10 Best Places to visit in Paris, France

Paris is the capital and most populous city of France. The city invites more than 23 million visitors annually and is a cultural hub of France. Its stunning beauty and many famous landmarks in and around Paris make it a popular tourist destination.  

Here are the ten best places you can visit in Paris on your holiday:

Top 10 things to see and experience in Paris, France:

1. Visit Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile
   The Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées (An avenue known for its theatres, cafés, and luxury shops. It is here that the finish of the Tour de France cycling race, as well as for its annual Bastille Day military parade takes place). The Arc de Triomphe was built to honor those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with the names of all French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. The pillars are adorned with sculptures, and the facade of the Arch is decorated with relief panels representing crucial moments of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era.
   
   
   ^{Photo by Leonhard Niederwimmer on Unsplash}
   
2. Take a Walking tour of Montmartre
   Montmartre is a large hill in the north of Paris. It is primarily known for its artistic history, the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur on its summit, and a nightclub district. Near the end of the 19th century, many artists lived, worked, or had studios in or around Montmartre, including Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent van Gogh. Montmartre is also the setting for several hit films. The best way to understand the place with all its landmarks is to take a walking tour. The tour typically lasts about 2 hours, and all the important landmarks, such as Moulin Rouge, Dalida House, and the artist’s colony, are shown.
   
   
   
3. Visit Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur
   Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur is located on the summit of Montmartre. It is a Roman Catholic church dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. A flight of steps takes you to this beautiful church. The church can be visited from the inside and is worth a visit when in Montmarte.
   
   
   
4. Take a walk along the River Seine or take a Cruise
   A Cruise on the Seine is an unforgettable experience as it offers breathtaking panoramic views of Paris. You can also see landmarks such as the Pantheon, Notre Dame, Conciergerie, and more. If a cruise is not on your plan, walk along the river to experience its beauty and visit some famous landmarks.
   
   
   
5. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
   Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the first Gothic cathedrals built in Europe and one of the most prominent in France. Its construction took place throughout the Gothic period. It started in the 12th century and continued for 300 years. Because of the time it took to build, various styles of architecture can be seen throughout the building. Because of the parts that got destroyed during a recent fire, renovation work is still on, and the cathedral cannot be visited from the inside. However, tourists can get a good view of this prominent landmark from the outside.
   
   
   ^{Photo by Hannah Reding on Unsplash}
   
6. Visit Louvre Museum
   The Louvre is the world’s most-visited museum and a historic landmark in Paris. It is the home of some of the best-known works of art, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace adjacent to the Tuileries gardens and contains more than 380,000 objects, sculptures, paintings, drawings, and archaeological finds. A visit to Paris is incomplete without visiting the Louvre. However, it is recommended to make a plan for your visit and make a list of the works that you wish to see.
   
   
   ^{Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash}
   
7. Visit the Eiffel Tower
   The Eiffel Tower is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built this iron tower as the centrepiece of the 1889 World’s Fair. At the height of 330 meters, it is the tallest structure in Paris. The tower has three levels for visitors, with restaurants on the first and second levels. The top level’s upper platform has the highest observation deck in Europe. Tickets can be purchased to ascend by stairs or lift to the first and second levels. Although there is a staircase to the top level, it is usually accessible only by lift.
   
   
   
8. Make a day trip to Disneyland Paris:
   Located about 45 km away from the city centre of Paris, Disneyland is an amusement park that provides a fun-filled experience for the entire family. One can easily spend a whole day here and still not be bored. But just be aware that because of its popularity, it is usually crowded. Visiting Disneyland on weekends can mean waiting in long queues for rides, food, toilets, etc. So, if you are on holiday in Paris, you can plan a visit to Disneyland on a weekday.
   
   
   
9. Visit the Catacombs
   In the late eighteenth century, major public health problems tied to the city’s cemeteries led to transferring of dead bodies to an underground site. Paris authorities chose an easily accessible location that was, at the time, outside the capital. This location is the present-day location of the catacombs. It holds the remains of more than 600 million people and is open to visitors. A flight of 131 steps takes to deep down to the place where you can see skulls and bones of people buried long ago. Unlike the catacombs in Rome, these were not made based on religious practice or intent, but it is worth visiting.
   
   
   
10. Visit L’Atelier des Lumières
    L’Atelier des Lumières offers an artistic experience of a different kind. Although there are no actual paintings that are displayed, the use of projections on the walls creates a larger-than-life experience. The hall is vast, and artists’ works are projected along with music to go along with. It is a different experience, well worth it.
    
    
    

Here is a summary of the 10 Best places to see and things to do in Paris:

1. Visit Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile
2. Take a Walking tour of Montmartre
3. Visit Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur
4. Take a walk along the River Seine or take a Cruise
5. Visit Notre Dame Cathedral
6. Visit Louvre Museum
7. Visit the Eiffel Tower
8. Make a day trip to Disneyland Paris
9. Visit the Catacombs
10. Visit L’Atelier des Lumières

Check out my Photo gallery page to see many more pictures of Paris.

Also, read my article about my personal experience as we visited Paris in the autumn of 2021 as a family. It contains information about our stay, bookings, etc., which you may find useful while planning your holiday in this lively city.

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