38 Must-See Places to Visit in Paris
This list of the best places to visit in Paris will help you plan your trip and not miss anything important in one of the most romantic and beautiful cities in the world.
Known as the City of Love and located on the banks of the Seine, the French capital combines history, art, architecture, and a lifestyle that have made it a symbol of European culture.
With an endless cultural, gastronomic, and leisure offer, museums with valuable collections such as the Louvre, historic monuments like the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, as well as ancient churches such as Sainte Chapelle or Notre Dame Cathedral, and charming neighborhoods like Montmartre and Le Marais, we’re sure this city will exceed all your expectations and you won’t be bored for a moment.
Practical Information Before You Start
How much time do I need to visit Paris?
We believe that if it’s your first time in this city, the ideal is to spend between 4 and 5 days. This will allow you to get a general overview of the city and see its main points of interest either on foot or using the convenient metro. If you have more days available, you can take an excursion to Disneyland Paris or the Palace of Versailles, easily accessible by train from Paris.
What’s the best time to travel to Paris?
Although it’s a perfect destination to visit at any time of year, if you’re looking for good weather, the best time is during the months of April, May, June, September, and October, when the temperature is more pleasant and accommodation prices are not as high as in summer or at Christmas.
Based on the numerous times we’ve visited this city, the last time we spent more than a month living in an apartment in the Le Marais neighborhood, we’ve created this list of 38 must-see places in Paris. Let’s get started!
1. Trocadero Square
After having a delicious butter croissant or crepe for breakfast at one of the iconic cafés in the center such as Les Deux Magots, Café de Flore, Café de la Paix, Le Café Marly, and Terres de Café, one of the best things to do in Paris is to arrive early in the morning by metro or on foot at Trocadero Square, the best viewpoint of the Eiffel Tower.
If you arrive early enough, you can take a pleasant walk without many people through the Trocadero Gardens, a collection of green spaces, ponds, and fountains decorated with sculptures such as the famous “Bull and Deer,” which descend from the Chaillot Palace and reach the Jena Bridge over the Seine River.
At the end of the gardens, you’ll find a photogenic carousel and the banks of the Seine, from where you also have an excellent perspective of the Eiffel Tower.
In addition to the daytime visit, we recommend returning to this square at dusk to see the fantastic illumination of the Eiffel Tower, which changes depending on the day or if any relevant event occurs in the world. Additionally, every hour on the hour, from dusk until one in the morning, thousands of sparkling lights turn on for 5 minutes.
2. Champ de Mars
After crossing the Seine via the Jena Bridge, you can head to Rue de l’Université, one of the most elegant streets in Paris that also offers a unique perspective of the Eiffel Tower.
Keep in mind that this street and other locations near the Eiffel Tower fill up with tourists looking for the photo that will fill their social media with likes, so if you want to enjoy it more peacefully, it’s best to arrive early and have a little patience.
Another perfect place to observe the Eiffel Tower up close is the Champ de Mars, a large green space with tree-lined avenues and lawn areas where you can even have a picnic with fantastic views. At the end of this park stands the imposing building of the Military School.
If you arrive at lunch or dinner time, and you’re a fan of the series Emily in Paris, we recommend going up to the spectacular terrace of Café de l’Homme (it was the place where the De l’Heure de Maison Lavaux perfume was presented) to enjoy French gastronomy with incredible views of the Eiffel Tower.
3. Eiffel Tower
Created for the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1889, and although initially not liked by Parisians due to its design, the Eiffel Tower has become over time the most important symbol to visit in Paris and the most visited monument in the world, with more than 7 million people per year.
To go up to the top of this 300-meter-high iron structure, built by the famous engineer Gustave Eiffel, we recommend using the elevator rather than the stairs (1665 steps), especially if you’re not in very good physical shape.
Although endless queues form at the elevators, you can skip them by booking in advance. Additionally, with this ticket you can access the interior of the tower’s 3 floors, observing the building’s structure up close and enjoying spectacular panoramic views of the entire city.
Another of the most romantic experiences in Paris is to have lunch or dinner at “Madame Brasserie,” located on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower and perfect for a special occasion.
