Tours Paris
The French capital of Paris is full of imposing monuments and not-to-be-missed sights. The city is bustling with life andthere is always something to do, taste or visit. Therefore, it is difficult to choose what to visit.
1. Climb the Eiffel Tower
No Paris without Eiffel Tower. It is not only the most famous monument of the city, but also of the whole country and it is even one of the most visited monuments in the world. Already since its opening in 1889, the structure has attracted millions of people every year who want to admire the extraordinary metal structure. Of course, you can also take the elevator up the stairs to the observation platforms for an extraordinary view over the city. Read more about our visit to the Eiffel Tower and how to skip the (laaaaan long) queues + our tip on where to find the “secret floor” of the Eiffel Tower.
2. The Notre Dame
The Notre Dame is one of the most famous monuments in Paris next to the Eiffel Tower. The cathedral is a good example of French Gothic architecture and is still one of the largest cathedrals in France. Inside you can see the beautiful rose windows and valuable relics, but also the facade of the building with its tower spires, religious statues and many gargoyles impresses.
3. Sainte-Chapelle
Need an alternative to the Notre-Dame? Then be sure to visit the Sainte-Chapelle, next to the Palais de Justice on the Ile de Cité. This chapel has beautiful stained glass windows and the beautiful dome, is a handsome piece of architecture that you should definitely visit. Read more about the Sainte-Chapelle in dee separate blog.
4. Père-Lachaise
Maybe Père-Lachaise doesn’t really sound like a must-see attraction at first, but did you know that this is the most visited cemetery in the world? Not only is the size of the cemetery impressive, you can also find the final resting places of celebrities such as Jim Morrison, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde and Fréderic Chopin. Even the lesser-known names have particularly eccentric tombs and beautiful tombs. A special place where you can wander around for hours!`
5. The Sacré-Coeur
The Sacré-Coeur at Montmartre can be seen from many places in Paris. This particular white basilica was built as a memorial to Christian martyrs. The view from the church is very special. There is a large staircase that leads through a park to the basilica and in the foreground is an old carousel. At the top of the stairs you have a nice view of the city. The streets of Montmartre around the basilica are also worth a visit.
6. Arc de Triomphe
One of the most important figures in the history of Paris is of course Napoleon. At the beginning of the nineteenth century Napoleon had a triumphal arch built in honor of his numerous victories. This Arc de Triomphe is now the third largest triumphal arch in the world and still the largest in Europe. The extraordinary structure standsat the center of a roundabout where no fewer than twelve busy streets meet, including the Champs-Elysées. Did you know that you can climb the Arc de Triomphe yourself?
7. The Champs-Elysées
The Champs-Élysées is the most famous street in Paris and is called “la plus belle avenue de monde” by the French themselves. Along the boulevard you will find many luxury shops, but also ordinary stores, theaters and cafes. At the end of the Champs-Élysées, you end up in the square where you find the Arc de Triomphe.
8. Dôme des Invalides
Not far from the Arc de Triomphe is the Dôme des Invalides built with its very recognizable golden dome. The Les Invalides military hospital is an extraordinary structure where veterans have been cared for for years. Today you will find here special museums that give you an insight on military history of France and the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. Read how to visit the Dôme des Invalides yourself.
9. Les Jardins du Luxembourg
.
The Luxembourg garden is a beautiful urban park where you can escape the hustle and bustle of the capital for a while. It is the most beautiful urban park in Paris full of beautiful terraces, a beautiful pond and several impressive statues. In addition, there is also a lot to do in the park. You can play tennis here, catch a theater performance in the open-air cafe or even learn how to become a beekeeper.
10. The Louvre
The Louvre is the largest museum in the world and also houses one of the most precious collections in the world. It is where you come face to face with the world-famous Mona Lisa. In addition, the Louvre overflows with other world-famous paintings and sculptures that have earned a special place in European art history. Read how to skip the queues at the Louvre in our blog.
11. Musée d’Orsay
On the other side of the Seine just across from the Louvre, you’ll find the smaller Musée d’Orsay. This old nineteenth-century train station is a work of art in itself, but inside you’ll find a lot of famous impressionist works by artists like Renoir, Monet and van Gogh. You can still see that the building used to be a train station, the big station clock still hangs there for example. Would you like to visit Musée d’Orsay? Read here how to book your tickets.
