What to do in Paris - Travel Eat Enjoy Repeat

What to do in Paris

We already visited Paris a number of times, and a few things we visited both times while others we only discovered the other times we were there. I will start with the must-do things followed by things that are nice to do but not a must. If you are in Paris for a longer period of time, of course, you can do more than when you are visiting for the weekend. And you can also enjoy Paris from the iconic Seine river on a dinner cruise.

Eiffel Tower

When you are in Paris, you have to see the Eiffel Tower. This 324-meter tall monument named after Gustav Eiffel is the symbol of Paris. A visit to Paris is not complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower. You can take an elevator to the top for a magnificent view of Paris. The waiting times can be long but when you go in the evening, it can go pretty quickly. Nowadays, there is a security checkpoint before you can go to the Eiffel Tower.

If you walk across the Seine river, there is a beautiful viewpoint (Bocadero) of the Eiffel Tower.

Check the website for opening times and ticket prices.

Can’t stop looking at the Eiffel Tower? Book a hotel with views of the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel tower

Paris

Paris

 

Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is another famous monument in Paris. It is at the Western end of the Champs-Elysées at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle. From the Champs-Elysées you have a good view to take some pictures but there is also the possibility of accessing it through a tunnel. You only have to pay if you want to go up to the Arc de Triomphe. Walking under it is free of charge.

When you are at the Arc de Triomphe, you can walk only a small part of this avenue. It is almost 2 km long and runs from Place de la Concorde to Place Charles de Gaulle. There are a lot of theatres, cafés, and luxury shops located here and especially on a nice day, walking here is a lot of people watching.

More information about opening times and ticket prices can be found on the website

Arc de Triomphe

Paris

 

The Louvre

The Louvre Museum is the largest museum in the world and is located next to the Seine. The most famous piece of art is Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and most of the time a huge amount of people are in front of this little piece of art. Other must-see arts are Michelangelo’s dying slave, Venus de Milo, Great Sphinx of Tanis, and the seated scribe. Of course, you also have to take a picture of the famous glass pyramid.

Are you traveling with kids? You might also like to visit other art museums in Paris that are fun with kids.

Here are some fun facts about The Louvre.

More information about opening times and ticket prices can be found on the website

Louvre museum

 

Musée d’Orsay

Musée d’Orsay is located not far from The Louvre and housed in the former Gare d’Orsay, a railway station built between 1898 and 1900. It has the largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art in the world. There are paintings by Claude Monet, Edouard Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Gauguin and Van Gogh.

The museum opened its doors in December 1986. At the moment, there are about 3000 pieces of art on display within Musée d’Orsay.

During the summer months, I would recommend reserving your tickets in advance.

More information about the opening times and ticket prices can be found on the website.

 

Notre Dame de Paris

The Notre Dame Cathedral is a medieval Catholic cathedral on the île de la cite. It is one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture and is one of the most famous churches in the world. This is really a very beautiful cathedral, both on the inside and the outside, and really a must-visit when you are in Paris. Unfortunately at the moment, the cathedral is not open for visitors due to big restorations.

Notre Dame

Notre Dame

 

Sacre Coeur and Montmartre

Another famous church in Paris is the Sacré-Coeur Basilica located on top of Montmartre, the highest point in the city. We visited this church 2 times, during both the daytime and in the evening. From here you have a beautiful view of Paris which is even nicer I think during the evening.

Notre Dame

 

Montmartre is a very lively neighborhood and is especially known for its gathering of artists. A lot of famous artists had studios or worked in or around Montmartre, such as Salvador Dali, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and Piet Mondriaan to name a few. Wandering around the streets is a great way to explore this part of Paris.

Montmartre

Paris

 

Sainte Chapelle

Sainte-Chapelle is a royal chapel built in Gothic style located in the courtyard of the royal palace on the île de la cite, not far from The Notre Dame Cathedral. It has one of the most exquisite stained glass collections anywhere in the world. Upon entering, you will go into the lower chapel which is not as spectacular as what you will see when you take the stairs up. You will be surrounded by fifteen huge glass-stained windows. This was such an amazingly beautiful thing to see that I really recommend it when you are already visited the Notre Dame Cathedral.

More information about the opening times and ticket prices can be found on the website

Sainte Chapelle

 

Grand Mosque of Paris

The Grand Mosque of Paris is the largest mosque in France and the third largest in Europe. You can visit the entire mosque except for the praying room, which you can’t enter. Especially the garden is beautiful. More information about the Mosque can be found here.

 

Les Catacombes de Paris

Something more special to visit when you are in Paris, are the catacombs of Paris. One word of advice: be there before they open, the waiting line is huge because only a limited amount of people are allowed in at the same time. We were there around 20 minutes before opening and we waited in line for over an hour.

The catacombs of Paris are underground ossuaries where the remains of more than 6 million people are. Through a network of paths marked with bones and skulls, you can discover the underground tunnel network. This is really something different and pretty interesting to discover.

More information about the opening times and ticket prices can be found on the website

Les catacombes de Paris

 

Tour Montparnasse

Another view from Paris you can have from the top of the Montparnasse tower. It is an office skyscraper with at the top an observation platform. In summer there is a champagne bar at the top allowing you the enjoy a glass of champagne while admiring the view of Paris. I liked this view, because it is much higher than the Eiffel Tower and because from here you actually can see the Eiffel Tower. After buying a ticket, you can take the elevator to the top from where you can take the stairs to the open observation deck.

More information about opening times and ticket prices can be found on the website

View over Paris

 

Galeria Lafayette

Galeria Lafayette is located not far from the Opera Garnier. It is the biggest department store in Europe where you can find a wide range of brands. It’s constructed in art nouveau style with the eye-catcher being the remarkable dome. If you go all the way up, you have an amazing view of Paris.

 

Sewer Museum

And then something really special: the Sewer Museum. We visited this museum because it is something different than the rest. It is located in, surprisingly, the sewers near the Pont de l’Alma. This museum shows the history of the sewer system. It was not what I was expecting but still, it was interesting to see and especially nice to do on a rainy day.

More information about opening times and ticket prices can be found on the website

Love these alternative attractions? Definitely check out Paris’ abandoned railway, Le Petite Ceinture.

sewer museum Paris

 

Wander the streets of Paris and walk along the river Seine

Wandering around the city and its many neighborhoods such as Montmartre and Quartier Latin, or walking along the Seine or in the many parks the city has. Especially when the weather is nice, these are the things that will allow you to explore and enjoy the city.

promenade plantee

If you want to explore Paris with kids, you can find tips here. Still not satisfied? There is more to do in this beautiful city.

Tips for good restaurants in Paris you can find here

If you are looking for a nice hotel while exploring Paris, try Hotel Eiffel Capitol. Check out this review.

All useful links at a glance for your next trip to Paris

✈️ Find plane tickets to Paris
?️ Find the best hotels in Paris
Find the best Airbnb in Paris
? Book tickets for attractions in Paris
? Buy the best travel guides about Paris

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