If there’s no availability or you prefer to dine at another restaurant, we recommend the Italian restaurant Chez Pippo, one of our favorites in Paris, which is located very close by.
Opening hours: every day from 9 am to 12:45 am (July and August), the rest of the year from 9:30 am to 11:45 pm.
4. Arc de Triomphe of Paris
The Arc de Triomphe, built between 1806 and 1836 by Napoleon to commemorate his great victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, is the most famous in the world and one of the most beautiful monuments to see in Paris.
Standing 50 meters high by 45 meters wide, and inspired by the Arch of Titus in Rome, it’s located in the center of one of the largest roundabouts in the world, so you’ll have to access it through an underground passage, to then see the moving Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.
In addition to being a symbol of Paris and all of France, this monument is one of the best viewpoints in Paris, offering excellent views of the great Champs-Élysées avenue from its upper terrace.
The entrance is also included if you have the Go City Paris Pass, which allows access to more than 75 attractions in Paris, including the tourist bus, climbing the Eiffel Tower, and a Seine cruise.
Opening hours: every day from 10 am to 11 pm.
5. Champs-Élysées
Leisurely walking the two kilometers of the Champs-Élysées, a wide avenue that connects the Arc de Triomphe with Place de la Concordia, is another of the best things to do in Paris.
Surrounded by theaters, cafés, luxury goods stores, international restaurants, as well as pastry shops like Ladurée, where you can try the best macarons in Paris; the Champs-Élysées is one of the most iconic places in the city. But that’s not all, as this avenue also features grand historic buildings such as the Petit and Grand Palais, which impresses with its enormous domed glass roof where fashion shows and other events are held.
During the walk, you can also detour through some of its adjacent streets like Avenue Montaigne, which brings together the most luxurious and expensive shops in Paris.
6. Place de la Concordia
Place de la Concordia, located between the Tuileries Garden and the Champs-Élysées avenue, is the largest square to visit in Paris.
The main stage of the French Revolution, where more than 1,000 public executions were carried out by guillotine, including those of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, it has as its main monument an Egyptian obelisk over 3,000 years old from the Temple of Luxor in Egypt. It was a gift from the Viceroy of Egypt, Mehmed Ali, to King Charles X and placed in the square in 1836.
Two other jewels of this square are the large monumental 19th-century fountains: the Fountain of the Seas, which represents the seas and maritime navigation, and the Fountain of Rivers, which represents the rivers of France.
In this square, it’s also customary to temporarily place, especially at Christmas, a large Ferris wheel that allows you to enjoy panoramic views of Paris, including the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées, and the Louvre.
7. Tuileries Gardens
Past Place de la Concordia are the magnificent Florentine-style Tuileries Gardens, created by Catherine de’ Medici from 1564 onwards as the garden of the Tuileries Palace.
It’s worth walking along the central avenue, decorated with trees, statues, fountains, and ponds, until you reach the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, built by order of Napoleon.
During the walk, we recommend taking the opportunity to buy an ice cream or a crêpe from one of its stands and sit in its comfortable chairs located around two ponds where ducks and geese splash. We assure you it’s a flawless plan!
8. Louvre Museum
The Louvre, the most famous and visited museum in the world, is another of the essential places to visit in Paris.
Inaugurated in the late 18th century and located in the halls of the enormous Louvre Palace, this museum houses some of the most important masterpieces in human history such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Seated Scribe from ancient Egypt.
In addition to admiring its fantastic architecture during the day, we recommend coming back at dusk to see its illuminated glass pyramid, which was added to the center of the square in 1989 and acts as an entrance. An image that we’re sure will stay with you forever.
Being one of the most visited places in the city, to save yourself the long queues that form at the entrance, which can exceed two hours, we recommend booking tickets in advance.
If you’re not a great art lover, you can complete a short tour of about 3 hours following a small map that they’ll give you at the ticket office showing the best works to see in the Louvre across the 3 floors that make up the Louvre Palace.
The entrance is included in the Go City Paris Pass.
Opening hours: Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm; Wednesday and Friday from 9 am to 9 pm; closed on Tuesday.
9. Palais Royal Gardens
The Palais Royal Gardens, located a few meters from the Louvre Museum, are a haven of peace where you can rest after visiting the museum, as well as another of the most beautiful places to see in Paris.
