Paris is a great place to visit and has many sights you should see. First is the Eiffel Tower, which offers ethereal views of the city from its observation deck. You can also see it from afar on the Arc de Triomphe, which provides excellent panoramas of the city. The Seine River is another iconic sight in Paris and a popular tourist attraction because of its romantic atmosphere.
If you want to get away from all the tourist traps, try visiting some of the smaller museums like Musee Marmottan Monet or Musee Gustave Moreau for a more intimate experience with French artistry and history.
In particular, there are so many restaurants and cafes in Paris that it can be difficult to know where to begin! But before you go out exploring on foot through this charming city’s streets, which are all walkable we recommend grabbing something quick at one of these local favorites: La Peche Mignon (a bakery), La Femme Bleue (a cafe), or Le Petit Souffle (an ice cream shop).
The Louvre
The Louvre is the world’s largest museum, meaning that when you visit, you’re going to want to do a little planning ahead of time. This is where it helps to know a little bit about what’s in the collection — there are over 35,000 objects on display here! Here are some of the most famous pieces housed at the Louvre:
- Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa
- Ancient Egyptian sarcophagus
- Portrait of Eleanor of Toledo and Her Son by Agnolo Bronzino
- Winged Victory of Samothrace (Nike)
- Death of Sardanapalus by Eugène Delacroix
Notre Dame
Source: sacratomato_hr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
If you’re looking for a nice day trip while in Paris, Notre Dame is worth checking out. If you want to know the details and the history of Notre Dame, for more details. You can get there by taking the metro from Saint Michel to Cité. This cathedral has gorgeous architecture and impressive history that makes it an essential visit when in Paris. It’s one of the largest churches in France and is dedicated to Mary, Mother of God. The site was originally built as a place for Catholic worship in 1163 by King Louis VII under Bishop Maurice de Sully but continued to be worked on until 1345 when the building was completed.
Arc de Triomphe
If you’re looking for an iconic monument in Paris that represents French history, the Arc de Triomphe is the perfect one.
Built-in 1806 to commemorate the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, this monument was designed by Jean Chalgrin and built from white marble and limestone.
The Arc de Triomphe represents liberty, peace, victory, and equality. It also has a tomb at the center to commemorate those who died during World War I.
You can get to the Arc de Triomphe via Metro line 2 or 6 by getting off at Charles De Gaulle – Étoile station or RER A by stopping at Charles De Gaulle – Étoile station. You can reach it on foot as well since it is located right in the center of Paris surrounded by 12 main boulevards of Paris known as Voie Triomphale.
The best time to visit would be on a clear day during sunrise or sunset hours so that you can see some great views of the city surrounding it. It’s open every day from 10 AM until 11 PM except Mondays when it opens at 10 AM but closes earlier at 10:30 PM. The entry fee for adults is €12 if bought on site but only €9 if booked online beforehand
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is world-famous, of course. So much so that it’s become something of a cliche to visit it while in the City of Light, but there’s no denying its place as an enduring symbol of Paris’ place at the center of the art & culture universe.
While you can take a lift up to the first level and tour around on your own, I highly recommend buying tickets to take another lift up to the top deck. The view is spectacular, even if you’re not, particularly into heights. And there’s a little champagne bar up there! I recommend going up just before sunset when the sky is still bright enough for good photos outside but dark enough inside to see where you’re pouring bubbly from crystal flutes without squinting painfully against the harsh light.
If you have time for only one landmark in Paris (aside from Notre Dame), make it this one!
Versailles
How to get there: Best to use Uber.
What to see: The Palace of Versailles is a real sight to behold. It’s not hard to imagine the pleasure taken by Louis XIV, who at the age of 28, moved from Paris into the new palace at Versailles and never came back–except for some days when he was too ill or bored by his own courtiers and needed some peace and quiet.
Where to eat: At Le Grand Véfour, a renowned restaurant located in one of Paris’ oldest buildings (1784), you’ll find that all eyes are smiling upon you. From the moment you step through its doors, it feels as though you have entered another world entirely; a world filled with mahogany paneling, pilasters, silk wall coverings, and chandeliers lit by candles. It almost feels like time has stopped here since 1820 when King Louis XVIII used it as his personal dining room!
