Is there any other city in the world quite as romantic as Paris? With whimsical Montmartre and its’ many artists or St Germain and its’ many boutiques, there’s always something to see in this magical city. But what about the must see Paris attractions! From the Eiffel Tower to a day trip outside of the city to historic Versailles Palace, here’s everything you must see and do whilst in Paris…
1. Eiffel Tower
It should come at little surprise that the Eiffel Tower is the world’s most visited paid monument – with at least a whopping 7 million visitors a year. Tickets will set you back €15, but be sure to book through the site or at the tower itself, as some tourist agencies can charge up to three times that amount.
2. The Louvre
As one of the world’s largest and arguably most impressive museums (though the Hermitage in St Petersburg certainly competes), The Louvre is an absolute must see whilst in Paris. Be sure to schedule a half or entire day to visit, as much of your time will be spent waiting in line to enter! Of course the Mona Lisa is a highlight, but be sure to grab a program so you can find some other delightful works amongst the many hallways.
3. Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe stand proudly at the ‘top’ of the Champs Elysees and offers one of the best, if not the best views over the city. The price to climb the stairs to the top is 9,50 € and can be paid on arrival. Entrance is via the Champs Elysees, walking underground (look for the signs).
4. Sacre-Coeur
Sacre-Coeur church stands tall above the city of Paris, at around 130 metres high. Be sure to walk the famous Sacre-Coeur stairs, and perhaps even stop for a bite of takeaway lunch there to enjoy he views. Don’t miss the chance to explore Montmartre, the neighbourhood in which Sacre Coeur resides, and enjoy one of Paris’ most authentic areas.
5. Jardin du Luxembourg
Located in the 6th arrondisement, the Luxembourg Garden is one of the most enjoyable summer attractions in Paris. Whether you take a bite to eat for lunch or kick back on the public chairs and people watch, you’ll be sure to enjoy the summer sunshine for a few hours in the gardens.
6. Musee d’Orsay
Located on the Left Bank of the Seine, the Musee d’Orsay is Paris’ “lesser known” museum, but has become equally as popular in recent years.
7. Notre Dame Cathedral
If you make your way down to Notre Dame Cathedral, be sure to arrive early and line up for entrance to the towers (located on the left of the cathedral, when facing the building front-on). Here you will be able to enjoy a fantastic view over the city and see the famous gargoyles.
8. Day Trip to Versailles Palace
Although technically outside of Paris itself, the Palace of Versailles has long held a high significance for Paris and France. Once the royal residence of King Louis XIV, Versailles and its many hallways are a living history in itself. If you visit during the summer, don’t miss the Palace Gardens. For a great bite to eat, you’ll be delighted to find an Angelina bakery inside the Palace!
9. Sainte-Chapelle
This royal medieval gothic chapel located on the Île de la Cité has one of the most impressive interiors in the entire city. The chapel is open 7 days of the week, from 9.30-6pm.
10. Palais Garnier
As the most romantic city in Europe, it should hardly come as a surprise that the Paris Opera House is a delight to visit. The Opera House seats 1979 comfortably and is open both to shows and tours.
11. Les Invalides
Located in the 7th arrondisements, Les Invalides is a collection of buildings – museums and monuments – all containing the military history of France. This is also the burial site for Napoleon Bonaparte.
12. Tuileries Garden
A popular choice, the tuileries gardens are located right by the louvre, en route to the Champs Elysees and Arc de Triomphe if you’re travelling on foot. The gardens even have a few ice cream parlours to keep you satisfied during those long hot summers!
13. Pont Alexandre III
Surely this would have to be the prettiest bridge in the entire city! Running from the left to right bank of the seine, Pont Alexandre III also offers a great view of the Eiffel Tower from afar.
14. Hotel de Ville
Located a short stroll from Notre Dame Cathedral in the 4th arrondisement, Hotel de Ville is an impressive building and the location of the municipality of Paris. If you’re in Paris during winter, Hotel de Ville has one of the cities’ biggest skating rinks located out the front during the cooler months.
15. Disneyland Paris
Located 32km East of Paris, Disneyland Paris is a great day trip for the kids or kids at heart!
16. Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde is the largest public square in Paris, located between the Champs Elysees and Tuileries Garden.
