Paris nightlife: top 10 things to do for nightclub and nightlife lovers

Then you are a clubber. You love the night life. The only reason you really want to visit Paris is to see the world-class cocktail bars, cafes and clubs and why not go shopping for trendy clubwear while you’re there? You want to listen to the famous French Touch house music and watch the sunrise over the Seine. But Paris is also the number one tourist destination in the world, so you need to do a little due diligence and see at least some tourist attractions, if only to show your friends and family that you really were in Paris. So here are the top ten things to do for nightclubbers visiting Paris, including top tourist attractions that should be of particular interest to you.

Palace of Versailles: home to French kings from Louis XIV to Louis XVI (and Marie Antoinette). This is without a doubt the most extravagant palace in Europe and one of the most famous in the world. At its peak, more than 1,000 nobles lived in Versailles, participating in its social functions and playing games of political intrigue. If you like elegance, glamor and quirkiness, take a day off, get up early and go see Versailles.

The Louvre – The world’s most famous museum, home to 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 the nightlife and the Louvre is centrally located, just head for an afternoon after a late brunch. Enjoy the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, Michelangelo’s slaves and some other pieces that will surprise you. The next time you visit an opening, you can see the art from a new point of view.

The Eiffel Tower: The Eiffel Tower needs little introduction. You should visit it to have a photo of yourself with the Eiffel Tower in the background, it will be a good memory of your trip through the nightlife of Paris. If you don’t choose to go up to one of the observation levels, you can also choose to go to the Place de Trocadero, which presents some of the best photo opportunities of the Eiffel Tower.

Café de Flore – While you can visit any café in Saint Germain, or cafes in many other neighborhoods in Paris, Saint Germain is famous for being a favorite destination for intellectuals and artists. One of the best known cafes in Saint Germain is the Café de Flore. You can have a late brunch here or just stop by in the afternoon for a cup of coffee or early evening for a cocktail. Ideal for people watching, relaxing after shopping in Saint Germain and also for a light lunch, Café de Flore was the meeting place of the philosopher Jean Paul Sartre and his band of existentialists. Note that while the outdoor terrace is often crowded, notable Frenchmen and regulars generally stay indoors or upstairs.

Stroll the Champs-Elysees: Although the Champs-Elysees are no longer the largest boulevard in the world, as it was immortalized in movies like Godard’s Breathless (A Bout de Souffle), you must visit the Champs-Elysees to get your bearings, because the best clubs in Paris they are found along the Champs Elysees and its side streets. Most of the stores and restaurants these days are chains, franchises, and fast food, but you’ll also find the Louis Vuitton flagship store.

Place des Victoires – This list could be completed with ten places to shop, but we will try to stay the course. Therefore, limit your specific shopping destination to the Place des Victoires. In the square itself and in the side streets, you will find some of the best shops and boutiques in the city to buy clubwear. You can also pick up numerous club flyers and party invitations at the same boutiques and trendy cafes nearby.

Visit a VIP nightclub: Paris is home to some of the most exclusive nightclubs in the world. While going out at night can be quite expensive, it can also be rewarding. The nightclubs along the Champs Elysees can be the most difficult to access. So if you don’t consider yourself a veteran at getting over the velvet rope, the best strategy is to go to a nice trendy cocktail bar, talk to the trendy people, and ask them where is the best place for you to go tonight. They will get the message and tell you where entry is easiest or they may invite you to join them. Key destinations include: Queen, Etoile, Le Cab, VIP Lounge, Sens, Le Baron.

Cabaret: If you want a quiet but spicy night, visit a Paris cabaret. Cabaret shows are Las Vegas-style variety shows featuring dancers, acrobats, and other exotic performers. The Moulin Rouge is a classic and old-fashioned resort, but the Lido, on the Champs-Elysées, is along the same lines but a little more exclusive. Slightly different, Crazy Horse is a spicier show, consisting entirely of nearly totally nude women performing choreographed dances as an artistic display of colored lights dance across their bodies.

Theater / Opera / Jazz Club – Choose based on the amount of time you have and your particular preferences. But every night of the week there is something to do in Paris. You will find some of the most magnificent operas and theaters in the world. If you’re visiting the theater, you’ll need to be fluent in French to follow, but even if you’re not, visiting a place like the Théatre des Champs-Elysées can be a social event. When visiting the Opera, the Opera Garnier is the obvious choice. With its Baroque architecture and capacity for more than 2000 people, it offers nightly opera and ballet shows. For anyone, you’ll want to dress to the nines. Paris also has a world-class jazz offering, check out New Morning or Hot Brass for top international artists.

Drive along the Quai de la Seine: At least once during your stay in Paris, at 4 a.m. or 5 a.m., or when heading home before sunrise, take a taxi along the Quai de la Seine. If you head from the Champs Elysees to Châtelet, you will travel along the riverbank. Seeing it at night, when everything is quiet and the crowd has gone to sleep, is an unforgettable and romantic place too.

In case your evening activities do not exhaust you, or if you are lucky enough to have enough time to go out every night for a fortnight and still have days off, you can visit the standard offer of museums, restaurants and Cultural Attractions. And in case you’ve planned an extended stay, get up close to the culture and avoid the 6am walk of shame in front of the hotel doorman by choosing a short-term vacation rental in Paris.