This is a long list so put on your beret, pour a glass of wine, and get comfortable!

So you’ve been to Paris before. You’ve climbed the Eiffel Tower, waved at the Mona Lisa, and drank some wine. You fell in love with the city because – who wouldn’t?! Now you have another trip planned to return and are looking for things to do. What should you do in Paris on your second, third, or even tenth visit?In February, I returned to the City of Lights for my seventh visit and spent a week and a half staying with my sister. I alternated between sightseeing and relaxing with a book and glass of wine. While I didn’t see even a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower or Arc de Triomphe, I had plenty to do with my days! Here are just a few of the things that I’ve done on return visits to Paris, with a little input from my sister who has lived in Paris twice.

Back in 2007, on Jon’s first visit to Paris, we had to pose in front of the Eiffel Tower!

Themed Museums

The Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and Centre Georges Pompidou are arguably the three most popular museums to visit in Paris. These three are popular for a reason and you can discover new things each time you visit. If you’re looking for something a bit more specific, there are numerous museums scattered throughout the city that are dedicated to one artist, era, or theme. A few options include:

• Orangerie Museum: Fans of Monet won’t want to miss the Orangerie Museum. Huge waterlily paintings are set along curved white walls with a skylight providing natural light in which to view the artwork. The rooms are quiet, as everyone who walks in is stunned silent by the size and scope of the canvases. While the highlight is definitely the rooms with waterlilies, there are additional exhibits of his other artwork as well as paintings from his contemporaries.
• Picasso Museum: Recently renovated, the Picasso Museum highlights the artist’s journey from classical art student to modern Cubist. Simple pen and pencil drawings demonstrate how he would test out different forms before committing to canvas. Abstract cubes in muted colors represent the pinnacle of the cubism movement.
• Rodin Museum: Dedicated to the sculptor Rodin, the museum is comprised of a building and a garden. Start inside the building, where you can trace the progression of his masterpieces. Drawings and smaller sculptures are housed inside and the large finished products are displayed in the gardens. From pencil sketches on paper to small prototype sculptures to the massive statues, you can learn about the evolution of each piece – the design, construction, and finishing work that went into each piece of art.
• Victor Hugo House: Open to the public for free, the former home of Victor Huge sits at the corner of the Place des Voges, a popular hangout for families. Inside, you’ll find a handful of small rooms decorated with many pieces of furniture that used to belong to Hugo. Small placards scattered throughout the rooms gives a bit of history about the time period when the writer lived in Paris.
• Carnavalet Museum: My favorite museum in all of Paris isn’t one that is very well known. The Carnavalet Museum showcases the history of Paris, from the time when it was known as Gaul through the French Revolution and into more modern times. Objects collected throughout history are shown chronologically with information given about the time period. For me, this museum gives an understanding of how the city was founded and has progressed over the years, turning it into one of the most visited and loved in the entire world.

Photographs of Picasso at home and at work lined the ramp that led into the main part of the museum.

This sitting and game room at Victor Hugo’s house was decorated lavishly – delicate porcelain and intricate painting on the walls.

Day Trips Outside of Paris

If you have more than a couple of days in Paris, why not spend one outside of the city exploring a different area? There are numerous possibilities that are a short train ride away; all of these listed will take no more than an hour to reach, making them easy options from the capital.

• Versailles: This opulent palace is arguably the most popular day trip from Paris. King Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, turned a small hunting lodge into the extravagant center of the universe (at least in his opinion). Situated in the nearby suburb of Versailles, the palace and grounds offer an easy excursion from Paris using public transportation. You can certainly spend an entire day touring the main palace, two smaller chateau, and gardens that stretch for miles. Break up the day of touring by taking a picnic lunch and enjoy the fountains, forest, and statues found among the gardens.
• Fontainbleau: An older, lesser-known palace sits southeast of Paris and was part of the inspiration that Louis XIV took when building Versailles. Fontainbleau isn’t overrun with tourists, making it a quiet place to explore on your own. The rooms inside showcase different time periods with the royalty who lived there. Rooms decorated in the styles of Saint Louis, Henri IX, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and Napolean show the progression of painting, wallpaper, furniture, and ornamentation.
• Loire Valley: Getting to the Loire Valley, or castle country, can be done by train from the center of Paris. However, to get around to the various chateau, it’s best to have a car since many are located in the middle of the country and not accessible by train. A few years ago, we took a tour that left from Tours (the main city in the middle of the Loire Valley). A guide drove us to three different castles and also included a wine tasting over lunch. On a different trip, Jon and I drove a rental car through the region to visit some different castles that we hadn’t seen before. The Loire Valley is a special place, with hundreds in varying stages of ruin and restoration available to the public.
• Giverny: While this is one of the only places on this list I have not yet visited, it’s near the top in terms of places I want to go on a future trip to Paris! Since I typically travel in the middle of winter, I’ve been putting off a visit to Giverny until I can go in the spring or summer. Giverny is where Claude Monet lived for over 40 years of his life. The colorful gardens, Japanese bridge, and ponds with waterlilies are all recognizable in the many paintings he produced toward the end of his life – many of which are on display at the Orangerie Museum mentioned earlier.
• Champagne: Fans of the sparkling beverage will want to take the trip east of Paris to the region of Champagne. Reims and the smaller Épernay are the two main cities in the area. Many champagne houses have tasting rooms in these cities while others are located in the vineyards in the countryside. As with the Loire Valley, it’s possible to book a day tour and visit three or four champagne houses, still making it back to Paris in time for dinner.

