Best Places to Visit in Paris! Paris, also known as ‘The City of Light’ is not only a history and culture bucket list destination, but also an architectural treasure that is visually breathtaking. With its iconic Eiffel Tower, Paris surprises and delights even the hardened traveler. These are the best places to visit in Paris and a bit of history and how to enjoy the places properly.
1. Eiffel Tower
Paris would not look like Paris without an Eiffel Tower. The tower was designed by Gustave Eiffel and completed for the World’s Fair in 1889. It was a masterpiece of industrial age and caused a lot of critics. Today it is a symbol of France around the world. There are three levels available for visitors. The first and the second levels have restaurants, and the third level is the observation deck.
How to Visit: Go early in the morning or late at night, and be forewarned, it’s always very long, so booking online in advance is a must. And take the stairs to the second floor, to see the art more intimately (and the third floor), then the elevator to the top for the views of Paris.
2. Louvre Museum | Best Places to Visit in Paris
The Louvre, which is both the largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris, originally served as a fortress built for Philip II at the end of the 12th century. Later, it was transformed into a royal palace before being opened to the public as a museum in 1793. The museum boasts a collection of more than 35,000 works of art, including the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
How to Visit: Buy your tickets online to avoid the queue, and perhaps consider a guided tour to absorb the full breadth of the collection. Make sure that you are able to see the Cour Carrée and the glass pyramid in the Cour Napoléon: this juxtaposition of old and new is one of the most iconic images of the city.
3. Notre-Dame Cathedral
Notre-Dame de Paris, or simply Notre-Dame, is a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture. Originally designed in the 12th century, construction on the cathedral began in 1163, and was largely complete by 1260. Though it was frequently modified in the following centuries, Notre-Dame stands today as a testament to longstanding French artistry and ingenuity. The cathedral’s most recognisable feature is the assemblage of flying buttresses that support its walls, as well as the exquisite stained glass windows and gargoyles.
How To Visit: While the cathedral itself was heavily damaged by a fire in 2019, it is still a place of great historical importance. Guests are free to behold the outside and explore the nearby Île de la Cité. For now, wander around the building for its glory and visit nearby attractions such as the Sainte-Chapelle.
4. Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe | Best Places to Visit in Paris
The most beloved avenue in the world (so they tell us) is the Champs-Élysées, which is a mile and a half long. It runs between the Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe. The Arc de Triomphe was built by Napoleon to commemorate the brave men who fought and died in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. Inside the arches of the monument lies the tomb of the unknown warrior who died in the First World War.
How to Visit: Walk up the Champs-Élysées. If you want to teleport yourself directly into a Parisian fantasy, take the elevator to the top of the Arc de Triomphe (by going down an underground mall, so that you don’t have to cross the roundabout itself).
5. Montmartre and the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur
Montmartre is an old district of Paris, well-known for its artistic history, bohemian atmosphere, and the majestic Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur, dominating the top of the highest hill in the city from its completion between 1875 and 1914. This hill offers fantastic panoramic views.
How to Visit: Walk up and down Montmartre’s twisty streets. Go to the Place du Tertre and visit with the artists who display their wares there. Climb the steps of the Sacré-Cœur, or take the funicular if you’re feeling faint. Go inside the basilica and, if possible, walk up and around to the dome at sunset. It’s absolutely magical.
6. Palace of Versailles | Best Places to Visit in Paris
Southwest of Paris, outside of the city limits, the Palace of Versailles represents the pinnacle of absolute monarchy under the Ancien Régime. What was once a simple royal hunting lodge was transformed in the 17th century by Louis XIV into a palace of unmatched splendour: the Hall of Mirrors, the Royal Apartments, the immense gardens…
How to See: Spend a whole day at Versailles. Buy a full-access pass so you can see the palace, the gardens, the Trianon Palaces and the Queen’s Hamlet (the little village Marie Antoinette had built for herself). Go early, when ticket lines are short, and rent a bike or golf cart to see the huge expanses.
7. Seine River Cruise
People taking a Seine River cruise see the city’s great landmarks from a new and different angle: the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame and the Louvre. The Seine is Paris’s historic nerve centre, and many of the city’s most important buildings are located on its banks.
How to Visit: Night or day? Dinner, drinks, dancing, sightseeing? Whether you have a limited time, a tight budget or just fancy a snooze, there is a cruise that will suit you. A cruise is a great way to visit because you can revisit the same parts, or skip them completely.
8. Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay, housed in a former railway station and home to artworks of the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist era (such as Monet, Van Gogh and Degas), will take your breath away with its collection itself but especially with its Beaux-Arts (French for ‘fine arts’) architecture.
How to Visit: Buy tickets in advance, as at the Louvre. Consider a guided tour, to better appreciate the works on view. Be sure to walk out to the museum’s rooftop terrace for the view of Paris below.
9. Luxembourg Gardens
The Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg) on the Left Bank are a charming oasis in the heart of Paris. They were laid out by the architect Salomon de Brosse for Marie de’ Medici in 1612 and feature meticulously maintained lawns, tree-lined walks and the majestic Luxembourg Palace, which is the home of the French Senate.
How to Visit: Plan for a leisurely afternoon in the gardens. Bring a picnic, rent a sailboat to float on the central pond, or just sit on one of the many benches to take in the people-watching.
Conclusion
Every street corner tells a story in Paris. Every visit reveals a new one. Whether for its history, art or simply its beauty, Paris is the kind of place that promises to linger long after you’ve returned to your home. Prepare accordingly. Drink in your surroundings. And don’t ever feel bad about getting lost. Because when it comes to sightseeing, the City of Light is a virtual Eden.