17. Catacombs of Paris
If you’re up for something different, why not consider a catacombs tour underneath Paris!? If you dare, there are a range of different tours on offer.
18. The Latin Quarter for Cheap Eats
If you’re tired of attractions and just want to meander through backstreets and find some great cheap eats, head straight for the Latin Quarter – located right next door to more well-known St Germain des Pres.
19. Saint Germain des Pres for Boutiques
Just next door is one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Paris – Saint Germain. Here you’ll find some great boutiques, especially those selling second hand luxury goods.
20. Montmartre for Artists, Art, and the old Paris
Last but not least, you can’t come to Paris and not spend a few hours wandering the streets of Montmartre – the 18th arrondisement in Paris. It is here where you will find ‘the old Paris’ that time refuses to forget. There are also some great cheap apartments for rent if you plan to stay for a week or more in Paris.
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Hello, I am an English teacher. Recently I’ve been filming online teaching videos about the tourist attractions and explaining the sentences into my language. I wonder if it’s OK if I take this webpage as my reference and show it in my video? Thank you.
Im heading to Paris in 2 weeks, thank you so much for this great read <3
Thank you so much for this advice. We are going to Paris next month and wasn’t exactly sure how to ask about someone speaking english. Now, we know. Thank you and can’t wait to visit this beautiful city!
Nice list ! I would add the Marais which is also a must to get another prospective on the city.
I’m french and it’s false to say that french don’t like to speak english, many of them just don’t speak it. But young generations speak more and more english and sometimes german. The real point is that english is just a foreign language, learned at school, as german, spanish or italian. Not the native language of anyone. Expecting people speak english without asking “do you speak english” before is seemed as extremely rude, really. No need to speak anny french, just say “Hello, do you speak english?” before any interaction. Otherwise you will be view as a perfect rude, undereducated and vulgar person… That’s all.
I’ve actually been to all the places you wrote in this post but my favourite places are the Latin Quarter, Saint Germaine, Place de la Concorde, Le Marais, Montmarte and Pont Alexander 🙂 I’ve been back several times and I never get sick of Paris 🙂
Marj from
Great post. Apart from Disneyland (no desire to visit!), I’ve been incredibly lucky to visit all of these locations, some more than once. Now, I have enormous pleasure being able to talk to family and friends about the great places to go. It’s a city that never stops giving!
Paris : a Magical Mystery Tour…
I want to go to Paris one day and see all these amazing sites 🙂
All amazing locations. Montmartre is compelling to me because as popular as Paris is, Montmartre seems to be a little off the eaten path. It is a way to experience a slightly different culture away from the fast-paced, sometimes frantic tourism. Thanks for the post!
There are so many places to visit in Paris without going to overrun tourist destinations. In fact, I avoid tourist destinations as they are usually swarming with tourists.
Ah, Paris! What a great to-do list. I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited Paris twice and have seen at least a 1/4 of the items on this list. Must be time for another visit to knock off the rest! Do you have any recommendations for specific eateries while visiting?
I love this post. Notre Dame is amazing but there a few places on this list that I haven’t visited – I’ll have to go again some time!
I love this post! Europe is my favorite, but I have never made it to Paris yet, One day!
-Meg
I have never been to Paris, but would really love to go there, especially because of their great patisserie, because i love baking and experiencing new things…but i have got a question. I’m from Germany and am not able to speak a single word French. I’ve heard that the French people are kind of ‘rude’ and don’t want to speak english…what are your experiences about that? And would you say, it is possible to travel to Paris even though I can only speak German or English?
Anne
Thank you for this amazing list!
by Joanne Catherine
Amazing post. I love Paris, I go every year. Great pictures.
xx
This post makes me want to return to Paris right now. One of my favourite places in the entire world. Definitely passing this list on to my friend whose taking her first trip to Paris in September.
Omg, the urge I have right now to be there! It’s been forever since I visited Paris. Last year I was supposed to have an 11hours layover, and I was going to use that time to make a quick trip over there and get inspired, but the airlines(?) strike was going on and I ended up not having my trip 🙁 I really need to go though!
