This list of the best places to visit in Paris, will help you prepare your trip and not miss anything important in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Known as the City of Love, the capital of France is perfect for long romantic walks along the banks of the Seine or the neighborhoods of Montmartre and Le Marais, in addition to having some of the most famous monuments in the world such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Sainte Chapelle or the ill-fated Notre Dame Cathedral, which we hope will soon shine again.
Although Paris is a city to return again and again, for a first trip we recommend being 3 to 5 days to visit the most important and enjoy typically Parisian experiences such as having a coffee with a croisant on a beautiful terrace, having a picnic with views of the Eiffel Tower or shopping for its elegant galleries.
Remember that the easiest and fastest way to get around Paris is to use the extensive subway that has stops at all the interesting points of the city, except in the Montmartre neighborhood that you can climb by funicular or on foot.
Based on the experience of the three occasions that we have visited this city, in the last one we wrote this guide of tips for traveling to Paris, we have made this list of 20 essential places to see in Paris. We start!
1. Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower It was created for the Universal Exhibition of Paris of the year 1889 and although the Parisians did not initially like it for its design, over time it has become the symbol of the city and the most visited monument in the world with more than 7 million people a year.
To climb to the highest area of this 300-meter-high iron structure, built by the famous engineer Gustave Eiffel, we recommend you use the elevator before the 1665 staircase din forget that unlike the stairs, in the elevators endless queues are formed, which you can save by booking your tickets here in advance. Also with this entrance you can access the 3 floors of the tower that allow you to see the structure of the building up close and enjoy spectacular panoramic views of the entire city or enjoy one of the best restaurants in Paris "Le 58 Tour Eiffel", perfect for a special occasion.
A comfortable and interesting option to learn about the history of the tower and the city is to book this tour with a guide in Spanish that includes skip-the-line entrance, a boat ride and a panoramic bus tour of the main neighborhoods, squares, monuments of Paris.
To have the best views of the Tower you have the spectacular Plaza de Trocadero, the grass of the Campo de Marte, the bank of the Seine, the Montparnasse tower and the Rue de l'Université.
Visiting hours: every day from 9am to 0: 45h July and August, the rest of the year from 9:30 to 23:45.
The Eiffel Tower
2. The Louvre
The Louvre, the most famous and visited museum in the world, is another one of the places to visit in Paris essential.
Opened at the end of the 18th century, in this huge space located in the Louvre Palace you will find some of the most important masterpieces in history such as Leonardo da Vinci's La Gioconda, Venus de Milo or the Seated Scribe of ancient Egypt.
In addition to its incredible structure, in 1989 a glass pyramid was built in the center of the square, which acts as an entrance, and worth seeing at night illuminated. An image that we are sure, will remain forever in your memory.
Remember that to save you the long lines that form at the entrance, they can exceed two hours, we recommend you buy your tickets here in advance. Another great way to skip the lines and learn more about the history of the most important pieces is to book this visit with a guide in Spanish, an expert in art and history.
To make the visit, if you are not a great art lover you can complete the museum tour in about 3 hours, following a small map where the most interesting works of the 3 floors are marked.
If you are going to visit many tourist attractions in the city you will find it profitable to buy the Paris Pass, which allows free access to more than 60 points of interest in Paris like this museum.
Visiting hours: Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm; Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. and Tuesday closed.
The Louvre
3. Sainte Chapelle
La Sainte Chapelle is ours favorite church to see in Paris and one of the most beautiful in the world. Gothic and located in the beautiful Île de la Cité, it was built between 1241 and 1248 to keep several relics such as the crown of thorns, part of the cross, the iron of the spear and the sponge of the martyrdom of Jesus Christ and what else Highlights of the interior is its lack of walls, which enhances its impressive stained glass windows in the upper chapel, where you will be speechless in the face of so much beauty. The lower chapel is more sober and has a fresco of the Annunciation of the XIII, considered the oldest mural in the city.
A good option to know the history of this church and not miss any detail is to book this visit with an expert guide in Spanish that includes a tour of the island. If you do not want to do any guided tour you can book this ticket without queues in advance.
Visiting hours: from April to September from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and the rest of the year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free entry with the Paris Pass.
Sainte Chapelle Church
4. Neighborhood of Montmartre
Montmartre is our favorite neighborhood in the city next to Le Marais, which is another of the essential places to visit in Paris.
