Admire the Eiffel Tower at night
At night of course the Eiffel Tower lights up, but you also shouldn’t miss every hour when it sparkles for a minute, looking like the most magical and romantic thing ever.
MOST UNIQUE AND ROMANTIC THINGS TO DO IN PARIS
As Paris is the famous city of love, you will find couples left and right. Everywhere. They are everywhere, making the Parisian stereotypes very real.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much public display of affection before any other place. The amount of romance in Paris is alarming.
And since that’s the case, if everyone is being romantic in Paris, how can anything be truly romantic and be uniquely yours?
Now that’s completely up to you, but finding unique and romantic things to do in Paris is not very difficult. How you make your trip to Paris unique will simply be just to wander the streets of Paris and go on your own adventures.
But if you truly wish to set your trip on the right note with the most unique and romantic locations for a memorable travel experience, here is your ideal itinerary of places.
Even if you’re single and alone in the city of love, at least allow yourself to romanticize your life in such a lovely city. Whether you are alone in Paris or traveling with your partner, there’s plenty of unique and romantic things to do, beginning with…
Where can you see the best views of the Eiffel Tower when it lights up?
Arc de Triomphe
Only a small fee for entrance, you can enjoy the sights of Paris and the lights of the Eiffel Tower just after sunset. It does get quite crowded during this time, so be aware of your timing, and be patient with getting the best view of the Eiffel Tower.
Place du Trocadero
This is probably the most popular viewpoint of the Eiffel Tower, in this beautiful open area where you can see the tower directly across the river. It’s the most direct view of the tower and perfect for seeing the lights in a romantic set up.
Pont de Bir Hakeim
This bridge provides the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower from an angle. There’s an area in the middle of the bridge that gives you an amazing lookout point.
Wander the old streets of Montmartre
Find the Wall of Love behind the Sacré Coeur where there’s a cute little square, a garden, and usually some live music. Enjoy the streets of Montmartre from such a height and see all of Paris from above.
Shop in the hidden covered passageway tunnels
There are a few lovely hidden passageways in Paris with the cutest little shops you’ll ever find. One such tunnel is Passage des Panoramas which is quite an aesthetic place to shop, but there are many others that are just as quaint and romantic.
Stroll around Île Saint-Louis
Île Saint-Louis is one of the few islands on the Seine river, and it has some of the oldest buildings in Paris. It’s less crowded as compared to Île de la Cité and much more quaint and romantic. And you can find the best ice cream in Paris!
Hop around to different bookshops in the Latin Quarter
There are plenty of cute bookshops all over Paris, but most of them you’ll find in the Latin Quarter. Particularly Shakespeare and Company is one of those cute bookshops, and a perfect place to stop by for some book shopping.
Enjoy an evening at Square du Vert-Galant
Admire the Seine and the rest of Paris in Square du Vert-Galant during sunset, and relax under the willow tree. This square sits right on the edge of Île de la Cité, one of the islands on the river, providing the perfect view of the rest of Paris. Watch all the swans and ducks go by among the boats for a romantic evening in the park.
Shop for chocolates and sweets along Rue Cler
This street is full of the cutest little shops and they’ve got everything you need for an ideal picnic. You can shop for chocolates, flowers, baked goods, cheese, wine and fresh breads, fruits, and definitely a whole lot more. All in one little street.
Wander the Musée de l'Orangerie
If art is your thing, spend time at the Musée de l’Orangerie where Monet’s paintings are displayed so beautifully. It’s definitely something cute to do together even if neither of you are interested in art. If you’re looking for more of Monet, take a day trip out to Giverny where you can tour Monet’s mansion and garden. It’s the cutest garden and house, and a perfect little getaway from the city.
Take a bike tour in Paris
Be a little adventurous and try biking around this amazing old city on a group tour. There’s plenty that you can book from online that take you to different areas of the city for a couple of hours.
See all of Paris from above
All the free sights in Paris from above
I believe the best views of Paris from above are all completely free. So before you break your wallet in Paris, check out the more budget friendly options for the most unique and romantic sights.
Sacré Coeur
If you can make your way up to Montmartre on foot, that is excellent! From my own perspective as a young person, I found it quite easy to walk there from as far as across the river. However, some might find it a challenge and it’s probably recommended to use other forms of transportation. But it is so worth it. The views from the cathedral are the best you’ll see in all of Paris.
Galeries Lafayette Rooftop
The view from the top of Galeries Lafayette is fairly easy to access as compared to the views from Sacre Coeur. Galeries Lafayette Haussmann is a huge and gorgeous department store just around the corner from the Paris Opera House. At the highest level, you’ll find a lookout of Paris that is completely free, where you can see the opera house, the Eiffel Tower, and even Sacre Coeur from a distance.
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
While this park is quite a distance away from the center of Paris, it is totally worth the trip as you can enjoy the nature of a beautiful park in Paris and admire one of the best views of Paris from atop a hill and Temple de la Sybille. Because it’s a bit far, you might not see all the iconic sights as clearly, but it’s a great view of the skyline of Paris.
Best paid sights of Paris from above
While you may be satisfied with just the free sights, you shouldn’t forget these views which may cost a little extra, but are so worth it for unique and romantic memories in Paris.
George’s Restaurant or the rooftop of Centre Pompidou
The restaurant of course you would need to pay for but you can also choose to just view the sights from the rooftop of the Centre Pompidou. You can find the restaurant and the terrace in the Centre Pompidou, where you can see pretty much all the sights in Paris at a great distance.
