Paris Travel Guide

March - DecemberFranceEUR

Historic Landmarks

Shopping

Museums & Galleries

Paris should be on everyone's travel bucket list. One of the most romantic destinations in Europe, the city's tree-lined boulevards, limestone buildings, and curling Seine river has summoned travelers across the ages. You have to see Paris at least once. Especially at dusk, when legendary landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre-Coeur, and the Arc de Triomphe light up its skyline, the entire city seems to glow. No wonder Paris is nicknamed 'the City of Lights'.

Exploring the nooks and crannies of this city will leave you in awe. There's something for everyone here. Art lover? Once you're done with the Louvre, make a start on the Musée d'Orsay or Musée de l'Orangerie. For many Impressionist artists, Paris was home and the subject of their work. After you look at their paintings, as you step outside, you'll almost expect the streets to be made of brushstrokes. If you like retail therapy, look no further than the Galeries Lafayette, Avenue des Champs-Élysées, or the Marais. In Paris, fashion is less about clothes and more a way of life. History buffs won't be able to walk a block without uncovering a monument to Napoleon, the revolution, or Louis XIV. For foodies, Paris is heaven itself. Known for bread, wine, and cheese, you'll have to tear your eyes and stomach away from the patisserie windows and market stands.

However, whatever your interest, Paris is made for walking and looking. Each neighborhood, or arrondissement, has a unique personality and atmosphere, so be sure to immerse yourself in as many of them as possible. Hilly Montmartre is not to be missed, capped by the Sacre-Coeur, and lined with ivy-clad buildings. Also worth a visit is trendy St-Germain and the historically significant Bastille. After your exploring, shopping, eating, and art-admiring is done for the day, you'll want to grab a bottle of that exquisite French wine and head back to the Eiffel Tower or the banks of the Seine. The glittering lights and rhythm of the city around you make you feel like you're at the center of the universe. The real reason they say Paris is the 'City of Love' is that you'll be guaranteed to fall for it.

Must See Attractions in Paris

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower dominates the Parisian skyline. The site of hundreds of marriage proposals and countless declarations of love, the top of the Eiffel Tower is one of the most romantic places in the world. As Paris unfurls below you, it's hard not to be swept up in the feeling. Built for a World's Fair in 1889, the Eiffel Tower was intended to be a temporary installation, but the city embraced the iron structure, and it stayed. One writer even called the tower "a spectacular hymn to science and progress." Over the following century, the tower was the site of science experiments, parachute jumps, the French Resistance, movie sets, and even a plane crash. The tower became synonymous with Paris, and one of the most iconic monuments in the world. If you don't go to the Eiffel Tower, can you even say you've been to Paris?

Louvre Museum

Home to Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the Louvre is the mecca of all art museums, a literal palace of art. A sprawling complex of antiquities, paintings, objets d'art, and sculpture, the Louvre collection holds more than 350,000 artworks, making it the largest museum in the world. You could easily spend all day or even all week wandering the Louvre. In fact, to see every single piece of art for just 30 seconds, you'd need at least 100 days. But even if you only have an hour or two, you should see inside the Louvre. As well as the famed Mona Lisa, a chance to see the ancient Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo, and other super celebrity artworks is more than worth the entry price.

Arc de Triomphe

More than merely a pretty vantage point for photographs, the Arc is arguably the most important French National icon. Originally built by Napoleon in 1806, to celebrate France's victory at the Battle of Austerlitz, the arc has since become a symbol of French national fervor. Throughout history, the Arc has been the rallying point for French military parades and even the start of significant funeral processions. When the Allied Forces, including Americans, reclaimed Paris in 1945, they too marched below the Arc. The top of the Arc de Triomphe has some of the best views across Paris, especially at night. Head to the viewing platform and spot some of the city's most iconic highlights below, including the Champs-Elysées and the Sacré-Coeur.

Les Invalides

'Les Invalides' is a shortened form of 'Hôpital des Invalides'. Built during the second half of the 17th century, Les Invalides was a military hospital for wounded and disabled soldiers. Today it serves as Paris's military museum and the final resting place of Napoleon. Beneath the iconic gold dome of the building is a circular room with Napoleon's tomb at its center. The museum also boasts an impressive collection of French military memorabilia, including armor and weapons. Wander through the central courtyard, and you'll find well-preserved bronze cannons from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Montmartre

The area of Montmartre has a long history, dating all the way back to a time when druids worshipped at the top of the sacred hill. Fast forward a few hundred years after the executions and the French Revolution, until finally, in 1860, the village became part of the city of Paris. In the late 19th century, Montmartre began to attract a great number of painters and other artists. Today, Montmartre is capped by the magnificent Sacre-Coeur Basilica, which is the main draw of this area of Paris. As you walk up Paris's steepest quarter, you'll notice the winding streets are lined with buildings draped in ivy. At the basilica, you'll be rewarded with incredible views of the city. Montmartre has more to offer than the basilica and grandiose views - it's also known for its vineyards and quaint village squares that rise above the rest of the city.

Musée d'Orsay

Musée d'Orsay is housed inside the former Orsay train station, originally built for the 1900 World's Fair. Used as an actual train station for a short time during the war, the station became an official museum in the 1970s. The building itself is an art nouveau masterpiece, and inside you'll find even more artistic treasures. You'll get to explore France's national collection of the impressionist, post-impressionist, and art nouveau movements taking place from 1848 to 1914. The painting collection should be at the top of your priority list, as you'll find works by Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir, and more.

