Paris, city of love ❤️ and cradle of romantic artists. The beautiful Paris offers a wide selection of activities to do for a couple. Here for you is a list of activities to do with the one you love in the city of light.
A Walk in Montmartre
Perched on the heights of the capital, the district of Montmartre is full of perfect places for a rendezvous. The most famous is the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, built between 1876 and 1910. It is dedicated to silent and constant worship.
After you have admired the sculpted decorations, organs and mosaics, you can visit the crypt but you can also climb approximately 240 steps to reach the Dome and enjoy the panoramic view over Paris in your lover’s arms.
Located on the Butte Montmartre, the Place du Tertre is a typically Parisian place where you can meet artists ready to make a realistic or caricatured painting of you. It is a chance to immortalize this lovely moment before you have a candlelight dinner in one of the many restaurants surrounding the place.
If you want to surprise her/him and declare your love to your partner in another language, you can walk down the streets and go to the Square Jean Rictus, Place des Abbesses, where is located the Wall of Love (or the “I Love You” Wall) and in which 311 “I love yous” are written in 250 languages.
Paris by night in 2CV
This is an original activity!
A visit of Paris in the iconic 2CV.
For this magical experience, you will be accompanied by a driver-guide passionate about history and totally in love with Paris, who will tell you all the historical anecdotes that even Parisians love!
Your photos will look great, that’s for sure.
Ride in a vintage car
For this activity, you will be taken for a ride by your driver, this time in a vintage car.
You have the choice between these 3 models: the Peugeot 404 (produced between 1960 and 1975), the Mercedes 280 SE (produced between 1973 and 1980) and the Mercedes S-Class (luxury car par excellence).
You will be taken through the streets of Paris to (re)discover the most beautiful and romantic corners of the capital.
You even have the option of ordering a bottle of champagne and macaroons. If that’s not romantic …
A Show at the Opera
Going out to the cinema, everybody knows. So why not change a bit and go out to see an opera or a ballet at the Opéra Garnier.
Visits without attending a show cost €15. (Exclusive deal: save 10% by booking a combined ticket with a cruise on the Seine River)
Located in the 9th district of Paris, it is one of the monuments that shapes the face of the capital. Napoléon III ordered its construction and since then it has been the witness of history and it has seen the greatest works performed on its stage.
The architecture also makes it one of the most beautiful places to take your other half to: Neo-Baroque style, sculptures, golden statues, etc.
Everything is a dream. If you walk into it, you will be able to admire its Pythia Basin; based on a Greek legendary character, this is the great staircase which leads to several floors leading to the auditorium.
Finally, the opera witnessed one of the most famous love stories that is the story between Christine Daaé and Erik in Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera by whom you can be inspired.
The Lovers’ Bridges
Even though you can’t seal a padlock anymore on the Pont des Arts, the Pont de l’Archevêché or the Pont Alexandre III, you can still come and symbolically make a vow and enjoy the view on the different monuments visible from those bridges.
Because the important thing is not to seal a padlock on a bridge while making a promise, the important thing is the promise itself.
The Pont des Arts connects the Malaquais and Conti quays in front of the Institut de France. It belongs to the historical monuments and numerous “love padlocks” had been locked in it from 2008 to 2015 when they were unlocked in order not to damage the bridge.
The Pont de l’Archevêché was named after the archbishopric that was located in the South-East of Notre-Dame, and it is located at the level of the Île de la Cité, in the extension of the Archevêché quay. The custom of the love padlocks also came to this bridge but they’ve also been removed.
As for the Pont Alexandre III, which also endured the weight of the padlocks, it connects the 7th and the 8th districts of Paris alongside the Pont des Invalides. It gives a panoramic view of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower.
Doing a Virtual Reality visit
Come and live a unique experience with FlyView Paris. You will be able to discover the most impressive monuments in the world through VR.
Choose from four exciting visits: Fly over Paris and other global destinations, explore the history of Paris, visit Notre-Dame, or travel to the Pyramids of Egypt.
Visiting The Aquarium at Night
Want to impress your crush with original ideas for your date? It’ll be a win if you go to the Aquarium of Paris by night.
Every Saturday evening, the aquarium switches to night mode with an entrance between 7 pm and 8 pm (the end of the visit is at 9 pm) so that you can enjoy a unique moment surrounded by sea creatures.