These gardens of the Palais Royal, built as a residence for Cardinal Richelieu, surprise by housing at one end a courtyard with columns of different heights (colonnes de Buren) that have become one of the favorite spots for social media lovers and photographers.
Despite that, we have to confess that our favorite area is the landscaped space with magnificent fountains where you can cool off and benches where you can sit and quietly read a book, surrounded by arcades where you can find small antique and vintage clothing shops.
A few meters from these gardens, there are several Japanese restaurants that serve delicious ramen such as Kodawari and Menkicchi.
10. Galerie Vivienne in Paris
Upon leaving the gardens, you can take a long walk through the center, starting with Galerie Vivienne, one of the most elegant and emblematic covered galleries to visit in Paris.
This typical Parisian corner full of charm is characterized by its neoclassical architecture with a glass roof that illuminates the entire passage with natural light, decorated with Corinthian columns, sculptures, and colorful mosaic floors.
This type of shopping gallery, like the nearby Passage des Panoramas (another of our favorites), houses fashion stores, antiques, and cafés with small terraces where you can have coffee or a croissant while traveling back to the early 19th century, a time full of splendor.
11. National Library
Entering the Richelieu-Louvois site of the National Library of France, located between the streets des Petits-Champs, Vivienne, Louvois, and Richelieu, is one of the best free things to do in Paris.
If you don’t have a user card for this library, you’ll only have access to a small part of this building, although enough to see its beautiful reading room covered by nine domes supported by iron arches and illuminated with natural light.
If you visit it, remember to do so respectfully.
National Library hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 9 am to 7:30 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Monday from 2 pm to 7:30 pm.
12. Place Vendôme in Paris
Continuing through the center, you’ll reach the emblematic Place Vendôme, presided over by the impressive Vendôme Column, erected by Napoleon in 1810 imitating Trajan’s Column in Rome, and one of our favorite squares to see in Paris.
Surrounded by historic buildings that house some of the most expensive hotels in Paris such as the Ritz or Vendôme, luxury fashion stores like Dior and Chanel have been installed, and especially high jewelry and watchmaking shops like Cartier.
13. Madeleine Church
The Madeleine Church, which is reminiscent of the classic temples of Ancient Greece in its architecture, is another of the most beautiful religious temples to visit in Paris.
Surrounded by 52 Corinthian columns 20 meters high and erected in honor of the Grand French Army by order of Napoleon, this church impresses with its pediment featuring a Last Judgment scene and its spectacular interior, which houses the relics of Saint Mary Magdalene.
Upon leaving the church, you can walk along Rue Royale, known for its luxury stores such as Prada, Hermès, and Yves Saint Laurent, as well as housing the expensive restaurant Maxim’s.
If you prefer something more affordable, we recommend Le Souffle, one of the best restaurants in Paris to try soufflé, a typical dish baked with béchamel sauce combined with other ingredients. We loved it!
Opening hours: every day from 9:30 am to 7 pm.
14. Palais Garnier Opera House in Paris
Visiting the Palais Garnier Opera House, an immense neo-baroque building constructed by order of Napoleon in the 19th century, is another must-do thing in Paris.
A symbol of Napoleonic-era opulence, the impressive building leaves no one indifferent with its ornate interior, offering a luxurious and ostentatious image, full of gold, mosaics, and large chandeliers. Some of its most notable places are the grand marble staircase, the enormous vestibule, and the impressive auditorium, decorated in red and gold, which inspired the work “The Phantom of the Opera.”
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on tickets to see one of its opera, ballet, or classical music shows, we recommend buying a ticket to visit the building on your own.
Opening hours: every day from 10 am to 5 pm. Entrance included in the Go City Paris Pass.
15. Galeries Lafayette
A few meters from the Palais Garnier Opera House are the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, one of the most famous shopping centers in the world and another of the most beautiful places in Paris.
With 7 floors distributed in a circular fashion, resembling a theater thanks to its enormous colored dome, this iconic building has a rooftop from which you can enjoy one of the best views of the buildings in central Paris for free.
Inside, in Art Nouveau style, you can find countless brands at reasonable prices, a gourmet section to buy typical French products, and an area of restaurants and quality cafés.
