Paris has retained its place as the leading city destination in the world, according to Euromonitor International’s latest report, and it’s not hard to see why. Being a Paris local, I may be biased, but the French capital really does have it all, from centuries-old architecture and fascinating history to dynamic food and art scenes and a multicultural population pushing the boundaries of creativity.

What really draws crowds, though, are the things you can only do in Paris. From Michelin-star dining on the River Seine to flea-market shopping on the outskirts of the city, here are some of the top things to do on your next visit to Paris.

1. Have dinner on the Seine imagined by Michelin-star chefs

The range of dinner cruises on the Seine is overwhelming and it can be hard to choose between them. If you want to splash out, failsafe options include the floating restaurants led by the three-Michelin-star chefs Frédéric Anton and Alain Ducasse.

For a more intimate experience, go for the Don Juan II, overseen by Frédéric Anton. Belonging to the Yachts de Paris, the restaurant only has a handful of tables but has itself earned a Michelin star under Anton’s leadership. Inside, mahogany paneling, thick carpets and opulent Pierre Frey fabrics give the space a homely feel. The boat leaves at sundown, and guests get to gaze out at Paris’ most magical highlights, from Notre Dame Cathedral to the Eiffel Tower lit by hundreds of little lights, as they tuck into a five-course seasonal menu, with highlights such as creamy stracciatella with lashings of caviar, and fleshy langoustine.

The other, livelier option is a table on board the shiny-steel-and-glass Ducasse sur Seine, which takes the same route and serves four- to six-course menus designed in conjunction with Alain Ducasse.

You can go up on deck on both boats, which is the best spot for watching the Eiffel Tower dazzle on the hour.

Planning tip: Do make reservations as far in advance as possible as both dinner cruises tend to get booked up. The ports can be tricky to find, especially when you’re not familiar with the quays, so allow for plenty of time to arrive because the cruises won’t wait.

2. Enjoy a picnic with a view of Notre-Dame

Notre-Dame Cathedral is (rightfully) a major highlight in all the guidebooks, but it has become a victim of overtourism. The interiors are beautiful, but if you don’t want to queue up to visit, you can see it from a different perspective instead.

Pack a picnic – perhaps a baguette, salted butter, ham and cheeses – and set up on the small stretch of the Seine riverbank west of the Port de Montebello. From here, you can see the cathedral’s wooden lattice structure known as the “forest” because it was made using oak trees. Before the roof was destroyed in the 2019 fire, it was one of the oldest frameworks in Paris and it is slowly being rebuilt. The 16 statues of the Apostles and Evangelists, which were staggered on the roof of the cathedral, eerily looking down from above, were spared from the fire and will be replaced in time for the Olympics.

Planning tip: As with any outdoor activity, make sure to check the weather conditions before you put together your picnic and set off.

3. Renew your appreciation for croissants

Croissants might be an everyday staple in France, but the painstaking work that goes into making the buttery viennoiseries (breakfast baked goods) is sometimes taken for granted. However, after taking a croissant-making class at the Seine-side La Cuisine Paris cooking school, I learned that it takes several days to make croissants. They have no less than 81 layers of pastry and butter that are lovingly kneaded, delicately rolled together and plaited before they can go in the oven. That was just one of many interesting facts we learned from taking the class, making it a novel way of getting to know about French food and culture.

Planning tip: Book in advance as the classes are very popular. La Cuisine also does gift vouchers, which could make good presents for friends and family traveling to Paris in the near future.

4. Dive into Paris’ contemporary art scene with your own guide

Swap Paris’ overcrowded museums for some gallery hopping across the city, from the chic Marais to bohemian Belleville. It’s here that you’ll catch much of the art scene’s latest emerging talent and you won’t need to queue – in fact you’ll often get the chance to be alone in a room to take in the works. If you’re lucky, you might even get to meet the artists as they stop by to check in on their show.

If you don’t know where to start, get in touch with Paris art guide Alexandra Weinress, who will take you on a tailor-made tour in English or French, based on your interests. She can also include fun pit stops like a lunch at one of her favorite modern brasseries.

5. Explore a mass grave below ground

First and foremost, a word of warning that this isn’t for the fainthearted. But head 20m (66ft) below ground, and you’ll enter the maze of galleries that make up the Catacombs of Paris, containing the remains of several million Parisians. During the 18th century, the rise in public health risks linked to the city’s cemeteries led to bones and skulls being exhumed and transferred here, arranged several meters high along the walls in underground galleries. Today, you can listen to an audio guide of the giant tomb, which brings to light yet another fascinating and offbeat part of Parisian history.