Thanks to the color lights projected on the pools, live an exceptional visual experience that will shed a new light on the sea life.
Moreover, a glass of champagne (or a soft drink) is given to each visitor at the beginning of the visit.
You will surely walk out with your head full of memories from this wonderful date spent with your partner.
A ride in a helicopter or a hot air balloon
If you enjoy thrills and have always dreamed of flying with your partner, consider taking a helicopter ride to observe the capital from the air.
Departing from the Paris Heliport, board a helicopter to enjoy a panoramic view of the western banks of the Seine, the Parc des Princes, the Bois de Boulogne, and more.
For a quieter and slower experience, a hot air balloon ride is also an option. Ascend into the air and watch the City of Light shrink as the balloon rises into the sky. Hold your partner’s hand and cherish the breathtaking view, creating an unforgettable moment for two.
You can even board the world’s largest hot air balloon, Paris Generali. Departing from André Citroën in the 15th district, it can ascend up to 150 meters, offering a unique 360° view of the City of Love.
In short, there’s plenty to do while you experience the feeling of being in heaven!
Try your hand at the pottery wheel
This is an original and romantic activity that will bring out the artistic soul buried deep inside you.
In 2 hours you will learn all the basics of pottery on wheel (the rotary machine).
On the program, you will find: the creation of two pots (with which you will obviously leave).
Information and booking (site in French)
Making your own mozzarella
Mozzarella is a must-have all over the world.
Why not take advantage of an afternoon to learn all the secrets of making this cheese?
Thanks to Julien, you will be able to follow all the steps in order to create your own mozzarella, 100% homemade from products coming straight from Auvergne.
Information and booking (site in French)
Île de la Cité, a romantic island in Paris
From one end to the other, this island is full of places to take your other half to.
First, there is Notre-Dame of Paris, for its gothic beauty, its stained glass that gives the cathedral proper light, and its location at the center of the island and on the banks of the Seine. It is one of the leading monuments of the capital but it is closed since the 2019 fire. It should reopen at the end of 2023.
You can then go by the Boulevard du Palais to admire the Conciergerie, the Palais de Justice (the law court) and the Sainte Chapelle (the Holy Chapel) that is really worth the trip.
A little further is one of the most romantic squares of Paris: the Place Dauphine.
It is the second royal square of Paris from the 17th century and today it welcomes many art galleries and little restaurants and cafés in perfect calm and harmony.
Finally, on the other side of the island, you will find the Square du Vert-Galant (which was the nickname of Henri IV because of his numerous loving conquests).
It is a little square that looks like a garden and is located on the end of the island, where you can have a peaceful moment with your beloved while listening to the Seine flowing on each side.
A trip on the water
Whether it’s a pond, a river, or a lake, we all enjoy strolling along the water and letting ourselves be carried by the currents. Here are some ideas for activities along the water.
One of the most famous options is taking a trip on a “bateau-mouche” (tourist riverboat) along the Seine.
Discover or rediscover the capital with your partner, seeing its most iconic monuments from a different perspective.
The “Paris by Night” cruises offered by the Vedettes du Pont Neuf are irresistible, allowing you to witness the city illuminated by thousands of lights. For added romance, opt for a dinner cruise on one of these renowned boats.
For a romantic evening, consider the evening cruise by the Vedettes de Paris, where you can enjoy a drink with your partner while marveling at the beautifully illuminated Paris skyline and famous landmarks such as the Grand Palais and the Orsay Museum.
A more budget-friendly and equally romantic option is to stroll or bike along the banks of the Seine, stopping for a kiss on one of the 37 bridges and footbridges that cross the river. The Pont Marie, in particular, is a traditional spot where couples kiss and make a wish.
A walk along the Canal Saint-Martin is also a delightful experience.
For a more intimate and serene walk, head to the Bois de Vincennes and take a small boat trip on the artificial Lac Daumesnil, venturing to the Temple of Love on Île de Reuilly.
On this island, you’ll find a cave and a waterfall, creating a perfect ambiance to savor the moment.
Create your own perfume
What could be more romantic and sensual than creating your own elixir for your duet?
The activity starts with a theoretical part about your preferences in terms of scents and their composition (base, heart and top notes).