One of the best times to visit it is at Christmas, when its incredible window displays seem to come alive and a large tree inside makes a difference from the rest of the city’s Christmas decorations.
If you have plenty of time, a few meters from these galleries are the luxurious Galeries Printemps, which has a terrace on the ninth floor that has become another of the best viewpoints in Paris.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 8:30 pm and Sundays from 11 am to 7 pm.
16. Seine River
An evening stroll along the banks of the Seine River, from Notre Dame Cathedral to the Eiffel Tower, is one of the most romantic experiences you can have in the city of Paris.
During the walk along this mythical river, which crosses the city forming some islands like Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis, you’ll cross several of the most beautiful bridges in the city such as Pont Neuf, Pont de l’Alma, Pont Alexandre III, and Pont des Arts, although our favorite is Le Pont Neuf from the late 16th century, the oldest. Additionally, in some sections of the riverbank, you can see bouquinistes, vendors located in small green stalls offering old books, engravings, and souvenirs.
Another bridge a bit further away is Pont de Grenelle, which has as its main attraction a small replica of the Statue of Liberty that France gave to the United States and which stands in New York.
In our experience, in addition to taking the walk on foot, the best way to tour this river and see the illuminated city is to book a boat ride on the Seine.
During these rides, which have audio guides in Spanish and depart from the docks located near the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame, you’ll see some of the best-lit monuments in Paris such as Les Invalides, the Musée d’Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre Museum, the Grand Palais, and the Eiffel Tower.
17. Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1163 and 1345 and located on Île de la Cité, is one of the oldest and most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world, as well as one of the symbols to visit in Paris.
This church, which has a façade flanked by two 69-meter-high twin towers and three impressive rose windows, has been the scene of historical events such as the coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte as emperor (1804) and the beatification of Joan of Arc (1909).
Unfortunately, on April 15, 2019, a devastating fire destroyed much of the roof, interior, and spire of the Cathedral, and although the main structure and towers were saved, the damage was very significant. This led to a major reconstruction that took more than 5 years, reopening to the public in December 2024. However, the ascent to the towers, where its famous and mysterious chimeras or gargoyles are located and from where you can enjoy incredible views, didn’t reopen until September 2025.
To enter its interior for free, you can get directly in line or book tickets in advance.
Once inside, you can observe the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, the Grand Organ, and the beautiful stained glass windows that illuminate the interior with natural light, although much of its medieval charm has been lost with the reconstruction.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 7:50 am to 7 pm (until 10 pm on Thursdays); Saturday and Sunday from 8:15 am to 7:30 pm.
18. Sainte Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle, located on the beautiful Île de la Cité, near Notre Dame, is our favorite church to see in Paris and one of the most beautiful in the world.
In Gothic style and consisting of two chapels, this church was built between 1241 and 1248 to house various relics such as the Crown of Thorns, part of the Cross, the iron of the lance, and the sponge from the martyrdom of Jesus Christ.
The upper chapel, which only the king and his court could access, will leave you speechless when you enter and observe its 15 enormous 13th-century stained glass windows, which reach about 15 meters in height and represent more than 1,100 biblical scenes.
The lower chapel, intended for palace staff, is more sober and has a 13th-century fresco of the Annunciation, considered the oldest mural in the city.
Opening hours: from April to September from 9 am to 7 pm and the rest of the year from 9 am to 5 pm. Free entrance with the Go City Paris Pass.
19. The Conciergerie
Right next to Sainte-Chapelle is La Conciergerie, an old Gothic palace that was used as a prison for historical figures such as Marie Antoinette, whose cell can be visited.
A royal residence from the 10th century until 1392, when it became one of the harshest prisons from which few prisoners emerged unscathed. Among several famous figures of the time, Queen Marie Antoinette was there for a time before dying on the guillotine in 1793.
During the tour of the prison, you can see a reconstruction of Marie Antoinette’s cell and the differences in living conditions that existed with poor prisoners, who slept on the floor while the rich had all kinds of comforts, including servants.
Opening hours: every day from 9:30 am to 6 pm.
20. Paris City Hall
Listed as a Historic Monument of France, the City Hall or Hôtel de Ville, seat of the Parisian municipality since 1357, is another of the most beautiful buildings to visit in Paris.
