Paris- things to do and see at night

There are occasional English language plays in Paris. There are also occasionally productions of American musicals in French (I saw a great production of Cabaret, and a less impressive but still interesting production of Hair). Paris probably has more films playing in movie theaters than any other city in the world. Many are in the original language (noted as VO in listing), so you can catch one you missed at home, or a golden oldie on a big screen instead of on TV. Do check that the movie is in English, and that it's not dubbed (dubbed is indicated by VF in listings). There's also lots of dance, symphony, jazz, and other music that has no language barrier. Pariscope magazine has comprehensive listings of nighttime activities. It's in French, with a small English section, and is sold at newsstands for a low price (less than a euro). Rick's Paris books have a section on how to decode it.

Do you speak French? If not, I wouldn't recommend shows or plays. You can do many of your activities at night. It won't be getting dark until close to 10:00 p.m. when you are there. Use you evening time to wander different neighborhoods. I like to climb the Arc de Triomphe and river cruises in the evening. Go to the Trocadero before dusk and wait for the light show at the Eiffel Tower. It's breathtaking, especially if you have never seen it. Trust me, you will not run out of things to do in Paris!

Taking a cruise on the Seine (our favorite is Vedettes Pont Neuf) at dusk, as the city lights go on, is a wonderful way to see the city. We find that between stopping at a cafe or wine bar for a glass of wine, wandering a bit, then a leisurely dinner beginning at 8 pm or so, our evenings in Paris are easily filled. Enjoy your time in the city!

Lexma makes a great point. Many places don't even open for dinner until 7 PM, and many Parisians dine around 8. And dinner in Paris is lingered over, not rushed. So, that can easily fill most of an evening. I also agree that at least one night should be spent on a Seine cruise. Use the smaller boats of Vedettes du Pont Neuf http://www.vedettesdupontneuf.com/ or Bateaux Parisiens http://www.bateauxparisiens.com/cruise-tours-paris/departing-from-notre-dame.html, rather than the large boats of Bateaux Mouches. The Vedettes du Pont Neuf website offers "Internet Ticket with Reduction" (lower prices are always good). I also enjoy just walking around, particularly the lively areas like the Latin Quarter and the Marais, as well as the quiet of the Ile St-Louis.

Outdoor movies are shown on summer evenings at Parc de la Villette. Pick up some picnic fixings and eat on the grass watching an old movie. Movies most likely will be in french but may have english subtitles. I wanted to go last summer when I was there but never made it.

If everyone can ride a bicycle, try the Fat Tire bike tours in Paris. It's so much fun, you get to see alot, and there many stops, so it's not intense at all. It's a blast ! We did it with my 32 year old son ! (not mentioning my age) There were singles, couples, families, with a total of about 12-14 people in our group, and the night tour ends with a 1 hour ride on the Seine. by the time you register, get bikes, and get going, it's probably 1 3/4 hours on the bikes riding.

Just walk...it is the City of Lights after all! They don't call it that for nothing! It is truly beautiful to simply make your way around the city, peering into cafes, looking at how they light up so many of the buildings...it really is magical and terribly romantic!