Paris is the kind of city that pulls you back — not because of the marketing, but because every corner hides art, architecture and flavors that nowhere else on earth can replicate. To be honest, Paris is crowded, queues are long, and you need to watch for pickpockets on the Metro and in tourist areas. Plan carefully, book tickets in advance, and Paris will deliver far more than you expected.
#1 Eiffel Tower
Paris's undisputed landmark — a 330-metre iron tower completed in 1889 for the World Fair that became the most-visited structure on earth. Ride the lift to the second floor or the summit for a 360-degree view over the entire city. Every hour after dark, 20,000 lights flash and sparkle for 5 minutes straight, one of the most striking spectacles in Europe. Be warned: queues in summer are brutal.
- Always book tickets online in advance at the official site tour-eiffel.fr — walk-up queues at the gate can run 2 to 3 hours
- If budget is tight, the second-floor view is nearly as impressive as the summit and costs noticeably less
- The Sparkle Show starts on the hour every hour from dusk to midnight and is free to watch from the Champ de Mars lawn
#2 Louvre Museum
The largest and most-visited museum in the world, housing more than 35,000 works across 72,000 square metres of galleries. The headline pieces are Leonardo's Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace — but trying to see everything would take 8 to 10 hours of walking and you still would not finish. The smarter move is to pick 3 or 4 rooms you genuinely care about and go deep rather than speed-walking past everything.
- Book tickets in advance at ticketlouvre.fr every time — entry is free for under-18s and EU passport holders
- The Louvre app's digital map guides you to the Mona Lisa room quickly without getting lost
- Closed Tuesdays; open until 9:45 pm on Fridays, when crowds are much thinner than during the day
#3 Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur Basilica
The hillside district in the 18th arrondissement that was once home to Picasso, Dali and Toulouse-Lautrec. At the summit stands the white Byzantine Sacre-Coeur Basilica, completed in 1914, offering the best free panoramic view of Paris without spending a cent. The surrounding lanes are full of cafes, artists' studios and Place du Tertre, where painters still set up easels and sell work to visitors every day. The atmosphere is genuinely romantic, though scammers operate in the area — stay alert.
- Climb the steps from Anvers station or take the Funicular for the price of one Metro ticket — much easier if you're travelling with older adults or young children
- Place du Tertre is full of working artists, but watch out for anyone who tries to tie a friendship bracelet on your wrist without asking first and then demands payment
- The best view is from the terrace in front of Sacre-Coeur at no cost — entering the basilica itself costs an extra 8 euros
#4 Palace of Versailles
The grandest palace in Europe, built by Louis XIV over more than 50 years. The 73-metre Hall of Mirrors lined with 357 panes of glass, the 800-hectare formal French gardens and the Grand Trianon are things you need to see in person at least once. A UNESCO World Heritage Site drawing more than 15 million visitors a year, it is the most crowded single attraction in France — plan more time than you think you need.
- Buy the Passport ticket in advance at chateauversailles.fr for 21 euros — it covers the main palace and gardens and lets you skip queues that can stretch hundreds of metres
- Closed Tuesdays; on Wednesdays and Saturdays from May to October the gardens host Les Grandes Eaux Musicales (musical fountains), with an additional 10-euro entry fee
- Allow at least half a day, ideally a full day — arrive early enough to be at the gates before 9 am
#5 Notre-Dame de Paris
The most celebrated Gothic cathedral in the world, built from 1163 and fully restored after the 2019 fire — it reopened to visitors in late 2024 with a new spire that is even more striking than the original. The rose windows and gargoyle sculptures reward a close look. Interior visits now require advance booking due to capacity limits, but the exterior can be admired for free at any time.
- Book interior entry tickets in advance at notredamedeparis.fr — capacity is controlled and slots sell out fast
- The Ile de la Cite surrounding the cathedral is always accessible; Pont de l'Archeveche along the riverbank offers a superb view
- Combine the visit with the nearby Sainte-Chapelle, which has the finest stained-glass windows in Paris
#6 Musee d-Orsay and the Seine
The greatest Impressionist art collection in the world, housed inside the former Gare d'Orsay railway station on the banks of the Seine. It holds more than 3,000 works by Monet, Picasso, Degas, Renoir and Van Gogh. The main Impressionism galleries on the fifth floor look out through the dome clock windows to the Seine and the Louvre on the opposite bank — a view that is itself worth the trip. For anyone who loves art, this is the best-value museum in Paris.
- The Paris Museum Pass is accepted here without queuing — if you plan to visit three or more museums it pays for itself easily
- Always check opening days before you go — closed Tuesdays, open until 9:45 pm on Thursdays
- A Bateaux Mouches river cruise on the Seine in the evening after the museum is a natural pairing — the illuminated buildings on both banks are spectacular
Where to stay in Paris for this trip
A well-located hotel means less commuting and more sightseeing. Here are real, top-rated stays in Paris — compare Agoda · Booking · Trip.com in one click.
Shangri-La Paris
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Hôtel Barrière Le Fouquet's
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Disneyland Hotel (Paris)
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Hotel Le Walt
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Tours, tickets & activities in Paris
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Paris — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Before You Pack
Paris is at its most beautiful in spring (April to June) when chestnut trees bloom along the boulevards, and in autumn (September to November) when the weather turns pleasantly cool. Plan at least 4 to 5 days to cover all the highlights, and pick up a Paris Museum Pass if you intend to visit several museums.