10 places to visit in Paris
Tourist Itinerary in Paris: where to go and what to see in 1, 2, 3 or 4 days.
Is there anything new that can be said about Paris? Some consider it a fabulous place, others think it’s a city like any other. Some consider it the lovers’ capital, others think there are better things to do in the world than a romantic kiss on the Seine, one of the largest rivers of France.
There is no doubt that there are many beautiful romantic spots in Paris:
- The hill of Montmartre, a high point of the city with the famous Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the top;
- The soft lights of the many bars in the Latin Quarter;
- The unusual plazas and corners of the historic and famous Quartier Le Marais.
So, what can you do in Paris? Paris is not only a romantic city. There are many museums, churches, monuments and other attractions here. If you want to forego the tourist walks and instead choose a nice place where you can eat well, Paris will offer you the very best of French cuisine, which fortunately does not consist only of croissants and cheese. See the 10 main places to visit on your next trip to Paris.
At the bottom of the page you will find the map of the city.
Looking for accommodation in Paris? Use the convenient search system of booking.com. To save money, compare the prices of more than 50 sites on hotelscombined.com: you will find the lowest price for the room you select.
The Louvre in Paris
A good way to get to know Paris is to visit the Louvre. It is the most famous museum of art in the whole world. As well as seeing the original of the famous painting “The Mona Lisa”, you will be delighted to see other works that deserve your attention.
In the Louvre there is everything the heart can desire. Unfortunately, you will not be able to see all the works in a single day. If you do not want to devote more than one day to the Louvre, choose what you want to see in the museum in advance, check the opening hours and buy tickets.
How to get there: Metro Station Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre.
Opening times: every day from 9 am to 6 pm. Wednesday and Friday until 10 pm.
Closing days: Tuesday, 1 January, 1 May, 1 November and 25 December.
How much does it cost? €15 / $17 per ticket. We advise you to buy them online.
The Eiffel Tower in Paris
The Eiffel Tower is a huge metal tower, undoubtedly the most well-known architectural monument, symbol of the city of Paris. It gives the impression of being so high that its top touches the clouds.
The Eiffel Tower was built with 18,038 pieces of metal. Construction was completed on 31 March 1889, two years after the start of the work. It was initially intended to be a temporary construction but instead it is still standing.
Today the Eiffel Tower is the most visited monument in the world. Each year more than 6 million tourists visit it. A photo under the tower is a must for anyone who is in Paris, as are the much-anticipated light shows in the first 10 minutes of every hour during the night.
How much does it cost? €17 / $20 (€11 / $13 if you visit only the 1st and 2nd floors). It is best to buy tickets here to skip the long queue.
Opening times: from 9 am to midnight.
Montmartre in Paris
In the 1800s Montmartre was an infamous district where the only people you met were desperate artists looking for inspiration.
A not very respectable quarter, a city within the city where Picasso, Van Gogh and Modigliani lived. The Paris City Council came into being in 1871 thanks to the inhabitants of Montmartre: after France surrendered to the Prussians, the local inhabitants who were not short of weapons continued to protect the hill and kill the generals.
Today Montmartre is no longer an unsavory neighborhood, even if it is rather a tourist trap, Montmartre remains a place to see at all costs. Although there are longer any great artists there (replaced by numerous caricaturists), Montmartre still retains a particular charm that attracts many tourists.
How to get there: Metro line 12 from the “Jules Joffrin” station to the “Abesses” station; Metro line 2: “Anvers” station to “Pigalle”.
The Musee d'Orsay in Paris
The Orsay Museum is one of the early masterpieces of the French architectural collections. It was built on the site of the old railway station of Orsay, which hosted part of the World Exposition held in Paris in 1900.
The Orsay Museum is located in the center of Paris on the banks of the Seine. It is characterized by an ancient and special charm: the architecture of the museum is completely modern, but as you look at the structure you will be surprised to notice the structure of the old station. The paintings exhibited in the museum enchant the eyes of true art lovers: “Breakfast on the Grass” (Edouard Manet), “The Poppies” (Claude Monet), the self-portrait of Van Gogh and the beautiful Haitian women painted by Gauguin. If you have never heard of them, this is where you will find the originals of these magnificent paintings, together with thousands of other works of art.
The Latin Quarter in Paris
From the name you might imagine an exotic district, full of Brazilian, Spanish and Portuguese restaurants. But even though this part of Paris is pervaded by a rather vital atmosphere, it is not in any way connected with distant countries.
Among the exotic elements of this district the Arab World Institute (founded in 1987 to make known and spread the Arab culture) stands out, as well as the restaurants on the Place Saint-Michel where kebabs are sold. The atmosphere In the Latin Quarter is definitely French and very lively thanks to the cafés and clubs that are open day and night all year round.
