Visit Paris: what to do and what to see during a first visit to the capital? Discover the essential activities!
Ah Paris ... French capital of gastronomy and love, Paris enjoys an incomparable historical and cultural heritage. This is what the millions of tourists who visit Paris each year appreciate. But it is not enough to be a foreigner to love Paris, because even when living in the capital, it is not uncommon to be surprised by discovering or rediscovering one of the wonders that the city has to offer.
With so much to see and do in Paris, it's hard to draw up a list that goes straight to the point while having a realistic experience of all that Paname has to offer. We have nevertheless selected the crème de la crème of Paris with some famous places, others off the beaten track, to help you plan a long weekend or a few days' stay in the capital.
Ready to discover authentic Paris? Let's go !
1. The Louvre
The Louvre is none other than the best art museum in the world but also the most visited . With 210,000 m² of exhibitions, where we find works from almost all the civilizations of the world, it is also the largest.
The three most popular works here are Mona Lisa , the Venus of Milo and the Victory of Samothrace . Beyond these essentials, the best thing to do is to know where you are going, and what you want to see first. But don't be afraid of getting lost, as you could come across something memorable!
Anyway, it will be necessary to return more than once to know all the secrets of the Louvre Museum !
2. Follow the reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris
But what to do in Paris? Standing above Place Jean-Paul-II (forecourt) on the Ile de la Cité, Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral is the symbolic heart of Paris and, for many, that of France.
Napoleon was crowned here, and many kings and queens exchanged vows before his altar. Before the terrible fire on April 15, 2019, you could come and discover the incredible interior of the Gothic cathedral, but also its exterior with its superb architectural details and the unforgettable view of Paris, between a few gargoyles, from the top of the south tower.
Begun in 1163, and completed in 1345, badly damaged during the Revolution, and restored by the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century, Notre-Dame is not the oldest or the largest cathedral in France, but in terms of beauty and architectural harmony, few are comparable.
Today, guided tours of Île de la Cité allow you to follow how Notre-Damee will be rebuilt and why it should be protected.
3. The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is to Paris what the Statue of Liberty is to New York and what Big Ben is to London : the ultimate emblem.
The French engineer Gustave Eiffel , already famous for the construction of viaducts and bridges, worked for two years to erect this emblematic monument of the Universal Exhibition of 1889. She also salutes the centenary of the French Revolution.
Today, it is certainly at night that it is most beautiful, when it is highlighted in a sparkling spectacle. The latter was not to be used until the year 2000, but it was so popular that the 20,000 bulbs were reinstalled for permanent use in 2003.
The Iron Lady performs her electric dance for five minutes every hour from dusk to one in the morning. Very visited, expect to queue to climb to the top!
4. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart
It's hard not to believe that you are going up to heaven when you visit the Sacré-Coeur Basilica , this white castle perched at the top of Montmartre. The French government ordered it in 1873, after the devastating years of the Paris Commune and the Franco-Prussian War.
It was the architect Paul Abadie who built the Sacred Heart, using elements of the Romanesque and Byzantine style for its design. Construction lasted until the First World War, and the basilica was finally consecrated in 1919.
Also Read: 19 Walks to Do Around Paris
5. The Arc de Triomphe
Stretch your legs and climb the 284 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe . Up there, you will have a breathtaking view of the Champs-Elysées and the arch of La Défense.
It is also a privileged place to observe the driving techniques of Parisians: the Place de l'Etoile roundabout is anarchic at times. Indeed, when there is an accident here, the fault is automatically shared 50/50 on the statement.
Back at the bottom of the arch, have a thought for the unknown soldier whose grave is under the Paris monument.
6. The Père-Lachaise cemetery
The Père-Lachaise cemetery is the cemetery of celebrities. Almost all of the talented and dead French people that can be cited are among others buried there.
Religious belief and nationality never prevented being buried there: the person simply had to have lived or died in Paris or have an allocated space in a family grave.
From Balzac to Chopin via Oscar Wilde (the tomb worn by the admirers' kisses), the hunt for talent is endless.
7. The Catacombs of Paris
Are you coming to visit Paris? Dare to descend into the bowels of the city! Visiting the Paris Catacombs is arguably the scariest attraction Paris has to offer, with miles of tunnels lined with femurs and skulls from six million deceased Parisians.
Built 18 meters underground at the end of the 18th century to prevent diseases from spreading in cemeteries in the city center, the Catacombs are now the scene of an icy walk.
8. The Musée d'Orsay
Sheltered since 1986 under the roof of one of the most beautiful stations in Paris, the recently renovated galleries of the Musée d'Orsay contain the largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world: Cézanne , Monet, Renoir, Manet, Van Gogh, Degas , Gaugin, and many others are exposed.
