Got a date in Paris? Avoid the clichéd tourist traps – these are the most romantic things to do in Paris
Going to Paris en couple? Lucky you – it ain’t called the City of Love for nothing. At this point, it’s pretty much a rite of passage to escape to Paris with your significant other. So how do you avoid the tourist traps and find the date spots you can really fall in love with?
That’s where this list comes in. It’s all well and good to walk hand-in-hand along the Seine, but what about a romantic (and crucially, less crowded) promenade along the leafy La Coulée Verte? And yes, you could snuggle up on a picnic blanket in the Luxembourg Gardens, but we reckon Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, with its meandering paths and waterfalls, is a whole lot more enchanting (and crucially, original). Here’s our list of the most romantic things to do in Paris.
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Date idea: An early-evening picnic in a stately square
Place des Vosges is pure eye candy – a seventeenth-century peach stone beauty that was built for Henri IV, with shop-filled arcades and a stately park that lets you lounge on the grass (a rarity in Paris). It’s the ideal spot for a picnic on a warm summer evening, and there’s plenty more to get up to afterwards in the vicinity, including the Maison de Victor Hugo and countless charming cafés, restaurants and bars.
Date idea: Rent a rowing boat on the Grand Canal (March-early November only)
It goes without saying that the flamboyant gardens at Versailles are a decent place to take a date. But if you want to do something that’ll really blow them away, then why not rent a rowing boat on the Grand Canal? Be sure to explore the rest of the garden as well – terraces, parterres, lush groves and a spectacular series of fountains mean a date at Versailles will definitely be one to remember.
Date idea: Stroll along an abandoned city-centre trainline
On this spot there used to be a trainline between Bastille and Vincennes. While the Bastille station was eventually replaced by today’s Opera house, the viaduct was converted into glass-fronted workshops and boutiques for local artisans and the old lines became La Coulée Verte – a 5km long trail (also known as the Promenade Plantée) made up of elevated gardens, the Jardin de Reuilly and tree-lined cycling paths. Fans of the 2004 movie Before Sunset might recognise this spot as the location of one of cinema’s most romantic walk’n’talks.
Date idea: Catch a vintage movie at this Left Bank institution
Let’s be honest, taking a date to the movies is a pretty safe option. But in Paris, this becomes a whole load more romantic. We say try the Grand Action, in the historic area around the Sorbonne on the Left Bank. One of our favourite independent cinemas in Paris, it’s renowned for screening new prints of old movies. For anyone who’s nostalgic for Tinseltown classics and quality US independents, this is heaven.
Date idea: Explore one of Montmartre’s most charming buildings
Hidden down a cobbled street around the back of the Sacré Cœur, this museum must be one of Montmartre’s most charming buildings (and there’s plenty of competition). Formerly a home and meeting place for artists, number 12 Rue Cortot overflows with recognisable works by Auguste Renoir, Suzanne Valadon and Maurice Utrillo.
Date idea: Admire kaleidoscopic stained glass on the Île de la Cité
Devout King Louis IX had a hobby of accumulating holy relics. In the 1240s, he bought what was advertised as the Crown of Thorns, and ordered Pierre de Montreuil to design a shrine. The result was Sainte-Chapelle. With 15m (49ft) windows, the upper level appears to consist almost entirely of stained glass. The windows depict hundreds of scenes from the Old and New Testaments, culminating with the Apocalypse in the rose window.
Date idea: A massage à deux in a Japanese salon
A massage may not be the most obvious date suggestion, but we think Yuzuka in the 7th arrondissement is pretty special – and definitely worth taking someone special to. The décor of this Japanese salon is calmly minimalist, with soothing neutral tones bathing the walls. If you’re after a first-rate massage à deux, Yuzuka is a great way to let off steam together.
Date idea: Five-star bottles and delectable small plates
A superb selection of wines, delectable smoked meats on toast, and a cosy environment to enjoy it all in. Sounds a bit like heaven, no? Around the corner, you’ll find Septime, Bertrand Grébaut’s buzzing Michelin-starred restaurant, which has become particularly popular since Beyoncé’s much-publicised visit in 2013.
Date idea: Snuggle up at Paris’s top jazz club
Cosy up at this venerable jazz spot that goes from strength to strength, attracting high-calibre performers and a savvy crowd. Claim a pew, order a glass of wine, and enjoy a foot-tapping evening ensemble.
Date idea: Share a carafe at a book reading
A tranquil boozy and literary escape from the frenetically trendy streets of the Marais, La Belle Hortense with its pretty blue frontage is all about settling down with a good book and a nice wine. Hosting readings and literary events, the bar-boutique’s walls are lined with bottles and books, including new releases, rare volumes, independent poetry and classic collections. The wine list is enormous.
Date idea: A luxury cheese tasting in a dinky setting
This tiny cheesemonger by the Canal Saint-Martin brims with dairy delights. Selling a wide range of cheeses, wines and cured meats to take home, La Vache dans les Vignes also serves its produce on the spot for just a few extra euros. With seating for just 14, the owners have created a warm atmosphere with bottles of wine stacked to the ceiling on wooden shelves, and a glass shop front looking out onto the canal.
Date idea: Browse upscale boutiques at an atmospheric passage couvert
An elegant arcade dating back to 1873, the Galerie Vivienne is in perfect condition, all polished wood, glass and wrought iron, its mosaic-inlaid corridors lined with plants. Even during busy times it feels relatively tranquil, making it a pure pleasure to browse the chic boutiques – look out for bijou toystore Si Tu Veux and venerable wine cellar and deli Les Caves Legrand. At the entrance on the Rue des Petits-Champs, Bistrot Vivienne is a charming and reliable pitstop, with a romantic private dining room upstairs.
Date idea: Classy cocktails – with panoramic views
For a night at the top, the bar of Montmartre’s Terrass hotel is exceptional even by Paris’s standards. Yes, it’s had a swanky, contemporary makeover, mixes expensive cocktails, and serves an above-average menu to its extremely well-heeled clientele in an atmosphere of velvet-lined chic. That’s all very nice, but can be found in endless permutations across the city. But nowhere else has this view.
Date idea: Kick back at Paris’s hilliest (and most beautiful) park
If you’re looking for something a little less formal than the Tuileries, one park that’s definitely worth a stroll is the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. Set high up in Belleville and often missed by weekenders keen not to stray too far from the tourist loop, this 19th arrondissement paradise is one of the city’s most magical green spaces. Expect meandering paths, waterfalls, temples and cliffs (yes, really).
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