You might think everything is closed in Paris on January 1st? Not at all! Even though January 1st is a public holiday, you can still find plenty of things to do to keep yourself busy on the first day of the year. Here are a few of them.
1. The Eiffel Tower
A classic indeed, but the Iron Lady remains open to the public on January 1st!
She even stays open until 10:45 pm during the winter season.
Climb up to heights that’ll make you dizzy, or wait patiently in the elevator to be taken to the top floor of this tower that we don’t need to introduce anymore.
Did you know that it had served for scientific experiments in the past and that it now serves as a transmitter for radio and television?
Whether you are a tourist or not, admiring the city from that high to start the year can only inspire you!
Schedule: from 9:30 A.M. to 10:45 P.M.
Price: €26.80 for an Adult price for an elevator top floor ticket, which is the highest price.
Access: Subway stops Trocadéro (Line 9), École Militaire (Line 8), Bir Hakeim (Line 6) or RER C at the stop Champ de Mars.
Book a Skip the line ticket to not have to wait too long (includes a guide)
2. A cruise on the Seine
Whether it’s a classic cruise or a diner cruise, the boats are all open on New Year’s Day.
This is an ideal activity and one that is not too tiring if you stayed up up late on the night of the 31st.
Don’t be concerned about the temperature on the boats, as the cabins are all heated.
If you want to have a simple ride on the Seine, I recommend:
- Bateaux-Mouches: the most reliable company, which has proven itself. It’s also the one that has the lowest prices and the most time slots. A cruise with a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne is also available.
- Vedettes de Paris: more intimate, this company owns the smallest cruise boats navigating on the Seine. What a good way to appreciate a trip in a smaller group with a real guide who will take you on a tour.
- Vedettes du Pont-Neuf: this company is committed to replacing its boats with more environment-friendly ones. And we love that.
And if you decide to have a dinner cruise on the Seine, then I suggest:
- Bateaux-Mouches: for its reliability and its Prestige menu.
- Les Yachts de Paris Refinement, cuisine, luxury, ambiance and comfort… The best of the best, this starred restaurant on the Seine is the best.
- Paris Seine: the least expensive one, but it still has the same routes as the other boats.
If you prefer to head out at noon, the Bateaux-Mouches also offer a lunch cruise on the Seine.
Still unsure? Check out our detailed Top dinner cruises comparison in Paris to help you decide which boat compny to choose.
3. Museums
Paris is first and foremost a cultural city, with an impressive amount of different museums. There is something for every taste!
Some museums are free, thus it is necessary to check out those museums beforehand to have the ideal experience.
Centre Pompidou
Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris
This museum, with its atypical architecture dating from the 20th century, will transport you to mysterious realms with its collections of modern and contemporary art.
It is the greatest collection in Europe of this type, which attracts numerous visitors, and perhaps it will attract you as well!
Schedule: from 11 A.M. to 10 P.M.
Price: Free for:
- Visitors under 18 years old,
- Visitors between 18 and 25 years old, who are citizens of the European Union, and non-citizens but long-term residents (more than 3 years) in the European Union
- For all visitors on the first Sunday of every month
Otherwise, the full price ticket costs €14.
Access: Subway stops Rambuteau (Line 11), Hôtel de Ville (Lines 1 and 11), Châtelet (Lines 1, 4, 7, 11, 14) or RER A, B, D, at the stop Châtelet Les Halles
Centre Pompidou: Information and bookings
Musée d’Orsay
1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris
It is dedicated to the artists of the 19th century and it’s one of the most visited places in Paris.
There, you will find works of famous artists such as Pissarro, Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet, Millet and even Degas.
Schedule: from 9:30 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Price: Free for:
- Visitors under 18 years old,
- Visitors between 18 and 25 years old, who are citizens of the European Union, and non-citizens but long-term residents (more than 3 years) in the European Union<
- For all visitors on the first Sunday of every month
Otherwise, the full-price ticket costs €16.
Access: Stop Musée d’Orsay on RER C, Stop Assemblée Nationale on Line 12
Musée d’Orsay: Information and bookings
Musée de l’Orangerie
Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde (côté Seine), 75001 Paris
The ideal place if you want to admire Claude Monet’s, as well as many more works from artists of the 20th century.
You will also find large panoramic murals: the Nymphéas.
Schedule: from 9 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Price: Free for:
- Visitors under 18 years old,
- Visitors between 18 and 25 years old, who are citizens of the European Union, and non-citizens but long-term residents (more than 3 years) in the European Union
- For all visitors on the first Sunday of every month
Otherwise, the ticket costs €12.50 for an adult and €10 if you are accompanying a child.
Access: Lines 1, 8, 12, stop Concorde
Musée de l’Orangerie: Information and bookings
Le Musée Grévin
10 Boulevard Montmartre, 75009 Paris
For a more out-of-the-ordinary experience, go to this famous museum overflowed with famous figures made of wax.
Great leaders, television stars, fictional heroes, politicians… You will not be disappointed.