In addition to the works of the Grand Masters, you will find a collection of decorative art from the Art Nouveau era and a range of sculptures from the 19th century. Go relax at the cafe behind the museum's giant transparent clock.
9. The Luxembourg Garden
What to do in Paris to escape the hubbub of the capital? This 25 hectare park is an elegant way to escape the hustle and bustle of the Left Bank. Bordered by Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, these beautiful gardens are adored by Parisians who want to bask in a garden chair in the sun or enjoy an impromptu picnic.
Children of all ages can race small boats in the pool behind the Senate, take a stroll in the children's play area, watch a puppet show or take the city's oldest merry-go-round. Joggers come to run, while others come to walk in the orchard and the apiary, where beekeeping is taught and honey is sold in the fall. Do not miss the excellent art exhibitions at the renowned Musée du Luxembourg.
10. The Rodin Museum
Formerly the workshop of the great sculptor, this imposing 18th century residence is one of the most beautiful museums in Paris and contains more than 7000 sculptures by Rodin , including his great masterpieces such as Le penseur , Le baiser , Les bourgeois de Calais and La Porte de l'Enfer , alongside 8000 drawings and gouaches by the artist.
The charming grounds of the Rodin Museum, with a fountain, roses and a pleasant outdoor cafe, make it an ideal choice for spending a pleasant afternoon if you come to visit Paris. The museum also hosts special exhibitions and a cycle of exhibitions of contemporary works. After three years of renovations, the museum fully reopened in November 2015.
11. The Pompidou Center
At the cutting edge of progress, the Center Pompidou , whose framework of the museum is exposed outside the building, houses treasures of modern art by (among others) Braque, Dubuffet , Matisse and Ernst, as well as temporary exhibitions constantly changing art, so that two visits to the center are never identical.
Arrive early when the queues are still bearable, or arrive at 6 p.m. and stay until closing time at 9 p.m., after which Georges , the trendy Pompidou bar-restaurant, serves delicious cocktails in a futuristic setting with a panoramic view of the city.
12. Play boules along the Canal de l'Ourcq
The Canal de l'Ourcq, dating from the 19th century, was originally created by Napoleon to supply Paris with drinking water, but was widely used for the transport of goods.
Nowadays, like the Canal-St-Martin further downstream, the Canal de l'Ourcq attracts a trendy crowd, from students to thirties passing by young families, who come to play boules on the banks of the canal, picnic have a picnic by the water and even play ping-pong in the play areas.
13. The Louis Vuitton Foundation
Rising above the Bois de Boulogne like a magnificent vessel with wavy crystal sails, the museum of contemporary art and cultural center designed by the architect Frank Gehry , is the most captivating on the horizon since the unveiling of the Center Pompidou in 1977.
Commissioned by Bernard Arnault (CEO of LVMH), it houses Arnault's important private collection, including works by Pierre Huyghe, Gerhard Richter, Thomas Schütte, Ellsworth Kelly, Bertrand Lavier, Taryn Simon, Sarah Morris and Christian Boltanski, between other.
If you come to visit Paris and want to drop by the Louis Vuitton Foundation, know that it also hosts many temporary exhibitions, such as the installations of the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson .
14. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
There are many possibilities to walk in a park if you come to visit Paris, from the paths of the Jardin des Tuileries via the pools of the Jardin du Luxembourg. But if you are looking for something a little more unusual and less crowded, the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is definitely worth a visit.
Located high in Belleville and often forgotten by weekend enthusiasts who want not to stray too far from the tourist loop, this gem of the 19th arrondissement is one of the most magical places in the city.
15. Discover the vineyards of Montmartre
Are you looking for things to do in Paris? Take a break in the gardens of Renoir, a haven of peace overlooking the vineyards of Montmartre and where we find the only cabaret from the end of the 19th century, Au Lapin Agile .
The gardens have inspired many impressionist painters who have lived here, such as Valadon , Utrillo and of course, Renoir. If you are lucky, you will even meet Salis, the museum's friendly cat named after the founder of the cabaret Au Chat Noir.
16. Glide along the Seine on a Bateau-Mouche
The Seine is for some the most romantic side of Paris, so if you are visiting Paris as a couple, a Bateau-Mouche cruise will be fashionable. Its curves punctuated by bridges are bordered by some of the most beautiful monuments in the world, and its green quays offer it all the panoply to be on postcards.
It is by far the best way to see a maximum of monuments in an hour or two, if possible from a terrace of a Bateau-Mouche. Yes, they are touristy (to the point that most Parisians chase them irrevocably), but it is sometimes worth putting on your headphones and merging with the crowd of tourists to enjoy a good time in the heart of Paris.
