Planning a trip to Paris on a Saturday? This guide highlights the best things to do in Paris on a Saturday, including top attractions, restaurants, and more. Make the most of your weekend getaway with these suggestions.
Paris has an enticing allure that lures visitors from all over the world. As the weekend comes, Saturdays in Paris offer a wealth of possibilities, offering a day full of culture, history, art, and gourmet delights.
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned tourist, here’s a selected list of things to do in Paris on a Saturday that will make your trip unique.
Things you'll find in this article
- 15 Best Things To Do In Paris On Saturday
- 1. See the Treaty of Paris Plaque
- 2. Investigate at Maison de Victor Hugo
- 3. Explore Musée de Cluny
- 4. Wander at Charcot’s Library
- 5. Witness Jeff Koons’s Bouquet of Tulips
- 6. Head to Gnomon of St Sulpice and the Da Vinci Code
- 7. View Fourier’s Fourth Apple
- 8. Make Your Way to Tuileries Garden
- 9. Pay a Visit to Fondation Louis Vuitton
- 10. Tour the Galleries La Fayette Paris Haussmann
- 11. Roam at the Shoah Memorial
- 12. Check out La Madeleine
- 13. Observe the Beauty of Hotel de Ville
- 14. Shop ‘till You Drop at Rue Cler
- 15. Discover the Wave in Paris
- Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Paris on Saturday
15 Best Things To Do In Paris On Saturday
Related Read:
- Things To Do In Paris On Monday
- Best Things To Do In Paris On Tuesday
- Best Things To Do In Paris On Wednesday
1. See the Treaty of Paris Plaque
The Hotel D’York was frequently used as a neutral gathering location for dignitaries as well as treaty signings from all around the world. However, no champagne was served on this occasion since all of the countries involved were still at odds.
The Hotel D’York no longer exists, and the sole proof that historical papers were signed there is a marble plaque on the exterior of the original building face. The marker appears in French, but the key information is easily translated.
Today, the building houses the Typographie De Firmin Didot, which specializes in printing and typography. This location is free to visit, however, there is little to see other than the plaque. The building requires guests to be buzzed in, and there is little see in the lobby.
2. Investigate at Maison de Victor Hugo
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The Maison de Victor Hugo, located in the distinguished Place de Vosges in the center of the Marais district, welcomes guests into the private residence of the famous French writer, who resided on the 2nd level of the mansion and composed some of his most famous works, such as a large portion of ‘Les Misérables’.
Through a display of his furniture, numerous keepsakes, and wonderful interior design, you may trace the three main periods of his existence – before, during, and after his flight to Guernsey – by touring this apartment. The first level is dedicated to temporary displays of his sketches and drawings of his writings.
3. Explore Musée de Cluny
The museum is housed in the medieval hostel of the abbots of Cluny, a treasure of the extravagant Gothic style, and on the location of the historic thermal baths.
Be sure to visit the stunning frigidarium that has 14-meter high vaults. Starting in 2018, a modern pavilion has welcomed guests. A historical journey spanning over 1,000 years of history features around 1,600 treasures of medieval art.
The famed tapestries of the Lady of the Unicorn as well as stained glass windows belonging to Sainte-Chapelle, in addition to one of the best exhibits of Limousin enamel, make up the museum’s gems. The museum is accessible from 9:30 AM to 6:15 PM on all days except Monday.
4. Wander at Charcot’s Library
Dr. Charcot served for 33 years in the Salpetrière hospital in the nineteenth century, when one of his learners was Sigmund Freud.
He was most known for his studies on hysteria and hypnosis, and he founded a neurology department at the hospital where he staged his notorious ‘leçons du mardi matin,’ usually stunning exhibitions with entranced ladies.
His methods for creating hysteria in female patients using hypnosis, magnetism, and electricity were both dramatic and scary, not to mention extremely popular – both within the medical establishment and among the general public.
The Charcot Library was formally set up at the Salpêtrière Hospital in 1907, after receiving donations from Jean-Martin Charcot’s own collection.
5. Witness Jeff Koons’s Bouquet of Tulips
Jeff Koons’ Bouquet of Tulips was unveiled in October 2019 in the grounds of the Champs-Élysées, Paris, in tribute to the American people to the Parisians people, on the motion of Jane Hartley to the French Republic along with Principality of Monaco.
Bouquet of Tulips is a huge and one-of-a-kind sculpture created by the artist as an emblem of recollection, optimism, and rehabilitation.
Bouquet of Tulips, which represents the act of giving by a raised hand holding a bouquet of vividly colored flowers, conjures the hand of the Statue of Liberty holding the torch, and it also has a conversation with Pablo Picasso’s Friendship Bouquet.
6. Head to Gnomon of St Sulpice and the Da Vinci Code
St Sulpice Church also happens to be among the rare religious institutions with a gnomon. Henry Sully, a clockmaker and astronomer, designed it at the request of a priest who wished to precisely calculate the Winter and Summer sunsets and equinoxes.
A brass line is set into the marble surface as well as into the shaft of an 11-meter-high marble column crowned with a cross. Sunlight shines through a small aperture in the south transept window onto the brass line.
