Friday and Saturday night at a glance
| Time | What changes at weekends | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| 7pm-9pm | Restaurants and cruises fill up | Book 2 to 3 days ahead |
| 9pm-midnight | Bars and terraces packed (Marais, Canal Saint-Martin, Pigalle) | Arrive before 9pm or pick neighbourhood bars |
| After midnight | Last metro runs later on Fridays and Saturdays (around 2:15am) | Check your line in the RATP app |
| 12:30am-5:30am | Noctilien night buses, same fare as daytime buses | Locate your stop before you head out |
Evenings worth booking
- Seine cruise: the easiest first-timer evening is the Bateaux Parisiens dinner cruise. The 8pm-9pm slots go first at weekends.
- Cabaret: the Moulin Rouge, Lido and other venues need booking several days ahead at the end of the week.
- Bars: Canal Saint-Martin and rue Oberkampf are lively without booking; for cocktail bars, go before 8pm.
Getting home
The metro closes later on Fridays and Saturdays, but not at the same time on every line. After that, Noctilien is the simple answer, explained in our Noctilien guide. For safety on the way back, read Paris at night: safety and the Paris at night guide.
FAQ
Does the metro run later at weekends? Yes, by about an hour on Fridays and Saturdays; confirm your line's time on the RATP site.
Do I need to book? Yes for cruises, cabarets and dinner; no for a bar crawl.
Is Noctilien more expensive? No, the fare matches the daytime bus (Île-de-France Mobilités).
The Paris Authority editorial team, 30 October 2026.
