8 Ways to Spend a Very French Valentine’s Day in Paris

Valentine’s Day is all about romance, passion and embarrassingly overt gestures of affection…but hey – you have to be in the love game to win it! No international city conjures up images of starry-eyed lovers more than picturesque and seductive Paris, so you can’t go wrong planning a Valentine’s trip to Paris! Even if you deem yourself hopelessly unromantic or have never set foot in France, with our suggestions you can navigate Valentine’s Day in Paris like a Parisian and discover why it really is the city of love!

Buy a Romantic Gift or Book a Parisian Experience

A holiday celebrating love requires a heart-felt gesture and Paris has plenty of lovely shops to find the perfect gift. Head to the famed department stores Galeries Lafayette or Printemps where you can shop to your heart’s content. Check out the lingerie section with French fashion flare or follow the tantalizing scent to the perfume section. You can also find sweets and flowers here as well. If you want to immerse yourself in a French experience you can book a macaron bakery class right in Galeries Lafayette and learn their French pastry chef’s tricks for making macarons or take a French wine tasting class. Check our blog for more romantic activities to do in Paris.

Among other things France is known for, fine perfumes are at the top of the list. You’ll find many boutique parfumeries throughout the city like Parle Moi de Parfum, Molinard for a luxury unique fragrance, and Nicolaï where each fragrance is 100% made in France. Find the perfect Parisian scent for your significant other – a great way for them to remember their trip to Paris!

A box of chocolates for your love is a tradition worldwide on Valentine’s Day. Luckily, finding something decadent and delicious in Paris is easy. When in France you have to do like the locals and visit an upscale French chocolatier like La Maison du Chocolat, Fauchon, or Lenôtre, to find something decadent for your sweetheart. La Pâtisserie Cyril Lignac is another local favorite for fine chocolates, delectable sweet treats and pastries in Paris.

Get Your Heart Pumping

If you or your partner made a New Year’s resolution to skip the sweets and add more wellness to your life this year, plan an active date like a jog or stroll through one of Paris’ beautiful parks. The Valentine’s Day Race at Parc des Buttes-Chaumont takes place in a bucolic setting, complete with waterfalls, meandering paths, and temples, and is organized every year by the FrontRunners de Paris, a lesbian, gay, bi, trans-friendly running club. You can run the 5km race as a duo, couple or single. Single people can try the Opération Cupidon; running the 5km with a partner found by the FrontRunners team.

Take a Romantic Stroll around Paris

Paris is full of charming neighborhoods and parks to take a romantic stroll through. Some of our favorites include the neighborhood of Montmartre where you’ll find the majestic Sacré Coeur basilica, the second highest point in the city after the Eiffel Tower. Stretched out before you will be an amazing view over Paris. If you’re lucky you might be serenaded by a local street musician. If you love the area and plan to stay for an extended time, this 1 bedroom furnished rental in Montmartre, Paris styled with antiques, artwork and an eye-catching chandelier, displays classic French style.

Parc Monceau in the 8th Arrondissement is another park to discover, full of architectural gems including a pyramid, Renaissance arch, Corinthian colonnade, and a quaint bridge modeled after Venice’s Rialto Bridge. Check out our list of the top ten parks in Paris, and don’t forget the famous Jardin du Luxembourg, a majestic 17th century park with formal gardens and statues on pedestals, the perfect place for a picturesque marriage proposal perhaps?

Zone out with a Couples Massage

Book some downtime with your significant other and enjoy a relaxing and romantic couples massage or if you’re single, take a day and just treat yourself! Les Bains d’Alia, a luxury spa located on the outskirts of Paris in Bagneux, and Les Cent Ciels in Paris are top-rated exotic hammams with an ambiance that will transport your senses to Morocco, complete with the scent of Argan oil, gilded tiling and mint tea. If you love the ambiance, this 1 bedroom Paris vacation rental in Le Marais conjures up the same vibe with deep red colors in the kitchen, arched doorways, exposed beams and brick, and 17th century stone all adding unique charm.  