Although most travelers visit the area quickly, we have to confess that every time we go to Paris, we love to sit in the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville adorned with bronze statues to observe its magnificent atmosphere and the imposing neo-Renaissance façade. In winter, an ice skating rink is usually installed.
A few meters from City Hall is another historic monument, the Saint-Jacques Tower, located in a charming garden and in Flamboyant Gothic style.
This 52-meter-high bell tower is all that remains of the old 16th-century church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Boucherie, which was demolished in 1797 during the French Revolution. During summer, climbing is allowed to enjoy a 360-degree panorama of central Paris.
21. Les Halles
From the Saint Jacques Tower, you can start a route through the Les Halles neighborhood, which revolves around the Centre Pompidou and is one of the most emblematic neighborhoods to see in Paris.
A neighbor of Le Marais, this neighborhood allows you to take a journey through different countries thanks to its multiculturalism and observe the façade of buildings full of history such as the Bourse de Commerce, the Nelson Mandela Garden, and the Church of Saint-Eustache.
One of our favorite areas is Rue Montorgueil, full of shops, terraces where you can have a drink, and restaurants like Au Pied de Cochon, where you can try different typical French dishes such as onion soup, foie gras, and escargots (snails).
To finish the route, nothing better than seeing the original Stravinsky Fountain and entering the Centre Pompidou National Museum of Art and Culture, which stands out for its original exterior design with colored tubes on the façade and its valuable collection of modern art with works by Picasso, Kandinsky, Matisse, and Miró housed inside.
Opening hours: Wednesday to Monday from 11 am to 9 pm (Thursdays until 11 pm).
22. Le Marais District
Strolling through the bohemian Le Marais neighborhood, located in the heart of the city next to the Seine, is another of the best things to do in Paris.
In this neighborhood, you’ll get to know old Paris by walking through its cobblestone streets full of vintage shops, hidden courtyards, art galleries, fashion boutiques, elegant mansions, designer restaurants, and spots for picnicking such as the fantastic Place des Vosges, the oldest square in the city where Victor Hugo’s house is located, and the charming courtyard of the Hôtel de Sully.
The most famous streets in the neighborhood and where most shops are concentrated are Rue de Rivoli, Rosiers, Charlot, des Archives, Bourg Tibourg, Vieille du Temple, Obenkampf, and Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, as well as adjacent alleys.
Le Marais also has some of the best restaurants to eat in Paris such as L’As du Fallafel, Benedict, Comptoir Gourmet, and Pain Vin Fromage, where they serve delicious fondue.
23. Canal Saint-Martin
Another of the best experiences in Paris is to take a pleasant walk along the banks of Canal Saint-Martin, starting at Place de la Bastille, a symbolic place of the French Revolution presided over by the July Column.
During the walk along the bank, you’ll pass through different parks and bridges from where you’ll have the best panoramic views of this canal full of small boats, and then finish relaxing in the Jardin des Plantes.
24. Latin Quarter of Paris
If you want to go out at night for a drink or a quick dinner, you can’t miss the lively and crowded streets of the Latin Quarter such as Rue Huchette.
Located south of Île de la Cité, in this neighborhood, you’ll find a great variety of restaurants with terraces and signs showing prices much cheaper than the rest of Paris, although their quality, in most cases, is usually not excessively high.
In addition to enjoying the good atmosphere, you can spend time seeing the Saint Michel square and fountain, visiting the Church of Saint-Sulpice which has beautiful frescoes by Delacroix and appeared in the movie “The Da Vinci Code,” or entering the beautiful bookstore Shakespeare & Co, although its most prominent monument is the Panthéon, which we’ll talk about in the next point.
Near Saint-Sulpice, you have the excellent restaurants Café Procope and La Jacobine, perfect for trying quality typical French dishes such as soupe à l’oignon (onion soup), escargots (snails), coq au vin (braised chicken), quiche Lorraine (savory tart), magret de canard (duck breast), and ratatouille.
25. Panthéon of Paris
The Panthéon, commissioned by Louis XV in 1757 as a church dedicated to Saint Geneviève, patron saint of the city, is another of the most symbolic monuments to visit in Paris.