In the Latin Quarter you will often encounter teachers and students looking for relaxation and distractions from the routine between the once quiet walls of the Sorbonne and other cultural institutions.
How to get there: walk from Notre-Dame or take the Metro (line 10: Cluny - La Sorbonne or Saint Michel station).
Notre-Dame de Paris in Paris
Notre Dame de Paris, the elegant and mysterious “Our Lady of Paris”, is considered the center of France. Opposite is Point Zero, a star made of bronze from which all distances in France are calculated.
The project for the cathedral was initiated by Bishop Sully who, envious of the Basilica of Saint-Denis, wanted to build a church that was equally as important. The funds for the construction were collected from among all the inhabitants of Paris, but it was later transformed into the Temple of Reason by the revolutionaries.
The edifice has risked destruction many times, but was saved each time through the will of some of the most influential personalities in Paris. Notre-Dame survived dark moments and moments of glory, but in the end, it took shape in the historical novel by Victor Hugo “Notre Dame de Paris”. The novel returned prestige to this cathedral in which some of the most important relics of the Christian world are preserved (a nail from the cross of Jesus Christ and the crown of thorns).
How to get there: Metro lines 1,7,11,14 to “Châtelet”; Metro line 4 to “Cité” or “Saint-Michel - Notre Dame”.
How much does it cost? Free entrance.
The Sainte-Chapelle in Paris
The Catholic King Louis IX ordered the construction of the beautiful reliquary chapel of Sainte-Chapelle. A part of the Holy Cross was placed here: one of the nails that pierced the flesh of Christ and his crown.
Today these important relics of the Christian world are preserved at Notre-Dame, but the chapel has the same charm as it did in the past: it is considered one of the most important expressions of Gothic architecture in the world. The majesty of this building is sensed right from the outside, thanks to the windows.
The Sainte-Chapelle is divided into two parts:
- The lower part which was the faithful’s place of the prayer;
- The upper part, which was set aside for the Royal Family and nobility who accessed the chapel through a secret door.
You can admire the beautiful play of colored light that radiates from the stained-glass windows, which cover about 600 square meters (6500 sq.ft.). Sainte-Chapelle is the most important testimony of the great art of stained-glass making of the XIII century. More than 1000 illustrations of biblical scenes (Old and New Testament) are portrayed here and recount biblical stories from the Garden of Eden to the Apocalypse. The large pink window that portrays the Apocalypse is located on the southern side and is 9 meters / 29 ft. in diameter.
How to get there: near Notre-Dame (see above).
How much does it cost? €10 / $12.
Versailles in Paris
If you have seen “Lady Oscar”, the famous 1979 Japanese animated cartoon at least once, you cannot miss a visit to the Palace of Versailles. The opulence and grandeur of this palace makes it one of the most beautiful and among the largest in the world.
Versailles was built under the direction of Louis XIV. It became the main monument of his era, a reflection of the strength and victories of this monarch who governed the country for 72 years. Suffering from a mania of persecution and grandeur, he moved to Versailles because in Paris he saw intrigues by the noblemen everywhere; he claimed to be called the Sun King.
How to get there: RER Line C RER to the station of Versailles-Château-Rive-Gauche.
How much does it cost? €20 / $23.
More information: We advise you to buy tickets online to avoid the 3-km / 2 miles queue.
The Flea Market of Saint-Ouen in Paris
If you are a true lover of antiques and adore looking at unusual colorful objects and ancient and modern books, you must not miss the great flea market of Saint-Ouen, which takes place three times a week: Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
To get a good deal and buy a precious object or something of value, do not miss this opportunity! At the Saint-Ouen Flea Market you will find everything and more: from fake Chinese jewelry to important valuable pieces. For convenience the Saint-Ouen market is divided into sectors: books, furniture, clothing, discs. Even if you cannot find what you were looking for (which is highly unlikely), you can still happily enjoy the chaotic and cheerful French atmosphere of this place.
How to get there: Metro line 4 (Porte de Clignancourt station), Metro line 13 (Garibaldi station).
Opening times: Saturday, Sunday, Monday: from 10 am to 5 pm approximately.
Where to sleep in Paris?
Paris is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. There are many hotels, B&Bs, mini-hotels, rooms of various categories in every district of the city.
Accommodation is not cheap and getting from the hotel to the main attractions could take over an hour. You will have to look for a compromise between price and proximity to tourist attractions. The minimum cost of a night in a 2- or 3- star hotel is around 80 Euro. The central districts are safer, while we recommend avoiding the hotels in the 18th, 19th and 20th arrondissement. Especially at night, avoid walking through these areas.
Looking for accommodation in Paris? Use the convenient search system of booking.com. To save money, compare the prices of more than 50 sites on hotelscombined.com: you will find the lowest price for the room you select.