12. The Palace of Versailles
.
The Palace of Versailles is not located in Paris itself, but in the town of Versailles, about twenty kilometers outside the French capital. Versailles and Paris are well connected by public transport and this makes Versailles the ideal day trip from the capital. The palace and its meticulously landscaped gardens were one of the most important places in French history. You can still admire the riches of the monarchs who lived there between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries. The most beautiful room is the Galerie des Glaces. Read all about our visit to the Castle of Versailles.
13. La Madeleine
La Madeleine is an extraordinary church from the eighteenth century and still one of the most famous churches in Paris.
14. Centre Pompidou
The Centre Pompidou is perhaps one of the most striking buildings in Paris. Colored tubes and escalators line the entire exterior of the museum. The building is turned inside out, so to speak. The outside is impressive, but inside you will find masterpieces of modern art, such as Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain and the painting International Klein Blue by Yves Klein.
15. Catacombs of Paris
Above ground, there is more than enough to see in Paris, but did you know that underneath all the great monuments of Paris, there is another special sight to see? The old limestone quarries under the city were used in the eighteenth century as a repository for the bones and skulls of the deceased who could no longer be laid to rest in the city’s existing cemeteries. Thus was born the catacombs of Paris. A small part of these tunnels can be visited. It is a completely different view of Paris! Read all the info here if you also want to discover the underworld of Paris (literally).
16. Moulin Rouge
The red mill on the roof of the theater Moulin Rouge in the Montmartre district is anotherordinary icon of Paris. The Moulin Rouge theater has been hosting revue performancessince 1889 and is the birthplace of the French Cancan.
It has been around since the late 19th century, but you can still enjoy an impressive show full of glitter and feathers in the evening with a nice meal and a bottle of champagne. All the info about a show at the Moulin Rouge. If you prefer to go to a show at Le Lido, read all about it in our separate blog.
17. The Town Hall
The Hôtel de Ville is the town hall of Paris from where the city has been governed since the fourteenth century. The building is located on a large square with fountains where in the winter there is a skating rink and a Christmas market. The inside of the building looks as special as the exterior. Among other things, you will find the Salle des Fêtes, a replica of the Galerie des Glaces of Versailles.
18. Opéra Garnier
. . . The Seine that runs through Paris is the actual heart of the city. So get on a boat and navigate the water and see the city’s important monuments glide by in front of you. You’ll pass the Eiffel Tower and the Notre-Dame, among others, and you’ll sail under several centuries-old bridges. Walk the promenades along the river at night, too, and enjoy the lights of the city that give the Seine a romantic feel. The Galeries Lafayette is an extremely expensive department store in the heart of Paris where you can find only the most expensive items from the biggest names. Not worth a visit if you’re not planning to spend that much money? Definitely not! The building is as richly decorated as the clothes and accessories and is definitely worth a visit. In particular, the ceiling is very impressive. . By the way, these cats are not up for adoption as is the case in many other cat cafes.You can’t make reservations here, so it’s a bit of a gamble trying to see if there is room at the time. Not in the mood for the typical tourist attractions of Paris? Have you already seen the Louvre and co? Then this Grande Mosqée de Paris is really a good idea to visit. The building itself is beautiful and for that reason alone it is really worth a visit to this mosque. But, don’t let the exterior alone guide you. This mosque is also a must-see on the inside. Yes, as a woman you may also enter the mosque. You pay a ticket like everyone else (3 euros at the time of writing). Just make sure your shoulders and legs are covered. As soon as you step in here, the mosque reminds you of the Alhambra: that’s because of the Moorish style that was also used in this mosque. For the minaret they looked at the minaret in Fez, so the two are like two peas in a pod. Everywhere you see beautiful mosaics in the smallest details. Truly a feast for the eyes. This courtyard is beautiful! And just because the mosque is not visited by thousands of tourists a day, it is still fairly quiet. You imagine yourself in another world here for a while. Do not leave without visiting the tea house: here you can sit outside at the nice tables. There are many trees and umbrellas, so it is also ideal to do a terrace visit during a heat wave. This street will probably be familiar to you if you follow some influencers on Instagram: it is one of the most Instagrammable streets in Paris. Not hard of course: the street looks so nice with the different colored houses and plants everywhere. . You probably know the Petit Palais by heart: this building was built by the World Fair in Paris, but houses another hidden location that few tourists know about: the garden! Here you can also have a drink or enjoy a small snack in peace. In itself, le Petit Palais is already a stately and beautiful building: here you will find floors of marble, mosaics and a wonderful art collection. And: it’s completely free. Also, be sure to sit in the garden while you’re visiting and soak up the sun