I don’t know where to start from because there’s so much to see and experience in Paris. Paris is one of the most incredible places to visit and a truly fascinating destination. Stroll along its peaceful, glowing streets and soak in the city’s enchanting charm. The stylish, vibrant, and elegant streets only add to the everlasting beauty of this iconic City of Light. Here our reccomendation of the 10 best places to visit in Paris include – Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Catacombs of Paris, read full post to discover more.
Planning to visit Paris?
So let’s find out what are the 10 best places to visit in Paris.
Table of Contents
1. Arc de Triomphe
Where’s the best view of Paris? It’s the Arc de Triomphe, not the Eiffel Tower!
The Eiffel Tower symbolises the strength and artistry, but if you’re standing on it, you’re missing it from the skyline, right? The Arc de Triomphe gives you the perfect vantage point to touch the tip of Paris in all its glory, keeping the Eiffel Tower at center stage.
This triumphal arch structure glorifies those who fought and died for France during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.
The best part is that the viewing platform at the top is usually less packed than the Eiffel Tower. It’s also very spacious, offering a 360° panoramic view that includes all the major landmarks – Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, Montmartre, the Seine, and more.
Check out the best time to visit Paris in 2025.
To access the viewing platform, you have to climb 284 counted stairs because there is no elevator, so wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for a bit of a workout. But once you’re at the top, it’s totally worth it – especially at sunset or night time when the city lights sparkle. Also, if you book your tickets online, you can skip standing in queue and head straight up!
To reach there, one can take metro lines 1, 2, or 6, or RER line A to the Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoile station. Transportation from bus lines 22, 30, 31, 52, 73, 92, or Balabus is also an option over local taxi, to retain the expense limit.
2. Eiffel Tower
When you think of Paris, the Eiffel Tower is undoubtedly the first image that strikes in. This iron lattice design which was built to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, marks a symbol of romance, history, and architectural brilliance. All three floors keeps aside the distinctive aura in this majestic structure.
First floor features a glass floor and exhibiting the tower’s history. Second floor being has restaurants and cafes for romantic dinner dates. The summit or the top, offers jaw-dropping panoramic views of city, as well as a glimpse of Gustave Eiffel’s original office.
Visiting is awful at any time of day, but your experience will vary depending on when you go. For fewer crowds, visit early in the morning or late at night. If you’re hunting that magical golden hour glow, sunset is the perfect time to roll, offering stunning views of Paris bathed in warm light. During night, the tower sparkles for five minutes every hour after sunset, a sight you absolutely don’t want to miss and will get embarked forever in your memories.
Check out the best restaurants in Paris.
The Eiffel Tower is wheelchair accessible but is limited only up to the second floor via elevators. 58 Tour Eiffel, a restaurant on the first floor offers a more casual setting, while Le Jules Verne on the second floor is a Michelin-starred restaurant perfect for a romantic feast. The reservations are in advance, to avoid rush and grant truly memorable dining experience.
Public transport is an ease option to reach there. The nearest metro stations are Bir-Hakeim and Trocadéro. On arrival from Trocadéro, you’ll get a fantastic view of the tower.
3. Catacombs of Paris
The haunting Catacombs of Paris, an extensive underground cemetery filled with skulls and skeletons that stretch beneath much of the city.
The tunnels in the Catacombs of Paris is a vast maze of underground tunnels was originally excavated to extract the ancient stone quarries located beneath the city. As the quarries were depleted over time, the tunnels were repurposed into an ossuary to address the issue of overflowing cemeteries in the city.
As the legend of the Catacombs, the place is spread over 2,000 acres and contain the remains of more than six million individuals, with many corners still unexplored.
Due to the lengthy count of visitors, be prepared to wait, as they limit the number of entries allowed inside at any given time to prevent overcrowding; sometimes may be more than two hours.
Purchasing a skip-the-line ticket, grants immediate access without the wait. One can also gain entry to restricted areas that aren’t accessible to those visiting independently.
The place remains open five days of a week, Tuesday to Saturday with gates opening from 10 AM to 8 PM. Arriving as early as possible is advisable to avoid long queues, as they only get longer the longer you wait. Ideally, if you can get there an hour before opening time, that would be perfect.
4. Louvre Museum
Famous for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, this national art museum also houses some of the world’s most iconic artworks, including the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
Catering 380,000 objects and 35,000 works of art, it marks a testament to human creativity. The Louvre has evolved from a fortress to a royal palace, ceasing to a world-famous museum. It addresses inside the royal collection of paintings in the world, with works from all periods of European art.
It remains closed on Tuesday, making it the best time to admire independently. On other days, it allows visitors from 6am to 9pm.
You will often find a long line of people queuing up to get inside the Louvre, so it’s recommended to purchase tickets online in advance. The museum has its own app to keep the detailed map view, guides, and exhibitory briefings.
The glass pyramidal glory of the Louvre can be accessed by two nearest Metro stations : Louvre- Rivoli and Palais Royal- Musée du Louvre.
Here the tickets are priced at:
• €17 (online booking)
• €15 (on-site)
Offering free visits for people under 18, and for European residents aged from 18 to 25 years. Entry is also free on first Saturday of each month in the evening from 6 PM to 9:45 PM.
5. Champ de Mars
Nested in the heart of Paris, this iconic green space is a vibrant tapestry of history, culture, and beauty that draws visitors from across the globe. As stretching between the iconic Eiffel Tower and the École Militaire, this lovely park perfect for a picnic visit or a leisurely stroll.
