Our guide to the best romantic places to propose in Paris
You know how it is. You’re in love with the most beautiful person you’ve ever met. Everything is romantic and perfect. And so your thoughts turn to the inevitable question — will I propose?
A proposal is a big moment in your relationship. It’s the beginning of your engagement. And the prelude to your marriage. It has to be absolutely perfect. And not just the engagement ring and the words. When and where you make your proposal matter, too.
Paris is a great location to make your proposal. It is the City of Love, after all. And as you will see, there is no shortage of ideas for romantic places to propose in Paris.
In this blog post, we give you a sneak-peek at 3 iconic spots to propose in Paris. Actually, 4 spots. As you’ll see, the first 3 have a drawback. Whereas the last spot … Well, maybe you don’t like the idea of a cool breeze off the river, the gentle lap of water against the hull, and no one but you and your partner to soak up the beautiful Paris skyline.
But if you do, then a private boat tour on the Seine rivals any of the best places to propose to your partner. You can even have a photographer discreetly on board to capture this special moment forever. Does this sound like the perfect way to make your proposal?
Is Paris a good place to propose?
You bet it is. Paris is the City of Love for good reason.
From the romantic movement of the 19th century to Ernest Hemingway and the Lost Generation after World War I, Paris has a long history of attracting literary and artistic minds. And little wonder. Compared to other European cities of the time, Paris was, and continues to be, a beacon for romantic souls seeking a more liberating and intoxicating way of life.
This romantic image is particularly strong in the American mind. When American soldiers arrived in the city after the liberation of Paris, you can imagine the contrast in style, elegance, cuisine, and social mores between this ancient city and their towns and farms back home. As the famous song goes, “How You Gonna Keep ’em Down on the Farm, after They’ve Seen Paree?”
Novels and movies have only amplified the romance of Paris ever since. Casablanca being a famous example. Emily in Paris being a more recent one.
Obviously, it helps that the city of Paris is so beautiful. Every street, every bar, every cafe, every avenue is steeped in romance. This might seem superficial. But when Humphrey Bogart says “We’ll always have Paris,” you know he’s talking about love. It’s hard to beat that.
So Paris is one of the best romantic places to propose. But where to propose in Paris. We will take you through a quick rundown of 3 ideas for the perfect spot in Paris to make your proposal. But if a romantic boat ride in Paris has caught your eye and you’d like to get planning your engagement proposal right away, just follow the link.
3 romantic places to propose in Paris
There are lots of great spots to make your proposal in the French capital. But you don’t need to be overwhelmed with an impossible list of ideas. So we’ve whittled them down to 3 perfect spots to make your proposal the most romantic ever.
The Eiffel Tower — for the romance
Of all the best romantic places to propose in Paris, the Eiffel Tower is literally the top spot for your proposal.
Can you imagine it? Panoramic view of Paris stretching out in every direction. The hustle and bustle of the city far below you. Just you and the person you love, experiencing the most magic moment of your relationship. You go down on one knee, present the engagement ring, and they say Yes!
The Eiffel Tower has to be among the most romantic places to propose in Paris. But there are others …
Trocadero — for the setting
Okay, the Eiffel Tower is hard to beat with its panoramic view of the city. But if you want the perfect backdrop for your proposal, Trocadero has many advantages. One being, of course, the view of the Eiffel Tower itself in the distance.
Trocadero is a large square surrounded by romantic cafes, bars, bistros, and museums. One of these is the Café de l’Homme, a restaurant that features in Emily in Paris. The view from here across the gardens and the River Seine towards the Eiffel Tower is spectacular. So spectacular, in fact, that it leaves Emily herself speechless.
And that’s the advantage Trocadero has over the Eiffel Tower. It’s great being able to look out on the city from the top. But what’s the point of admiring Paris if you can’t see its most iconic monument? With Trocadero, it’s not so much the place itself that’s romantic. It’s how it frames the city that makes it one of the most romantic places to propose in Paris.
This setting also makes Trocadero ideal for a photo shoot. A professional photographer will know how to capture the beginning of your engagement.
Rooftop hotel — for the luxury
If you enjoy the finer things in life, why not bring your partner to one of the luxury hotels dotted around Paris? Many of these hotels have rooftop bars and pools that are accessible to guests.
Remember, waiting in line and climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower is a lot of work. Trocadero is beautiful, but you will have to navigate the city traffic or the metro to get there. What if you’re after something more refined, with a cocktail or a gourmet meal and a view out over Paris? Enjoy some of the best wines and champagne Paris has to offer. And when the time is right … Well, you know how it goes at this stage — the knee, the engagement ring, etc.
Okay, so what’s the catch?
The Eiffel Tower, Trocadero, or the rooftop of a luxury hotel are all romantic places for your proposal. But they all have one drawback — there’s a fair chance you will be proposing in front of an audience. These are top tourist destinations and some of the most famous spots in Paris to visit. What if you’re looking for private places to propose in Paris?
In that case, one of the best ideas is to book a private boat tour on the River Seine. Firstly, because it’s unique. After all, many have proposed in Paris. And quite a few have proposed on the banks of the Seine. But how many have made their proposal right on the river?
Second, a Paris boat proposal is a great way to surprise the person you love with an unexpected adventure through the heart of Paris. And third — and this is a big advantage — you have the boat to yourself. Just you and your partner. Because the marriage proposal is a special moment between the two. Who wants to spoil this romantic moment with a crowd of onlookers?
A ready-to-go proposal package for guaranteed romance
At My Paris River, our private boat tours also come with a proposal package. In it, you get a romantic photo shoot with a professional photographer. The photographer will capture this perfect romantic moment in your life as a couple. Think of the stunning photos you can show off when you get home. You on one knee, the engagement ring in your hand, the surprise dawning on the face of the person you love, with the Eiffel Tower or Notre-Dame Cathedral in the background. A proposal this romantic, a moment this special, is too important to keep to yourself. You’ve got to share it with everyone you love back home. And the best way to do that is to frame the moment forever with a professional photo by your very own photographer.
The proposal package also includes a bouquet of flowers for added romantic effect. And to top it off, we bring in a local decorator to deck out our boat. Just imagine the person you love as their eyes light up when you arrive at the embarkation point and see your boat romantically decked out for a private jaunt down the river through the City of Love. Talk about setting the mood, right?
Planning your romantic river proposal
Okay, we’ve presented you with a few ideas for romantic places to propose in Paris. If the idea of a private boat tour with flowers, decoration and a photo shoot appeals to you as the best way to make your proposal, it’s time to get planning your big moment so that your proposal is absolutely perfect.
The first thing you need to plan is your proposal location. Just because you choose one of our private boat tours doesn’t mean you can’t make your proposal at one of your favorite locations. Whether it’s the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, or Pont Neuf, we can maneuver our boat into the perfect position. And while you’re going down on one knee, our professional photographer will be capturing the moment against a majestic backdrop of an iconic monument landmark of Paris. All that’s left for you to decide is, which location will the person you love like best?
For full details about booking a romantic boat ride in Paris, cruise durations, photo shoot locations, and customer reviews from other romantic souls who’ve made their proposal with My Paris River, click the button to explore our romantic cruises.