Although today it is very touristy, we can say that it still retains a certain bohemian air of yesteryear when painters such as Picasso or Van Gogh lived and that it is also the perfect place to stroll through its beautiful streets and buildings, the Place du Tertre, full of artists painting or selling their paintings, and visiting the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, one of the most beautiful places to see in Paris. This church, which was built between 1875 and 1914, stands out for its white facade, the mixture of Roman and Byzantine architecture and its stairs, where you can live one of the things to do in Paris: enjoy an unforgettable sunset, with magnificent city views.
The only little recommended aspect of Montmartre, at least according to our experience, is to stay for lunch or dinner, since the vast majority of restaurants offer tourist menus with a terrible quality / price ratio.
To get to Montmartre you must take metro line 2 to Anvers or 12 to Abbedeses and from there walk up or with the Montmartre Funicular.
A good option to explore this neighborhood knowing its history and anecdotes is to book this tour of Montmartre with a guide in Spanish. Free!
Visiting hours of the Sacré-Coeur Basilica: every day from 6 am to 10:30 pm.
Montmartre neighborhood
5. Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe, built between 1806 and 1836 by Napoleon to remember his great victory in the battle of Austerlitz, is the most famous in the world and other tourist places to visit in Paris.
With 50 meters high by 45 wide, and inspired by the Arch of Titus of Rome, it is located in one of the largest roundabouts in the world, so you will have to access through an underground passage, for once ahead, see the touching Tomb to the Unknown Soldier of the First World War.
In addition to being a symbol of Paris and all of France, this Arc de Triomphe is an excellent viewpoint with the best views of the great avenue of the Champs Elysees. You can enter for free with the Paris Pass or book this ticket without queues in advance.
Visiting hours: every day from 10am to 11pm.
Paris Arc de Triomphe
Our recommended hotel in Paris
Our recommended accommodation in Paris is the Etoile Pereire, located 300 meters from a metro stop and 10 minutes walk from the Arc de Triomphe. In addition to its excellent location, it has a full breakfast, friendly staff, 24-hour reception and one of the best quality / price ratios in the city.
For more information on the best hotels and neighborhoods where to sleep we recommend you read this post of where to stay in Paris.
6. River Seine
The river Seine that crosses the city forming some islands such as the Île de la Cité and the Île Saint-Louis, has become another of the tourist attractions to see in Paris where you can walk at sunset from the Notre Dame Cathedral to the Eiffel Tower along this river to enjoy one of the most romantic walks in the world. During the journey you will cross several of the most beautiful bridges such as the New Bridge, the Bridge of Souls, the Alexander III Bridge and the Bridge of the Arts, which has good views of the Île de la Cité, although our favorite is Le Pont Neuf from the end of the 16th century, which is the oldest and joins the Île de la Cité with the city.
In our experience, the best way to tour the river and see the illuminated city is to book this boat trip on the Seine at dusk or this gourmet dinner cruise, both of which are among the best tours in Paris.
The Seine river in Paris
7. Notre Dame Cathedral
The Notre Dame Cathedral, built between 1163 and 1345, is one of the oldest and most beautiful Gothic cathedrals in the world. Unfortunately, at present, as a result of the tragic fire of April 15, 2019, the building suffered serious damage, and currently you can only see its magnificent exterior in which the western facade and the two towers stand out. On the doors of the facade, there are 28 statues representing the kings of Judea and Israel.
For the moment, waiting and wishing an exact reconstruction of the cathedral before the fire, we were left with the memory of its luminous interior thanks to its large windows and the ascent to its two towers, in which its famous and mysterious chimeras are located or gargoyles and from where you could enjoy views to remember.
Notre Dame Cathedral
8. Montparnasse Tower
The Montparnasse Tower with a height of 210 meters, is our favorite viewpoint to visit in Paris.
This office building, which clashes with the classic architecture of the city, has a viewpoint on the 56th floor and a spectacular terrace on the 59th, protected with glass, although with spaces for outdoor photos, from which you will have impressive 360 degree panoramic views of all of Paris with the Eiffel Tower as the most relevant point.
Although it is a little far from the center it is easily accessible by subway with lines 4, 6, 12 and 13 that stop at Montparnasse-Bienvenüe. We recommend booking the ticket in advance, especially on weekends and high season, having a limited number of places per day.
Visiting hours: every day from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Free entry with the Paris Pass.
Views from the Montparnasse Tower
9. Champs Elysées
The Champs Elysées, a wide avenue of two kilometers that connect the Place de la Concorde with the Arc de Triomphe, is another of the places to see in Parías most famous, where you can take a walk you will see the innumerable showcases of luxurious shops, international restaurants and large historic buildings such as Petit and Grand Palais.
At the end of the walk you will arrive at the Place de la Concorde, in which during the French Revolution, more than 1000 people were executed by means of the guillotine and in which at present you can see an Egyptian obelisk of more than 3,000 years old.