Schedule: 9:30 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Price: €24.50 per adult and €18.50 per child
Access: Lines 8, 9 and 3, stop Grands Boulevards/Bourse
Musée Grévin: Information and bookings
Le Musée de l’Illusion
98 Rue Saint-Denis, 75001 Paris
Come and discover the unique and interactive illusions at the Museum of Illusions.
With family or friends, allow yourselves to be surprised and test your senses with the exhibits and games on display.
Schedule: 10 A.M. to 10 P.M.
Price: €18 per adult and €12 per child
Access: Lines 1, 7, 11, 14, stop Châtelet
Musée de l’illusion: Information and bookings
Science Experience
6 Cour Saint-Emilion, 75012 Paris
Allow yourself to be tempted by the Science Experience, a unique, multi-disciplinary immersive science museum.
Here, science is not only educational but also entertaining, and the attractions engage both your senses and emotions.
Come and learn while having fun with activities ranging from chemistry demonstrations to insect tasting.
Schedule: 10 A.M. to 8 P.M.
Price: €19 per adult and €11 per child
Access: Lines 14, stop Cour Saint-Emilion
Science Experience: Information and bookings
4. Going to the zoo
57 Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris
To start the year nicely, you can go and observe animals in all their glory.
Whether you are with your family or with your friends, don’t hesitate to venture to La Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes, a very big zoo that hosts more than 150 different animal species.
The park was created in 1974 in an old royal garden, which makes it the oldest zoo in France. During its creation, it sheltered animals from the Versailles Royal Menagerie or animals confiscated from fairs.
You will mostly find small-sized animals, like the red panda or even the snow panther, given that the zoo is not very large.
Schedule: from 10 A.M. to 6:30 P.M.
Price: from €10 to €13
Access: Subway stops Gare d’Austerlitz (Lines 5 and 10, and RER C), Jussieu (Lines 7 and 10), Place Monge (Line 7) and Censier-Daubenton (Line 7).
Book your Skip the Line ticket
However, this isn’t the only zoo in Paris open on January 1st.
You can also visit the Paris Zoological Park, which offers a 4-kilometer trail to discover more than 200 animal species divided into five different biomes: Sahel-Sudan, Patagonia, Europe, Guyana, and Madagascar.
These biomes replicate the natural habitats of numerous animal species for their well-being.
It’s the perfect outing if you’re unsure of what to do on January 1st.
5. The roof of the Grande Arche
1 parvis de la Défense, 92 044 Paris La Défense Cedex
Do you feel too stifled in the Eiffel Tower? This is completely understandable.
Go to the roof of the Grande Arche de la Défense to admire the city like you never did before: an outstanding view of all the grand monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, or even the Louvre.
To reach the roof, step inside the panoramic elevator that will carry you all the way to the top, while offering one of the best views of Paris.
Schedule: 10 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Price: €15 for the full price, €12 for the reduced price, €10 for students, and €7 for children from 3 to 18 years old.
Access: La Défense stop: Subway line 1, RER A, Trains L and U, Tramway T2.
Book your visit to the roof and the exhibition space
6. Laser Game
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9 rue Robert de Flers, 75015 Paris
New Year’s Eve has passed but the desire for fun lingers on?
Unleash your energy at a Laser Game venue, where you strap on a vest, arm yourself with a laser gun, and hunt down your opponents to deactivate them by hitting the targets on their vests with your laser.
Each game lasts 20 minutes, providing ample opportunity to show your friends (and foes) that you’re the top player!
Price: about €11
Access: Line 10, Stop Charles Michels
7. Aquarium de Paris
5 avenue Albert de Mun 75016 Paris
Yes, the Aquarium de Paris is open on January 1st!
Take your family or your friends to the Aquarium to discover beautiful underwater animal species.
Check out no less than 13,000 fishes and invertebrates through the many basins and even the pet Koi carp!
If you are fascinated by sharks, you won’t be disappointed because you can observe them in an aquarium with 38 sharks.
Don’t forget to visit the Médusarium, which happens to be the biggest in Europe. You will find no less than 2,500 jellyfish, each more impressive than the other.
An experience that marks a break in time as it is fascinating.
Schedule: 10 A.M. to 6 P.M.
Price: from €13.50 to €17.50 for children from 3 to 12 years old, and from €19.50 to €24.50 for adults (the tickets are less expensive if purchased online)
Access: RER C Champs de Mars, Line 9 Trocadéro and Iéna, Line 6 Trocadéro
8. Domaine de Saint-Cloud
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1 Av. de la Grille d’Honneur, 92210 Saint-Cloud
Would you like to take a breath of fresh air after the festivities?
Pass by the Domaine de Saint-Cloud, and be amazed by its 460 hectares at the gates of the capital of France.
It should be known that there used to be a princely palace in the Domain. Unfortunately, it had burned down after having been bombed during clashes opposing the French soldiers based in Mont-Valérien and the Prussian soldiers occupying the domain of Saint-Cloud, in 1870.
If you want to relax after the end-of-year festivities, take a walk in the field and look for paintings of trees. 15 remarkable trees reside in this small park and the garden of Trocadéro, for a relaxing and fun journey.
It’s rather incredible to think that such a large park is located just next to the greatest city in France!
Schedule: 7:30 A.M. to 7:50 P.M.