You will then have to choose among 180 notes coming from Grasse and from the Maison Galimard (the oldest perfumer in France).
The little extra: at the end of the workshop you will leave with 30ml of intense memories.
Information & Booking (site in French)
Romanticism through Arts
If you lack inspiration, you can go and find it in romantic works in the different museums of Paris.
How about the Musée d’Orsay (play a Cluedo) and the Louvre (visit with Marine), for example, with the Romantic Delacroix’s works like Medea, Entry of the Crusaders in Constantinople or Liberty Guiding the People.
You can also do as The Kiss of Rodin does in the Musée Rodin of Paris.
If you want to get to the heart of the matter, go to the Musée de la vie Romantique (Museum of Romantic Life), at number 16 Rue Chaptal, which is the painter Ary Scheffer’s former house in which you can discover his works but also Romanticism by Ernest Renan and George Sand.
You can also taste a tea in its garden which is an actual haven of peace in the heart of Paris.
Romanticism is characterized by sensibility, emotion and imagination, so let yourself be immersed by the eight paintings that surround you in the two oval rooms of the Musée de l’Orangerie gallery.
A walk in the gardens
If you only want to wander under the birds’ singing, to take a picnic or to lay down in the shadow of a willow, there is nothing better than going in one of the many parks or gardens of Paris.
For the more classical ones, you have the Parc Monceau and the Jardin du Luxembourg.
The Parc Monceau is located on the 35 Boulevard de Courcelles. It is one of the most beautiful of the city with its lake and its colonnades and many painters took inspiration from it, like Claude Monet.
The Jardin du Luxembourg was built on Marie de Medici’s demand in order to go with the Palais du Luxembourg.
Its romantic side also comes from the fountains that you can find in it and one more particularly: the Medici Fountain, representing the cyclops Polyphemus coming upon the nymph Galatea in the arms of the shepherd Acis.
In a more romantic style, you have the Bois de Boulogne with its Jardin d’Acclimatation, but more particularly the Emperor’s pavilion that you can reach from a little path and in which Napoleon III would woo the Empress. There is also the Great Fall, which is worth the trip.
Moreover, it borders the Parc de Bagatelle of Neuilly that is also really worth seeing. And you’ll maybe have the chance to meet peacocks. One can’t do better in romantic terms than a walk in the open air.
The same applies to the Parc des Buttes Chaumont with its lake, its waterfall and its pavilion located on the height and which is the ideal place for a couple to spend time.
Dinner for two
Whether it’s after a day of sightseeing or simply because you desire a romantic dinner for two, finding a special place to share a meal is essential.
Paris offers an abundance of romantic restaurants, catering to all tastes, where you can create unforgettable memories with your loved one.
Whether you prefer the iconic dining experience atop the Eiffel Tower at 58 Tour Eiffel, the romantic ambiance of Café de la Paix, or the relaxed atmosphere of the Italian restaurant Augusto, you’re sure to find something that suits your taste.
Here are some other budget-friendly restaurant recommendations for you and your partner to enjoy:
If you desire a beautiful view of the city, consider dining at Les Ombres restaurant on the roof of the Quai Branly Museum. Here, you can savor contemporary and creative cuisine inspired by flavors from all over the world while enjoying a breathtaking panorama of the Eiffel Tower.
The Cristal Room welcomes you with a chic atmosphere that blends modernity with colorful seats, traditional elements, and elegant decor. You can indulge in traditional French cuisine that both you and your partner will appreciate.
The rooftops of Paris
Paris is even more beautiful from the top of a roof than it is from the ground.
With the particular architecture of these magnificent Haussmann-style buildings, Paris is recognizable just from its recognizable roofs.
And why not take a romantic getaway on a private rooftop?
It might be very exciting!
Feel free to ask – perhaps a merchant or a passer-by knows a secret rooftop.
Otherwise, you still have the option to go to the Perchoir. It is a terrace located on the 6th and 7th floors, with a breathtaking view over the rooftops of Paris.
You can enjoy a romantic drink or a meal in a restaurant while admiring the Sacré Cœur and the Eiffel Tower in the distance.
And if you simply want to admire the view without necessarily having a drink, you can go to the Tour Montparnasse to have a panoramic view of the whole of Paris.
