If you’re looking to visit Paris and don’t know where to start, this list is for you. From the top 10 most famous attractions in Paris to hidden gems that are off the beaten path, these are the places we recommend visiting.
Musée du Louvre
The Musée du Louvre is one of the world’s largest museums and a historic monument in Paris, France. It is located on the Right Bank of the River Seine in the 1st arrondissement and houses approximately 35,000 works from antiquity to the 19th century.
It is among the most visited art museums in the world because it has more than 100,000 pieces on display; its collection includes 8,600 paintings; 1 million drawings; 2 million engravings; 1 million sculptures and 300,000 prints as well as thousands of archaeological artifacts.
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a symbol of Paris, and it has become an icon around the world. The tower was built for the Universal Exposition in 1889, and it still stands today as one of the most visited attractions in Paris. At 324 meters (1,063 feet), it’s also a popular place to take photos!
The Eiffel Tower has two restaurants: Le Jules Verne (a fine restaurant) and La Tour Eiffel (a casual café). It also houses an observatory at its top that offers 360º views of Paris. You can visit this part of the tower for free on any day except Thursdays from 11 p.m.–6 p.m., holidays and inclement weather days; otherwise admission costs €15/adult or €8/child.*
Notre Dame Cathedral
The Notre Dame Cathedral is the most visited monument in the world. It is a cathedral and a basilica, which means it has both ecclesiastical and civil functions. It was built between 1163 and 1250, with some additions made in the 16th century. The Gothic architecture of this church is beautiful and makes for a great place to visit if you want to experience Paris at its best.
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is a monument located in Paris, France. It stands at the western end of the Champs-Élysées in the 8th arrondissement of Paris.
The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous monuments in Paris and it attracts millions of visitors every year. The monument was built to commemorate those who fought and died for France during its many wars, especially Napoleon’s campaigns in Egypt, Italy, and Austerlitz (1805). It is 46 meters high and 50 meters wide with an archway that rises 10 meters above ground level. The archway has three arches which are 3 meters wide each; they were designed by Jean Chalgrin who was also responsible for designing Les Invalides on rue Francois Ier.
The original design included four statues representing Peace, War, Glory (Valor) and Immortality but only two remain standing today: Peace (left) and War (right). There are four bas-reliefs depicting scenes from Napoleon’s life; On Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré towards Place de la Concorde, there are depictions of his coronation as Emperor on December 2nd 1804 as well as his coronation as King Josephine at Notre Dame Cathedral on June 11th 1808 plus other scenes such as Battle Of Aboukir Bay 1798 where British forces seized French ships after defeating them offshore.
Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris is a Roman Catholic church located in Paris’s 5th arrondissement. It was built in the 19th century and has a dome with a diameter of 48 meters, with 30 meters in height. The basilica can accommodate 1,500 people inside.
Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is a royal château in Versailles in the Île-de-France region of France. The palace is now a museum and tourist attraction, which features exhibitions on French history, art, and architecture. It was the main residence of kings and queens who ruled France from 1682 to 1789. The palace was built by Louis XIV who decided to move his court away from Paris because he thought it was overcrowded and dirty. He wanted something more beautiful so he chose this site just outside Paris as it had been owned by his family for generations. Today you can visit the grand rooms where kings and queens held balls, banquets and state occasions like coronations.
Catacombs of Paris
The catacombs of Paris are an extensive network of underground burial sites, which date back to the 17th century. They were used as a burial place until the 19th century and now are open to the public.
The Catacombs consist of approximately 200 miles (320 km) of tunnels beneath the city and hold up to 6 million bodies. Most of these bodies were transferred from cemeteries that had become overcrowded in order to make space for new burials. The tours allow you to see some impressive architecture, including an archway built by Napoleon in 1810 that is over 40 feet high and 60 feet wide!
Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle is a chapel in the Palace of Versailles built in the 13th century. It’s considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture, and its stained glass windows are beautiful. The chapel itself is small, but impressive—and is definitely worth visiting if you’re in Paris.
Luxembourg Gardens
Located in the 6th arrondissement, Luxembourg Gardens are a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery. The gardens are open from 6am to midnight, so you can visit them whenever you wish. However, if you plan on visiting during peak tourist season (May through August), it’s best to arrive early—the park gets very crowded! To enter the park itself is free; however, there is a fee for using the carousel rides inside of it.
Centre Georges Pompidou
The Centre Georges Pompidou is a museum of modern and contemporary art. It was designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, as well as the French architecture firm, Valode & Pistre. The museum opened on 31 January 1977 as part of President Valery Giscard d’Estaing’s plan to create a new cultural center for Paris.
The building has been described by Bernard Tschumi as “a masterpiece in its own right; it will very likely be one of the principal architectural models for decades to come.”
The Centre Pompidou is located on the left bank of River Seine at Rue Beaubourg 75003 Paris, France. It can be easily accessed via public transportation.
We hope you have enjoyed our list of the top 10 places to visit in Paris. The best part about this city is that there are so many things to do and see that it would be impossible for us to list them all here. If you ever get a chance to visit France’s capital city then we suggest that you take advantage as soon as possible!