Palais Garnier

Designed in 1860 by Charles Garnier, a visit to this ornate opera house is a luxurious experience you won't want to miss. The Palais Garnier (opera house) is located in the aristocratic 9th arrondissement and was opened in 1875. It quickly became the place to be seen for the upper class of 19th century Paris. Even if you don't attend an opera, you can visit the theatre and tour its spectacular interior. Garnier's sweeping staircase and grand foyer give even the grandeur of Versailles a run for its money. However, the most talked-about feature of the opera house is the ceiling in its auditorium. In the 1960s, the original ceiling was replaced by one painted by modern artist, Marc Chagall. Dreamy, child-like, and in complete contrast to the luxe auditorium around it, no-one has ever agreed if the ceiling is one of Paris' worst mistakes or greatest achievements.

Headstones at Pere Lachaise cemetery in Paris

Père Lachaise Cemetery

Established in 1804, the Pere Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Paris - and the most visited cemetery in the world, drawing over 3.5 million visitors each year. There are over 70,000 tombs. Walking through the cemetery today is like walking through a sculpture garden, each tomb strangely beautiful in its own right. The headstones span from Gothic-looking mausoleums to simple crosses. The cemetery is the resting place of many significant figures from both France and around the world, including 1960s rock star Jim Morrisson and infamous French singer Edith Piaf.

Sainte-Chapelle

Located within the Palace de la Cite, this Gothic chapel was consecrated in 1248. Originally built by Louis IX to house his collection of holy Christian relics, including Christ's Holy Crown of thorns. The real treasure here, though, is the chapel's violet-colored stained glass windows. We recommend that you visit Sainte-Chapelle when the sun is shining, as that's when you'll get to enjoy the stained glass at its best. The chapel boasts 15 windows that are each 15 meters high, displaying over 1000 scenes from the Old and New Testaments. It is truly a sight to behold.

Catacombs of Paris

During the 18th century, the city of Paris was plagued with public health concerns caused by overflowing cemeteries. To resolve the issue, bodies were exhumed from graves and moved underground, forming the Catacombs. Consecrated in 1786, the Catacombs were opened to the public in 1809. When you visit the Catacombs today, you'll be astonished by the sheer number of skulls and bones that decorate the ossuary. After climbing 20 meters down 131 steps into a network of dark underground tunnels, you'll reach the ossuary where the skulls and bones are delicately arranged in the walls. This sobering display will fascinate you as you learn about where the bodies were taken from and how the Catacombs became what they are today.

Galeries Lafayette

One of the most famous department stores in the world, the Galeries Lafayette Haussman is one of the most visited sites in Paris. The beautiful Art Nouveau building is capped by a majestic stained-glass dome, and the merchandise inside is a luxurious bazaar of everything you can imagine. If you're not into shopping, you can take in a fashion show, visit the gourmet emporium, catch a modern art exhibition, or head up to the terrace to enjoy a panoramic view of Paris with a cup of tea in hand. Places like Galeries Lafayette are the reason why shopping has become such a distinct part of Parisian culture.

Optional Day Trips from Paris

Chateau de Versailles

When it comes to palaces, Versailles is a showstopper. A sprawling, bejeweled chateau just outside of Paris, nowhere compares to Versailles. This is the palace of the Sun King, Louis XIV, and the palace that ushered in the French baroque era and set the literal gold standard for royals across Europe. Gilded, dazzling, and sumptuous to the point of decadence, Versailles also saw the ruin of the French monarchy. In 1789, the near-starving people of France were infuriated by the royal expenditures, and raided the palace, forcing out Louis XVI, and his wife, the notorious Marie Antoinette. This act kicked off the start of the French revolution. On your visit to Versailles, you'll be overwhelmed by the beauty and opulence of its Hall of Mirrors, Grand Royal Apartments, and its spiraling, fountain splashed formal gardens. Versailles is an unmissable stop on your European trip if you're at all interested in the rich history of France, or the history of rich people in France.

Giverny and the House of Monet

If you know the paintings of Claude Monet, you absolutely must make a pilgrimage to Giverny. Monet passed his retirement in this tiny Normandy village, and his house is preserved as it was when he died. Monet adored color, and his passion was not limited to the canvas. The house and gardens are like a living work of art, resplendent with the greens, blues, and violets that Monet so loved. Monet's garden features the ponds and Japanese bridge that inspired his now immortal Waterlily series. As you wander the gardens, you will feel as if you're floating inside a painting. Needless to say, regardless of the weather, the light in the gardens is perfect. A trip to Monet's house is everything you could hope it would be.

Fontainebleau

Set in a deep, dark forest, the Palace of Fontainebleau began life as a humble hunting lodge for French royalty in the 12th century. Over time the palace blossomed into a luxurious palace that for 100 years served as the seat of the French Royal Court. Under the Emperorship of Napoleon, the palace was renovated until it was fit for a pope. Specifically, Pope Pius VII, who visited in 1804. Less well known than Versailles, but just as glitzy, the Fountainbleau château is the perfect place to visit for those interested in touring a typical French Palace while avoiding long lines and large crowds. Some say the gardens and grounds are even more lovely than Versailles. The forest is especially compelling, as you can roam the many hiking paths and indulge in a kingly solitude.

Chantilly

Just north of Paris is the elegant town of Chantilly, home to the Domaine de Chantilly. This château was so lavish that its kitchens are credited with being the birthplace of whipped cream, known by some as 'Chantilly cream'. Used as an extravagant hunting lodge, Domaine de Chantilly once kept the largest stables in Europe. Legend tells that the owner of the Domaine de Chantilly, the Duc de Bourbon, had a superstition he would be reincarnated as a horse. Consequently, he asked his architect to build a 'horse palace' opposite the main house, so he would have accommodations fitting his rank. Today this is the Museum of the Living Horse. On your tour of Chantilly, you can stop in at the museum and witness an unforgettable equestrian performance.