together with the palm trees. This bridge is there. Maybe the Pont Bir Hakeim looks very familiar to you? It could well be: this bridge also appears in the movie ‘Inception’. This bridge connects the 15th and 16th arrondissements. From this bridge you have a very nice view of the Eiffel Tower. . This is not only where the home games of ‘les Bleus’ (the French national soccer team) take place, you can also come here to watch a rugby match or the great rock stars of the world (AC/DC and the Stones have performed here before). Please note that these tours are only limited in numbers so be sure to book your tour in advance! In the tenth arrondissement of Paris you will find the Canal Saint-Martin. Less known and popular than the Seine, but we the favorite spot of many locals and young people to come and relax. People gather here to enjoy a beautiful sunny day, crack a bottle of wine, listen/make music or just hang out. So it can be enjoyable to come and have a picnic here. There are also cool restaurants or bars to be found. Today the canal has no function anymore, but in the 19th century it was an important connection between north and south. The Museum of Modern Art, or Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, has a collection of more than 13,000 works, making it one of the largest museums of modern art in France. It is located in the 16th arrondissement. There is a permanent collection at the museum that presents the main artistic trends starting from the 20th century to the present day. Famous names you’ll find here are Picasso, Chagall, Boltanski, Dufy, Derain, Modigliani… The showpiece of the Musée d’Art moderne is undoubtedly La Fée Electricité. This is a gigantic and colorful and luminous painting created by Dufy for the 1937 World’s Fair. The permanent collection is free to visit. . In the Montmartre district, near the Sacre Coeur, you will find the love wall or ‘le Mur des je t’aime’. This wall was built in 2000 and is a very nice place where many people stop to take a picture. This wall is made of blue tiles that have I love you written on them in many languages. Most people go here to look for their own language, take some pictures or rest on the benches around it. A nice spot to relax. . Vive la République, visit the Statue of Liberty of Paris! Yes, you read that right, not only New York has a Statue of Liberty. In 1878 the World Fair was organized for a third time in Paris. One of the showpieces of this exhibition was a piece of the Freedom Statue that the French had given as a gift to America, namely the head of the Statue of Liberty.` Since then, the Freedom Statue has left its mark on Paris: there are still three statues in the Musée d’Orsay and one – the most striking – on the Pont de Grenelle. So be sure to go take a look if you’re in the area! The Natural History Museum of Paris is located on a particularly beautiful estate, Les Jardins Des Plantes. Inside, you’ll find several floors, including the Grande Galerie where you’ll find a lot of mounted animals from all over the world. You will find giant skeletons of mammoths and dinosaurs, but also of the smallest creatures like butterflies or fish. There is also a special exhibition for children (for which you need a separate ticket). This museum is really a must do with kids! There is a lot to experience and see. The beautiful Château de Vincennes, or the Château de Vincennes, is the most important French royal castle that still exists today. Built from the 14th to the 16th century, the castle has a long andinteresting history. For example, it was the royal residence of Louis XIV until 1682, but it also served as a porcelain factory, prison and even a cemetery. You can visit the extraordinary Château de Vincennes and take a look at the royal residence for yourself. What do you get to see during your visit? Of course the castle itself, the moats, the interior… but also the Sainte-Chapelle de Vincennes, a chapel with beautiful stained-glass windows and the beautiful wooded area, the Bois de Vincennes, a large forest where the castle is located. You can also take a segway tour through the forest to discover the area in a special way. Furthermore, you can hike, picnic … but especially relax. There is also a beautiful botanical garden that you can discover. Enough to fill a day! Paris has many attractions and you want to visit as many as possible. A good way to do that is with a hop-on hop-off bus. You might be among a lot of other tourists, but it is really practical. The range of hop-on hop-offs in Paris is very large, but the three main and best providers are Foxity, Les Cars Rouges and L’open bus tour. If you’re visiting Paris in the fall or in the winter, we recommend Foxity. This company has a heated upper deck and the other hop-on hop-off buses don’t have that. (On the other buses, the upper deck is open and thus very cold in the winter). The disadvantage of the Foxity hop-on-hop-off buses is that they run a little less often compared to the other buses. Children may free along! The hop-on-hop-off buses of Les Cars Rouges (also known as Big Bus Paris) pass by the most popular sights of Paris. There are two routes to choose from: one goes through Le Montmartre with sights like the Sacré-Coeur and the Moulin Rouge and the other takes you to the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, the Opéra Garnier, Musée d’Orsay, the Champs-Elysées and Notre Dame. Tickets are also payable for children. L’open bus tour runs all over the city. Compared to other providers, with this company you will find a much diverse offer including the possibility of visitingless known parts of the city. Therefore, L’Open Bus Tour is highly recommended if you have ever been to Paris!