A couple of our favorite European travel partners – Ryan and Melodie – met us for champagne tasting in Épernay.

I love exploring the different chateau in the Loire Valley, like Chenonceau, standing over the Cher River built 1514-1522.

Afternoon at a Café or Picnic in a Park

Since you’ve already been to Paris and seen the major attractions, don’t be afraid to spend an afternoon doing nothing! Part of the fun of Paris is to find somewhere to settle down and relax. People-watch, read, or have a snack and glass of wine. There’s no better place to slow down and savor the day than at a park or café in Paris. Here are a few options:

• Jardin du Luxembourg: Gardens attached to the Palais du Luxembourg, this is a great place to come with a book, sit next to a fountain, and spend an afternoon.
• Jardin des Tuileries: Stretching for a few blocks from the Louvre, these gardens are popular in the summer with vendors and families; children play with boats in the fountains and old couples stroll hand in hand.
• Champs de Mars: Facing the Eiffel Tower, it’s hard not to imagine a more iconic spot for a picnic of French bread, Brie cheese, fresh fruit, and a bottle of wine.
• Bois de Boulogne: The second largest park in Paris, here you can find a zoo, amusement park, greenhouses, horse races, a tennis stadium, and many gardens, fountains, and statues.
• Parc Montsouris: Another large park, the Parc Montsouris is popular on weekends with walkers and joggers on the many winding paths intersecting the green space. A lake and cascade are settled among the many trees and flowers.
• Any café: If the weather doesn’t agree with an outdoor picnic, find any café in Paris and get cozy with a café au lait or verre du vin rouge (coffee with milk or glass of red wine). Cafés are plentiful, so find one that you like and plan to spend a couple of hours at a small table sipping your beverage of choice. Waiters won’t rush you; feel free to spend all afternoon relaxing and enjoying a piece of typical Parisian life. This is one of my favorite ways to spend a few hours in Paris!

Rhonda and Heather had a picnic in the Champs de Mars – with a pretty nice view!

A rainy day was the perfect setting for a leisurely afternoon at a café – a small carafe of wine and croque monsieur were the perfect accompaniments.

Explore the Morbid

With such a long, turbulent history, Paris is home to some morbid curiosities. For those who like a little bit of morbidity in their sightseeing, there are a handful of places you can go to fulfil that desire.

• Cemeteries: Although cemeteries are home to the dead, these can be also be fun places to visit. The most well-known is Père Lachaise, where famous musicians, authors, artists, and politicians are buried. Cobblestone pathways meander around the tombs and trees provide shade under which to sit. This is the largest cemetery in Paris and the first garden cemetery, making it a peaceful and serene place to wander. Maps are available to lead you to the tombs of Oscar Wilde, Frédéric Chopin, Jim Morrison, Molière, Honoré de Balzac, Eugène Delacroix, and many more.
• Catacombs: Miles and miles of tunnels under Paris’ streets are the final resting place of thousands upon thousands of bones. Over six million people are estimated to be in the catacombs, many of which were moved when the ossuary was first created. In the mid- and late-1700’s, the cemeteries of Paris were overrun with bodies. Bones from the deceased were carried in the middle of the night from their graves aboveground to their new home in the tunnels. Bones were strategically and decoratively piled against walls, with plaques incorporated to indicate the date they were moved and from which cemetery they came. It’s possible to descend into the tunnels to tour a small section of the catacombs, although you’re not allowed to take any souvenirs!
• Crypts: Attached to old cathedrals, there are some crypts open to the public for touring. Two that I’ll mention are Notre Dame and Saint Denis. The crypt under Notre Dame is new, having been created in 1965 (compared to the construction of the cathedral from 1163-1345). It was built to house historical ruins that were discovered during renovations and the tour shows visitors the progression of building on the site over hundreds of years. The Basilica of Saint Denis, in the outer suburbs of Paris, was where the royalty of France used to be buried. All but three monarchs of France remain, spanning the time from the 10^th century to the revolution in 1789. Saint Denis was named for the first bishop of Paris who was decapitated in Montmartre and – rumor has it – walked, carrying his head, to Saint Denis where he finally fell.
• Conciergerie: Located in the center of Paris on the Île de la Cité, the Conciergerie was originally part of the palace where the medieval kings lived. The building was used for administrative and judicial purposes for hundreds of years, until it became infamous during the French Revolution. Converted into a prison, the Conciergerie was where inmates were held prior to their trials and subsequent executions during the Reign of Terror. Over 2,700 people were held and then sent to the guillotine during a two-year period. The most famous resident was Marie Antoinette, queen to Louis XVI, who was executed in 1793. The building was renovated in the mid-1800’s and then opened as a historical monument in the early 1900’s.

