Paris has a lot to offer its visitors. It is home to some of the world’s most famous monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Sainte-Chapelle, the Panthéon and the Sacré-Coeur Basilica. There are also many beautiful parks to see and world-renowned museums to visit.
Another good reason to go to Paris is the food. There’s an array of restaurants to choose from, ranging from high-end five-star restaurants to good-value brasseries serving traditional French dishes. There are also countless hip little bistros and cafes. Paris is also one of the fashion capitals of the world with lots of stylish shopping venues.
We were fortunate to visit the City of Lights on multiple occasions and to have the time to venture out to lesser known places around Paris. I’m sure that there is a lot more we could see and do. In any case, these are the places we have been to and liked in Paris.
Must-visit attractions in Paris
Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair. The wrought-iron lattice tower is 1068 ft tall (324 m) and weighs 10,100 tons. There are 3 levels with exhibits, restaurants and viewing platforms. It’s one of the most-visited places in the world, so buying your ticket online before your visit will save you some time.
When Gustave Eiffel designed the Eiffel Tower, he included in the plan an apartment so that he would have a pied-à-terre when he visited Paris. The apartment is located on the top floor. You can peek into Gustave Eiffel’s Office complete with wax figures and see where he entertained a few select guests.
The Eiffel Tower isn’t the only way to get a good panoramic view of Paris: The Arc de Triomphe, the Panthéon and the Montparnasse Tower all offer 360-degree views of the city. The view from the Montparnasse Tower offers a different perspective, as you can see the famous Eiffel Tower. Other excellent viewing spots are the Notre-Dame’s tower, the Sacré-Coeur and the Centre Georges Pompidou.
Arc de Triomphe
Across the Seine River from the iconic Eiffel Tower are the Trocadéro Gardens and Palais de Chaillot where many museums are located. From here it’s an easy walk to the Arc de Triomphe, Napoleon’s triumphant arch.
Highlights include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the sculpture depicting the Departure of the Volunteers in 1792. From the viewing platform, you can see splendid vistas of the city and you will get a bird’s eye view of the Place de l’Étoile and of the Champs-Elysées.
Notre-Dame de Paris
The magnificent Notre-Dame Cathedral located in the heart of the city on Île de la Cité is without a doubt one of the finest examples of medieval craftsmanship. The West Façade, the Rose Window and the Galerie des Chimères are some of our favorite features.
Sadly, the Notre-Dame was badly damaged by a raging fire in April 2019 and it’s no longer possible to go inside. But when it was possible, climbing the 387 steps to the top of the North Tower was definitely worth the effort not only to get an amazing view of Paris but also to get a closer look at the gargoyles that ward off evil spirits. Hopefully this marvel of architecture will be restored… in any case it’s still beautiful to see.
Sainte-Chapelle
In the vicinity of the Notre-Dame on Île de la Cité there is the Palais de Justice where you’ll find the Sainte-Chapelle, a Royal Chapel. It’s a 13th century Gothic church and its most exquisite features are without a doubt the masterly crafted 15 stained-glass windows, the Rose Window and the Apostle Statues. It is said that the acoustics are excellent and regular concerts are held in the Sainte-Chapelle.
The Conciergerie, located next to the Sainte-Chapelle, is a former place of torture where many awaited their execution by guillotine.
One of the prison’s most famous prisoners was Marie Antoinette. She was executed for the role she played in the French Revolution. But, unlike many prisoners held here, her cell contained a few comforts most likely due to the fact that she was part of the monarchy. Marie-Antoinette and many others met their demise and were beheaded on la Place de la Concorde in Paris.
Panthéon
Before becoming a mausoleum, the Panthéon was originally built as a church dedicated to Sainte Geneviève. It’s the final resting place of many illustrious French citizens such as: Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Emile Zola, Marie Curie, Louis Braille and many others.
The Panthéon’s colonnade façade was modeled to resemble the Pantheon in Rome, and its dome, St Paul’s Cathedral in London. From the dome’s galleries you will get a panoramic 360-degree view of Paris. But this is included only as part of a guided visit. Times of the visits are posted near the entrance.
The marble interior is stunning with beautiful frescoes and well worth seeing!
Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Another memorable church in Paris is the Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Montmartre. Highlights include the Dome, the Bronze Doors, the Great Mosaic of the Christ and the Crypt. The basilica sits atop a hill and from the terrace you will get splendid views of Paris. To avoid the steep climb up the hill you can take the funicular to get to Montmartre’s panoramic viewing point.
Montmartre is also a nice area to visit with lots of good restaurants. And at the Place du Tertre, many artists display their paintings, and some will even offer to do your portrait. We opted to get our caricature done and had a few laughs.
Must-see museums in Paris
There are too many museums in Paris and its environs to list them all here, but these are unmissable:
The Louvre
The Louvre Museum is world-renown for housing an extensive collection of art and artifacts. If it’s your first time in Paris, plan two days for the Louvre, you won’t regret it.
The museum is huge and is housed in a beautiful building dating back 600 years. It opened its doors to the public on Aug 10, 1793. With over 650,000 sq. ft of space, 2000+ employees, it holds over 70,000 pieces of art. So, if you spent 2 seconds looking at each one and 2 seconds to get from one to the other it would take you two full weeks of 8-hour days to see it all.
It’s home to Leonardo’s Mona Lisa, which is probably the most famous painting in the world! But it’s impossible to really admire it, as the staff ushers you by like cattle! There is a constant “no photos” being yelled and despite that, there are rows of tourists trying to snap pictures. During our last visit, one of the attendants was even clapping her hands to get people moving. Fortunately, we had the opportunity to have a good look on a prior visit and moved on.
There are so many other pieces of art worthy of your time. We would recommend that you try and soak in the parts you like and spend a little more time at those. Even the Louvre’s glass pyramid entrance is quite distinctive. (Some interesting facts about the Louvre I found.)
Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay contains a large collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings by famous artists such as Monet, Pissarro, Cézanne, Renoir and Van Gogh to name only a few. The sculpture gallery is remarkable and is home to some famous pieces by Rodin. The building itself is interesting as well, the museum is housed inside a converted train station that was considered for demolition in the seventies.
Rodin Museum
The Rodin Museum is one of our favorite museums in Paris. It’s located near the Eiffel Tower. The museum is smaller and less intimidating than the Louvre or the Orsay Museum but a definite must-see. We are big fans of Rodin and of his art. There are excellent exhibits about the fabrication process of bronze sculptures. Resident pieces include The Gates of Hell and The Thinker, two of Rodin’s masterpieces. Both are simply stunning!
Lesser Known Places to Visit in Paris
While visiting Paris’ top attractions is a must, there are also many lesser known gems to see.
Jardins du Luxembourg
One of our favorite spots to go to feel like we’re one of the locals is to join them in the Luxembourg Gardens. It’s a beautiful park located next to the Luxembourg Palace (now home to the French senate) where many come to enjoy the greenery and the lake. Relax, talk, play or eat lunch! We like to buy a fresh baguette, cheese, pâté and fruits and enjoy a picnic on a park bench.
If you haven’t been to the Panthéon, it’s only a 10-minute walk from here.
Château de Vincennes
Many people know about the Palace of Versailles, but not everyone knows about the Château de Vincennes. It’s a very different castle and well worth the visit. It’s located in Vincennes, a suburb of Paris, and the metro is the best way to get there.
This impressive 14th century medieval fortress was once the royal residence of the monarchy. It’s complete with towers, moats, drawbridges, a Gothic chapel and of course a dungeon. It has all that would be expected in a medieval castle.
However, the origin of the castle goes back to 1150, when a hunting lodge was built for King Louis VII on the site of what would become the Royal residence of the Kings of France.
Next to the Chateau de Vincennes the former hunting grounds are now what constitute the Bois de Vincennes, Paris’ largest public park.
Père Lachaise Cemetery
The Père Lachaise Cemetery is Paris’ oldest public cemetery and also the city’s largest. Many famous people are entered here such as Édith Piaf, Molière, Balzac, Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison. Some of the tombstones are pretty elaborate with sculptures and engravings. When we were there, we got an impromptu tour from a local. He knew exactly where all the tombs of the famous people were.
