Here are the best places to visit in Paris that you can’t miss on your next trip!
If you were looking to add some spice to your life, visiting the City of Love will work its magic.
The city of Paris exudes a romantic atmosphere and is also known for its food, architecture, art galleries, and more. If Paris is on your bucket list, we’re sure you are keen to know about the best places to visit in Paris.
The post will guide you on the best and prettiest places to visit in Paris, ensuring that you have a memorable holiday. With 21 unique, breathtaking, and romantic sights listed, you will be spoilt for choice.
The post is beneficial because it will save you time and money looking for the best places to visit in Paris.
We have put together the information for you, which means all you need to do is book that ticket, hop on that plane and make those beautiful memories in Paris.
21 Incredible Places To Visit In Paris
Paris is a French melting pot of cultures, languages, and ethnicities of people that come from different parts of the globe in the hope of falling in love.
Below are some of the best sights that Paris offers, which will leave you in awe.
1. Eiffel Tower – a must-visit in Paris!
The Eiffel Tower, called the “La Tour Eiffel,” is one of the city’s most famous icons. The moment you mention the word Eiffel Tower it immediately transports your imagination to Paris.
This recognizable landmark was designed in 1889 in a strategic position in the city to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the French Revolution.
The Eiffel Tower was also symbolic of the depiction of the mechanical bravery of France on the world stage. It is no wonder it is nicknamed “The Iron Lady” to depict the strength and resilience of the French.
Apart from the rich history associated with the Eiffel Tower, it is also known to be a famous spot to declare one’s undying love.
So, if you were looking to renew your marriage vows or go down on your knees in the hope of a marriage proposal, there is no better place than to do it at the Eiffel Tower.
The Eiffel Tower is known to dominate the Paris skyline, and once you step into the city, you will not be able to contain your excitement as you witness this French pride from afar.
This well-known iron lady adorns her glory as you see her lit up from dusk until 1’o clock every morning.
Although it is just for 5 minutes every hour, the thousands of lights are a beacon of hope that shines over Paris. The final Eiffel Tower Light Show will take your breath away before this” Iron Lady” rests.
If you are willing to get a workout, 1,665 stairs will take you from the Esplanade to the top of the tower from where you get panoramic views of Paris, from Pont Alexandre III to Sacre-Coeur.
Read next: 2 Days in Paris Itinerary
2. Arc de Triomphe
Built-in the 19th century, the Arc de Triomphe is one of the most breathtaking attractions In Paris. The fantastic architecture makes it one of the most iconic buildings and places to see in Paris.
This famous monument was built in honor of the many that lost their lives in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars. If you have a flair for architecture, this monument will take your breath away.
With a height of 164 feet and a width of 148 feet, the Arc de Triomphe is the second-largest Triumphal Arch in the world, and climbing it, is one of the best things to do in Paris.
3. Galerie Vivienne
Galerie Vivienne was built in 1823; the arcade is 176 meters long and 3 meters wide.
You can take in the beauty of the colorful mosaics and then lift your eyes towards the glassed ceiling that illuminates light.
There is something for everyone. With an array of boutiques, wine cellars, gourmet food boutiques, and book shops, you will be able to spend the day just browsing in true beauty.
4. Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay is one of the places to visit in Paris that will captivate your attention and leave you with a jaw-hanging expression. It is one of the famous art museums on the left bank of the Seine.
Perhaps a cruise on the Seine combined with a visit to the Musée d’Orsay might enable you to capture the best views of this museum.
The museum holds the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art dating as far back as 1848 to 1914.
If you are an up-and-coming artist, this will be worth the visit. Even if you do not have an artistic bone in your body, you will be blown away by the architecture and caliber of the building.
Between 2020 and 2021, almost 1 million visitors walked through these doors. Despite the covid pandemic, it was still ranked as one of the fifth most visited museums in the world.
5. Luxembourg Garden
Created in the 17th century, the Luxembourg Gardens received the traveler’s choice award in 2021. This is only one of the reasons that it should be one of the places to see in Paris.
The fascinating fact is that these gardens were only opened to royalty before the French revolution, and now you, too, can get to experience the air of sophistication.
These gardens are known to be one of the tourist attractions in Paris where you can unwind with a picnic basket taking in the beauty.
If you are planning on a Parisian wedding or even thinking about popping that question, then this might be the spot to capture that memory.
6. Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum, rich in architecture, was originally built in the late 12th to 13th centuries.
