So you’re a clubber. You love the nightlife. The only reason you really want to visit Paris is to see the world-class clubs, cafes and cocktail bars and why not go shopping for some trendy club wear while you’re there? You want to hear the famous French Touch house music and see the sunrise over the Seine. But Paris is also the number one tourist destination in the world, so you’ve got to do a bit of due diligence and see at least a few tourist attractions, if only to show your friends and family that you really were in Paris. So here are the top ten most interesting things to do for night clubbers visiting Paris, including the top tourist attractions that should be of particular interest to you.
Palace of Versailles – The home of the French kings from Louis XIV to Louis XVI (and Marie Antoinette). This is undoubtedly the most extravagant palace in Europe and one of the most renowned in the world. At its height over 1000 nobles lived at Versailles, taking part in its social functions and playing games of political intrigue. If you like elegance, glamour, and extravagance, take a day off, get up early and go see Versailles.
The Louvre – The most famous museum in the world, the home of the Mona Lisa and countless other priceless works of art. You could spend a week exploring the Louvre, but since you’re in Paris for nightlife and the Louvre is centrally located, just head over for an afternoon after a late brunch. Take in the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the Slaves of Michelangelo and a few other pieces that strike your fancy. The next time you visit a vernissage, you’ll be able to admire the art from a new point of view.
The Eiffel Tower – The Eiffel Tower needs little introduction. You should visit it so you have a photo of you with the Eiffel Tower in the background, it’ll be a good memento of your Paris nightlife trip. If you don’t choose to go up to one of the observation levels, you can also choose to go to Place de Trocadero which presents some of the best Eiffel Tower photo opportunities.
Café de Flore – While you could visit any café in Saint Germain, or cafes in many other neighborhoods in Paris for that matter, Saint Germain is renowned for being the favorite destination of intellectuals and artists. One of the most well known cafes in Saint Germain is the Café de Flore. You can eat a late brunch here or just stop by in the afternoon for a cup of coffe or early in the evening for a cocktail. Ideal for people watching, chilling out after shopping in Saint Germain, and also for a light lunch, Café de Flore was the hangout of the philosopher Jean Paul Sartre and his band of existentialists. Note that while the outdoor terrace is usually full, French noteworthies and regulars generally stay indoors or upstairs.
Stroll along the Champs-Elysées – Although the Champs-Elysées is no longer the Greatest Boulevard in the World, as it was immortalized in films like Godard’s Breathless ( A Bout de Souffle ), you should visit the Champs-Elysées in order to orient yourself, because Paris’ finest clubs are found along the Champs-Elysées and its side streets. Most of the shops and restaurants these days are chains, franchises and fast food but you’ll also find Louis Vuitton’s flagship store.
Place des Victoires – This list could be filled out by ten places to go shopping, but we’ll try to stay on track. So limit your specific shopping destination to the Place des Victoires. On the square itself and the side streets, are some of the city’s best shops and boutiques for buying club wear. You can also pick up numerous club flyers and party invitations in the same boutiques and the nearby trendy cafes.
Visit a VIP Nightclub – Paris is home to some of the most exclusive nightclubs in the world. While a night out can be quite expensive, it can also be rewarding. The nightclubs along the Champs-Elysées can be the most difficult to get into. So if you don’t consider yourself a veteran of getting past the velvet rope, the best strategy is to go to a nice trendy cocktail bar, talk to the trendy people there and ask them where is the best place for YOU to go tonight. They will get the message and tell you where the entry is easiest or perhaps invite you to come along with them. Key destinations include: Queen, l’Etoile, Le Cab, VIP Lounge, Sens, Le Baron.
Cabaret – If you want to spend a quiet but spicy evening out, visit a Paris cabaret. Cabaret shows are Las Vegas style variety shows with bare breasted dancers, acrobats, and other exotic performers. The Moulin Rouge is a classic and the old standby, but the Lido, on the Champs-Elysées, is in the same vein but slightly more upscale. Slightly different, the Crazy Horse is a racier show, consisting entirely of almost totally nude women who perform choreographed dance while an artistic display of colored light dances across their bodies.
Theatre / Opera / Jazz Club – Choose according to the amount of time you have and your particular predilections. But every night of the week there is something to do in Paris. You’ll find some of the most magnificent Opera and theatre in the world. If you visit the theatre, you’ll need to be fairly fluent in French to follow, but even if you’re not, visiting a venue like the Théatre des Champs-Elysées can be a social event. When visiting the Opera, Opera Garnier is the obvious choice. With its Baroque architecture and capacity of over 2000 people, it offers nightly performances of opera and ballet. For either, you’ll want to dress to the nines. Paris also has a world-class Jazz offering, check out the New Morning or the Hot Brass for top international headliners.
Drive along the Quai de la Seine -At least once during your stay in Paris, at 4AM or 5AM, or whenever you’re heading home before dawn, take a taxi along the Quai de la Seine. If you head from the Champs-Elysees to Châtelet you’ll travel along the bank of the river. Seeing it at night, when all is quiet and the crowds have gone to sleep, is an unforgettable site and a romantic one too.
In the event that your night time activities don’t wear you out, or if your fortunate enough to have enough time to go out every night for a fortnight and still have days to spare, you can visit the standard offering of museums, restaurants and cultural attractions. And just in case you’ve got a long stay planned, get closer to the culture, and avoid the 6AM walk of shame past the hotel doorman, by choosing a short term Paris vacation rental.