Now a military training ground, it has witnessed many historic events, including the storming of the Bastille in 1789 and the Exposition Universelle of 1889.
It surrounds as a hub of activities for locals and tourists alike. Joggers, families, and couples frequent the park for leisurely strolls, outdoor games, or simply relaxing under the shade of its numerous trees. For children, the park offers playgrounds, a puppet theater, and a small carousel, ensuring entertainment for the younger crowd.
For peaceful experience, arrive early in the morning to witness the unparalleled view of the magnificent tower; and after late afternoon to catch the glimpse of nighttime light shows enjoying the late magic hour.
6. Saint-Germain-des-Prés
From the Paris’ left bank, this historic center of Parisian intellectual and artistic life offers an enchanting blend of history and sophistication. With iconic cafes from the area like Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots, the place is recognised for the historical significance as gathering places for prominent thinkers, including Voltaire and Rousseau during 18th century.
Keeping the oldest gothic church in between, this area became a hub for artists, and philosophers during the 20th century, like Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Ernest Hemingway.
Coming from the word creativity, this area brims with artistic and literary vibrancy showcasing the jazz clubs like Le Caveau de la Huchette.
Best time to wander its narrow streets is in the morning to enjoy a peaceful stroll or in the evening grasp its lively ambiance. Being chic and vibrant part of the city, this area offers an unforgettable experience.
7. Palace of Versailles
Showcasing the symbol of French power and authority and being a celebrated work of the 17th century, this Museum of the History of France was once a hunting pavilion of the Sun King, Louis XIII.
Later, his son turned it Louis XIV into France’s new royal seat of power. Stretching from 1700 yards in length to 67 yards width the palace holds with countless fountains, sculptures, frescoes, tapestries, and furnishings.
A short walk through The Queen’s Hamlet at Le Petit Trianon, where there’s a many lucky animals group like of cows, chickens, pigs, goats, and donkeys who have never known anything but still under the royal lifestyle.
Equipped with several glittering chandeliers, 357 individual mirrors, and 30 tableaux the Hall of Mirrors extracts many impressive moments from history, including the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 (ending WWI).
Pre-buying tickets can help to skip the ticket-buying line and wedging from a shuffling mob. Visitors can travel via three different trains: RER C and SNCF Lines L and N, each take 40 minutes for the journey.
One can also drive and park at the Place d’Armes within a minimal fee. Local cars and coaches are also available on the route. Tickets start from $24 which includes Palace entry, Estate of Trianon, and the gardens. Entry is free for visitors under 18 (or if resident from the EU).
Opening timings are from 9AM to 5:30PM through six days of the week (Tuesday to Sunday). Park and gardens are free to visit every day(except in the months of April to October when it is chargeable).
8. Musée d’Orsay
A railway station was built on Seine for the 1900 Universal Exposition and later was turned into an art mecca. Musée d’Orsay, being a treasure trove of art and culture promises to inspire, captivate, and surprise with an unforgettable experience. It holds the world-class collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces.
Travelling from Monet’s Water Lilies tranquil garden in Giverny to Renoir’s Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette all together snaps the lively spirit of 19th-century Parisian social life. The shimmering colors and light effects are enough to cease you mesmerized. The main central gallery glorifies magnificent sculptures like The Gates of Hell of Admire Rodin other renowned sculptors.
Post-Impressionists like Gauguin and Cézanne, traces the modern art. Gauguin’s Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? Offers a rich tapestry of color and symbolism that will keep you pondering long after you step out of doors.
To enjoy the insightful tour of 19th-century creativity and imagination, one has to visit early in the morning or late afternoon avoiding unwanted crowds. A guided tour flavours context and stories behind the artworks. The famous clock face that is part of its exhibition from the top floor also adds stunning views of Paris, including Sacré-Cœur in your memory book.
9. Sainte-Chapelle
From 1,113 stained glass windows depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments, this royal chapel the first residence of the kings of France in Paris offers an intimate yet awe-inspiring experience. The glass windows
tells biblical stories, from Genesis to the Apocalypse and the whole space transforms into a kaleidoscope of ruby reds, sapphire blues, emerald greens, and golden yellows when sunlight strikes inside through these panes.
This luminous masterpiece giving the heavenly feels consists of two chapels:
-the lower one serving as a place of worship for the palace staff and visitors under colorful ceilings and golden fleur-de-lis motifs.
-the upper one being crown jewel of Sainte-Chapelle, making light and space merge in perfect harmony.
This masterpiece of Gothic architecture can get crowded, so try to arrive early or in the late afternoon. Get your tickets in advance to skip the line or combined passes, opting best days from high summer to witness spectacular display of colors.
10. Opéra Garnier
Also known as the Paris Opera House from 1875, marks a marvellous example of Second Empire architecture. It became famous in the novel The phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux in 1911, and now houses primarily ballets.
This building’s symmetrical architecture blends the Baroque, Renaissance, and Palladian styles with modern techniques.
Today being a vibrant cultural hub, it hosts fewer performances since the relocation of Paris Opera Ballet to the modern Opéra Bastille, the Garnier still dazzles visitors with ballets, concerts, and guided tours.
To visit this convergence world of art and architecture in a symphony of beauty, one can book tickets from Paris Opera website or visit the desks in that area.
Either a self-guided or a guided tour, both options are available. You can also go for renting an audioguide to learn more about the history.
Reaching there is cheaper by means of metro for Opéra station on lines 3, 7, and 8 or by taking bus link numbers like 20, 21, 27, 29, 32, 45, 52, 66, 68, or 95.