The Opéra Garnier is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. Nowadays, mostly ballet performances are held there. The building is extravagantly decorated both inside and out. Visiting the Opéra Garnier during a performance is of course extra special. There are many myths and stories surrounding the building, the most famous of which is the story of the Phantom of the Opera. Attending an opera? Read here how it can be done.
The Pantheon is easily overlooked by tourists, but the impressive building is definitely worth a visit. In the nineteenth century it was designed as a church, but was soon converted into a tomb where famous and important Frenchmen found their final resting place. Be sure to climb the dome, from where you have a beautiful view over the city.
You will find here the tombs of:
20. The Seine
21. Galeries Lafayette
22. The cat cafe of Paris
If you love cats, you should definitely not miss this cat cafe. This cat cafe is a bit hidden in the Rue Sedaine, but it is definitely worth a visit. You can have a drink, eat a pastry and of course enjoy the antics of the cats.23. The Great Mosque
23.1 Are women allowed inside?
23.2 Mosaic everywhere
23.3 Must-see: the courtyard garden
24. Instagram hotspot: la Rue Crémieux
Give the neighbors some peace and quiet
Very nice: such a super-instagrammable street, a little less top for the neighbors. So be sure to check out this little street and marvel at the antics of gentlemen and ladies Instagrammers, but keep in mind that people also live here.25. Petit Palais (+ the hidden garden)
Relaxing in le Petit Palais
26. Pont de Bir-Hakeim
27. Visiting the Stade de France
27.1 Multipurpose stadium
27.2 Book your tour in advance
28. Canal Saint Martin
29. Musée d’Art moderne
30. Fondation Louis Vuitton
Located in the Jardin d’Acclimatation you will find the museum Fondation Louis Vuitton. The building was designed by Frank Gehry on behalf of the founder of Fondation Luis Vuitton, Bernand Arnault. His goal was to donate an iconic building to Paris where art and culture are central. The exterior of the Fondation alone is very impressive thanks to its glass panels, but the art collection you will find inside is also a must-see. Fondation Louis Vuitton exhibits a wonderful collection of modern and contemporary art in the form of abstract art, video, performances… So plan a visit and get lost in the extraordinary building. By the way, did you know that the building is actually designed to let visitors get a little lost? Exciting!31. Le mur des je t’aime
32. Parc des Buttes-Chaumont
The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is a bit outside the familiar zone of most visitors to Paris, but it is undoubtedly worth going there. First and foremost, this city park offers beautiful views of Paris, for example you get a view of the Sacre Coeur. The park is beautiful green and hilly with waterfalls, bridges, rocks … In the middle of the park you will find a beautiful look and there are also romantic walkways, the temple of Sibylle and around every corner another cozy place. Go here for a walk if you have time, something else than the typical Paris!33. The Statue of Liberty of Paris
34. Muséum national d’histoire naturelle
35. Day trip to Château de Vincennes
36. Hop-on Hop-off Paris
Foxity
Les Cars Rouges
L’open bus tour