After the French Revolution (1791) and coinciding with Victor Hugo’s funeral, the church was secularized and converted into a national pantheon to house the bodies of great figures in French history such as Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Marie Curie, Louis Braille, and Alexandre Dumas, among others.
The exterior is reminiscent of the portico of the Pantheon in Rome, with large Corinthian columns, a sculpted pediment, and an imposing dome that rises more than 80 meters high, while inside you can see frescoes narrating the life of Saint Geneviève and French history, as well as the famous Foucault’s Pendulum, installed in 1851 to demonstrate the Earth’s rotation.
From inside, you can also access the crypt.
Panthéon opening hours: every day from 10 am to 6 pm.
26. Luxembourg Gardens
The Luxembourg Gardens are one of the most beautiful green spaces to see in Paris, as well as a perfect place to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city center.
Located in front of the Luxembourg Palace, near the Latin Quarter, it’s a very popular place for Parisians where they come to have picnics, listen to free music concerts, or simply chat with friends lying on the grass, especially when the weather is good.
During the walk through its paths surrounded by all kinds of plants and trees, you’ll pass in front of different sculptures and along the shore of a large central pond, until you reach its most charming and historic corner, the Medici Fountain. This monument dates back to the early 17th century when Queen Marie de’ Medici had it built recreating the Boboli Garden of her native Florence.
27. Montparnasse Tower
The Tour Montparnasse, standing 210 meters tall, is our favorite viewpoint to visit in Paris.
This office building, which clashes with the classic architecture of the city and generated great controversy among Parisians, has a viewpoint on the 56th floor and a spectacular terrace on the 59th, which we assure you won’t leave any traveler indifferent.
Protected with glass, although with spaces to take photos outdoors, from it you’ll have impressive 360-degree panoramic views of all of Paris with the Eiffel Tower as the most relevant point.
Although it’s a bit far from the center, it’s easily accessible by metro with lines 4, 6, 12, and 13 that stop at Montparnasse-Bienvenue.
Opening hours: every day from 9:30 am to 11 pm. Free entrance with the Go City Paris Pass.
28. Catacombs
Not far from the Tour Montparnasse are the Catacombs of Paris, an underground ossuary that holds millions of human remains in a labyrinth of tunnels beneath the city.
This network of underground tunnels and chambers 20 meters deep extends for more than 300 kilometers, and it’s estimated that up to 6 million people are buried there, although only 800 meters of galleries with walls lined with bones are open to the public.
Keep in mind that the catacombs are a bit far from the city center, so the best option to visit them is to arrive at the Denfert-Rochereau stop with metro lines 4 and 6.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 8:30 pm, last entry one hour before closing. Closed for 6 months starting November 3, 2025 for restoration.
29. Montmartre Neighborhood
Located on a hill about 130 meters high, Montmartre is our favorite neighborhood in Paris, along with Le Marais.
Although today it’s very touristy, it still retains a certain bohemian air from the past when painters like Picasso and Van Gogh lived there.
It’s worth spending two or three hours walking through its beautiful streets and buildings, paying special attention to Place du Tertre, full of artists painting or selling their paintings, as well as, of course, visiting the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, which is another of the wonders to see in Paris.
Built between 1875 and 1914, this church stands out for its white façade, the mix of Roman and Byzantine architecture, and its stairs, where you can experience one of the best experiences in Paris: enjoying an unforgettable sunset with magnificent views of the city while listening to a street musician.
The only aspect we don’t recommend about Montmartre, at least in our experience, is staying for lunch or dinner, as the vast majority of restaurants offer tourist menus with a fairly low quality-to-price ratio.
To get to Montmartre by public transport, you’ll need to take metro line 2 to Anvers or line 12 to Abbesses and from there walk up some photogenic stairs or take the Montmartre Funicular.
Before starting your visits, we recommend stopping for a few minutes in front of the beautiful Wall of Love (Mur des Je t’aime) located in Place des Abbesses itself.
Sacré-Cœur Basilica opening hours: every day from 6 am to 10:30 pm.
30. Pigalle District
An evening stroll through the Pigalle neighborhood, located at the foot of Montmartre hill along Boulevard de Clichy, is another thing to do in Paris.
