Private places to propose in Paris — the good, the bad, and the downright genius
Paris is one of the most romantic spots to make a proposal. From films to famous artists to literary figures, the City of Love has been attracting dreamers and romantics for well over a century.
But making a proposal to the person you love is … well, it’s a big moment. It’s an exciting moment. For some of us. But a terrifying moment for many others. So if you’re planning your Paris proposal but feeling a bit nervous, you will not want a horde of onlookers gaping at you as you go down on one knee.
Luckily for you, Paris has a few private places where you can propose and make the moment just about you and the one you love. Here’s a few ideas on romantic places in the city:
- To avoid at all costs
- To consider (with caveats)
Of course, there is one spot to make your Paris proposal where you will have zero onlookers and zero interruptions. Can you guess what it is? 😅
To continue exploring ideas on private places to propose in Paris, read on. Or if one of our Seine cruises seems like a unique way to make this moment a success, follow the link below.
Where NOT to make your private proposal in Paris
The City of Love is bursting with famous monuments and picturesque neighborhoods. But if you’re planning on keeping this romantic moment between you and the person you love, here are a few popular places to avoid:
● The Louvre Museum
● Notre-Dame Cathedral
● The Eiffel Tower
● The Arc de Triomphe
Sure, they’re all majestic. But they are also extremely busy all year round. So if you want your Paris proposal to stay private, keep the engagement ring hidden until you’re somewhere quieter.
2 places for a romantic proposal
Now you know where NOT to go, let’s look at 2 private places to propose in Paris.
H3: Montmartre
Montmartre is a district in the north of Paris. You’ll probably recognize it from movies like Amélie and Midnight in Paris. It’s where Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and Hemingway used to hang out in the 20s.
Basically, if you want a picture postcard of Paris, Montmartre is where you want to go. Everywhere you look, there are cafés, brasseries and bistros. Everywhere you turn, there’s a cute little street, a tiny bookshop, or some other classic Parisian vista. If you’re planning on making your proposal gorgeously romantic, Montmartre is certainly unique.
Too unique? You bet it is. Montmartre is a victim of its success, attracting hordes of tourists who spend hours strolling the streets. You will find quiet places early in the morning or late at night to make your proposal. But you’d better make it quick, because there’s no telling when a crowd of tourists — or a busy local — will appear around the corner and stop and stare. And there you will be, down on one knee, the engagement ring in the box, a bead of sweat coursing down your throat as you desperately wait for your loved one to say yes.
Keep Montmartre on your list of possible places to propose. Just remember that nowhere this pretty stays private for long.
The Temple of Love
The Temple of Love is located in the gardens of Versailles. And there’s no denying this spot has buckets of potential as a romantic place to make your proposal. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to walk from Versailles Palace to the Temple, so crowds shouldn’t be a problem — if you time it right. And by guiding your partner through the Palace gardens, you can build the romance in preparation for the big moment.
Then again, you may arrive at the Temple of Love and find others have beaten you to it. So have a back-up plan to stall your partner until the coast is clear. And bear in mind that Versailles itself is a trek from the city center.
No, I need guaranteed privacy for my proposal
There is a place we know of where we can guarantee no crowds, no onlookers, no delays, no rushing the moment, and zero trekking. And that’s a romantic Seine river cruise.
With a new adaptation of Odysseus hitting theaters this summer, sailing adventures are set to make a big comeback. So why not stay on-trend and make your proposal on the water? Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting anything nearly as long or as perilous as Odysseus’ journey home to Ithaca. But a cruise on the Seine is just the unexpected outing to set the scene for a uniquely memorable proposal.
And unlike the big bateaux mouches and vedettes tour companies, all our romantic Seine cruises are private. Just you and the person you love, the gentle lap of the water against the boat, a glass of champagne in your hand, Notre-Dame Cathedral or the Eiffel Tower drifting by in the background. Oh, and an engagement ring burning a hole in your pocket.
Ready to explore our romantic cruises?
Do you offer a Paris proposal package?
You may be planning a unique moment in your life with the person you love. But you’re not the first person to propose on our boats. In fact, we’ve had so many river proposals that we’ve put together a special proposal cruise just for you.
You get the usual choice of cruise durations and itineraries, including all the top sights like the Eiffel Tower that are usually off-limits because of the crowds. But we also deck out the boat to set the mood for the occasion, and you get to personalize your cruise with champagne, red roses and macarons. Contact us if you’re planning to propose in Paris. We can help you pick the perfect spot to make your proposal unforgettable.
And if you’re wondering how to capture the moment, we can also have a professional photographer on board. With a photographer on hand during your cruise, you get to take your memories home with you. And you get to show them off to friends and family. 😁