Another interesting cemetery in Paris is the Montparnasse Cemetery. It’s a bit more off the beaten path in Montparnasse.
Visiting cemeteries while on vacation may not always come to mind but such places give you a window into the past.
Montparnasse Tower
This modern-looking tower has a great observation deck on the 56th floor with panoramic city-views. And from there you can also see the Eiffel Tower. It’s located about half a mile away from the Montparnasse Cemetery.
In the area there is also the Catacombs of Paris for those looking for something a bit more ghoulish. It’s a labyrinth of walls decorated with human remains.
La Villette
For a change of pace head out to the Parc de la Villette which offers different types of activities including a science museum, a 360-degree cinema and concert halls.
Bois de Boulogne
These former Royal hunting grounds were turned into a large urban park in 1852. The park spans over 2100 acres making it Paris’ second largest park.
The Bois de Boulogne is a nice place to go for biking, horseback riding or canoeing. It’s a good place for a nature walk especially around the Parc de Bagatelle. But to explore it on foot isn’t realistic, we tried… and it was a grueling experience!
Grande Arche de la Défense
In the business district you can’t miss the Grande Arche de la Défense, it’s so huge that the Notre-Dame Cathedral could fit in the arch!
Well there you have it these are some of the lesser visited places in Paris that we have enjoyed.
Day trip to the Palace of Versailles
Going to Versailles to visit the splendid Palace of Versailles is definitely worth the commute to get there. The palace’s grounds are beautiful with well-manicured gardens and lavish fountains. It’s a perfect destination for a wonderful day of exploring. You will not be disappointed and it’s easy to get to with Paris’s efficient public transportation system.
See our post: Palace of Versailles: A Must-Do Day Trip from Paris
Along the Seine River
One cannot go to Paris and not talk about the Seine River. It’s the city’s main artery and a must-see. We like to simply walk along the Seine and take in the sites. During the summer months, there’s even a beach on the shore of the Seine where locals and tourists alike come to rest.
But another fun way to see Paris is to take a tour on one of the famous ‘bateau-mouche’ boats along the Seine River. It’s even nicer in the evening when all the buildings are illuminated. It’s also a great way to take a closer look at some of Paris’ most beautiful bridges.
Some noteworthy bridges include the Pont Neuf, which is the oldest standing bridge in Paris; the Pont Alexandre III that’s adorned with gold statues; and the Pont des Arts also known as Lovers Bridge where many couples tied padlocks to symbolize their love for each other.
But since June 2015, this tradition is no longer allowed because the 45 tons of Love Locks became too heavy for the bridge and to prevent the railings from collapsing into the Seine the city had them removed.
Another place to go to enjoy a scenic boat ride or a leisurely stroll is the Canal St-Martin. The area is packed with restaurants, cafés and has a booming nightlife.
Conclusion
We found that the best way to get around was to walk or use public transportation. We wouldn’t dream of renting a car in Paris, there’s simply too much traffic and parking spots are very scarce!
Like many places, Paris has a hop on hop off bus tour, which takes you on a narrated tour of the city and lets you get off at popular attractions. We think that it’s a great way to familiarize yourself with the city and to get around between sites. There’s also a riverboat version with stops along the Seine River.
There are many good restaurants in Paris, but some can be very pricy. We found that we could eat very well at brasseries and cafes for a reasonable price. Montmartre, St-Germain-des-Prés and the Marais areas are lined with charming restaurants with lovely terraces and some have been serving patrons for decades. Of course, there’s always fast-food restaurants but why settle for that when you can eat delicious French cuisine instead?
We found that staying in the St-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood was ideal. It’s a beautiful area and from our hotel we could walk to most of the attractions we wanted to see in Paris.
On a prior trip we opted to stay in a beautiful hotel near the Palace of Versailles. We had secured our hotel with points (which was great) but since we were staying on the outskirts, we ended up wasting 2 hours every day traveling back and forth into Paris.
We have also stayed on the Champs-Élysées, but the area isn’t as glamourous has it once was, and we wouldn’t stay there again.
One thing’s for sure, there’s a lot to see in Paris and I have a feeling that we will end up in Paris again. No complaints!
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