Paris hit me differently than I expected. Sure, I knew about the Eiffel Tower and fancy cafes, but actually standing there watching the sunset light up the Seine while locals walked their dogs and couples shared wine on the riverbank? That feeling was something else. Even on my fourth visit, this city still stops me in my tracks, especially when I catch that golden evening glow bouncing off the limestone buildings.
From the jaw-dropping stained glass of Sainte Chapelle (seriously, photos don’t do it justice) to the peaceful mornings in Luxembourg Gardens watching old men play chess, these are the prettiest places in Paris you absolutely need to see. Let me show you my 12 favorite spots in this incredible city!
Unmissable Places to Visit in Paris
Looking for the coolest things to do in Paris? Visit the iconic Eiffel Tower, explore world-renowned art at the Louvre Museum, and admire the stunning architecture of Notre-Dame Cathedral. Wander through the charming streets of Montmartre and take in breathtaking views from the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or breathtaking landmarks, here are the top attractions to visit in Paris.
1. Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is honestly still magical every single time, even on my fourth visit to Paris. Current tickets run €28.30 for adults to reach the summit by elevator, but you can save money by taking stairs to the second floor for €11.30 – just don’t underestimate those 674 steps! I learned the hard way to book online at least 60 days in advance because tickets sell out fast, especially for summer visits.
The tower opens at 9 AM in summer (9:30 AM in winter) and those hourly light shows after dark are absolutely worth staying for. I always tell people to arrive 15 minutes early for security checks. Pro tip: the Trocadéro Plaza across the river gives you those perfect Instagram shots, but for a quieter experience, try the Champ de Mars gardens underneath where locals actually picnic.
Skip the overpriced restaurants nearby and grab supplies from a supermarket instead. The best photo opportunities happen at sunset when that golden light hits the iron lattice work – it’s actually pretty spectacular. Just be ready for crowds; this place sees nearly 6 million visitors yearly for good reason.
- Read next: Cheapest Ways to Fly to Paris
2. Louvre Museum
The Louvre is massive and I mean MASSIVE – you could spend weeks here and still not see everything. Adult tickets are €22 online (cheaper than the €39.90 some sites charge), and honestly, buying online is essential. The museum’s open daily except Tuesdays, with extended hours until 9 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays.
I’ve been three times and still discover new sections each visit. Start with the Denon Wing for the heavy hitters like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. The crowds around Mona Lisa are intense – I’m talking shoulder-to-shoulder chaos – but it’s weirdly part of the experience. The painting is smaller than you’d expect and yes, it’s behind bulletproof glass.
The Winged Victory of Samothrace at the top of that grand staircase actually stopped me in my tracks more than the Mona Lisa did. Enter through the less crowded Porte des Lions entrance near the Seine if you want to skip some lines. The audio guide is worth the extra few euros, especially if you’re into the stories behind the art. Plan at least half a day here, but honestly, a full day flies by.
3. Notre-Dame Cathedral
Notre-Dame finally reopened in December 2024 after that devastating fire, and honestly, it’s more stunning than ever. The restoration work is incredible – they’ve cleaned centuries of grime off the Lutetian limestone, so the whole cathedral practically glows now. Entry is always free, but you’ll want to book a time slot through their official app to avoid waiting hours in line.
I was amazed by how bright and airy it feels inside now with the cleaned stone. The new oak furniture and bronze liturgical pieces are beautiful, and that Crown of Thorns reliquary is displayed every Friday from 3-5 PM until April 2025. The cathedral expects 15 million visitors this year – double what it used to get – so definitely book ahead.
The exterior restoration shows off those incredible Gothic flying buttresses and intricate stone carvings better than ever. Don’t miss Point Zéro outside – the bronze marker that’s the official center of France. The towers won’t reopen for climbing until Heritage Days in September 2025, but honestly, just being inside this 860-year-old masterpiece after everything it’s been through is pretty moving.
4. Montmartre and the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur
Montmartre feels like a completely different city perched up on that hill. The Sacré-Cœur Basilica is open daily from 6 AM to 10:30 PM and entry is free, though there’s usually a 20-30 minute wait for security. I recommend going early morning or late evening to avoid the worst crowds – midday is pretty much a zoo.
That climb up is no joke, but the Funiculaire de Montmartre costs the same as a metro ticket (€1.90) and saves your legs. The view from the basilica steps is honestly spectacular, especially at sunset when Paris lights up below. Inside, that massive Christ in Glory mosaic is one of the largest in France – photos don’t capture how overwhelming it is in person.