Although used as a royal residence by Louis XIV, the National Assembly decreed it as a museum during the French Revolution.
Although Paris is renowned for its museums and is known to have about 144 museums, the Musée du Louvre is one of the most popular places to visit in Paris.
A recent study has proven that the Louvre Museum is one of the most visited museums globally. The Louvre Museum features Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Alexandros of Antioch’s Venus de Milo.
Starting with just 537 paintings of royal and confiscated church property, the museum now carries almost 35,000 works of curated art and 380,000 objects housed in 60,600 square meters.
That is more than enough to captivate the interest of the upcoming artist.
Even if you don’t have a single artistic bone in your body, you will be captivated by every masterpiece’s architectural design and attention to detail.
The Louvre offers more than just art but dazzling furniture, tapestries, and excavations; you will even have the opportunity to view an Egyptian collection complete with mummies.
Don’t wait in line! Buy your timed entrance tickets for the Louvre!
7. Champs–Elysees
Champs- Elysees is a 1,9-kilometer-long street known as a shopper’s paradise. Besides, no holiday is complete without some shopping.
You can find designer brands such as Gucci, Dior, Ralph Lauren, and the ever-so-popular flagship store of Louis Vuitton on this street.
You can also pick anything from Addidas, Apple, H&M, and Sephora here. The Galerie du Claridge and Galleries Lafayette are also two charming malls with an abundance of shops that might be worth the browse.
The Champs-Elysees runs from Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde, where King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette were executed.
8. Sainte Chapelle
The Sainte Chapelle has been the residence of many Kings of France until the 18th Century.
This gothic-style chapel is widely visited for its stained-glass windows—one of the best places to visit in Paris.
The upper chapel alone is made of 618 square meters of glass, incorporating an excellent balance of balance and light.
As soon as you enter this chapel, the captivating illustrations of biblical scenes will direct your focus upwards.
9. Musée Rodin
The Musee Rodin is one of the hidden gems in Paris. Housed in an 18th-century mansion, the Musee Rodin displays more than 6,600 sculptures in the exhibition rooms and gardens.
Almost all the pieces are devoted to the life and works of the famous French artist Auguste Rodin.
The best work by the artist was one of his most famous sculptures called ” The Thinker.”
The immaculate, manicured gardens are another reason to visit the Musee Rodin. If you are keen to see it, make sure you book the skip-the-queue tour, giving you more time to explore the indoors and the out.
Sites like these make Paris one of the most beautiful places in the world!
10. Pantheon
The Patheon is a monument located in the Latin Quarter in the center of the Place de Patheon. The place from which it derived its name.
The Pantheon was built before the Eiffel Tower and the Arc De Triomphe. The first structure offered a 360-degree view of this breathtaking city. This is one of those monuments where you will appreciate art and history.
Once you have taken in all the beauty, you can brave the walk up the mausoleum to take in the view of Paris from the top and one of the prettiest views of the Eiffel Tower.
More than 70 famous men and a mere five women of stature are buried in the mausoleum chamber, including Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, Alexandre Dumas, and André Malraux.
Perhaps you are wondering why so few women are buried here; we will leave this question for you to ask when you take that guided tour.
11. Centre Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou features some of the world’s modern contemporary and modern art collections.
This contemporary architectural masterpiece with brightly colored tubes and grey building contrast makes the building so unique.
The building is said to be one of the most extravagant in Paris. The fifth floor is dedicated to contemporary art and features pieces like Picasso, Matisse, and Miro.
12. Montparnasse Tower
The Montparnasse Tower is a 210-meter office skyscraper. Known as the tallest skyscraper in the French capital and the third tallest structure in France.
Although this building is criticized as one of the ugliest buildings in Paris, there is still immense beauty that this building eludes.
You might want to visit the tower to formulate your own opinions and satisfy your curiosity about hateful comments.
13. Bois de Boulogne
The Bois de Boulogne Park is one of the most striking images. The deep-colored grass track against the backdrop of a lake and an array of birdlife makes it so spectacular.
It is made up of English landscape gardens, a zoo, restaurants, and two tracks for horse racing.
It is a lovely relaxing garden with plenty of sights and activities. It is one of the famous places to go in Paris, especially among the locals.
This is a great place to enjoy some relaxation and take in the beauty of nature. If you are keen, you can even put on your dancing shoes and jive to the beats of some jazz played by local artists.
14. Canal Saint-Martin
A trip to the Canal Saint-Martin will be a change from the tourist spots and give you a trendy Bohemian experience.
