I’m always surprised when someone says they aren’t interested in going to Paris.  The city of Light is my Happy Place.  I love going there and always find new things to enjoy.

But that happened to me not once but twice in one week earlier in Jan.

First,  a friend said she’d been there, gone to The Louvre, Muse de Orsay, Versailles and figured she’d seen everything and didn’t need to go back.

And then shortly after another friend said that she’s a “nature” person and couldn’t see why one would want to go to Paris on holiday.

Wow.  Shocking for me.  If you follow my blog you know I love Paris.

I thought about it a bit and decided to do a blog post on some of my favorite things to do in Paris.  Why I go back and back.

1. Attend a concert at Sainte Chapelle. I’ve written about this a couple of times because it is such a fantastic way to enjoy this wonderful old church with absolutely stunning windows. You don’t have to like classic music to enjoy an hour soaking up the atmosphere of the spiritual place. It’s also a much better way to experience it rather than elbowing hundreds of tourists all cameras in hand.

Paris Repeat Visit: Concerts at Sainte Chapelle

2. A new favorite place is Atelier des Lumières. I’ve been three times over the years since it opened and have loved seeing art in a stimulating new way. 

Atelier des Lumières makes big splash in Paris

3. I always recommend taking a boat tour of the Seine and also using the Batobus for transportation.  Going up and down the Seine, whether in day time, a dinner cruise or just to get from here to there is a way to soak up the atmosphere and the history of the City of Light.

Paris: Get Thee to the Seine

And then another water opportunity is the canal boat that travels on the Canal Saint Martin.

Paris: Canal Saint Martin, Hotel du Nord and Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

4. Or going someplace new. I keep a list of places to visit when I have time. For example I resisted the cemetery Père Lachaise for a long time. But I recommend it now. Be sure to get a guide because it is huge with lots of stories.

Pere Lachaise: Why go there?

I love to visit new museums.  Louis Vuitton Foundation is a good example. It’s on the outskirts of Paris. Gotta make an effort to get there but the architecture is interesting and there is a lovely park adjacent to it.

Revisiting the Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris

Paris is known for the many parks, some are a bit away from the Seine but worth a visit.

Parc Monceau: wonderful Parisian neighborhood

A recent “new experience” was discovering the Musee arts des Forains. What a find. So lucky to have had morning there.

Musée Arts des Forains: a magical secret in Paris

5. And my last but always favorite is to go to the Marais. When I first started going there, I didn’t experience many tourists, but now, alas it has been discovered and frankly the character has changed a bit. But I still go and love the little shopping streets and the Place de Vosges. I can’t imagine it not being on my list to return to. It’s right up there along with meandering along the Main Street of  Île Sainte-Louis.

It is hard to limit the choices. I love the department stores, Palais Garnier, the Passages  and yes, The Lourve, Mùse d’ Orsay and all the “must do sights” in Paris. You never know what will pop up.