Home to over 2.2 million people, Paris is one of the world’s top tourist destination, entertaining some 22 million additional visitors each year. Synonymous with the nation’s culture of love and erotica, Paris is the eponymous international capital for all things seductive.
To keep up with this reputation and to cater for its many inhabitants and tourists, the city has a plethora of ways to entertain adults on the hunt for something arousing.
From escorts to swinging sex clubs, sensual massage to gentleman’s clubs, Paris is a hedonist’s delight. In this guide, we explore what the City of Light has in store for your wandering eye…
Sex In Paris
Prostitution in Paris
Sex work in France was virtually legal up until April 2016 when a sex purchase ban came into effect. Whilst prostitution has been decriminalised, paying for sex now carries a hefty fine. If caught, first time offenders can expect to receive a fine of up to €1500 with repeat offenders paying more than double this. Solicitation is also illegal and sex workers face lengthy jail sentences if they are found to be doing so.
Running a brothel or any other activity which profits from the proceeds of sex work from another person is also illegal.
As a result of this legal status, street prostitution in France is in decline but still exists in many cities, including Paris.
OCRTEH estimates that Paris has around 7000-8000 active sex workers.
The Influence of Hookers in Paris
Several streets in Paris were historically associated with prostitution, and that it actually reflected in their original names.
Many of these names were later changed, but they offer insight into the city’s past.
Examples include Rue Brisemiche and Rue Baillehoë, where locals once petitioned for the removal of hookers, and Rue du Poil-au-Con (Hairy Bottom Street), now Rue du Pélican.
Other streets had explicit names like Rue Gratte-Cul (Scrape-Ass Street) and Rue Tire-Vit (referring to a penis), which have since been renamed. Rue Pute-y-Musse (Whore’s Stroll) and Rue Trousse-Nonnain (Fuck Nun Street) also highlight this history.
These streets, now renamed, were primarily located in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th arrondissements – red light hot spots. Sex work is common in areas like Bois de Boulogne, Pigalle, and Belleville, with a mix of local and migrant workers.
These days, most sex work is undertaken by escorts who provide ‘comfort services’ but visitors to France can also enjoy distinctly French entertainment in venues such as the Prive Libertins, or swinging clubs.
The Local Escort Scene
Paris is one of the busiest cities in Europe for escorts.
Renowned as a world-class centre of commerce, tourism and industry, the range of ladies plying their trade is staggering. From budget escorts catering to single hour out-calls through to companionship services for the discerning executive, there is a real element of Pretty Woman at play.
Premium rate escorts booked for an extended duration can come with a hefty price tag (think 20,000 euros for a weekend away in Cannes!) but, by and large, they are well-educated, sophisticated companions and stunningly beautiful….as well as talented at their jobs.
A brief search online uncovers at least a dozen escort agencies with a strong presence in Paris, with hundreds of customer reviews.
Unfortunately the strict advertising laws mean we cannot publish links to these websites.
Escort services do exist in Paris, but they operate in a legal gray area. While prostitution itself is legal in France, any form of pimping or third-party involvement (such as agencies profiting from sex work) is illegal.
This means that official escort agencies cannot explicitly offer sexual services, but independent escorts working on their own are technically allowed.
How Escorting Works in Paris
- Independent Escorts – Many high-end escorts operate independently and advertise on classified websites, social media, or private networks. Since they set their own rates and work without a middleman, they stay within legal boundaries.
- Sugar Dating & VIP Companionship – Some escorts market themselves under the guise of sugar dating or “VIP companionship”, avoiding legal issues by emphasizing “time and company” rather than direct sexual services.
- Agencies & “Modeling Services” – Some of these agencies exist in Paris, but they typically advertise services as “dinner dates” or “private companionship” without explicitly mentioning sex. These are legally risky since they could be classified as procurement (pimping).
- Massage Parlors & Hostess Bars – While some establishments offer legitimate relaxation services, others operate in a legal gray zone, with certain “extra services” available behind closed doors.
Paris Girls On Cam
A popular alternative to Parisian escorts for those who don’t want to venture outside…
We live in an age where you can instantly tap into hundreds of cam girl profiles and 18+ online influencers, and unsurprisingly… the French capital has plenty to choose from.
There are no specialist French cam sites that we are aware of, but there are several platforms with a very high concentration of French babes:
- StripChat (check the French filter tag)
- BongaCams (very popular in mainland Europe)
- Chaturbate (less Frenchies, but still pretty good.)
Here’s a sneak preview of some French cam girls performing live right now:
Adult Entertainment In Paris
Brothels
There are no legal brothels in Paris.
Brothels (maisons closes) have been illegal in France since 1946 due to the Marthe Richard Law.
Are there still ‘unsanctioned’ brothels in the city?
Of course, but don’t be under the illusion that any of them are legal!
Swinging Clubs
Libertinism, in the form of swinging, is enjoying a huge resurgence in popularity with over 500 clubs across France, many of these found in the capital city. We have put together our guide to the best libertine clubs in this separate guide.
However, we wanted to cover some additional clubs that you might not find in our Best of the Best…sort of the Best of the Rest.
The Liberty Club
84 Rue Saint Honoré, 75001 Paris
A welcoming and friendly club with a very sensuous atmosphere, the design of the interior is modern and inviting. The lighting is kept very low to foster an intimate feeling and to lend more discretion to the goings on inside.
The Castle of Lys
103 Rue Marcadet, 75018 Paris
This mid-range club in the 18th arrondissement is a small venue offering dinner before an evening of debauchery. Self-advertising as a tasting prelude to a night of libertinism, the club recommends making a reservation if you intend eating before your night out.