Place du Tertre behind the basilica is touristy but charming with all those portrait artists. I actually had mine done for €30 and it wasn’t terrible! The real gems are the quieter side streets like Rue des Saules with Paris’s last working vineyard. Skip the restaurants up here – they’re total tourist traps – but grab a coffee and just wander those cobblestone streets where Picasso and Van Gogh once lived.
- You may also like: Things to Do in Paris for Young Adults
5. Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe
The Champs-Élysées to Arc de Triomphe combo is peak Paris tourist experience, and you know what? It actually lives up to the hype. Arc de Triomphe tickets are €16 online (jumping to €21 in summer), and climbing those 284 steps gives you hands down the best view in Paris. That 360-degree panorama with 12 avenues radiating out like a star is just incredible.
I love how the Champs-Élysées perfectly balances luxury shopping with history. Yeah, it’s touristy and expensive, but flagship stores like Louis Vuitton and Cartier are pretty impressive, even if you’re just window shopping. The street performers and holiday decorations (especially at Christmas) create this amazing energy.
Never, ever try to cross that traffic circle to reach the Arc – use the underground passage from the Champs-Élysées or Avenue de la Grande-Armée. I see tourists running across traffic every time I’m there and it’s terrifying. Best time to visit is late afternoon when that golden light hits the Haussmanian buildings. The Arc stays open until 11 PM in summer, so you can catch both daylight and evening views.
6. Seine River Cruises
A Seine cruise was honestly the perfect break from all that walking around Paris. Basic one-hour sightseeing cruises start around €16 with companies like Bateaux Parisiens and Bateaux-Mouches – both are pretty similar experiences with good audio commentary in English.
I did an evening cruise and watching the monuments light up was magical. You’ll see Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Eiffel Tower, and Pont Alexandre III with its golden sculptures from this completely different perspective. The boats are huge and comfortable, even the lower deck has great views.
For something different, try the Batobus hop-on hop-off service – it’s more expensive but you can get off at nine different stops and explore. I used it to get between the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame area, which was way more relaxing than fighting metro crowds.
Pro tip: book that 8:30 PM departure if possible – you catch sunset and the hourly Eiffel Tower sparkle show from the water. Dinner cruises start around €59 but honestly, the basic cruise with some wine you brought yourself works just as well. The whole experience takes about an hour and it’s perfect for photos or just chilling out.
7. Luxembourg Gardens
Luxembourg Gardens is where I go when Paris gets overwhelming. This 25-hectare oasis in the Latin Quarter is absolutely free and open daily from 8 AM to 8:30 PM (shorter in winter). The formal French garden design is gorgeous, but it’s also totally functional – locals actually use this place.
I spent hours watching old guys play chess near the Medici Fountain and kids sail those wooden boats on the Grand Basin like they have for generations. Those iconic green chairs are everywhere, so you can claim a sunny spot and just people-watch. The palace itself houses the French Senate, but the gardens are where the real action happens.
Hidden gems include the actual beehives (yes, they produce honey), apple orchards, and that smaller Statue of Liberty model. The Orangerie has rotating art exhibitions if you want some culture with your nature.
What I love most is how this place works for everyone – joggers doing laps, students reading under trees, families with strollers, and tourists like me who just want to master that Parisian art of stylish lounging. Grab a crêpe from one of the vendors and settle in for some quality Luxembourg Gardens therapy.
- Read next: 13 Places to Go in Paris for Young Adults
8. Panthéon
The Panthéon in the Latin Quarter is probably the most underrated major monument in Paris. Tickets are €11.50 online and it’s open daily 10 AM to 6 PM (8:30 PM in summer). I climbed the 206 steps to the dome colonnade and the 360-degree view is actually better than most other paid viewpoints in the city.
Inside, that Foucault’s Pendulum swinging from the dome is mesmerizing – watching Earth’s rotation proven in real time never gets old. The neoclassical architecture is stunning with those soaring marble columns, but the real draw is the crypt below where France’s greatest minds are buried.
Walking past the tombs of Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Marie Curie, and Alexandre Dumas was pretty intense – you can literally feel the weight of all that collective genius. Marie Curie is the only woman buried here on her own merit, which makes her spot even more meaningful.