Dotted with sex shops and erotic clubs, this red-light district has as its main attraction several trendy nightclubs and especially the famous Moulin Rouge, where artists of the caliber of Edith Piaf, Liza Minnelli, and Frank Sinatra have performed, and where the colorful Féerie show is currently held.
If you visit Montmartre in the morning, you can walk to Pigalle to eat at one of its best-known restaurants such as Les Apôtres de Pigalle or at Café des Deux Moulins, famous for appearing in the movie Amelie.
31. Mazarine Library
Back in the center, another library worth visiting in Paris is the Mazarine, located on Quai de Conti on the banks of the Seine, and considered the oldest public library in France.
Founded by Cardinal Mazarin (1602-1661), prime minister and great patron, he assembled a large private collection of books and manuscripts. After his death, his collection was opened to the public, becoming one of the first accessible libraries in France.
The current building, in French classical style, dates from the 17th century and maintains much of its original structure, housing more than 600,000 volumes, including manuscripts, rare books, and first editions.
Among its rooms, the main hall stands out, surrounded by carved wooden bookshelves full of books, high ceilings, and staircases.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm.
32. Musée d’Orsay in Paris
The Musée d’Orsay, located in an old train station built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, is another of the most interesting museums to see in Paris.
In addition to admiring the architecture of this imposing building covered by a large glass and steel vault that illuminates the interior with natural light, and which still preserves the old station clock; it’s worth spending time carefully observing the masterpieces by great painters such as “Luncheon on the Grass” by Manet, “The Starry Night” and several self-portraits by Van Gogh, “Women of Tahiti” by Gauguin, “Poppies” by Monet, and “The Card Players” by Paul Cézanne, among many others.
The entrance is included in the Go City Paris Pass.
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 am to 6 pm (Thursdays until 9:45 pm).
33. Les Invalides
The National Palace of Les Invalides is one of the most iconic and historic monuments to visit in Paris, as it houses Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb inside.
In Baroque style, this immense complex was built in the late 17th century as a residence for war veterans who had no home. Today, in addition to Napoleon’s mausoleum and some tombs of his marshals, you can visit the Army Museum, among the best of its kind, and the Cathedral of Saint Louis.
Keep in mind that in the past, to prevent soldiers from mixing with royalty, this building was divided into two: the Saint-Louis-des-Invalides Church for the military and the Dôme Church for the royal family, the latter being the one that has the sarcophagus with Napoleon’s ashes.
Opening hours: every day from 10 am to 6 pm. Closed the first Monday of each month.
34. Other Museums to Visit in Paris
Paris is a city where art is breathed on every corner, although at the same time, it’s full of interesting museums with world-famous collections and artworks, which we recommend you take into account during your visit.
Among the best museums to see in Paris, in addition to the Louvre, Orsay, and Pompidou, are these three:
Musée du Quai Branly: located very close to the Eiffel Tower, this modern space exhibits samples of indigenous art, cultures, and civilizations from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and America.
Musée Rodin: in the rococo-style palace of Hôtel Biron and its gardens, some of Rodin’s most famous sculptures are exhibited such as The Gates of Hell, The Thinker, and The Kiss.
Musée de l’Orangerie: located in an old orange tree greenhouse, this museum has as its greatest jewels the enormous paintings of Monet’s Water Lilies.
All these museums are included if you have the Go City Paris Pass.
35. Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise, covering 44 hectares, is the most extensive cemetery to visit in Paris and one of the most famous in the world.
Known for being the place where numerous famous figures rest, such as Maria Callas (her ashes were kept here but currently only a commemorative plaque can be seen), Edith Piaf, Molière, and composers like Chopin, this is another of the most common visits for tourists in the city.
Additionally, you can also find the tomb of singer Jim Morrison, leader of The Doors, which is one of the most famous in the place and is always full of mementos and gifts.
Another of the most appreciated tombs is that of writer, poet, and playwright Oscar Wilde, which has a figure of a naked angel with spread wings and is protected by glass, as fans used to paint their lips and mark the tomb with a kiss.
To find the most famous tombs, you can buy a map at a kiosk located near the entrance.