The pictures above are so nice! I can’t believe they all came from Insta!? Keep up the travels… and the instgrams! Thanks for this post, it took me straight back to my Paris experience. 🙂
This is absolutely gorgeous and so helpful! Will definitely keep this in record for future reference 🙂
Totally agree with all places you´ve named 😉
I´ve been to Paris several and also lived there for a while and it´s such a pretty city!
But I would definitely add the museum of Montmartre. Such a special place hidden on the mountain behind Sacre-Coeur. With huge gardens and a small black cat it´s really worth to visit. The house that holds the main part of the exhibition was the home of many known artists like Renoir and Picasso etc.
Sending love, Cathérine
Hahahah I really like how you’ve featured other people’s Instagram pictures! I heart Paris!! X
I think trying the local delicacies is vital when in France, whether that be snails in garlic butter, macaroons or simply lots of good French wine!
Rosie
x
I would add to this list the Rodin outdoor sculpture museum, crepes along the seine and the love wall – all so uniquely Parisienne!
Agreed! This list is 100% local approved. While in the summer the amount of people visiting these spots can completely turn me off of them, they are all of the must sees of the city. And yes, Arc de Triomphe has the best view of the city without a doubt! People always say the Eiffel Tower, but I prefer a view in which the tower itself is present 😀
Julia
I love the list! I’m glad I got to see most of these things but I had no idea about the catacombs!
You’re so lucky!! Have a great trip !!! 🙂 xx
This is wonderful! I’m currently planning my backpacking trip to Europe, definitely going to add these places to my itinerary for Paris! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Lots of love!
never been to Paris before and this post makes me want to go to Paris even more.
Thanks for the list, Brooke 🙂
This is very useful, thank you! Notre-Dame is literally the number 1 thing I want to see in Paris, although I wouldn’t mind seeing the Eiffel Tower, too!
This couldn’t have been posted at a more perfect time! I’m visiting Paris at the start of August and absolutely cannot wait to explore the city.
-Claire, tallgirlbigworld.com
I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go to Paris. I can’t wait to see all these one day (and being an Art History student, I’ve learned about so many of these).
xx, Pia
This is so useful! I’m visiting Paris later this month and I can’t wait to see all these places again!
Paris was absolutely beautiful! I went there in April and your post/photos brings back memories. I regret not having enough time to wonder through Montmartre but, it’s also a reason to go back 😉
I’m going to Paris in September so thank you! x
I’m going to be in Paris tomorrow (EEK!) and I can’t wait to visit all these wonders. Thank you for the list, Brooke! 🙂
I’m going to be in Paris tomorrow (eek!!) and I can’t wait to visit it all. Thank you for the list Brooke 🙂
I want to go to Paris so badly.. I’ll make sure to go to these places when I do 🙂
You’re featuring people’s photos?! This is super exciting!
I’m happy to be able to say that I’ve been to all of these! I’d also add a couple more parks: Buttes Chaumont and Bois de Vincennes as well as the Panthéon. I’m heading to Paris this weekend actually (yay!) and am keen to explore more around Canal St Martin. I’ll be Instagramming!
Such a lovely post
Xoxo
After visiting Paris several times, I’ve got to say it’s quite far down on my list of favourite cities. BUT, Versailles, the Sacre-Coeur and the Père Lachaise Cemetery (which I was expecting to see on the list, haha. You should go discover it on your next visit, it is such a special place!) are still some of my favourite spots/attractions 🙂
Hi! We have a Paris stopover in September. What would you recommend if you only had one night and one day in Paris?
I just got back from Paris a few days ago…it’s one of my favorite “repeats” This is a great list to go by (I’m only lacking 3 from your list… Versailles, Disney and Catacombs). Time to go back (in the fall…when the Louvre doesn’t quite feel like a sauna…)
Thanks Brook!
I am going to visit Paris this Summer. So thankls for all the great tips!
All these places look great, but the Catacombs of Paris, Latin Quarter and the Streets of Montmartre all look particularly amazing. Cannot wait to see these places in real life.
Emily
Aaaah I’m going to Paris for the first time this September!! All of these places are already on my list, but I only have four days so I’m sure I’ll have to go back again and again!!
I’ve only been to Paris once and it was for about two days! I haven’t even heard of half the places you’ve talked about! Can’t wait to travel back to Paris one day and see all these amazing sites 🙂