Price: Free for the pedestrians, €3 for the two and three-wheel motor engines, €5.50 for the cars.
Access: metro Line 10 stop: Boulogne-Pont de St-Cloud, Routes 52, 72, 126, 175, 460, 467, at the Parc de St-Cloud stop by bus
9. Montparnasse Tower
33 Av. du Maine, 75015 Paris
Are you looking for a different view of Paris to celebrate the new year?
The Montparnasse Tower also offers a sublime view of the city all year long.
Take the fastest elevator in Europe to climb up to the panoramic terrace on the 59th floor of the Montparnasse Tower, in less than 38 seconds.
Once you arrive there, you will have the possibility to observe the numerous monuments of the city from the highest observation deck of Paris at 210 meters high.
If you want to know my opinion, it is the best view of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
An experience you should try at least once in your life, even if you see the Montparnasse Tower every day.
Schedule: 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 P.M.
Price: €19 for adults, €14 for teenagers (12-17 years old), €8 for children (4-11 years old) and €7.50 for people with reduced mobility. Consider booking your tickets online to pay a lower price than on-site.
Access: Montparnasse-Bienvenüe (metro lines 4, 6, 12, 13) or by bus (Routes 28, 58, 82, 88, 89, 91, 92, 94, 95 and 96) at the Gare Montparnasse.
Book your Skip the Line ticket
10. L’Atelier des Lumières
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38 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris
The Atelier des Lumières welcomes you to make you discover numerous immersive collections of digital art which are continuously broadcast.
A long time ago, the place was a foundry that answered to the cast iron needs of the Navy and the railroad industry. In 1929, the foundry shut down. It was in 2018 that the Atelier des Lumières that we know today opened.
Since its opening, the workshop has set up a long exhibit as well as a short exhibit each year.
This museum is very impressive with 10-meter high walls, a 3.300m² surface, and 140 projectors to literally project artworks… everywhere.
An experience that you do not want to miss if you love to see new things, especially to start the new year!
Schedule:< From Monday to Thursday, from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. Night openings on Fridays and Sundays until 10 P.M. and on Sundays until 7 P.M.
Price: €16 for the full price, €15 for the seniors (+65 years old), €13 for the reduced price, and €11 for the young people (5-25 years old). Consider booking your tickets online to pay less than onsite.
Access: Voltaire and Saint-Ambroise stops (Line 9), Rue Saint-Maur stop (Line 3), Père Lachaise stop (line 2) or Routes 46, 56, 61 and 69 by bus at the Chemin Vert stop.
Book your time slot (website in French)
11. Le Village d’Hiver de Pantin
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Do you love the festivities for the new year? Put your gloves on and go skiing very close to Paris.
The Village d’Hiver de Pantin offers free entertainment for the festivities, all in good spirits.
You will be able to slide on the ice rink, go cross-country skiing and even sled.
If you want to treat yourself after a sliding session, head over to the creperie of the village. You can buy sweet and salted crepes, waffles and even a cup of hot chocolate to get warmed up.
You can come during the day of January 1st to stretch your legs after the festivities.
Schedule: from 10 A.M. to 7 P.M.
Price: Free
Access: Pantin on RER E, or Bus Routes 151, 249, N13, N41, N140 to the Pantin RER Mairie stop.
12. Make your own jacket out of jeans
What if you make your own jacket out of jeans for New Year’s?
For 3 hours alongside a team of stylist creators, you can imagine your dream jacket and make it!
You can add embroideries, stripes, patches, pins and even brooches to your jacket.
A unique experience to learn the basics of sewing.
Information and bookings (website in French)
13. Escape Game
Do you prefer starting the year with a bit of adrenaline?
Try to escape one or more rooms in an Escape Game!
There is something for everyone in Paris, and the goal is simple: solve riddles in a room with a particular theme. In general, you only need 1 to 2 hours to escape, so plan a bit of free time.
Here are three Escape Games that we love and that we recommend:
➡️ The Metro (1 hour, €33 per person for 3 players, €29 per person for 4 players, €26 per person for 5 players)
➡️ The Plane (1 hour, €33 per person for 3 players, €29 per person for 4 players, €26 per person for 5 players)
➡️ The Elevator (1 hour, €45 per person for 2 players, €33 per person for 3 players, €29 per person for 4 players, €26 per person for 5 players, €25 per person for 6 players)
Otherwise, you can choose for yourself from our list of the 8 best escape games in Paris.
14. A VR Experience
38 rue d’Aboukir, 75002 Paris
VirtualTime welcomes you for a fun and one-of-a-kind virtual reality experience.
You’ll have the option to choose from more than 50 games and experiences. For instance, you can embark on virtual visits to extraordinary places like Everest, the depths of the oceans, or the expanses of space.
There are also role-playing games available that you can enjoy with a group.
Price: From €34
Access: Lines 3, stop Chantier
Information and bookings (in French)
I aim to share my tips and recommendations for the beautiful country of France. My goal is to help you plan your next adventure, whether it’s a weekend getaway or a once-in-a-lifetime trip. From finding the best hotels and restaurants, to discovering unique activities and sights, I’ve got you covered!