Plan a Romantic Dinner Date

A gourmet dinner for two will always impress. Put the kitchen in your apartment rental to use and show off your culinary skills. If you’re not talented in the kitchen there are always reservations to be made. For something unique try Double Fond Café-Theater for a Valentine’s Day dinner and magic show performed at your table. Le Diamant Bleu offers a 3-course dinner on a barge cruising the Seine River. Terrass Hotel offers a Valentine’s menu at its panoramic restaurant with a magical view of the Eiffel Tower – what could be more memorable than that? For other memorable moments, check our list of other things you absolutely must do while in Paris.

After dinner you can linger over a drink at the fittingly-named bar Bisou in Le Marais district (15 boulevard du Temple, Paris75003). This Valentine’s-appropriate bar has a pink pastel awning and an entrance covered in flowers, while inside a mixologist will conjure up the perfect cocktails for you and your date based on a few hints about your favorite tastes, and all the ingredients are 100% organic and locally sourced.

Rent a Lovely Parisian Apartment

A Valentine’s trip to Paris requires the perfect ambiance to set the mood – a unique accommodation in the perfect spot! If you’re traveling with family or friends, this modern-chic 2 bedroom vacation rental in Les Halles is an elegant and dreamy option. Light some candles in the decorative fireplace for a candlelit dinner or sink into the deep soaking tub for a relaxing evening. When you venture out in the neighborhood you’ll find the famed Louvre Museum and Notre-Dame Cathedral nearby. Read our blog on lesser-known Paris attractions to visit as well.

The location of this 1 bedroom vacation rental in the upscale and elegant 16th arrondissement of Paris is unsurpassed, with the Champs Elysées on one side and the iconic Eiffel Tower on the other. You’ll score major points for the unforgettable view of the tower right from the balcony! A magenta-colored accent wall and delicate flower petal chandelier add to the amorous vibe of this space.

Close to Paris’ famous Arc is this elegant 2 bedroom Paris vacation rental in the Arc de Triomphe area with French windows and an antique mirror topping the charming decorative fireplace. Scatter some red rose petals around to set the mood, their color will pop against the white walls with classic crown molding. Both bedrooms feature doors opening to the balcony where the crisp night air and view of classic Parisian buildings will make it all feel like a fairytale. The fully equipped kitchen with wrap-around countertop provide all you need if you decide to hit a traditional Paris food market and impress your date with home cooked French cuisine.

 Add Culture or Something Risqué to Your Evening 

You can find intimate concerts held in chapels and cathedrals that will add something unforgettable to your evening. On February 14th you can attend the Candlelight Concert: Chopin and Liszt at Saint Ephrem Church or listen to Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at Saint-Germain des Près Church. At Au Duc des Lombards in Les Halles, one of Paris’ top jazz clubs, you can enjoy a glass of wine and an evening of improvisational jazz music.

On the flip side, for something crazier, catch a Valentine’s cabaret show at Crazy Horse Paris’ “Crazy Love Week” from February 10th-16th. Take a seat in a red velvet chair and enjoy an artistic and sensual ode to love. There will even be a fortune teller to predict what the future holds for your love life!

Find Love or Celebrate it at a Dance Party

Who says you have to miss out on all the Valentine’s fun if you’re single? There are plenty of ways to immerse yourself in the vibes of the city of love with or without a date! If you’re in the mood to mingle, check out the club parties happening on Valentine’s night. Couples and singles are welcome and entrance is free! Come party with your love or find a new love at Kiss Party at Hide Châtelet or Projet X Love Saint Valentin at California Avenue. Choose your relationship bracelet so everyone can see your status; green for single people, red for couples and orange for…those who can’t commit to either? There will be DJ’s, drinks, naughty goodies and other surprises.

With our cheat sheet of suggestions you’re sure to impress your sweetheart with an unforgettable time in Paris this Valentine’s Day. But these fabulous apartments get snapped up fast, so speed up those travel plans! If someone else beats you to your favorite, you can browse other Paris apartments on our site to find your true love.