Paris nightlife has been famous for centuries for its quality, variety and audacity, from its splendid Palais Garnier to Montmartre's folksy cabaret Au Lapin Agile, from the spectacular Bal au Moulin Rouge to the steamy sex clubs of Pigalle.

What particularly surprises us, however, is the fun you can have for free after the sun goes down.

Buy a copy of Pariscope, a weekly arts-and-entertainment guide of several hundred pages for sale at newsstands, for the full gamut of performances, openings, recitals, and other evening entertainments. Note that Pariscope comes in separate French and English editions.

Passion (pahss-SYOHN), also on sale at newsstands, is a monthly arts-and-entertainment magazine written mostly in English and aimed primarily at the large English-speaking expatriot community in Paris.

Discount Tickets
Discount—normally half-price—tickets are sold at a kiosk just outside the Gare Montparnasse (Métro: Montparnasse-Bienvenüe). Go on the day of the performance to see what's available.

Free Nightlife
Street entertainers on the bridges, picnics and singalongs on Pont des Arts, free concerts sponsored by the city government, and the Eiffel Tower floodlit and sparkling with strobes every hour on the hour. Wow! More...

Panoramas
Take in all of Paris by night from one of the numerous high vantage points. The Eiffel Tower is most famous, of course, but there are others with advantages. More...

Theater
Paris offers wonderful theater, mostly in French, but also a surprising number of performances in English. Performances tend to be fewer during the summer, however, particularly in August. More...

Opera
Everyone knows the grand Palais Garnier as the Paris Opéra (Place de l'Opéra; Métro: Opéra), but in fact opera is performed in the Opéra de la Bastille as well. More...

Ballet/Dance
The Palais Garnier is now Paris's prime venue for ballet. More...

Classical Music
Over a dozen Parisian churches regularly schedule free or inexpensive organ recitals and concerts, and Paris has a vibrant jazz scene. Look through current listings in Pariscope and Passion

Popular Music
Pariscope (see above) has listings of all the big concerts, and keep in mind that the Paris city government sponsors music festivals and performances on many nights throughout the year, from jazz combos and gospel choirs in small parks to grand opera in front of national monuments.

Nightclubs
Paris has every sort of nightclub, bar, tavern and cabaret. Here are some tips to get your started. More...

River Cruises
You'll notice the broad river cruise boats on the Seine as soon as you arrive in Paris. At least one night, you should be on one. More...

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Free Nightlife Theater Opera Ballet/Dance Classical Music Popular Music Nightclubs

Paris at night! What a thrill!
But...you can't get this view from
the top of the Eiffel Tower. It's from here.