Jon loved walking through the catacombs in Paris, and although slightly eerie, was fascinating to learn about.

The architecture of the tombs and the winding pathways are inviting, despite their slightly morbid purpose for existing!

Opera, Ballet, or Concert

Plan a fancy evening out to see an opera, ballet, or concert. With many venues hosting a variety of shows, you have options galore. The two main opera houses are the Palais Garnier and Opéra Bastille, although smaller and less-popular options are available throughout the city.

• Palais Garnier: It’s hard to beat the traditional Palais Garnier, the lavish opera house with red velvet seats and a ceiling painted by Marc Chagall. Built in the mid-1800’s, it’s worth attending a performance here if for no other reason than to spend the evening inside such a beautiful building.
• Opéra Bastille: On the opposite end of the spectrum lies the Opéra Bastille. Finished on July 13, 1989, it was inaugurated on the eve of the 200th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille prison, which set off the French Revolution. This opera house is modern and provides a completely different setting than the Palais Garnier in which to view a show.
• Last minute tickets: If you aren’t much of a planner or are looking for something to do on a rainy evening, consider purchasing last-minute tickets to a show at either opera house. Tickets for the Palais Garnier are available same-day starting at 11:30am for 6^th category seats for $10. Tickets for the Opéra Bastille are available same day for standing room only, 90 minutes prior to show time, for only 5 euros.

Rhonda spent an evening at Palais Garnier in the spring, enjoying a ballet and glass of champagne.

Shop at a Market

There are markets located all over Paris; some run every day, some just on weekends, and some only certain times of the year. There are markets dedicated to food, antiques, flowers, and much more. Based on your interests, you can almost always find a market in Paris that will be fun and interesting to visit.

• Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen: A huge flea market, stalls stretch for blocks, covering multiple neighborhoods. Everything from old junk found in someone’s attic to authentic Louis XVI chairs can be found here. Pick a few streets and stroll along the tables to see what you can discover.
• Marché Bastille: Held on weekends, the market that runs from the base of the Bastille is filled with locals doing their weekly grocery shopping. Stands for fresh fish, varieties of cheese, and plentiful fruits and vegetables can be found while shopping in this neighborhood market. This is a particular favorite since it is located a few blocks from Rhonda’s apartment and is one she frequents.
• Rue Montorgueil, Rue Cler, or Rue Mouffetard: Small markets taking up a couple blocks of the streets mentioned, these markets have a combination of temporary stalls next to permanent storefronts. A walk along any of these markets can outfit you with everything you would need for a meal – meats, breads, produce, and wine.
• Random Pop-Up Markets: Certain times of the year, you may stumble upon a pop-up market that is only around for a weekend or week. For example, there is one that comes every six months to the street where Rhonda lives. Primarily for antiques, it was fun to peek into the different tents to see what was on display as we walked to and from her apartment each day.
• Christmas Markets: I can’t mention markets without talking about the Christmas markets. Held in December in the days and weeks leading up to Christmas, these markets – small and large – are found throughout the city. From a local craft market inside a small gymnasium to the massive stalls along the Champs Élysées, each has something special to offer. I love visiting the Christmas markets so much that I purposefully planned two separate trips to France in December, just to go to these festive markets!

I shopped for fresh fruit, vegetables, and flowers at the Bastille Market the two weekends that I spent in Paris with Rhonda.

Kendra and I drank some vin chaud (hot, mulled wine) to warm up during a visit to the Christmas market along the Champs Élysées.

Thus concludes my very long list of suggestions for your second (or twentieth!) visit to Paris. Although this list ended up being longer than I anticipated, it barely scratches the surface of what there is to do and see in Paris. Jazz clubs, wine and food tastings, annual festivals, sporting events, cooking classes, and so much more – it would take a lifetime to thoroughly explore this exciting city. Every time I return, I find something new to love about Paris!

One of the more obscure items that I saw on my most recent trip was a piece of bread that was allegedly eaten by Victor Hugo in 1874.

Most who visit the Louvre see the “big three” – Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory. I ventured into other wings for different displays – like one of Napoleon’s thrones (which matched my shirt!).