The Chateau de Lys is open from Sunday to Thursday from 9pm to 3am and Friday to Saturday from 9pm to 5am.
Saturdays are couples and single women only but prices on other nights vary from €50-€60 per couple, €105 for single guys and women being either free or paying €20.
The Dream Studio
24 Rue du Commandant l’Herminier, 75020 Paris
Situated outside the ring road, in the 20th arrondissement, the Dream Studio is a modern club with an upbeat ambiance.
The club runs regular themed events such as a black and white night as well as special occasions like Halloween. Check the website for details.
The Dream Studio is open as follows:
- Thursday: 8pm to midnight: Men charged at €25
- Friday and Saturday: 9pm to 4am: Men charged at €80, Couples €35 and women €10
Le Cupidon
3 Rue Villedo, 75001 Paris
A friendly libertine club a few minutes away from the Jardin du Palais Royal, Le Cupidon entertains a mix of customers including ages, backgrounds and sexual persuasion. The entertainment can quite often run to full blown gang bangs but just as easily delight patrons with intimate and cosy rendezvous.
The Cupid Club is open from 10pm to 5am, Monday to Saturday and costs €90 per single man with couples and women being free. This twist on the entrance charges usually ensures a good strong mix of couples and single ladies.
Erotic Massage Parlours
The city is bursting with massage parlours all offering a wide range of services, some of which include manual relief. Several of these establishments have a web presence where you can scope out the menu before visiting.
Most massage parlors in Paris are run by Chinese providers, with some featuring Thai masseuses. Prices generally range from €40 to €80 for a standard massage. Extras typically cost €20 to €50 (happy endings), €40 to €80 (oral), and anywhere from €50 to €200 for full service, depending on the location and the calibre of the the provider.
Strip Clubs and Erotic Theatre
In the city that is famous for the erotic cabaret clubs of Moulin Rouge and the Divan du Monde, you can still find plenty of venues that promote the sensual world of voyeurism without resorting to the usual tourist traps or simple strip club stylings.
You can expect more than the usual kind of venue from most of Paris’ strip clubs and we’ve picked our favourite that have something special to offer.
Pink Paradise
36 Rue de Ponthieu, 75008 Paris
Situated in the Golden Triangle, just a short walk from the Champs Elysees, the Pink Paradise was opened in 2002 by the French DJ, David Guetta. The club is styled on an American lap dancing venue and features international dancers. Though the club was sold a few years after opening, its celebrity status is still unrivalled and the Pink Paradise is one of the city’s most famous modern adult entertainment venues.
Running popular pole dancing workshops, the club also has its own branded merchandise.
The club is open daily from 10.30pm until 5am.
Crazy Horse Paris
12 Avenue George V, 75008 Paris
Crazy Horse, Paris has earned itself an iconic reputation since it was opened in 1951 by Alain Bernardin. The dancers are reported to be some of the highest paid in town and they certainly come from a stock of premium talent. The club has opened its doors to some big celebrity names who have stripped for a limited period including Dita Von Teese, Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra.
Sunday to Friday the curtain goes up at 8.30pm and 11.00pm with Saturday performances starting at 7.00pm, 9.30pm and 11.45pm.
Chochotte
34 Rue Saint-André des Arts, 75006 Paris
An erotic theatre in the 6th arrondissement, this well choreographed erotic show blends a mix of burlesque with strip tease. The result is a steamy strip show that has more of a sex show vibe; certainly there are times when the performers seem to be having more fun than seems legal in a public place.
There are also private cabins to view more intimate shows.
Tickets are priced as follows:
- Men: €55
- Women: €35
- Couples: €85
Shows run between 12.30pm to 00.30am from Monday to Saturday.
Secret Square
27 Avenue des Ternes, 75017 Paris
A former Stringfellows venue, Secret Square offers sexy dinner theatre in a classy environment. A three course meal costs around €70 during which you can enjoy the seductive delights to a saucy cabaret.
The venue is open for dinner from 8.30pm to 00.15am, Monday to Saturday (reservations are required).
Street Prostitutes
Paris has two red-light districts. Though not official ones, they are still very much in evidence with street prostitution being discreetly tolerated.
However, be under no illusions, prostitution is still against the law and we highly recommend you avoid any form of soliciting on the street.
The first district is known as Pigalle (or Montmartre) and covers Place Pigalle and the surrounding streets and alleys.
Anglicised during World War II to Pig Alley, the area is popular with tourists and boasts a network of strip clubs, sex shops as well as the world famous cabaret clubs of Moulin Rouge and the Divan du Monde. High class prostitutes work the streets around Pigalle and prices are much higher than in other areas of the city. The girls working here do take advantage of tourists and scams are known to occur.
The second district is Bois de Boulogne and is concentrated in the public park that borders the Seine. Prostitutes work in and around the park with some using their own vehicles to provide services (often white vans parked up with mattresses in the back). Yep, classy…
Sex Shops
Sexodrome
Located in the heart of the Pigalle red-light district, the Sexodrome sells every conceivable accessory for the bedroom including toys, lingerie and costumes to novelty items, DVDs and books as well as catering for the fetish community.
Self confessed as the largest sex shop in the world, the products cover a total floor space of 2500 sq. m.
The shop is open from 9.00am to 2.00am from Monday to Thursday and then 24 hours from Friday to Sunday. Well worth a visit.
Gare du Nord Sex Shop
1 Rue de Compiègne, 75010 Paris
Operating a sex cinema on the premises, this traditional sex shop sells a small selection of sex toys but is principally frequented for the purposes of its sex cinema cabins. Open seven days a week, the experience of this sex shop is one for purists of the old French porn booths.