Where to stay: You’ll want somewhere close enough that you can walk on foot but far enough away from any major tourist attractions so they aren’t crowded with people all day long!
Musee D’Orsay
Musee D’Orsay is an art museum in Paris, France. It was designed as a railroad station in 1898 but it was not fully completed until 1900. It had fallen into disuse by 1939 and was almost demolished in 1970. However, the interior of the building and its spectacular vaulted glass roof were saved and renovated by 1973 to display artworks dating from 1848 to 1915.
- The Musee D’Orsay is housed in the Gare d’Orsay train station.
- The Musee D’Orsay isn’t too far from Place de la Concorde and the Louvre Museum, making it easy to visit all three landmarks in one day if you want to do so.
- The Musée d’Orsay holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1914 — including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography — but also houses some works from non-French artists such as Van Gogh, Monet, and Gauguin.
- One of its most famous works is Vincent van Gogh’s “Self-Portrait.” This painting is permanently displayed on the first floor of the museum along with eight other self portraits by van Gogh (he created over 40 self portraits throughout his life). In addition to this collection of self-portraits there are also four paintings that Vincent painted while living with his brother Theo: “The bedroom,” “The Church at Auvers”, “Wheatfield with Crows” and “L’Arlésienne”.
Sacre Coeur
Sacre Coeur is a Basilica that sits on top of the highest point in Paris, Montmartre. With its beautiful domed roof and white stone façade, it is one of the most iconic landmarks in Paris, France. The church is located at Place Saint-Pierre in the 18th arrondissement (district) of Paris. It was built in 1914 between the years 1875 and 1914.
You must see this beautiful piece of architecture when visiting Paris! There are so many things to see and do at Sacre Coeur!
Palais Royal
You can start your trip to Paris with a journey to the heart of the city, Palais Royal. It was once an old royal palace where kings and queens used to live. Today, it is still a majestic building located in the first arrondissement of Paris. The palace has been around since the 17th century and has seen many changes throughout its history. The courtyard of this former royal palace is now open for all visitors to explore. There are plenty of fun things to do at Palais Royal that will make your time here enjoyable and memorable!
The surrounding gardens are one thing you can visit while at Palais Royal. These green spaces provide an escape from busy city life in central Paris; they also offer great views over Place Colette (which is just next door) as well as other areas such as Pompidou Centre or even Montmartre! In these areas, there are many cafés that serve delicious French pastries so you may want to bring some cash if this post gets your mouth watering…
There are some arcades with shops catering to tourists who may want souvenirs from their trips abroad but there are also small independent boutiques selling items ranging anywhere from vintage clothes to vinyl records — perfect gifts for loved ones back home!
Luxembourg Gardens
Luxembourg Gardens are open from 7 am to 8 pm, and as well as being a public park, they’re also home to the French Senate. You’ll see people enjoying the serenity of the gardens on benches, or picnicking on the lawns. There’s also a kids’ playground with toys and activities for children. This is a good idea if you want to take a break away from sightseeing and enjoy some peace and quiet.
What I really enjoyed about Luxembourg Gardens was that they are free to enter and you get to experience an authentic Parisian neighborhood with local residents going about their daily business. For me, this was much better than visiting tourist attractions like the Louvre Museum which can be crowded at times (especially during peak season).
Centre Pompidou
Centre Pompidou is a great place to learn about French culture. By visiting this modern art museum in Paris, you’ll have the opportunity to see beautiful sculptures, paintings, installations, photographs, and furniture. This is a must-visit destination in Paris for those who want an immersive cultural experience.
Sainte-Chapelle
Visit Sainte-Chapelle. This gothic building in Paris’s city center was built in the 13th century by King Louis IX and is famous for its stunning stained glass windows. The windows cover an area of more than 1,100 square meters and are considered a masterpiece of medieval art that is too beautiful to miss.
