The most expensive luxury thing to do in Paris in 2026 is to buy art at auction: Sotheby’s Paris sold a Modigliani for €27 million in October 2025, followed by the Plaza Athénée Royal Suite at about €20,000 a night. This guide ranks seven luxury experiences by cost and lists the old favourites we could no longer confirm.
| Rank | Experience | What it costs |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sotheby’s Paris auctions | €27 million for a Modigliani (October 2025) |
| 2 | Hôtel Plaza Athénée Royal Suite | About €20,000 per night at launch |
| 3 | Air France La Première | About €5,700 one way to New York (press estimate) |
| 4 | Ritz Paris Sidecar at Bar Hemingway | €1,500 (May 2026 guide) |
| 5 | Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée | Tasting menus €260 to €360 (older listing) |
| 6 | Dinner show at Moulin Rouge or Lido | Roughly €185 to €255 per person |
| 7 | Paris Fashion Week | Invitation only; 28 September to 6 October 2026 |
Which luxury experiences in Paris are worth the money?
1. Buy art at Sotheby’s Paris
Sotheby’s Paris totalled €89.7 million across its Modernités and Surrealism sales in October 2025, its highest result ever in France. The top lot, Modigliani’s Elvire en buste, fetched €27 million, the most expensive lot the house has sold in Paris. Paying a few thousand euros for a smaller lot is the entry point.
How we valued it: the October 2025 auction result.
2. Sleep in the Royal Suite at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée
The Royal Suite was renovated and relaunched at about €20,000 a night excluding breakfast, with Eiffel Tower views. Our earlier edition quoted $36,000 and 450 square metres; we could not confirm either number. The hotel lists its Presidential Suite from €6,750 on a two-night offer valid until 31 December 2026.
How we valued it: launch-era rate, labelled as unconfirmed for 2026.
3. Fly Air France La Première
Air France launched new La Première suites in 2025 and said all flights to New York JFK and Los Angeles would use them by July 2026. A French press estimate put Paris to New York at about €5,700 one way and €10,000 return.
How we valued it: press fare estimate; we found no official 2026 fare.
4. Order the Ritz Sidecar at Bar Hemingway
The Ritz Paris Sidecar is made with cognac from the 1830 to 1870 era, Cointreau and lemon juice. A guide last reviewed in May 2026 lists it at €1,500, while other drinks sit around €34. Earlier reports quoted far lower prices, so expect it to be a showpiece. The bar takes no reservations; arrive before 17:00.
How we valued it: May 2026 guide price. Our earlier $1,670 figure is retired.
5. Dine at Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée
Ducasse’s restaurant at the Plaza Athénée serves haute cuisine in a modern French setting. A listing gives prix fixe menus from €260 to €360 and main courses from €80 to €135, but it is not dated to 2026. Check the restaurant for current prices and its Michelin status.
How we valued it: undated listing, shown as approximate.
6. Watch a dinner show at Moulin Rouge or Lido
Reseller listings in 2026 show Moulin Rouge dinner and show packages from about €185 to €255, and a Lido dinner and show around €195. A show with champagne is about €85 to €150. Later 23:00 shows are cheaper, and prices rise as shows sell out.
How we valued it: 2026 reseller prices; our earlier $500 VIP figure is retired.
7. Go to Paris Fashion Week
Women’s Spring/Summer 2027 week runs about 28 September to 6 October 2026, with 68 shows and 33 presentations on the provisional calendar. Most runway shows are by invitation only, so the real luxury is the access.
How we valued it: invitation-only, so no ticket price. Ranked last by cost.
Which Paris luxury experiences cannot be confirmed?
- Pagani Zonda Revolucion rental ($16,000 a day): we found no current listing for the company or car.
- Hot air balloon for two ($1,000 an hour): no current operator pricing found.
- Caron Poivre perfume ($2,000): the house still exists, but we could not confirm the price.
Keep reading
- What it really costs to live in a hotel: how top-suite pricing adds up
- Why private jet routes are the new Silk Road: for flying into Paris on your own jet
- 20 luxurious things to do in Canada: another country, same taste
FAQ
What is the most expensive luxury thing to do in Paris?
Buying art at auction. Sotheby’s Paris sold Modigliani’s Elvire en buste for €27 million in October 2025, the most expensive lot the house has sold in Paris. For an experience you can book, the Plaza Athénée Royal Suite was launched from €20,000 a night.
How much is the Plaza Athénée Royal Suite?
It launched at about €20,000 per night excluding breakfast. We found no 2026 rate, so ask the hotel directly. The Presidential Suite is listed from €6,750 on a two-night offer valid to 31 December 2026.
How much does the Ritz Paris Sidecar cost?
A May 2026 guide lists the Sidecar at Bar Hemingway at €1,500, with other drinks around €34. The bar takes no reservations.
When is Paris Fashion Week in 2026?
Women’s Spring/Summer 2027 week runs about 28 September to 6 October 2026, according to the published schedule. Most shows are by invitation.
Does Air France still fly La Première?
Yes. Air France said all its flights to New York JFK and Los Angeles would use the new La Première suites by July 2026. A press estimate put Paris to New York at about €5,700 one way.
How did Alux rank these experiences?
We ranked by what one booking or purchase costs, using auction results and official pages where available and labelled estimates elsewhere.
How we put this list together
We ranked experiences by cost and used auction results and official pages where they exist. Prices that come from guides or resellers are labelled, and anything we could not confirm sits in its own section.
Last updated: October 2026.