Created in 1802 by Napolean as part of the city’s new water system, the Canal St Martin has become a popular place for relaxation.
The Canal St Martin is perfect for picnicking, strolling, and even relaxing on an outdoor terrace sipping a glass of wine or some craft beer.
You may even drift off to sleep as you lay on the grass along the canal and listen to the strumming of a guitar.
The lining of shady trees and an art iron footbridge is the perfect place to capture that special memory.
15. Odette Pastry Shop
There is an Odette Pastry Shop found in numerous locations in Paris.
Paris is known for their Michelin star restaurants and, more significantly, for their delectable pastries.
The freshly baked pastries are baked in their laboratory, situated in the city center. Odette’s Pastry Shop has captured the essence of Parisian pastries.
It would be best to head down to one of their bakeries situated near Shakespeare and Company.
No matter how much they bake, it never seems to be enough. So, if you want to let your tastebuds do the talking, this is one of the places to visit in Paris.
16. Rue Cremieux
Rue Cremieux is a picture-perfect street known for its colorful painted houses and cobblestone streets.
It was initially used for workers’ housing, but its beauty has resonated with a place of filming. A visit to Rue Cremieux is worth it, even to take a selfie.
17. Butte Aux Cailles
The Butte aux Cailles is one of the off-beat attractions in Paris that is loved by locals but lies undiscovered by tourists.
If you are looking for unchartered territory, the Butte Aux Cailles is a place to visit.
The narrow cobblestone streets have an array of street cafes, boutiques, and restaurants. It is a favorite spot for artists and hippies.
18. Palais Garnier
The Palais Garnier is a 1,979-seater opera house built for the Paris Opera and is one of the most famous opera houses in the world.
It became world-famous for its appearance in the novel Phantom of The Opera in 1911 and then the musical in 1986. It is also an important monument of French and Parisian culture.
The décor is worthy of a King’s castle. You will be delighted by the visit with its rich culture, history, and gorgeous interior.
19. Parc des Butte-Chaumont – one of the best places to go in Paris for a laid-back afternoon!
The Parc des Butte Chaumont is the fifth-largest green space situated in Northeastern Paris.
This 25-hectare park is filled with ample spaces for picnics, a lake for relaxation, a waterfall, and even a suspension bridge.
If you are traveling with children, no stress. They even have a playground to keep the little ones entertained.
Read next: 19 Beautiful Bridges in Paris
20. Basilica Sacre-Coeur
The Sacre Coeur is one of those sights where no entrance fee is required.
The good news is that you can visit this beauty without sacrificing any euros. No booking is needed as you can pop in daily without having to make a hole in your pocket.
The no entrance fee allows millions of tourists to frequent these doors to admire the Basilica’s Romanesque and Byzantine–style interior.
A 300-step climb to the dome will also elevate your views of Paris, as you can see as far as 30 km of the city on a clear day.
You can take a steep climb or a ride up the funicular; braving a 130-meter hill of Montmartre will reward you if you want to view the Sacre Coeur Basilica.
Standing at the highest point in the city, this Basilica was commissioned in honor of 58 000 soldiers who lost their lives in war, serving as a symbol of self-confidence after years of conflict and devastation.
The beauty of the Sacre–Coeur Basilica extends to the nearby cobbled streets that are lined with quaint cafes, entertainers, and artists.
If you are up for a sitting, you might even be able to get a local upcoming French artist eager to sketch your portrait.
21. Père-Lachaise Cemetery
Pere Lachaise Cemetery was the first garden and municipal cemetery built in Paris. The cemetery is also the site of three WWI memorials.
This is one of the places to go in Paris as it may pique your interest to see some of the most curious tombs that this cemetery showcases. For this reason, it is one of the most visited cemeteries in the world.
There are almost 800,000 souls that are buried here. The famous rock artist Jim Morrison and other famous people include Chopin, Moliere, Edith Piaf, Rossini, and Oscar Wilde.
It’s no wonder that this cemetery boasts such curious tombs, each one unique. Even after death, competition between the rich and the famous continues.
These tombs’ grandeur and intricate designs are sure to capture your attention and might even be one for the photo albums.
Don’t Forget About Travel Insurance!
Before you leave for France, make sure you have a valid travel insurance policy because accidents happen on the road. We have been paying for Safety Wing travel insurance for a little over a year now, and we happily recommend them to our family and friends.
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