It’s just as romantic.
There is also the Café 360 on the roof of the Tour de Montparnasse, where you can enjoy a meal while enjoying the view.
Floating in a sensory deprivation tank together
Come and experience a unique and healthy activity such as floating in a sensory deprivation tank (Link in French).
In the tank, you and your partner can float on water saturated with Epsom salt and enjoy the numerous health benefits of this relaxation method. These benefits include stress reduction, alleviation of tiredness, and relief from muscle pain.
It’s the perfect activity to enjoy a relaxing time with your loved one.
A massage at the spa
If you want to get together and recharge your batteries, you can also enjoy a massage at the spa.
Many spas are located all over Paris and more particularly in luxury hotels.
Enjoy a private massage area at Elfées for a moment of relaxation near the Iron Lady: Hammam, spa, scrub, whirlpool bath – this spa is at the disposal of any lover who wishes to meet again.
For a more enjoyable experience and to awaken your senses, a massage in the dark (French website) can also do you good. However, even if you can’t see, your other senses will be stimulated with a spacious cabin, relaxing music and pleasant scents.
In short, the experience will be unique.
A show in a cabaret
Paris is also all about the magic of cabarets as we see them in movies.
Magic, dancing, sequins and songs, and something to amaze your eyes combine to make it an exceptional evening. Although the Moulin Rouge is an infamous address and is known worldwide, this is not the only cabaret in Paris.
At more affordable prices, you can enjoy a magical evening for two at Don Camino (French website). For a dinner/show restaurant, we recommend Chez ma cousine (French website) in the heart of Montmartre. With a very good menu and friendly service, different artists follow one another on stage to make you laugh, cry, or simply enchant you.
Also, do not hesitate to check our article: the ultimate guide of Paris Cabarets.
An unusual night
Do you want to experience an original and romantic moment but you don’t necessarily want to leave Paris?
Or maybe you are a Parisian looking for a special place to share a moment with your beloved other half? Hotel rooms that you can rent for the day from Dayuse are ideal for this purpose.
There is a range of prices according to the decor and atmosphere you want with your beloved. You can also benefit from room service if you want to order dinner in your bedroom.
For those who love to have their feet in the water and want to enjoy an unusual night, VIP Paris Yacht Hotel offers you overnight accommodation in its luxurious rooms. Sleep rocked by the lapping water for a night with your beloved other half. You can also simply dine there or enjoy the Jacuzzi!
Finally, if you have special and original desires, discover Maison Souquet, a hotel that happens to be a former Belle Epoque brothel. Discreet and cozy, the decor is directly inspired by this elegant and sulfurous period in Parisian life.
If you are looking for other ideas to spend the night in unusual places, our article on romantic hotels in Paris offers many other ideas to surprise your partner.
Cinema for two
If you love the art of cinema, you can also go to one of the many cinemas in Paris.
Twenty cinemas, showing dozens and dozens of films, are open all week long.
Spend the day holding your partner’s hand in front of a romantic movie, holding her in your arms if you attend a scary movie to reassure her, or offering her your shoulder while you watch a tragic movie!
Here is a list of the cinemas (French website) in Paris.
And for the nostalgics, Studio 28 (French website) is the oldest cinema in Paris. Located in the heart of Montmartre, this cinema has seen great artists and poets, such as Jean Cocteau, Abel Grance or Luis Brunel, come and go, but it has also been the scene of numerous exhibitions and cultural events – always with the aim of celebrating art. You can also enjoy the terrace where you can have a snack between films.
Take a bike ride
For sports lovers and those who care about their heart health, indulge in a romantic bicycle ride in the capital. Paris offers numerous cycle paths that allow you to explore the city while enjoying a scenic route. You can even savor a bike ride along the Seine without any disruptions from pedestrian crossings or cars.
For quieter places, the Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes are ideal to enjoy the calm of the forest and nature, as well as to cut yourself off from the hustle and bustle of the city. Stroll through the trees without meeting anyone.
Allow yourself to go off the beaten track to laugh while you lose your partner to scare him.
Bike rentals are available in the capital with shared bikes, vélibs but you can also find a classic bike rental company.
Don’t stop at bicycles, scooters are also available in self-service as well as other ways of moving in Paris without a bike or taking the metro.
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!
