Paris Attractions

Top 15 things to see and do in Paris

1 Palace of Versailles

8 /10

Part of Palace of Versailles near Paris, France.

The "City of Light" is undoubtedly one of the world's most beautiful and fascinating cities - you could spend a lifetime here and not see everything that Paris has to offer. An easy day trip from Paris is to the Palace of Versailles, one of Europe's most spectacular and largest royal homes. Versailles is about a 30-minute train ride from the center of the city.King Louis XIV – the "Sun King" - commissioned the palace in 1668 as well as the spacious and beautiful gardens. At one time, almost 2200 men were employed on its construction, which took almost fifty years. Versailles's small town became the unofficial capital city of the Kingdom of France in 1682 when Louis XIV decided to transfer his court to Versailles ...
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2 Musee d'Orsay

7.9 /10

Famous clock in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, France.

In Paris, France, Musee d'Orsay is a museum located in what used to be a railway station, the Gare d'Orsay. This museum boasts a huge collection of paintings by Renoir, Monet, Delacroix, Degas, Gaugin, Van Gogh, and other impressionist artists. It also focuses on the art scene between 1848 and 1915, which is the early modern era for art in France. The collection also includes not just paintings but furniture, photographs, and sculptures.
The setting itself is an interesting tidbit that adds to the fascination of Musee d'Orsay. The railway station dates back to the 1900s when it was built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle ...
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3 La Sainte Chapelle

7.8 /10

A view of the Sainte Chapelle's ceiling in Paris, France.

A jewelry box. A light show. A diamond reflecting the light with its many facets.This is La Sainte Chapelle in Paris and more. It is best to visit this chapel's gem during the day when there is plenty of sunlight. La Sainte Chapelle may be small, but oh, the wonder and excitement when you see how natural light plays with it!La Sainte Chapelle (or Holy Chapel) harks back to 1246 when it was built as a home to the True Cross's relics. This includes the purported Crown of Thorns that Jesus wore during his crucifixion ...
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4 Centre Pompidou

7.8 /10

Exterior view of Centre Pompidou in Paris.

The Centre Georges Pompidou is to be found in the Beaubourg area of Paris, France. It is near Marais and Les Halles at the IVe arrondissement. This controversial building was constructed in the 1970s and now houses a variety of institutions. These include the National Museum of Modern Art, a library (Bibliothèque Publique d'Information) and others.Ever since it opened its doors in 1977, it has been the subject of many arguments because of its bold 'exo-skeletal' design made of glass and metal and the use of brightly colored pipes that are visible to all. It is one of France's most visited sights, attracting around 6 million people annually and around 5,000 people daily ...
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5 Champs-Elysées

7.8 /10

One side of the Champs-Élisées in Paris.

Undoubtedly the most famous avenue in the world, Champs-Elysees in Paris, France, is blessed with a unique elegance and charm. That is also why it is considered the world's most beautiful avenue. Even with traffic surging along it, there really is something special in the experience of ambling along Champs-Elysees. The streetlamps at dusk provide an exceptional atmosphere to the length that spans from the Place Charles de Gaulle (where you can find the Arc de Triomphe) to Place de la Concorde.
'Champs-Elysees' translates to 'Elysian Fields' in English. Interestingly, it was named after Elusia, which in Greek mythology is the place where conquerors and heroes came to relax ...
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6 La Conciergerie

7.7 /10

The facade of La Conciergerie by the Seine River.

The Conciergerie is a fortress in Paris, France that used to house kings and subsequently prisoners. It served as the Royal Apartments before completing the Louvre, which became the new Royal Residence. La Conciergerie was constructed during the early part of the 14th century. It came with a guardroom, a kitchen and a men-at-arms room. This was built by the architects Jean de Saint-Germer and Nicolas des Chaumes. It was originally an extension of the royal Palais de la Cite, and it stands beside the twin towers (the Tour de Cesar and the Tour d'Argent).
It gained its notoriety during the French Revolution when thousands were imprisoned here before they were brought to Concorde Square, where they were guillotined before an angry mob ...
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7 Eiffel Tower

7.6 /10

Looking up at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

In Paris, France, the Eiffel Tower was constructed by Alexander-Gustave Eiffel in commemoration of the French Revolution and completed in 1889 at the cost of 1.5 million dollars. The design beat out 700 others competing for the opportunity, and the structure was completed in just 21 months. At 986 feet, it was the tallest building in the known world after being unveiled at the Paris World's Fair. This open-latticed, brown wrought iron structure has since become one of the world's major tourist attractions, even though dozens of buildings have now surpassed it in height.
Originally viewed as unattractive, the tower's first year of tourist sales for its 'new-fangled' elevator rides brought almost enough revenue to pay the building cost ...
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8 Basilique du Sacré Coeur

7.6 /10

The Basilique du Sacré Coeur exterior.