Keep in mind that the cemetery is a bit far from the city but is easily accessible by metro with lines 2 and 3 stopping at Philippe Auguste and Père Lachaise stations.
Opening hours: every day from 8 am to 6 pm, except Sundays when it opens at 9 am.
36. La Défense
If you have more time, you can complete this list of places to see in Paris by taking metro line 1 to La Défense, the capital’s financial and business district.
In addition to numerous skyscrapers and the enormous Quatre Temps shopping center, it’s worth getting to this point far from the center to see the 110-meter-high Grande Arche de la Défense and take the elevator up to its terrace for unique perspectives of Paris.
If you still want more, on your way back to the center by metro, you can stop at Bois de Boulogne for a pleasant walk among trees and ponds.
37. Disneyland Paris
If you have one or two extra days, another of the best things to do in Paris is to take the RER-A train (red line) from the central stops Auber, Châtelet les Halles, and Charles de Gaulle-Étoile, which will drop you off in just over half an hour near the entrance to Disneyland Paris.
Located 32 kilometers from the center of Paris, this theme park that mixes European culture with Disney essence is the most famous and visited in Europe.
The entertainment complex consists of two theme parks:
Disneyland Park: the largest and most iconic, inspired by the Disneyland California model and with the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle as its main protagonist. It features classic attractions like Alice’s Curious Labyrinth, Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain, and It’s a Small World, as well as parades and nighttime shows.
Walt Disney Studios Park: dedicated to cinema, animation, and special effects, it has adrenaline-pumping attractions such as Ratatouille: The Adventure, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Studio Tram Tour: Behind the Magic, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Crush’s Coaster.
If you’re going to spend the night at the park, once at the station, you have a free bus that will take you to Disney-themed hotels such as the magnificent Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, Disney Sequoia Lodge, Disney Hotel Santa Fe, or Disney Hotel Cheyenne, four of the most recommended.
38. Other Excursions from Paris
In addition to everything mentioned above, if you’re going to visit Paris for several days, it can be very interesting to consider taking a getaway to get to know some of the most emblematic places in the surroundings of the city.
Among them is the Palace of Versailles, a World Heritage Site where King Louis XVI lived with his wife Marie Antoinette, which is undoubtedly another of the best excursions from Paris.
Inside this enormous palace, you can see luxurious rooms such as the Hall of Mirrors, the royal apartments and those of Louis XIV, the Gallery of the History of the Palace, and the Gallery of Battles, as well as leisurely stroll through the immense and beautiful gardens.
To go from Paris to Versailles, you can take, at one of the central stations such as Notre Dame, Musée d’Orsay, Invalides, or the Eiffel Tower, the RER C train on the Versailles-Rive Gauche line, which will take you to Versailles in half an hour. From this station, you can walk to the Palace of Versailles in 10 minutes.
Other excursions highly recommended by travelers visiting Paris are these four:
- Excursion to Mont Saint-Michel
- Excursion to Bruges
- Excursion to the Loire Valley Castles
- Excursion to Mont Saint-Michel and Omaha Beach
Frequently Asked Questions About What to See in Paris
How much time do I need to visit Paris?
Although Paris is an enormous city with large distances between different points of interest, we believe that 4 or 5 days are enough to enjoy the best Parisian experiences and visit its main tourist attractions. If you have less time, you can focus on visiting its most emblematic buildings such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Louvre, and strolling through its most charming neighborhoods like Montmartre and Le Marais, and then complete the entire list of Paris must-sees with another trip.
How to get around Paris?
The most comfortable and fastest way to get around Paris is by metro, which stops near all the most important places to see in Paris, although sometimes the RER train, which makes fewer stops, will work out better for you. The price of a single ticket in zone A is 1.90 euros, although if you’re going to take the metro more often, it’s convenient to get a 10-trip pass, which will cost you less.
Another good option for getting around the city if you have little time is the one or two-day tourist bus that has stops at the main points of interest in Paris and you can get on and off as many times as you want.
What’s the most beautiful thing in Paris?
If you have less time and can’t complete this list of the 38 most beautiful places in Paris, our top 10 would be: Eiffel Tower, The Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, Notre Dame, Le Marais, Montmartre, Arc de Triomphe, Seine Stroll, Les Halles, and Latin Quarter.