17. The Covered Passages
More than old shopping centers, The Covered Passages around the Grand Boulevards are galleries with a special atmosphere dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Covered with a completely charming glass roof, their second-hand bookstores, their tea rooms and gift shops make them fun alternatives to Parisian shopping galleries.
We include the Galerie Vivienne and Passage Jouffroy, which houses the Musée Grévin , another must-see in Paris.
18. The Picasso Museum
This immensely popular museum revived in late 2014, when it finally reopened after an ambitious (and controversial) five-year renovation that cost around € 52 million. Home to the world's largest public collection of Picasso's inimitable work, it now covers nearly 5,000 m² in two buildings: the 17th-century Hôtel Salé and a new garden-side structure dedicated to temporary exhibitions.
The furniture exclusively designed by Diego Giacometti in the Hôtel Salé is an additional bonus.
19. The Marsh
By far the best shopping district in Paris, the Marais is much more than that. Located in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements, the old mansions, the superb museums (the Carnavalet museum, the Cognacq-Jay museum and the Picasso museum), the great restaurants, the cafes, the old Jewish quarter of Paris, and the beautiful Place des Vosges make the area an essential activity to do in Paris.
Walk the streets of Vieille du Temple and Franc Bourgeois, two of the backbones of the neighborhood, and discover the charming side streets and the many hidden pleasures of the neighborhood during your visit to Paris.
20. The Pantheon
The Pantheon in Paris sits on the Sainte-Geneviève mountain in the heart of the Latin Quarter . This neo-classical monument has been dedicated since the French Revolution to honor great figures who have marked the history of France.
If you are passing through Paris and you come to visit the Pantheon, you can see personalities buried there such as Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Louis Braille, Émile Zola, Jean Jaurès , Jean Moulin, Jean Monnet, Pierre and Marie Curie, or Alexandre Dumas .
21. The Opéra Garnier
Historic monument of the capital, the Opéra Garnier is a must to add to your list of things to do if you come to visit Paris.
Classified as a historic monument, you will be amazed by its magnificent facade, its large staircase and of course by its majestic performance hall with its 220m² canvas on the ceiling painted by Chagall.
22. The Montparnasse Tower
What to do in Paris to gain height? Head towards the Montparnasse Tower and thus benefit from a unique point of view!
Built between 1969 and 1973, the Montparnasse Tower has 58 floors, 25 elevators, and has a total area of 90,000 m². Not bad is not it ? Even if the entire skyscraper is intended for corporate offices, the 56 and 58 floors are open to the public.
23. The Sainte-Chapelle
Lovers of the Gothic style, simple curious or looking for a little freshness if you come to visit Paris during the summer, the Sainte-Chapelle is a real treasure located on the Ile de la Cité. Listed monument, it houses the Holy Crown of Thorns, a piece of the True Cross, as well as various other relics of the Passion.
Along with the Conciergerie , another must-see in the capital, the Sainte-Chapelle is one of the remains of the Palais de la Cité, which spanned the site covering the current courthouse.
24. The Hôtel des Invalides
The Hôtel des Invalides has always welcomed invalids since its construction ordered by Louis XIV, but also the Saint-Louis des Invalides cathedral, several museums including the Army Museum and a military necropolis with in particular the tomb of Napoleon I.
Designed by Libéral Bruand and Jules Hardouin-Mansart, it is one of the most important masterpieces of classical French architecture. So think about coming to visit it!
25. Do and see also in Paris and its surroundings
How to go to Paris?
Paris is certainly the best-served city in Europe, with 6 large train stations and two international airports. If you are leaving from France, Belgium or Switzerland, the train is certainly the best solution for getting to the capital.
If you are going to Paris by plane, you can compare flights on the website of our partner Skyscanner to find one at the best price.
Where to sleep in Paris?
The location where you will stay in Paris is important for optimizing your trips during your stay in the capital. That said, the Paris metro serving every corner of the city, you can visit the most famous monuments of Paris without having to stay near them.
Stay in Montmartre if you want to wake up in a neighborhood resembling a country village, and where the joy of living can be felt. Stay in the Latin Quarter (left bank) if you like history and the student spirit. Stay in Saint-Germain-des-Prés if you have the soul of a poet. La Motte Piquet Grenelle / Passy if you want to do like in the movies (near Eiffel Tower).
How to get around Paris?
Getting around Paris is really not complicated. The Paris metro meshes the entire city and you can get to it from one point to another fairly quickly and easily by taking 1 to 3 metro lines.
There are also buses, trams and taxis if you have to travel at night in particular. If you come to Paris by car, you should know that parking in the capital is a real headache.