Basilique Sacre Coeur is a revered landmark in Paris, France. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart marks the city's highest point, on top of the hill of Montmartre. And from that lofty mount, it serves as a very visible reminder of Christian traditions.
The basilica is an immense example of the Roman-Byzantine style. It has soaring dome towers - 83 meters tall! It is built with Château-Landon stones that naturally maintains its white color as it bleaches with age.
Mind you, the Basilica has been met with mixed reviews. With the basilica, it's either you love it, or you hate it ...
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9 Arc de Triomphe

7.5 /10

The Arc de Triomphe in the Champs-Élysées in Paris.

The monument stands for triumph – the triumph of the human spirit against the odds. In Paris, the Arc de Triomphe stands proudly, a fitting memorial to homage the brave ones who fought during the Napoleonic Wars for the honor and freedom of their beloved country, France. You can see this monument displayed in the middle of the Place Charles de Gaulle, right at the end of the magnificent Champs-Elysees. It is part of a series of monuments that begins from the Louver Palace's courtyard all the way to the outskirts of Paris. The Arc de Triomphe stands as the focal point from where other major avenues (such as the Avenue de la Grande Armée and Avenue Foch) radiate ...
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10 Le Meurice Hotel

7.5 /10

Inside the Le Meurice Hotel in Paris

Le Meurice is a neo-classical 5-star hotel founded by Charles-Augustin Meurice in 1835. It is located at 228, rue de Rivoli in the 1st district of Paris.
It has been awarded the 'Palace' distinction in 2011 and the 'Living Heritage Company' distinction in 2012. It belongs to the Dorchester Collection hotel group, which also owns the Plaza Athénée.
The hotel enjoys views over the entire Tuileries Gardens, the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, as well as the beginning of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and the Place de la Concorde.
Three axes surround the hotel: rue de Rivoli, rue de Castiglione, and rue du Mont-Thabor ...
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11 Musée Rodin

7 /10

The facade of the Musée Rodin.

The Musee Rodin in Paris is, as the name suggests, a showcase of the works of the renowned French sculptor, Auguste Rodin. In addition, you will find here many aspects of Rodin's life – Rodin the art collector, Rodin the painter, Rodin the person, and of course, there is a collection of sketches he made before transforming these into sculptural masterpieces.
The place used to be the Hotel Biron, which was Rodin's residence since the early 1900s. The chic 18th-century hotel, along with its surrounding grounds, was converted into a museum upon the sculptor's behest. Rodin donated his works, along with his art collection, to the state, on the condition that the hotel be turned into a museum ...
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12 Père Lachaise Cemetery

7 /10

Tombs and funeral monuments in the Père Lachaise Cemetery.

No other cemetery is so good at name dropping than Cimetiere du Pere-Lachaise in Paris, France. It is the final resting place of many famous personalities. The list of the persons buried there looks like the Who's Who of over two centuries' worth.
It is expansive and beautiful, with 44 hectares and over 5,000 trees. This makes it the largest park in the city. And the fact that many of the famous are buried here has made it into a pantheon garden and open air museum.
The cemetery is located on top of the hill of Camp 'Eveque. It is named after the confessor of Louis XIV – Father Francois de La Chaise d'Aix, or La Pere La Chaise ...
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13 Opera Garnier

7 /10

The inside of the Opera Garnier theatre.

Another landmark in Paris, a city filled with great landmarks, is the Palais Garnier, also called the Opera Garnier, Opera de Paris or the Grand Opera House. Designed by the renowned Charles Garnier, this splendid structure is of the Neo-Baroque style tradition and is a grand masterpiece in architecture.
Completed in 1875, it is a tour de force for rococo, especially when you bear in mind that this was built during the glory days of the French Empire. Napoleon III ordered it built as part of the reconstruction project for Paris. Today, it is making a comeback as the premier place for ballet dances.
Opera Garnier is lavishly decorated with marble ...
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14 Louvre Museum

7 /10

The building and glass pyramid at the Louvre.

In Paris, France, the Louver is one of the world's greatest museums – you could easily spend a month there and still not see all of its treasures. It's also one of the largest and most visited museums in the world, attracting around 8 million visitors every year.The building's statistics are staggering – the Louvre contains an estimated 380,000 works of art, sculptures, and paintings, of which only around 30,000 are on display at any one time. There are almost 60,000 square meters of exhibition space, and the exhibits on display encompass eleven centuries of art and design.The history of the Louvre dates back to the 12th century when King Philippe-Auguste constructed a fortress to protect Paris from Viking raids ...
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15 Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral

6.2 /10

Part of the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral.

Paris, France, is known for iconic structures. The Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, and the dome of Sacre Coeur on Montmartre are practically clichés when thinking of the City of Light. Perhaps no one building more perfectly encapsulates the city's soul as the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris, located on Ile-de-la-Cite in the River Seine. This splendid example of Gothic architecture occupies a site that's long been the center of the city and captures in its soaring arches and stained glass windows much that is emblematic of the French soul ...
Read more about the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral

* Regular pre-pandemic touristic activity level.

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