Planning tip: Be warned that the Catacombs are accessible via stairs only, including on the way out, which may not be suitable for some visitors.

6. Visit the largest museum on Earth

If you guessed the Museé du Louvre, then you guessed right. Yes, it may be firmly on the well-beaten tourist track, but it’s there for good reason, one being its size. Once the royal palace that housed none other than Napoleon, the Louvre has borne witness to centuries of history since it was founded in 1793. The largest museum in the world, it has almost 73,000 sq meters (785,765 sq ft) of exhibition space, 403 rooms, and 14.5km (9 miles) of corridors, where 33,000 artworks out of nearly 500,000 held by the museum are showcased. The works span several thousand years and continents, from the Americas to Asia, with the Egyptian wing being a favorite.

Head-spinning facts aside, for visitors who aren’t fans of the museum experience, it’s also possible to get a sense of the Louvre’s size, importance and beauty by walking the full length of its exterior from the rue de Rivoli to its interior courtyards, which are accessible for free throughout the day.

Planning tip: The museum is open until 9pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, when it tends to be less crowded. Like many museums in Paris, the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. Check the latest timings on the Louvre website beforehand, as they can vary from season to season.

7. Travel back in time to bohemian Montmartre

Montmartre is a village with bohemian artistic roots. Perched on the highest hill of Paris, it’s crowned by the gleaming white Sacré-Coeur Basilica, which opened in 1910. One of the last villages to join the arrondissements of Paris proper, it has retained its village atmosphere, with narrow lanes that wind down the hillsides, lined with stone houses, cafes, restaurants and boutiques. This was once a stomping ground for artists including Pablo Picasso, who would hole up at Le Bateau Lavoir – an artists’ residency that to this day seldom opens its doors to visitors – and party at the numerous nightlife spots.

The village was scattered with windmills that once ground flour and crushed grapes, giving rise to debauched nights in the area’s cabarets and guinguettes (popular outdoor taverns where there is dancing). Some of these have survived, like Chez Michou and Le Lapin Agile. Today, there is only one functioning windmill left, the Blute-Fin windmill, which is not accessible to the public. The Radet windmill you see as part of the Moulin de la Galette restaurant on rue Lepic once stood next to the Blute-Fin and was moved here in the 1920s. The Clos Montmartre vineyard still exists and there is an annual grape harvest festival in October, which is worth coming to the city for.

Planning tip: Take the Promotrain or Montmartrain, which carry visitors around Montmartre to the main sites. It’s about an hour’s round trip, and they’re especially good for people with restricted mobility, families with young children, and visitors short on time.

8. Soak up the magic of the Latin Quarter at sundown

The Latin Quarter is one of Paris’ oldest districts, with some parts dating back to Roman and Medieval times. Some vestiges from the Roman period are still visible to this day, like the Arènes de Lutèce, a former amphitheater, and the baths inside the Cluny Museum; and from the Middle Ages too, such as the Church of Saint Séverin as well as La Sorbonne university, founded in 1253.

While the Latin Quarter is one of the most atmospheric areas of the city, it’s also one of the busiest. A way around that is to visit at sundown, when most visitors go back to their accommodations. One of the highlights of Paris in general is strolling at nightfall because the buildings are lit up in such a way that it brings out lots of small details you might miss in the daytime. The Latin Quarter is no exception. Stop at the Bombardier pub for a drink on the terrace, right across from the regal Pantheon, where some of the country’s greatest thinkers have been laid to rest, including Simone Veil and Victor Hugo.

9. Get under the surface of France’s food scene

France’s food scene is a major draw for visitors, and in Paris there are over 80 fresh produce markets, hundreds of delis and bakeries, and thousands of restaurants and cafes to try. To really understand the locals’ love of food, the history behind its national importance, and to taste some local favorites too, book a tour with a guide.

Food guide Neil Kreeger (neil.kreeger@gmail.com) puts together bespoke itineraries based on your preferences and unpacks the mysteries behind every major French classic, from macarons and croque monsieur to the numerous cheeses and wines, as well as the more recent food trends. Experiences last about three hours in one neighborhood.