7. View Fourier’s Fourth Apple
The apple represents a concept that inspired Fourier’s fundamental critique of industrial society. He observed that an apple in Paris was far more expensive than an apple in his city of Besançon.
As the apple passed from farmer to seller to reseller, and so on, its value increased exponentially at no cost to the person who farmed the fruit. Scurti’s artwork included Fourier’s apple as part of a lengthy line of paradigm-shifting fruits.
If Eve’s Apple was the very first, Paris and Venus’s seemed the second, and Newton’s were the third one, then Fourier’s unreasonably costly Parisian Apple, an innocent morsel that gave birth to a body of political literature that eventually became required reading for a number of generations of free thinkers, was unquestionably the fourth.
8. Make Your Way to Tuileries Garden
The historic area of Tuileries, positioned between the Louvre palace and the Seine, was named for the tile manufacturers that inhabited this location in the Middle Ages.
Today, these industries have been replaced by a vast public park, one of the largest and oldest French gardens in the city’s center, with a history dating back to the 17th century.
Today, the park is alive with chairs, which are freely available to pedestrians who want to relax by one of the ponds during nice weather.
The park also has several of Aristide Maillol’s statues, one of the most prominent sculptors of the twentieth century, as well as Auguste Cain’s animal sculptures.
9. Pay a Visit to Fondation Louis Vuitton
Fondation Louis Vuitton was opened in 2014, is dedicated to fostering modern and contemporary art. The beautiful new Frank Gehry-designed museum also has exhibition galleries, one-of-a-kind artist commissions, and an auditorium for multidisciplinary programming.
The Foundation’s remarkable modern art collections are displayed in a Frank Gehry-designed architectural treasure.
This innovative architect has transformed the usage of glass and produced previously unimaginable designs. In addition to the Fondation Louis Vuitton’s creative and architectural riches, visitors may enjoy amazing panoramic views from the building’s different terraces.
10. Tour the Galleries La Fayette Paris Haussmann
This is not your typical Parisian department store. It’s been a fixture in the City of Lights since two Alsatian cousins launched what began as a “sundries shop”.
When you step into Galeries Lafayette, you immediately realize you’ve entered a new sort of mall. Security guards in neat suits will greet you upon admission.
Everything is stylish, including the staff. Among the first things you’ll notice is how polished everything is and how well everyone is dressed.
11. Roam at the Shoah Memorial
The Shoah Memorial opened to visitors in January 2005. Based in Paris’s historic Marais district, it has become Europe’s leading institution for the Shoah.
Knowing the past to throw light on the future is the aim of this site as a memorial, museum, and research center.
The Shoah Memorial, which is intended for a broad audience, not only contributes to educating about a unique atrocity in human history, but it also participates in education and conversations about acceptance, freedom, and democracy.
12. Check out La Madeleine
The neoclassical façade of La Madeleine, which is reminiscent of an old Greek temple, is highly stunning from the exterior.
The structure contains 52 Corinthian columns that reach 20 meters tall, giving it a majestic appearance. The last judgment is represented by a high relief on the pediment.
The church’s interior, which is very softly illuminated, consists of a single nave having three domes that are not observable from the outside.
A statue of St Mary Magdalene sits above the High Alter, and a mural depicting the history of Christianity may be found in the dome over the figure.
13. Observe the Beauty of Hotel de Ville
The Hotel de Ville represents one of the most lasting icons in a city rich with beautiful sights. That has been the case since 1357 when the mayor of Paris first relocated to the location.
At that time, the seat of Paris municipal administration was in the home of the mayor. It was not until 1533 that French King Francis I chose to build a Hotel de Ville fit for France’s capital.
The Hotel de Ville is the official residence of the Mayor of Paris as well as the seat of municipal administration.
14. Shop ‘till You Drop at Rue Cler
Rue Cler, one of Paris’ famous market streets, is located in the 7th arrondissement. There’s a great assortment of specialized food stores, delicatessens, cafés, and more.
The majority of the roadway is a pedestrian zone with old cobblestones. Locals go to this real market area to buy their favorite dishes or to relax on one of the numerous café terraces with loved ones and observe the world go by.
Rue Cler is especially handy for the area since it operates on Sunday mornings, exhibiting the finest dishes for the Sunday meal of French families.
15. Discover the Wave in Paris
There’s no need to drive to the seaside to surf in France anymore. Wave, a new mixed-use complex in Paris, brings flow boarding to the city.
Wave in Paris is an entertainment establishment that pioneered the merging of flow boarding, shopping, and events.
The upper level of the structure is dedicated to squash, having four courts in addition to two changing facilities, while the bottom floor allows guests to try shredding on the dynamic wave.
For visitors who choose to stay dry, the restaurant is located right above the FlowRider on the upper level to drive additional income and offer engaging spectator value.
Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Paris on Saturday
Saturdays in Paris are filled with enthralling activities and experiences to suit every taste and preference. On Saturdays, the City of Light truly comes alive, from touring historic sights to relishing wonderful cuisine at local markets and lovely cafés.
Whether you’re an art lover, a foodie, a history buff, or simply looking for the bustling pulse of the city, Paris has a plethora of possibilities to make your Saturday unforgettable.
Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.