Past the square are the magnificent Jardines de las Tuileries, perfect to walk among trees and rest in their comfortable chairs overlooking a fountain.
A good way to learn more about the history of the city is to book this free tour of Paris for free! or this free tour of mysteries and legends, both with a guide in Spanish.
Campos Eliseos, one of the places to visit in Paris
10. La Conciergerie, one of the places to visit in Paris
La Conciergerie, located on the Cité Island, is one of the places with more history to visit in Paris.
Royal residence between the 10th and 14th centuries, this place was a royal residence until in 1392 it became one of the toughest prisons from which few prisoners left unharmed. Among several famous characters of the time, Queen Marie Antoinette was there for a while, before dying in the guillotine in 1793.
During the tour of the prison you can see a reconstruction of Maria Antonieta's cell and the differences in conditions that existed with the poor prisoners, who slept on the floor while the rich, had all kinds of comforts, including servants.
If you do not have much time we advise you to book this ticket without queues or this one that also includes the entrance without queues to the Sainte-Chapelle, located just next door.
Visiting hours: every day: from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Book the best rated tours and excursions in Spanish from Paris by travelers:
- Excursion to the Palace of Versailles
- Excursion to Disneyland Paris
- Excursion to Mont Saint Michel
- Excursion to Bruges- Many more excursions and tours here
11. Le Marais
Le Marais, located in the heart of the city next to the Seine, is one of the most charming neighborhoods to visit in Paris.
Here you can meet old Paris walking through its cobblestone streets full of vintage shops, hidden patios, art galleries, fashion boutiques, elegant mansions, design restaurants and corners for a picnic like the fantastic Plaza des Vosges, the oldest from the city and where Victor Hugo's old house is located.
The most famous streets in the neighborhood and where most stores are concentrated are Rue de Rivoli, Rosiers, Charlot, des Archives, Bourg Tibourg, Vieille du Temple, Obenkampf and Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, in addition to the alleys adjacent to all of them .
In addition, the neighborhood has the largest Jewish community in Europe and is considered the gay neighborhood from the city.
Place des Vosges
12. Luxembourg Gardens
Luxembourg Gardens are one of the prettiest green spaces to see in Paris In addition to a perfect place to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city. Located in front of the Luxembourg Palace, near the Latin Quarter, it is a very popular place for Parisians where they come to picnic, listen to free concerts or just chat with friends lying on the grass, especially in good weather.
In these gardens with a large central pond you will also find several sculptures that are worth spending a few minutes, among all kinds of plants and trees.
One of its places with more charm and history, is the Medici Fountain that dates back to the early seventeenth century when Queen Maria de Medici ordered them to be built by recreating the Bóboli Garden of her native Florence.
Luxembourg gardens
13. Catacombs
Another of the places to visit in Paris which have also become more fashionable in recent times, are the Catacombs. In this extensive network of tunnels and underground chambers at 20 meters deep there are remains of more than 6 million skeletons from different eras forming a large rosary.
Of the 300 kilometers of tunnels, only 800 meters of bone-lined wall galleries are open to the public.
A good option to skip the long lines, which can be more than 3 hours, is to book this ticket in advance.
Keep in mind that the catacombs are a bit far from the city center, so the best option is to reach the Denfert-Rochereau stop with metro lines 4 and 6.
Visiting hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., last access one hour before closing.
The Catacombs, one of the places to see in Paris
14. Museums of Paris
Paris is a city where art is breathed everywhere, while it is full of interesting museums with world-famous collections and works of art.
Among the best museums to see in Paris are:
- Orsay's Museum: Located in an old train station that retains its old clock, this museum has Monet, Renoir, Cézanne or Van Gogh masterpieces inside.
- Pompidou Center: This museum of modern art, located in the beautiful district of Les Halles, also stands out for the works of Picasso, Kandinsky, Matisseo or Miró, for its original exterior design with colored tubes on the facade and escalators.
- Rodin Museum: in the Rococo-style palace of the Hotel Biron and its gardens, some of Rodin's most famous sculptures such as Hell's Gate, The Thinker or The Kiss are exhibited.
- The Orangerie: Located in an old orangery greenhouse, this museum has as great jewels as the huge paintings of Monet's Water Lilies.
All these museums are included if you have the Paris Pass.
For more information you can consult this post about the best museums in Paris.
