The Ultimate Bucket List for Those Living in Paris

History and culture run deep through the veins of Paris. It’s the city of art, romance, film, gastronomy, and much much more, so it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of must see places in the city when living in Paris. Put on your best walking shoes and bring your camera because you’ve got a lot to check out during your life in Paris.

Landmarks in Paris

When you first live in Paris, the first things you’ll want to check out are the famous landmarks. Everyone knows the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, but the great thing about spending more time living in Paris is you can branch off from the basic sites and see the more unique landmarks. Here’s our top suggestions for Paris landmarks below.

Palais Royal

In 1633, Cardinal Richelieu, who was Louis XIII's Chief Minister, commissioned a mansion for himself across the street from the royal palace of the Louvre. However, the Cardinal was only able to basque in its extravagant interiors for three years until his death. Since then, the palace has been handed down to various members of French royalty, where it became known for hosting grandeur parties and royal affairs. Today, the Palais Royal is in the 1st arrondissement and serves as the seat of the Ministry of Culture and the Jardin du Palais-Royal serves as a public park.

Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur

Located in the trendy Montmartre neighborhood, the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur stands atop a hilltop that offers a panoramic view of Paris. All you have to do is brave the 222 steps leading up to it. Built in a Roman-Byzantine style, the Basilica offers a dazzling interior that many European churches are famed for, with France’s largest mosaic piece on display. If you don’t feel like climbing the steps, the former artist village of Montmartre offers retro-cool bars, trendy eateries, and one of a kind boutiques.

Museums in Paris

Is Paris a good place to live? For art and culture lovers, the answer is overwhelmingly yes. Life in Paris and the city’s architecture is greatly influenced by the many great art movements that have happened throughout its history. World renown for its extensive museums, these are our favorite.

Musée Carnavalet

History buffs will love the Musée Carnavalet. This off the beaten track museum offers 140 rooms that depict Paris’s history in chronological order, from the ages of pre-Roman Gaul up to modern times. The building itself was constructed in 1548, allowing you to explore this piece of history while learning the origins of how Paris came to be.

The Centre Pompidou

This quirky gallery created by President Pompidou was to act as Paris’s beacon for contemporary art. Its industrial, yet unique exterior was constructed in a “high tech” architecture style. Today, it is home to an expansive collection of contemporary art with famous works by Man Ray, Duchamp, and Picasso. It also hosts a cinema, a major public library, and a program of concerts throughout the year.

Parks in Paris

One thing that all people of Paris can enjoy are the green spaces, and the city is full of them. Embrace the lifestyle of Paris and enjoy a picnic with a fresh baguette, some local cheese, and French wine and take in the beautiful parks that Paris has to offer.

Parc des Buttes-Chaumont

This park in the 19th arrondissement is probably one of the best local gems in Paris. This large green space offers waterfalls, temple structures, lakes, and cliffs for park goers to explore. It also offers a fantastic viewpoint of the city, so grab your brie, baguette, and wine and indulge in a classic picnic with the perfect backdrop.

Jardin du Luxembourg

The Jardin du Luxembourg was constructed in 1612 when Marie de' Medici began building the Luxembourg Palace as her new home after King Henry IV died. Today, the garden is very popular with joggers and contains a myriad of plants, including an apple orchard and a rose garden. Walk around to find the statues of important figures in history scattered throughout the greenery.

Shows in Paris

If there’s one thing the people of Paris love is some good, old fashioned entertainment. Living in Paris grants you the opportunity to check out some of the fantastic shows that have been going strong for centuries. Secure your tickets, and go to your seats; the show is about to begin.

Opera Garnier

The Opera Garnier is the primary opera and ballet company in France. It was founded in 1669 by King Louis XIV and has since earned itself the reputation of being one of the top and most well respected companies in the world. The marvelous Palais Garnier building houses the performances within its grand foyer and pavilions, which are sites to see within itself. You can choose to just see the interior of the Palais, or you can even buy a ticket to a performance.

Moulin Rouge

Spend a night seeing a live cabaret at the classic Moulin Rouge venue in Montmartre. Moulin Rouge is regarded as the birthplace of the French Cancan dance, which used to be known as a very suggestive routine and has since evolved into an extravagant performance. The dazzling building exterior and the vintage interior with romantic decor makes it an off-beat place to visit in Paris.

Neighborhoods in Paris

The lifestyle of Paris that you experience greatly depends on your neighborhood. Each neighborhood has its own style and feel to it, whether you want something more calm and traditional, or more modern and hip. Do your research and find out which neighborhood best suits your needs for your stay, and don't forget to explore each one while living in Paris.

Le Marais

Mixing old world charm with modern desires is the neighborhood of Le Marais in the 4th arrondissement. This popular Paris neighborhood features narrow cobblestone streets, hidden courtyards, 17th century mansions, galleries, boutiques, gay bars, and a vibrant Jewish community. It’s the perfect district for shopping, sipping a coffee at a cafe, checking out the oldest market in Paris (Marché couvert des Enfants Rouges), or going out. Le Marais is a place that both tourists and locals alike can enjoy.

Canal Saint-Martin

This up and coming hipster neighborhood straddles the canal as it winds through the 10th and 11th arrondissements. The Paris youth and young professionals flock to this neighborhood to hang out along the shores or check out the trending restaurants, cafes, artisanal boulangeries, event spaces, and independent designer boutiques. And as a fun fact for film fanatics, the bridge used in the filming of Amélie is located in this hip neighborhood.

Exploring Paris with Ukio

There are so many things to do and places to see when living in Paris that it can be a challenge to tick everything off your Paris bucket list within a short trip. A great way to make sure that you can successfully complete everything you came to do is to stay in town for a month or two in order to really soak up the sites and life in Paris. With Ukio, you can do just that.

We’re offering fully furnished and artfully decorated apartments available for month-long rentals in Paris, as well as other major European cities. This way, there’s no compromise or rush when it comes to being able to truly experience the lifestyle of Paris in its entirety.