The building sits on Montagne Sainte-Geneviève with fantastic views toward Sacré-Cœur and the Eiffel Tower. It’s never as crowded as other monuments, so you can actually take your time and absorb the atmosphere. Perfect French reverence for intellect over royalty – I found that pretty refreshing.
9. Opéra Garnier
Opéra Garnier is hands down the most over-the-top building in Paris, and I mean that in the best possible way. Self-guided visits cost €14 and run daily 10 AM to 5 PM (6 PM in summer). This Second Empire masterpiece makes every other fancy building look restrained.
That Grand Staircase alone is worth the price – this multicolored marble showstopper was literally designed for people to see and be seen. I felt underdressed just walking up those steps! The auditorium with its red velvet, gold leaf, and Marc Chagall’s colorful ceiling floating above that massive 7-ton crystal chandelier is absolutely bonkers in the best way.
Yes, this is where Phantom of the Opera is set, and that underground lake actually exists – there really is a water tank beneath the building for the foundation. The museum area has fascinating exhibits about the building’s history and construction.
I loved how you can still feel the grandeur this place was built for. Even if you’re not attending a performance, seeing where Paris’s elite have been showing off for over a century is pretty fascinating. The architecture and decoration are so detailed you could spend hours just studying all the gold leaf and sculptures.
10. Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle delivers the best light show in Paris, no Instagram filter needed. Tickets are €11.50 and it’s open daily 9 AM to 7 PM (5 PM in winter). Hidden inside the Palais de Justice on Île de la Cité, this medieval masterpiece is easy to miss but impossible to forget.
Those 15 towering stained glass windows containing 1,113 Biblical scenes create this incredible kaleidoscope when sunlight streams through. I visited on a bright afternoon and literally gasped when I walked into the upper chapel – the jewel-toned light is absolutely magical. Each window tells different Biblical stories, so you can spend ages just following the narratives.
The lower chapel is darker and more intimate, but that upper level built for King Louis IX is what everyone comes for. This whole thing was constructed in just seven years (1242-1248) to house Christ’s Crown of Thorns – medieval engineering at its finest.
For the ultimate experience, try to catch one of the evening classical concerts here. The combination of medieval artistry, colored light, and music creates something pretty transcendent in the heart of Paris. Even without a concert, this is easily the most Instagram-worthy spot that actually delivers on the hype.
11. Place de la Concorde
Place de la Concorde is Paris’s most epic crossroads and honestly perfect for that “casually in Paris” Instagram shot. This massive octagonal plaza connects the Louvre, Tuileries Gardens, and Champs-Élysées – you’re literally standing at the center of everything touristy in Paris.
That 3,300-year-old Luxor Obelisk marks the exact spot where King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette lost their heads during the French Revolution. Kind of dark when you think about 1,119 people being guillotined right where tourists now take selfies, but that’s Paris history for you.
The two fountains inspired by Rome’s Piazza Navona are gorgeous, especially when they light up at night. I love how this square perfectly frames the Champs-Élysées stretching up to the Arc de Triomphe – it’s that classic Paris perspective you see in every movie.
Best time to visit is sunset when golden light bathes the whole plaza. The traffic is insane (this is still a major intersection), but the 18th-century urban planning creates these beautiful sight lines in every direction. You can easily spend an hour here just taking in how everything in central Paris connects through this one spectacular space.
12. Marais District
The Marais is where Paris gets real. This neighborhood in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements escaped Haussmann’s 19th-century makeover, so you get these narrow medieval streets leading to hidden courtyards and 16th-century mansions that most tourists never find.
Place des Vosges at the heart of the Marais is Paris’s oldest planned square and absolutely gorgeous with those red brick buildings and perfect symmetry. Victor Hugo lived at number 6, and the whole square has this amazing intimate feel despite being a major tourist draw.
The northern section around Rue des Rosiers houses Paris’s vibrant Jewish quarter – L’As du Fallafel creates lines down the block for good reason. I waited 20 minutes and it was worth every second. The mix of traditional Jewish culture with trendy boutiques and galleries creates this incredible energy.
I love how the Marais balances old and new perfectly – centuries-old buildings housing cutting-edge fashion boutiques, the Picasso Museum next to traditional bakeries, and those hidden courtyards where you can escape the crowds. It’s gentrified but still authentic, touristy but not sanitized. Plan to wander for hours because you’ll keep discovering new corners.
- Read next: Best Historic Sites in the World
- For more Marais exploration: Paris Guide: 13 Things to Do & Places to Go for Young Adults