10. Ponder the lives of luminaries departed

A great way of seeing another side of Paris is through some of its beautiful cemeteries. The most famous is Père-Lachaise in the 20th arrondissement, which spans 44 hectares (108 acres) and contains no less than 70,000 burial plots. Created in 1804, it’s halfway between a leafy park and a huge shrine, where the style of the graves ranges from Gothic mini chapels to impressive Haussmannian burial chambers and great big mausoleums for whole families.

Some of the cemetery’s most famous “residents” include Oscar Wilde, Molière, Edith Piaf, Frédéric Chopin and Jim Morrison, whose graves are popular tourist spots for visitors from all over the world – three million a year descend on the cemetery, to be exact.

11. Find your favorite view of the Eiffel Tower

Of course, it’s obvious that Paris is the only place you can see the Eiffel Tower. But where’s the best vantage point? That’s the million-dollar question that could keep locals debating all night long. Catching glimpses of the Grande Dame from all over the city is half the fun. For visitors who want the real, full-size, unobstructed view, then the Trocadero is the number one spot. For a 360-degree view from the skies, then the Montparnasse Tower rooftop observation deck has to be it. And for more fleeting glimpses, catch the metro line 6 between the stops of Passy and Bir-Hakeim. Otherwise, there are several rooftop restaurants and bars where you can dine while gazing at Paris’ most popular monument, like at Le Printemps and Galeries Lafayette department stores, and many five-star hotel rooftop restaurants like the Peninsula’s L’Oiseau Blanc, the Cheval Blanc’s Tout-Paris or Le Jardin, or the Shangri-La’s champagne garden in summer.

12. Resurrect the Phantom of the Opera

You can book to see a show at the Palais Garnier, Paris’ world-famous opera house. Built in 1875, it was named after Charles Garnier, its architect. It’s an Italian-style auditorium known for its celestial ceiling fresco by artist Marc Chagall, and can hold up to 2054 visitors in one sitting. Possibly the most famous opera house in the world, it was immortalized in the novel The Phantom of the Opera, keeping the legend of terrifying ghostly happenings alive.

It’s possible to visit the incredibly opulent opera house, with its heavily gilded interiors and grand marble staircases. You’ll walk the maze-like corridors of dressing rooms and rehearsal spaces, behind and under the stage, and even see the underground lake that flows below the opera house.

Planning tip: There are a number of ways to visit the opera house, including self-guided visits, guided tours, through an immersive game based on the story of the 1905 fictional thief and master of disguise Arsène Lupin, and via games for children.

13. Lose yourself in the world’s biggest flea market

While it is true that most of Paris’ blockbuster sights are found within the city center, it’s worth venturing a little further afield to visit St-Ouen flea market, the Puces de St-Ouen. One of the biggest markets in the world, it’s actually made up of 15 markets selling all sorts of wares, from antique jewelry to furniture, clothing and records. Hidden in the markets are also restaurants and cafes that make great pit stops to sit and watch life go by. Start on rue des Rosiers in St-Ouen, which isn’t in Paris proper, and wander through the markets that sprawl out on either side in warehouse spaces. You could easily spend a whole day exploring.

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Fans were banned from the pandemic-postponed Tokyo Olympics which will open in two weeks, following a state of emergency on Thursday, Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa told the Japanese news agency Kyodo.

The ban was announced by the International Olympic Committee and Japanese organizers, reducing the games to a made-for-TV event.

Fans from abroad were banned months ago, and the new measures announced by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will clear venues around Tokyo – indoor and outdoor – of any fans at all.

The emergency declaration made for a rude arrival in Japan for IOC President Thomas Bach, who landed in Tokyo on Thursday just hours before the new measures were announced. He was to spend three days in self-isolation at the five-star hotel that lodges IOC members.

Suga said the state of emergency would go into effect on Monday and last through Aug. 22. This means the Olympics, opening on July 23 and running through Aug. 8, will be held entirely under emergency measures.

“Taking into consideration the impact of the delta strain, and in order to prevent the resurgence of infections from spreading across the country, we need to step up virus prevention measures,” Suga said.

Suga, who had long favored fans, hinted at a no-fan Olympics in announcing the state of emergency.

“I have already said I won’t hesitate to have no spectators,” he added.

Just two weeks ago, organizers and the IOC allowed venues to be filled to 50% of capacity but crowds not to exceed 10,000. The state of emergency has forced a late turnaround, which was always an option if infections got worse.

“We will have to consider the option of no spectators,” Marukawa said in opening remarks with the IOC and others as they went into meetings to discuss a ban on fans.

