage French Citroën 2CV for a private, half-day tour with pick-up and drop-off at your chosen location. The driver will cover wherever you like to go or recommend a route to see the highlights with your allotted time. The tour can be booked through Viator here ​or here for a different car style.  Alternatively, this tour will cover 30 of the highlights in a jam packed half-day group tour on foot and metro to explore here. 

 

Go beyond just seeing the Eiffel Tower and make your experience even more special by dining there too. Enjoy more time at the tower with a 3-course gourmet lunch at Madame Brasserie. Access to the restaurant also provides the ability to skip the line and access the tower to explore before or after lunch. The ability to book through Viator is available here. 

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2) Take a Seine River Cruise - Take in the sights from the water on the Seine River while enjoying a gourmet 3-course seasonal lunch aboard a river cruise. Enjoy live entertainment and a welcome glass of champagne. More information with the ability to purchase tickets through Viator is available here. 

 

3) See Feerie at the Moulin Rouge - Experience the most famous cabaret in the world with "Féerie" at the legendary Moulin Rouge. The show is 105 minutes of non-stop, off-the-charts, energetic entertainment of dancers in incredible costumes performing intricate dances and the famous French Cancan. There is a 9pm and 11pm show each night with a 7pm 3-course dinner option before the 9pm show. The show is said to sell out every night, so purchase your tickets in advance to experience this legendary performance. There is partial nudity of the dancers throughout the show to be aware of. Tickets are available for both shows and the dinner option through Viator here. 

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4) Experience Paris Fashion - Paris is renowned for its high fashion, so indulge in some Paris shopping while there.  One unique experience is the ability to make your own custom hat with Lady Gaga's world-renowned hat maker (tres chic!). More information on the experience with the ability to book is available here. 

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5) Take a Day Trip - Of course there is a ton to experience in Paris, but there are also exciting options a short trip away.  Below are some ideas in order of closest to furthest: 

 

• Tour the Palace of Versailles - The Palace of Versailles is about an hour train ride from Paris. While the palace is stunning, the grounds are equally impressive. There are guided tours available to book through Viator here. A self-guided tour is available with an admission ticket. I found the palace to be uncomfortably crowded when I visited in June 2022 and recommend seeing the highlights of the palace and then allocating more time to exploring the grounds. This can include renting a row boat on the pond and/or a bike or golf cart to get around. Bring a blanket to enjoy a picnic on the grounds. More information on visiting the palace can be found on their website here. 

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• Drink Champagne in Champagne - Paris is only about a 60-90 min train ride and 2 hour drive from the champagne region. The champagne region consists of Epernay and Reims with the train reaching both from Paris' Gare de l'Est.  If taking the train, I recommend visiting Epernay since Champagne Avenue is a short walk away. There you can tour the Moet & Chandon and their largest underground wine cellar system and other well-known and smaller champagne houses. A list of the champagne houses with the ability to book is accessible here. Alternatively, tours are available with transportation to and from Paris, including the tastings and tours through Viator here. 

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• Tour French Vineyards - The Burgundy wine region is renowned for its pinot noir and chardonnay wines and lies about 2 hours southeast of Paris. This small group tour of up to 8 people provides transportation to and from Paris to visit three wineries, while learning about Burgundy's history and heritage. More information and there ability to book is accessible here. The Loire Valley is about a 2.5 hour drive from Paris with a 90 min train available to Châteaux. There's also a full-day group tour with transportation to and from Paris to explore castles, renaissance towns, and enjoy a wine tasting in Château de Chenonceau here.

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The entire country and neighboring countries are more or less accessible by train within 4 hours. So whether you want to enjoy the chic French Riviera with Cannes and Saint Tropez, wander through lavender fields in Provence, or experience where that famous mustard originated in Dijon, France is your oyster!​