Arc de Triomphe
This is by far the best view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower, as I mentioned before. Not only is the Arc a beautiful landmark itself but it’s the best vantage point to see the rest Paris has to offer as well.
Montparnasse Tower
A little out of the way from the center of Paris, this skyscraper provides the best sights from Paris’ tallest building. Montparnasse Tower has an observation deck where you can see everything.
Admire the Seine from a romantic Paris bridge
What’s more romantic than watching the river and all of Paris from its many bridges? Instead of just picking one at random, here are some of the cutest and more aesthetically quaint bridges in Paris.
Pont Alexandre III
This is one of the most famous bridges in Paris, and the most beautifully designed. It’s in a perfect location, as you can see the Eiffel Tower from not too far, and the Grand Palais on one side with Hôtel des Invalides on the other. There’s guaranteed a beautiful view from all angles on this bridge.
Pont des Arts
This bridge is most famous for being the love lock bridge. Previously it was the love lock bridge, but now after the weight was too much, the love locks are gone and you can no longer leave your lock in Paris to be remembered forever. The tradition is a bit overdone anyway, so just enjoy the views from this cute pedestrian footbridge.
Pont Neuf
Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, is in an ideal spot, as it crosses Île de la Cité, which is full of its own sights. You can get a beautiful view of Square du Vert-Galant, the Seine, and the aesthetic old buildings surrounding the area.
Eat brunch in a Parisian cafe
Any cafe will do really, they’re all over Paris. But if you’re looking for something you would see in the movies, I recommend going to some of the most iconic cafes in Paris, such as Café de Flore or just across from it, Les Deux Magots.
Have a picnic in a park
Here’s a list of all the best parks to have a picnic in Paris. Though there are many more that could be mentioned, these are some of the more cute and romantic picnic spots
- Square de la Place Dauphine
- Champ de Mars
- The Tuileries Gardens
- Luxembourg Gardens
- Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
Other unique and romantic locations for your itinerary
Musee Rodin Garden
This is one museum you absolutely cannot miss. The museum is located in a beautiful mansion and surrounding it is the most charming garden. It’s definitely worth spending some time in such a lovely place with your favorite person.
Palais Garnier
The Opera House is a must see as well, as it’s so ornately decorated and stunningly beautiful. With a very royal appearance, it’s the inspiration for Phantom of the Opera, which is quite a romantic set up in itself. Spend some time in the grand hallways, theaters, and quiet library of Palais Garnier.
Avenue de Camoens
Here is the perfect view of the Eiffel Tower from atop a hill overlooking the beautiful apartments and greenery in this part of Paris. In recent years this little avenue has become quite popular but still has its own unique charm you won’t find anywhere else in the city.
Things that are NOT very unique or romantic in Paris
Don’t wait in line to go up the Eiffel Tower
It’s beautiful for sure, but to get in, it’s as if you’re in line at an amusement park full of other impatient people. The wait for the elevators is absurd, and even if you take the stairs there’s still plenty of other people you might get stuck behind while getting to the top, which might ruin your experience. You know what you’re going to get at the top anyway, splendid views. But you can also enjoy the sights of Paris from many other viewpoints at a much cheaper price without dealing with such long wait times.
Seine river cruise
While this might be aesthetic and romantic for some, just like the Eiffel Tower is very popular, these boat tours are also extremely popular among tourists. It’s not a very authentic experience in Paris I would say, as it’s just a quick way to see all the sights of Paris from a boat. You can easily enjoy the beautiful Seine river from many other locations, such as in Square du Vert-Galant or just along the river bank walks.
Waiting to see the Mona Lisa
This is completely up to you, but I would say waiting in line to see this classic work of art is not exactly anywhere close to being a unique or romantic experience in Paris. Don’t spend hours in line with other tourists just to see the Mona Lisa, though you can still definitely enjoy other parts of the Louvre, as it’s something you really can’t miss on your trip to Paris.
Bus Tours
If anything can kill the energy and enthusiasm to travel around a new city, it’s the bus tours. Even if walking isn’t your thing, there’s plenty to do in just one place in any part of Paris that doesn’t require too much walking. Whether you’re just enjoying a beautiful corner cafe, or admiring the Eiffel Tower from the Champ de Mars, there’s so many more romantic things to do than to just spend your time with other tourists on a bus viewing Paris from afar.
Final Thoughts
Like I said at the beginning, what makes your trip unique and romantic is just by letting go and wandering Paris on your own. Of course it’s good to know where you’ll find the more aesthetically pleasing locations to guide you. But ultimately, it’s up to you for how you will enjoy Paris. The city of love has pretty much everything, so no matter what I know you’ll have the most amazing trip.
– Maeve
About Us
We're Maeve and Kart – an introvert with a love for letters, flowers, and chai on one side, and an introverted extrovert nature enthusiast with a sweet tooth on the other. Get yourself a cup of tea and a spoonful of chini and settle in. To all aspiring travelers, folks in long distance and multicultural relationships, and those kindred spirits out there looking for advice on life in India as a foreigner - consider this place your sanctuary. As an American/Indian couple, we are currently living together in India in a cross cultural relationship as a result of one of few successful long distance love stories. Our journey is unique, and we're here to share insights and advice for anyone in similar circumstances. Come along with us as we share stories and advice on multicultural discussions, long distance relationships, and the beauty of travel.
