One of the more popular tourism options in Paris is to check out one of the five historic cabarets: Moulin Rouge, Le Lido, Paradis Latin, Crazy Horse and Folies Bergère.

All offer similar forms of adult entertainment in the form of dance and acrobatic numbers featuring men and women in various states of undress, and occasionally not wearing any clothes at all. As a cabaret show is an adult experience, it is highly suggestive and not for children. That does not mean, however, that they are like strip clubs in America. Instead, they're like a sexy Cirque du Soleil.

You have the option of sitting at the bar and simply watching the show, sitting at a table and drinking Champagne, or getting one of the best tables in the joint and eating a multi-course meal during the show. It's not an inexpensive evening -- you'll pay between €100 and €300 depending on what time of year you go and what drinking and dining options you choose, but you will have a unique experience that cannot be found outside of the City Of Light.

Each of the five cabarets offers its own unique experience.

Moulin Rouge

Certainly the most famous of all the cabarets in Paris and, as well as having been the inspiration for a major Hollywood movie, the Moulin Rouge is the cabaret that invented the Cancan dance. See this slice of history with a romantic evening and a Moulin Rouge Show in Paris! You can see the theater from blocks away simply by looking for its trademark giant red windmill. Get a good look at the Moulin Rouge as well as the rest of Paris with an Eiffel Tower, Paris Moulin Rouge Show and Seine River Cruise. Along with the rest of the City of Light, you'll soon understand why this incredible venue used to be the hangout of many artists including Toulouse-Latrec in the late 19th century. Today it remains the most popular cabaret among tourists. Enjoy your time here like the stars of the past and make the most of your trip to Paris with the Viator VIP: Moulin Rouge Show with Exclusive VIP Seating and 3-Course Dinner!

Le Lido

This cabaret has the best location out of the five -- being right on the Champs Elysées. While still an adult show, it is less suggestive than the other cabarets and has tap dancing, clowns, laser effects, a cowboy show, and sometimes acrobatic ice skating. It attempts to be more like a Las Vegas spectacle than a traditional cabaret. Many famous people have performed at the Lido, including Elvis Presley and Edith Piaf. End your evening with a Lido de Paris Dinner and Show!

Paradis Latin

This cabaret has perhaps the most historic importance of the five options. It was commissioned by Napoleon Bonaparte in the early 1800s, then was destroyed by a fire and rebuilt by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World's Fair (the same fair where he would unveil his famous tower). Located on the Right Bank, a couple hundred yards from Notre Dame, the location is much safer than that of the Moulin Rouge. It provides a similar type of performance, but with less emphasis on the Cancan dance. Experience this historical venue and brilliant show with a Paradis Latin Dinner and Show in Paris!

Crazy Horse

This is the most upscale and respectable of all of the Parisian cabarets and it has a long history of famous performers including Dita von Teese, Carmen Electra, Pamela Anderson and Kelly Brook. Two features of the show make it stand out: First, there is a focus on magic tricks and illusions, both in between and during the nude acts. Second, other than the featured performer, all of the dancers are exactly the same height and weight and have the same breast size. This is done to make them indistinguishable from each other during the performance. The show has more of a Broadway feel to it than the other cabaret shows in Paris.

Folies Bergère

While technically one of the five official cabarets in Paris, the Folies Bergère has been moving away from cabaret style shows and now often has Broadway productions or other mainstream performances. This venue does feature some cabaret shows, but they are no longer the focus of the theater.