My sister and I will be in Paris for 12 days in late October. I've been to Paris twice before and know that we are going to be OK for morning & afternoon activities. What about evenings though? We are 36 & 33, don't drink too much (not into the bar scene but we do enjoy one or 2 drinks at a bar on occasion). We are staying in a very nice apartment, but don't want to sit around and watch tv after 7 pm for 12 evenings in a row.

Any suggestions? Shows we should see? Ballets? I was thinking of going to the movies one evening, but other than that, we need ideas.

Thanks in advance!

Concerts at Ste Chapelle and other churches. Night time river cruises. Late opening at the Louvre etc. Walking/walking/walking. Cafes. My best photos of Paris are night views. Go up the Eiffel Tower since the lines are much shorter at night.

I never run out of things to do at night

Ballet at the gorgeous Palais Garnier: www.opera-de-paris.com

You will find that people have dinner much later in Paris, so I doubt you'll be done by 7 PM most evenings. We found a lot of places didn't open until 7:30 or so for dinner.

Margy

Louvre open late Wednesday and Friday nights.

Decorative arts museum and fashion/textiles museum and Musee d'Orsay open late Thursday nights.

Jeu de Paume open late Tuesday nights.

Musee du Luxembourg open late Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Go on a Fat Tire Bike Tour at night (about 6-10 p.m.) It is lots of fun and includes a boat tour (Bateaux Mouches) of the Seine. http://www.fattirebiketoursparis.com

Several of the museums are open at night - and tend not to be crowded.

Dinner and exploring a cute neighborhood.

Walking along the Seine and/or taking one of the boat rides (but NO dinner).

Any number of concerts, operas, ballet etc. - if you look at the web sites of the various venues.

There are typically topic or director-specific film festivals with the films shown in their original language (we once did a Marx Brothers festival - 3 films in a row). The audience seemed to be about 50/50 English and French speakers - so there were 2 laughs for every joke - one timed to the audio and the other to the French subtitles.

If you want first-run movies the american movies marked VO in the ads (usually theaters on the Grandes Blvds) are shown in english.

For drinks one or 2 nights I suggest going to one of the bars in the very upscale hotels - fun for people watching as long as your budget will stand it.

First,, at 7pm you will likely be just going out for dinner, and dinners should be leisurly, even with my 12 yr old we didn't usaully finish dinner till 8:30 or 9, and on a few evenings we didn't even start till 8 or 8:30. I like going back to hotel after siteseeing and resting and showering.. so late dinners are great.

Second, I have gone to the Lourve for an evening visit, it is very nice then, less crowds.

Third, I have done the Fat Tire Bike Tour,( did two actually the nightime one and the Versailles one) and they are absolutely a hoot. The night bike tour is from 7 till about 11 or so.

when you arrive, buy pariscope..a complete list of concerts, exhibitions and other happenings.

Other more travelled posters will be able to anser the following question - Are there picnics on the Seine bridges at that time of the year? If so, I think that would be a fun way to spend an evening.

Hi C,

>Are there picnics on the Seine bridges at that time of the year? <

As long as the weather is reasonable, there are people hanging out on the Pont des Arts. Often with a band or two.

For music every night, mostly jazz or blues, the Caveau des Oubliettes in the Latin Quarter is fun. No cover, one drink minimum if I remember correctly, fun venue in the former dungeon (there is a real guillotine in the upstairs bar). Music begins around 10 PM. That is a good time to go out after dinner if you get to a restaurant around 8:00.

With the late dinners, concerts, and ballets, I find I am more likely to give up morning activities than evening ones in Paris.

On the other hand, I also enjoy watching French television. US shows and movies dubbed in French can be entertaining, and shows in English with French subtitles are educational. But sometimes I leave on the French shows just to hear the language, for atmosphere. I seem to absorb some by osmosis.

The Arc de Triomphe opens late - if you're eating early anyway, this could be a good time to avoid the queues to go up to the top and watch the traffic - and the Eiffel Tower lighting up:

http://arc-de-triomphe.monuments-nat...d/page/visites

Likewise, you could go to see the Tower lights from the Champs de Mars or the Trocadero:
http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk...age/phare.html

Friday evenings - the roller blade rally, starts from Gare Montparnasse at 10pm (different route each week):
http://www.pari-roller.com/index.php?p=101

Thank you everyone for the great ideas!! We do speak French, so won't have to worry about needing subtitles in shows.

We'll definitely be dining out late a couple nights, I'd forgotten about that. We leave in less than 2 months so I should get started on narrowing down the choices.

Thanks again!!

Since you speak French, that increases your options. You can go to the theater. I really enjoyed going to the Comedie Francaise when I went to Paris in March.

Festival d'automne, sept 13 - dec 21

http://www.festival-automne.com/en/programme-liste.php

Thanks Ira, I think those picnics are the most fabulous idea! And I was so impressed with the effort that young people had gone to - no macca's and a coke for them! Cathie