Nightlife · Paris · France
Paris nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Paris, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Peter Rivera, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Paris nightlife is more about long evenings than mega-clubs: cocktail bars, wine bars, jazz cellars and canal-side drinks. Bars generally close around 2am, with clubs running later. The main areas are Le Marais, Oberkampf and Bastille, Pigalle (SoPi) and Saint-Germain and the Latin Quarter.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Le Marais
- Local drink
- Hot chocolate
Where to go out
Le Marais
Cocktail bars and the centre of LGBTQ+ nightlife around Rue des Archives and Rue Vieille-du-Temple.
Oberkampf and Bastille
Dense, affordable bar streets with a young crowd, especially Rue Oberkampf and Rue de Lappe.
Pigalle (SoPi)
Speakeasy-style cocktail bars, live-music venues and the cabarets around Boulevard de Clichy.
Saint-Germain and the Latin Quarter
Historic jazz cellars and late-opening cafés on the Left Bank.
Nightlife tips
- Happy hours usually run from about 5pm to 8pm and can halve drink prices.
- The last Métro trains run around 12:30am–1:15am on weeknights and about an hour later on Fridays and Saturdays; night buses (Noctilien) cover the rest.
- A cabaret show at the Moulin Rouge or Lido-style venues needs booking well ahead.
Evening sights
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Landmark · 7th arrondissement
Eiffel Tower
For the classic photo without the crowds, walk across the river to the Trocadéro terraces early in the morning.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with the summit
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- After dark
Landmark · Champs-Élysées
Arc de Triomphe
Use the underground passage from the Champs-Élysées; never try to cross the roundabout on foot.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- History
- Iconic
- After dark
Experience · Seine
Seine river cruise
Choose a sailing that leaves about 30 minutes before the hour after dark so you pass the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
- After dark
- Iconic
Waterfront · Canal Saint-Martin
Canal Saint-Martin
Pick up wine and cheese and join the locals on the quays around sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Off the beaten path
What to drink
- Hot chocolate — Paris tea rooms serve thick, rich hot chocolate, often with a jug of whipped cream on the side. It is a meal in itself on a winter afternoon.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 16°C (61°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 17:21 | 3°C (37°F) | 10 |
| April | About 20:42 | 7°C (45°F) | 9 |
| July | About 21:50 | 16°C (61°F) | 7 |
| October | About 19:01 | 10°C (50°F) | 9 |
Getting home late
- Metro — Load tickets onto a Navigo Easy card or a phone with the official app rather than buying paper tickets.
- Walking — Many classic sights are 15–25 minutes apart along the Seine, and walking is the best way to discover the neighbourhoods between them.
- Bus — Buses use the same tickets as the Métro but you cannot change between bus and Métro on one ticket.
- Taxi — Avoid unofficial drivers who approach you in airport and station arrival halls.
Late-night bites
- Croque-monsieur — Almost every café menu; better versions come from places that bake their own bread.
- Crêpes and galettes — Rue du Montparnasse has a cluster of Breton crêperies near Gare Montparnasse; street stands are everywhere for sweet crêpes.
- Falafel in the Marais — Rue des Rosiers in Le Marais; expect queues at lunchtime and on Sundays.
Staying safe at night
Paris is generally safe for visitors, but pickpocketing is common on the Métro, at major sights and around big stations. Watch out for petition and 'found ring' scams near monuments, and keep phones out of reach on café tables.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples, shopping and nightlife
Le Marais
Le Marais escaped Haussmann's rebuilding, so its narrow streets still hold 17th-century mansions such as the Hôtel de Sully and the arcaded Place des Vosges. It is the city's liveliest area for independent shops, small museums (Picasso, Carnavalet) and Sunday opening, and it sits within walking distance of Notre-Dame and the Louvre.
- Good
- Central and walkable to most sights; Shops and restaurants open on Sundays; Lively in the evenings
- Watch out
- Rooms are small and pricey; Busy weekend crowds on Rue des Rosiers
- Nearby
- Place des Vosges, Musée Picasso, Musée Carnavalet, Notre-Dame
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Paris?
Le Marais, Oberkampf and Bastille and Pigalle (SoPi). Cocktail bars and the centre of LGBTQ+ nightlife around Rue des Archives and Rue Vieille-du-Temple.
+Which area of Paris is best for nightlife?
Le Marais: Medieval lanes, galleries, falafel and boutiques in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements.