Things to do in Paris

Climbing · Never climbed? One coach, one group, drinks after. Book on the agenda, 6 euros, gear lent.

when

Monthly Thu, plus other dates

where

Varies: 6 gyms in Paris and Neuilly

language

French

Running clubs · Six zones, each runs Tue or Wed from a bar. The adidas Running app has them, come 7:30pm.

when

Tue & Wed

where

Six bars across Paris

language

English, French

Book clubs · Phones in a locker, an hour with your own book, then chat. Luma ticket, 0 to 14.50 euros.

when

Weekends, 1-3 a month

where

Varies, see Luma calendar

language

English, French

Language exchanges · Free entry from 8pm, buy a drink. A host gives you a name tag, then pick a flag table.

when

Tue & Sat

where

Saint-Marcel, 13e

language

English, French

Climbing · Already boulder? No fixed day: outings go in the Instagram chat in their bio. Bring a pad.

when

No fixed day

where

Varies

language

English, French

Social dancing · Beginner salsa class at 7:30pm, then a party. 10 euros with a drink, plus 2 for cloakroom.

when

Tue & Thu

where

Bastille, 11e

language

French

Volunteering · In English: hand out food in a team of 5 or 6. Register, 10 euros a month, book by app.

when

Tue, Fri & Sun mornings

where

Varies: Beaubourg, 3e or Gare de Lyon, 12e

language

English

Volunteering · Cook and serve a hot meal with English-speaking volunteers. Register, 10 euros a month.

when

Sun afternoon

where

Goutte d'Or, 18e

language

English

Board games · Come alone, staff seat you. RSVP on Meetup, 12 euros. English Thursdays fill weeks ahead.

when

Daily, English every other Thu

where

Nation, 11e

language

English, French

Social dancing · Swing balls start with a beginner lesson, no partner or booking. Most are free, see site.

when

Sat or Sun, 2-4 a month

where

Varies, see the Soirées page

language

English, French

Volleyball · Indoor sand, new team each match, so going alone works. 20 euros with a drink, book early.

when

Fri

where

Pantin, just outside Paris

language

French

Board games · Name tags, tables of 4 to 6, a host offers a swap every 40 min. 5 euros cash plus a drink.

when

Sun afternoon, about monthly

where

Châtelet, 1er

language

English, French

Language exchanges · Pay 5 euros cash, sit at a table of 4-6. 15 min French, 15 English, then new table.

when

Sun, 1-2 a month

where

Varies, see Meetup

language

English, French

Running clubs · RSVP on Heylo for that week's bar. 8-10 km at 4-6 min/km, exercise stops, drinks after.

when

Tue & Thu

where

New spot every week

language

English, French

Social dancing · Salsa or bachata class from zero at 7pm, then a party. No partner. 15 euros, book online.

when

Tue

where

Solférino, 7e

language

French

Language exchanges · RSVP on Meetup, 10 euros. Hosts seat you: 15 min French, 15 English, then a new table.

when

Sun, twice a month

where

Oberkampf, 11e

language

English, French

Running clubs · Mon 8pm at Le Triomphe: 10 km in pace groups. Sat 9am: long run from Le Gay Lussac, 5e.

when

Mon & Sat

where

Nation, 12e

language

English

Language exchanges · Book a date on their site, 5 euros. Arrive 7:30pm for an hour of English, then French.

when

Tue, check dates

where

Jardin des Plantes, 5e

language

English, French

Social dancing · Live jazz nightly, doors 9pm, no class: best if you already dance. 14 to 16 euros at door.

when

Every day

where

Latin Quarter, 5e

language

English, French

Comedy in English · Open mic at 7pm, 8 comics in 40 minutes. Book a free seat, buy a drink, apply to perform.

when

Tue, Thu & Fri

where

Bonne Nouvelle, 10e

language

English

Running clubs · Easy 5 km from Pont Neuf at 9:30, then coffee with everyone. English-speaking crowd.

when

Sat

where

Pont Neuf, 1er

language

English

Running clubs · Wed 7am (7-8 km), Sun 9am (10-11 km, pace groups) from Le Peloton Café. Come 10 min early.

when

Wed & Sun

where

Marais, 4e

language

English, French

Social dancing · Beginner tango class at 7:30pm, 10 euros, then the ball for 5 more. Just turn up.

when

Mon

where

Beaubourg, 4e

language

French

Volunteering · Serve dinner in a team of 15, then eat together. Book one evening online. Expect French.

when

Every day except Thu

where

Porte de la Villette, 19e

language

French

Social dancing · Salsa night in a pub. Beginner class at 6pm, social from 8pm. 13 euros with a drink.

when

Sun

where

Blanche, 18e

language

French

Pub quizzes · English and French. RSVP on Meetup or DM them, come alone by 7:45pm, they find you a team.

when

Mon & Tue

where

Châtelet & Gare de Lyon (Mon), Canal & Pigalle (Tue)

language

English, French

Book clubs · Free English open mic: sign up at 8pm to read, or just listen. Monthly book club, Sun, 9e.

when

Thu

where

Belleville, 20e

language

English

Language exchanges · Walk in, stick your language flags on your chest, stay standing. Come 7 to 8pm if new.

when

Wed

where

Oberkampf, 11e

language

English, French

Comedy in English · Stand-up in a cellar bar, doors 8pm. Book free, buy a drink, pay what you can after.

when

Fri

where

Latin Quarter, 5e

language

English

Pub quizzes · Quiz in English at 9pm, music on Mondays. Message the pub first, ask the host for a team.

when

Sun & Mon

where

Pont Neuf, 6e

language

English

Volunteering · Book a first-timer date weeks ahead, then walk a street round in a team of 3 or 4. French.

when

Sat

where

Chevaleret, 13e (also Château d'Eau, 10e)

language

French

Volunteering · Weed and plant on a school roof with other volunteers. Book free on Benenova, in French.

when

One Sat a month, check dates

where

Porte de la Chapelle, 18e

language

French

Running clubs · LGBTQIA+ and allies. Try a 10:10 weekend run, park is on their site, then 30 euros a year.

when

Tue, Thu, Sat & Sun

where

New spot every week

language

French

Book clubs · Free, one set book, about 12 seats in a flat. Always a waitlist: RSVP the day it's posted.

when

One Thu a month

where

Varies, a member's flat

language

English

Running clubs · 5-6 km at 5:00-6:30 min/km, then coffee. The Instagram bio has Saturday's time and spot.

when

Sat

where

New spot every week

language

English, French

Language exchanges · Walk in from 7:30pm, order a cheap beer and ask who's here for ChitChat. No set format.

when

Thu

where

Mouffetard, 5e

language

English, French

Book clubs · One feminist read a month, 90 min of talk. Free Eventbrite tickets sell out, book early.

when

Sun, once a month

where

Latin Quarter, 5e

language

English

Comedy in English · About 5 comics in English. Free Eventbrite ticket, buy a drink, pay what you can after.

when

Thu & Sat

where

Oberkampf, 11e

language

English

Book clubs · English open mic in a bar cellar. Sign up at 8pm for a 5 minute slot, or just listen.

when

Mon

where

Oberkampf, 11e

language

English

Board games · Small English-speaking group, newcomers welcome. Join on Meetup to see the address, RSVP.

when

Tue or Wed, alternating weeks

where

République, 10e

language

English

Book clubs · 20 seats in a wine shop. Read the month's book, RSVP early on Meetup, bring 5 euros cash.

when

First Wed, most months

where

Château d'Eau, 10e

language

English

Comedy in English · Stand-up showcase. Book free on Eventbrite, pay what you want, 12 euros suggested.

when

Sun & Tue

where

Grands Boulevards, 2e (Sun) & Oberkampf, 11e (Tue)

language

English

Volleyball · Open 2v2 play on sand, all levels, 15 euros. Check the calendar, then turn up alone.

when

Sat, check calendar

where

Porte de Pantin, 19e

language

French

Comedy in English · One hour of stand-up downstairs in a bar. Book a free seat, buy a drink, donate after.

when

Wed

where

Étienne Marcel, 2e

language

English

Running clubs · Chalk trail, run 10 km or walk 5, beer stop. Start goes on Meetup that week, just turn up.

when

Sat or Sun

where

New spot every week

language

English

Book clubs · Women only, one set book. Seats go in days: RSVP on Meetup, then confirm on WhatsApp.

when

1-3 a month, check dates

where

Varies, shared after you RSVP

language

English

Social dancing · Folk dance class at 7:30pm, live ball after, 7 euros. Book online or queue by 7pm.

when

Wed, some weeks off

where

Ménilmontant, 20e

language

French

Running clubs · Tech and startup crowd. 9:30 at the octagonal Tuileries pond, easy run, coffee after.

when

Sat

where

Tuileries, 1er

language

English

Language exchanges · Ask staff for the group, pay 1.50 euros. A host gives you a name tag and explains it.

