Are you looking for a fun destination for your upcoming girls’ trip or friends’ weekend? Paris is the place for you! In this vibrant city, you will find a wide range of activities, places, and events that are great fun to discover with your friends. We give you the best tips for a weekend with friends in Paris. Spending 3, 4, or 5 days in Paris? These activities will enhance your girls’ trip.
1. Visit the Eiffel Tower
When you say Paris, you say Eiffel Tower. This majestic monument in the capital of France offers great views of the city. During clear weather you can see the entire city, including the most distant districts. It may be very touristy, but you can’t visit the city without climbing this landmark. We recommend purchasing a ticket online to avoid waiting times at the ticket office. Take a jacket with you, because it can be quite windy at the top of the tower.
The Eiffel Tower is open every day, except on May 1st:
- From mid-June to August: 9AM to 00.45AM
- From September to mid-June: 9.30AM to 10.45PM
Read more about the Eiffel Tower: tickets, opening times and tips
2. Discover French pastry shops
Croissant, macaron, éclair… These are just a small selection of the many delicacies that you absolutely must taste during your girls weekend in Paris. Discover the world of patisserie and treat yourself to delicious French pastries at renowned bakeries such as Ladurée, Pierre Hermé or Maison Stohrer.
3. A cruise on the Seine
Are you done walking for a while and would you like to discover the city in a unique way? Then book a cruise on the Seine and discover Paris from the water. There are different types of cruises available; from party cruises, to romantic dinner cruises and daytime cruises. Prices can range from €15 per person to €300 for a luxury dinner cruise. That makes this activity suitable for any budget that you and your friends have set.
The most famous cruise operator is Bateaux Mouches. This shipping company starts from Port Conférance and offers different types of tours. The 1-hour Bateaux Mouches Boat Tour in Paris is considered the best in Paris and luckily the price is very reasonable! You can go on this cruise for just €15 (adults), while admission for children costs only €6. In addition to this cruise, lunch and dinner cruises can also be booked.
Discover the best river-cruises of Paris
4. Shopping on Champs-Élysées
There is no shopping street as famous in the world as the Champs-Élysées. It used to be known as a luxury shopping street with the most famous stores such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Sephore. But nowadays you can also shop at H&M or Zara with a smaller budget. That makes a visit to the Champs-Élysées a fun addition to your girls trip to Paris.
The Champs-Élysées is within walking distance of several monuments and sights, including Place de la Concorde, Place Charles de Gaulle, Arc de Triomphe and Petit Palais. Galaries Lafayette is also a nice stop to stop by, not only for shopping but also for the beautiful architecture and Parisian culture.
Opéra, rue de Rennes, Saint-Germain des Près … Read the best places for women shopping in Paris
5. Follow a cooking workshop
Now that you’ve tasted the Parisian patisserie, it’s time to get started with the food itself. Learn the intricacies of French gastronomy during a cooking workshop in Paris! There are different types of cooking workshops that you can follow with your friends in Paris:
- Making macarons with a chef and small group at Galaries Lafayette or the Maison Fleuret School. Learn all the secrets of a crispy macaron and of course you won’t go home empty-handed!
- Discover the origin of the croissant and learn how to get the right texture and taste of the croissant yourself, thanks to a workshop at Maison Fleuret School.
- French gastronomy is about more than just food. At least as important is a good wine that matches the taste palette. Learn to taste and identify wine during a wine tasting in Paris.
- A true chocolate lover? Then choose a bonbon or chocolate workshop at a chocolatier in the city. You can take the result home with you, unless you eat it on the spot!
6. Get the best view on a rooftop bar
End your busy day in the city with a glass of bubbly or a cocktail while enjoying a fabulous view. Visiting a rooftop bar in Paris is fun in all seasons. Enjoy the sun and light in the summer or look for Christmas decorations and lights in the winter. If you want to choose the highest rooftop bar, then Skybar Paris is the place to be. This rooftop bar is part of the Pullman Paris Montparnasse hotel and offers other delicious restaurants in addition to the bar.
Another great tip is the Terrass Rooftop bar in Montmartre, with a green terrace and delicious cocktails for a fun night out with the girls. You cannot make a reservation for the terrace here, so make sure you are there on time to get a spot.
7. Create your own perfume
Looking for an original outing during your girls’ weekend in Paris that you can enjoy for a long time? Participate in a perfume workshop and create your own personal perfume. During this course, all your senses will be stimulated as you learn the history and properties of scents. This is also very fun to do for a bachelor party in Paris or with your family and friends.
There are several places to take a perfume workshop in Paris. One of our tips is the Musée du Parfum Fragonard, located within walking distance of Opéra Garnier. You will receive a tour of the museum, where you will learn more about the manufacturing process and history. After the tour you will have the opportunity to create your own scent. Educational and fun!