The main focus of the emergency is a request for bars, restaurants and karaoke parlors serving alcohol to close. A ban on serving alcohol is a key step to tone down Olympic-related festivities and keep people from drinking and partying. Tokyo residents are expected to face stay-home requests and watch the games on TV from home.

“How to stop people enjoying the Olympics from going out for drinks is a main issue,” Health Minister Norihisa Tamura said.

The present state of emergency ends Sunday. Tokyo reported 896 new cases on Thursday, up from 673 a week earlier. It’s the 19th straight day that cases have topped the mark set seven days prior. New cases on Wednesday hit 920, the highest total since 1,010 were reported on May 13.

The no-fan atmosphere will include the opening ceremony at the $1.4 billion National Stadium, which is traditionally the most watched event during the Olympics.

“It’s not too late. Cancel or postpone it,” said Yukio Edano, the head of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, the largest opposition party to Suga’s LDP

The uptick in infections has also forced the Tokyo city government to pull the Olympic torch relay off capital streets, allowing it to run only on remote islands off the Tokyo coast. It’s unclear how the torch will enter the stadium for the opening ceremony.

“The infections are in their expansion phase and everyone in this country must firmly understand the seriousness of it,” Dr. Shigeru Omi, a top government medical adviser, said.

He urged authorities to quickly take tough measures ahead of the Olympics, with summer vacations approaching.

Omi has repeatedly called for a ban on spectators, and has said it’s “abnormal” to hold the Olympics during a pandemic.

Separately, a government COVID-19 advisory panel met Wednesday and expressed concerns about the ongoing resurgence of the infections.

“Two-thirds of the infections in the capital region are from Tokyo, and our concern is the spread of the infections to neighboring areas,” said Ryuji Wakita, director-general of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases.

The Olympics are pushing ahead against most medical advice, partially because the postponement stalled the IOC’s income flow. It gets almost 75% of its income from selling broadcast rights, and estimates suggest it would lose $3 billion to $4 billion if the Olympics were canceled.

About 11,000 Olympians and 4,400 Paralympians are expected to enter Japan, with tens of thousands of officials, judges, administrators, sponsors, broadcasters, and media also entering. The IOC says more than 80% of resident of the Olympic Village will be vaccinated.

Nationwide, Japan has had about 810,000 cases and nearly 14,900 deaths. Only 15% of Japanese are fully vaccinated, still low compared with 47.4% in the United States and almost 50% in Britain.

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The government of Japan said four coronavirus cases had been found among Olympics arrivals from overseas, after two members of the Ugandan delegation tested positive for COVID-19.

Japanese officials said a French national who arrived in February, an Egyptian in April, a Sri Lankan in May and a Ghanaian in June all tested positive. The public was not informed of the positive tests at the time and the individuals had traveled to Japan for Olympics-related reasons, the Mainichi Shimbun reported Friday, citing the Cabinet Secretary’s office.

The government has been facing mounting public criticism over the decision to hold the Summer Games despite concerns about a surge in cases during the event. Infections have grown since Japan lifted a state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas last week.

Japan has been quietly accepting athletes and Olympics officials from abroad since January. From the beginning of the year to June 13, 2,925 people associated with the Games have arrived in the country, according to the Mainichi.

Tokyo requires all overseas arrivals to undergo a 14-day quarantine, but athletes are exempt. The Japanese government estimates about 70,000 people will travel to Japan for the Olympics, with many exempt from quarantine, the report said.

The exemption is coming under fire from opposition politicians in Japan.

The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan said quarantine measures must be strengthened for foreign media and other non-athletes.

According to NHK, the Tokyo 2020 Playbooks, which include safety guidelines for the Olympics, reporters can access designated convenience stores and restaurants. Visitors could come into contact with the local population and increase the risk of infection, the opposition has said.

The Delta variant was found among members of the Ugandan team, Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa said Friday. The delegation did not quarantine after arrival and traveled 300 miles on a chartered bus to their pregame camp, according to reports.

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito is “extremely worried” that the Tokyo Olympics could accelerate the spread of the coronavirus, the head of the Imperial Palace said Thursday with the games opening in one month.

Yasuhiko Nishimura, grand steward of the Imperial Household Agency, told a news conference that the Emperor has voiced concerns.

“His majesty is extremely worried about the current situation of the COVID-19 infections,” Nishimura said. “While there are voices of unease among the public, I believe (the emperor) is concerned that holding the Olympics and Paralympics … may lead to the expansion of the infections.”

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