Pompidou Center
15. The Invalids
The National Palace of the Invalids is one of the most iconic and historical monuments to visit in Paris, housing inside the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Baroque style, this immense complex was built at the end of the 17th century as a residence for war veterans who had no home and currently in addition to Napoleon's mausoleum and some tombs of their marshals, you can visit the Army Museum, located among the best of its theme, and the Saint Louis Cathedral. This is so because in the past, so that the soldiers were not mixed with royalty, this cathedral was divided into two: the Saint-Louis-des-Invalides Church for the military and the Duomo Church for the royal family, the latter being in which the sarcophagus is found with the ashes of Napoleon.
A good option if you have a few days in Paris is to book this tourist bus with comments recorded in Spanish that stops at the main tourist attractions of the city such as Los Invalides.
Visiting hours: every day from 10am to 6pm. Closed the first Monday of each month. Free entry with the Paris Pass.
Recommended travel cardsRemember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.
16. Latin Quarter of Paris
If you want to go out for dinner at night or have a drink you can not miss the Latin Quarter, located south of the Cité Island. In its lively and busy streets like Rue Huchette you will find a wide variety of restaurants with terraces and posters showing prices much cheaper than the rest of the city.
In the neighborhood, in addition to enjoying the atmosphere, you can spend time to see the square and the fountain of Saint Michel, visit the Church of Saint Sulpice or enter the beautiful Shakespeare & Co bookstore although the most prominent monument in the neighborhood is the Pantheon, where the remains of illustrious people of France like Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Marie Curie, Louis Braille or Alejandro Dumas rest, among others. This neoclassical building is located between the most essential places to see in Paris.
If you do not want to waste time on the visit we recommend you book this ticket without queues in advance.
A good option to learn more about the history and curiosities of the neighborhood is a free tour of the Latin Quarter. Free! With guide in Spanish.
Pantheon visiting hours: every day from 10am to 6pm. Entrance included in the Paris Pass.
Latin Quarter
17. Lafayette Galleries
Lafayette Haussmann Galleries is one of the most famous and beautiful shopping centers in the world. Its 7 circularly distributed floors look like a theater thanks to its huge colored dome, in addition to having a rooftop where you can enjoy one of the best views of downtown Paris for free.
Inside the art nouveau style, you can find countless brands at reasonable prices, a gourmet section to buy typical French products and a good quality restaurant and cafe area.
One of the best moments to visit it is at Christmas, at which time its incredible shop windows seem to come alive and a large tree inside makes a difference over the rest of the city's Christmas decorations.
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Lafayette Galleries
18. Opera Garnier
The Garnier Opera, an immense neo-baroque building built by order of Napoleon in the 19th century, is another of the prettiest places to visit in Paris.
The ornate interior offers a luxurious and ostentatious image, full of gold, mosaics and large lamps and some of its highlights are the large marble staircase and the impressive spectacle hall, decorated in reds and golds, which inspired the work "The Phantom of the Opera".
If you do not feel like spending a lot of money on tickets to see a show, we recommend you book this visit with a guide in Spanish.
Visiting hours: every day from 10am to 5pm. Entrance included in the Paris Pass.
Garnier opera
19. Pere Lachaise Cemetery
Pere Lachaise is one of the most famous cemeteries in the world, in addition to being the largest to see in Paris, where many famous people like the great singers Maria Callas rest (here they rested their ashes but currently only one plaque can be seen commemorative) or Edith Piaf or composers like Chopin. Here you can also find the grave of singer Jim Morrison, leader of The Doors, which is one of the most famous in the place and is always full of souvenirs and gifts.
Another of the most appreciated tombs is that of the writer, poet and playwright Oscar Wilde, who has a figure of a naked angel with wings spread and is protected by glass, as fans painted their lips and marked the grave with a kiss.
To find the most famous tombs you can buy a map in a kiosk located near the entrance.
A great way to know the history of the cemetery and not miss anything is to book this visit with a guide in Spanish.
The cemetery is a bit far from the city but is easily accessible by subway with lines 2 and 3 that stop at the Philippe Auguste and Pere Lachaise stations.
Visiting hours: every day from 8 a.m. to 6 a.m., except Sundays that opens at 9 a.m.
Pere Lachaise Cemetery
20. Other points of interest
Other points of interest to visit in Paris:
- Place Vendome: one of the most beautiful squares in the city with a large column in the center and surrounded by luxurious shops and hotels such as the Ritz and the Vendome.
- Church of the Madeleine: a religious building that stands out for its design inspired by the temples of Ancient Greece.
- Vivienne Gallery: a typical Parisian shopping gallery that will take you back to a bygone era.
Vivienne Gallery
To make all these visits we recommend you follow these routes through the city you optimize according to the days you have:
If you feel like helping us complete the list of the 20 places to visit in Paris, add yours in the comments.
