Paris during the day is beautiful, but Paris at night — ooh la la! As the sun goes down the City of Lights becomes even more charming and vibrant. There is excitement in the air. The sidewalks spill over with vendors selling tiny Eiffel Towers, fresh-made crèpes, and bottles of wine stowed in five-gallon buckets. Musicians and street performers are on almost every corner. Sidewalk cafes are filled with people enjoying late dinners.
Join us for a slow stroll to some of the most beautiful sites in Paris.
Paris at night: Notre Dame
This medieval Catholic Cathedral is considered to be one of the best examples of French Goth architecture in the world. At night its beauty stuns.
Notre Dame Tribute
Notre Dame has also served as the backdrop for a spectacular sound and light show created to pay tribute to France’s allied forces.
Opposite Notre Dame this beautiful building is, surprisingly, the Prefectur de Police. Built in the 1860s, it has been a police headquarters since 1871. Bathed in the tri-colored lights of the French flag, it is a real beauty despite its administrative function.
Paris at night: Walk along the Seine in the moonlight
From Notre Dame, it takes about an hour to slow stroll your way to the Eiffel Tower. One picturesque way to get there is to walk along the Seine.
Paris at night: Musée d’Orsay
Now one of the most important museums in France, the Musee d’Orsay is housed in a former railway station built in the late 1800s. On the Seine’s left bank, it is home to a thrilling collection of French impressionist paintings. You’ll catch a glimpse of the lighted Eiffel Tower over its roofline.
Paris at night: Beautiful bridges
As you approach the Eiffel Tower, you’ll stroll past a number of bridges beautifully lit up for night-goers.
Paris at night: The Eiffel Tower
Does anything say love more than the Eiffel Tower? Just seeing it makes us swoon. We couldn’t resist one more spontaneous dance at the Eiffel Tower–this time in the Paris moonlight. Bliss!
Paris at night: Arc de Triomphe
What we should have resisted was the desire to see the Arc de Triomphe at night. Commissioned by Napoleon, the Arc is the biggest in the world. It is about a half hour walk from the Eiffel Tower to the Arc, UNLESS you get lost in the dark. Then, you just walk and walk and walk and walk. (No reason that we know this 😉). If by chance you should get lost on your way to the Arc, don’t even bother taking a picture because you will probably be so exhausted that you won’t do a very good job. (See example below.)
Fortunately, not everyone gets lost on their way to the Arc. Here is a stunning night shot by photographer Craig Philbrick.
Aviator Charles Lindbergh made history in 1919 when he flew through the Arc.
Paris at night: The Metro
The Paris Metro with its Art Nouveau stylings is especially beautiful at night.
Paris at night: Sidewalk Cafes
A late-night bite to eat at a sidewalk cafe is the perfect way to end (or start) the evening. These are a couple of favorites in our San Michel neighborhood near the famous Left Bank and Latin Quarter, Paris’s historic intellectual and artistic heart.
Enjoying the City of Light at night
A bicycle ride in the Paris moonlight can be exhilarating.
Notice the lighted iconic Parisian roof line with dormers, long celebrated in classic films and paintings. UNESCO World Heritage site status is being sought for these historic roofs, many fashioned from zinc.
Paris at night: Nightclubs
Parisians love to have a late dinner and then go to a nightclub. The Metro stops running around midnight, so many of the most popular nightclubs stay open until the Metro reopens at 5:30 a.m., giving patrons have a safe way to get home. We would have loved to have found this out for ourselves, but for us 9 p.m. is the new midnight, so we’ll have to take their word for it.
Paris at night: Enjoying a slow stroll
Enchanting by day, Paris is bewitching by night.
We hope you enjoyed this nighttime slow stroll through the City of Love.
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You might also enjoy …
reading about our tour of the famous Le Marais Paris neighborhood here, visiting a classic film lovers’ Paris bookstore here, or learning how to shop a Paris food market here. And remember to subscribe to our newsletter via the sign-up box on this page for insider tips, pictures and recipes.
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The Passive 100 says
Wow! So beautiful. You took some really great low light photos! Nice job.
Deb Roberts says
Your photos are amazing! You have given me motivation to blog our August trip to Paris! I will Pin this as well!
Jess says
Love Paris! Love the beautiful and colorful picture so much! Always in love Paris 😘
Ann Crawford says
Sacre bleu–those photos are magnifique! I’m counting the days until Steve & I can stroll along the Seine…about 340 at this point, LOL. Thank you for this fun and beauty in the meantime. xoxoxoxoxo
Diane Bishop says
You can enjoy a virtual walk until you get there!