when

Tue & Sat

where

Denfert-Rochereau, 14e

language

English, French

Board games · One game for all 16, free, mostly in French. RSVP on Meetup to a beginner night first.

when

Tue-Thu, check dates

where

Odéon, 6e

language

French

Book clubs · Read the month's novel, sign up when the newsletter lands. About 20 seats, gone in days.

when

Monthly, check dates

where

Emailed after sign-up

language

English

Book clubs · No set book: talk about one you liked. Free, Tue 2pm or Sat 11am. In Nov, reserve first.

when

One Tue & one Sat a month

where

Trocadéro, 16e

language

English

Pub quizzes · New weekly quiz in a tiny pub. Message to book, ask the start time and if a team has room.

when

Sun

where

Marais, 4e

Volleyball · Sign up on the site for afternoon grass 4v4. Not for total beginners, first go free.

when

Mon-Fri, Apr-Oct

where

Cité Universitaire, 14e

language

English, French

Comedy in English · Improv where some nights you can play too. Free Eventbrite ticket, buy a drink, tip after.

when

No fixed day, check dates

where

Bonne Nouvelle, 10e

language

English

Board games · Werewolf nights hosted by La Meute, come alone. Book early on the site, 22 euros.

when

Several a month, check dates

where

Convention, 15e

language

French

Running clubs · Timed 5 km round a lake, no sign-up. Meet 8:55 at the pin on their map, croissants after.

when

Sat

where

Bois de Boulogne, 16e

language

English, French

Board games · The rule: you share your table with other players. Sign up free, 5 euros plus a drink.

when

Sat afternoon or Tue/Wed, check dates

where

Jaurès, 19e

language

French

Volunteering · Pick litter for an hour with a small team, then a drink together. RSVP on Meetup. French.

when

Thu, not in school holidays

where

Convention, 15e

language

French

Comedy in English · Open mic over tacos at 8pm. Free with a drink, RSVP on Meetup, comics mingle afterwards.

when

Tue

where

Montmartre, 18e

language

English

Climbing · 130 euros a year. Most come alone, pairs form at the wall. Only belayers after 19 Oct.

when

Mon, Thu-Sun

where

La Plaine & Croix-Nivert, 15e

language

French

Book clubs · Own book, chat after. 10 seats go up on Meetup days before and fill. 5 euro drink minimum.

when

Sat

where

Jardin des Plantes, 5e

language

English

Pub quizzes · Free quiz in English for expats. Take the free ticket, come by 8:15pm and join a table.

when

Wed

where

Latin Quarter, 5e

language

English

Social dancing · Scottish country dancing in English. Beginner class at 8pm, no partner, first night free.

when

Mon

where

Paris Rive Gauche, 13e

language

English, French

Volleyball · Coached mixed training, beginners OK. Ask at the gym or by form, about 300 euros a year.

when

Mon, Wed or Sat

where

Porte d'Orléans, 14e

language

French

Board games · A round of introductions at 7pm, then you play. RSVP on Meetup, 7 euros with a drink.

when

Sat

where

Gobelins, 13e

language

English

Language exchanges · Tables of 6 with prompt cards, new table every 20 min.

when

Weekly

where

Bistrot Lucien, 10e

Volleyball · Free, all levels, teams mixed every game.

when

Sat

where

Paris

Volleyball · Free games mixing locals and refugees, beginners fine. Sign-up form opens 7 days before.

when

Fri, most weeks

where

Aligre, 12e

language

French

Volleyball · Free lunchtime volleyball run by the city, sign in at the gym. Not in school holidays.

when

Tue & Fri lunchtime

where

Bir-Hakeim, 15e & Beaubourg, 4e

language

French

Climbing · Join (109 euros a year), carpool to Fontainebleau with members on Sundays. Beginners OK.

when

Sun

where

Fontainebleau forest, changes weekly

language

French

Volunteering · Go running with refugees and locals in one group. Free, sign-up form opens a week before.

when

Mon & Thu

where

La Villette / Stalingrad, 19e

language

French

Board games · Free chess in a bar, most come alone. Get the password at the bar and challenge anyone.

when

Mon & Thu, check dates

where

Gobelins & Bibliothèque, 13e

language

French

Climbing · LGBT+ and allies: if you belay, write in and a volunteer meets you. From 80 euros a year.

when

Tue & Sat, other days too

where

Varies, mostly Aubervilliers

language

French