Activities and Sights in Paris

The Eiffel Tower, a wrought-iron landmark on the Champ de Mars, was built for the 1889 Exposition by Gustave Eiffel’s company. At 330 meters with antennas, it offers observation decks, a glass-floor first level, and restaurants. Expect security checks and queues; book timed tickets. Hourly sparkle after dark and sunset views are highlights.

The Louvre Museum, Paris's former royal palace and the world's most-visited art museum, houses masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory of Samothrace. Enter through I. M. Pei's glass pyramid. Collections span ancient civilizations to 19th-century Europe. Book timed tickets, expect crowds, and note the museum is closed Tuesdays.

Notre-Dame Cathedral is a landmark of French Gothic architecture on Île de la Cité, noted for its flying buttresses, sculpted portals, and 13th-century rose windows. Following the 2019 fire, restoration continues; interior access may be restricted. Visitors can admire the façade and towers from the parvis and riverside quays, and explore the nearby Archaeological Crypt.

Just outside Paris, the Palace of Versailles is a UNESCO World Heritage former royal residence known for the Hall of Mirrors, State Apartments, and vast formal gardens by André Le Nôtre. Reachable via RER C to Versailles Chateau - Rive Gauche. Book tickets in advance; closed Mondays. Allow time for the Trianon estates and seasonal fountain shows.

Sacré-Cœur Basilica crowns Montmartre, the highest point in Paris. Built 1875–1914 in Romano-Byzantine style, its white domes are a city landmark. Visit the vast mosaic of Christ in Glory inside. Entry to the church is free; a paid climb to the dome offers sweeping panoramas. Accessible by funicular or stairs.

The Champs-Élysées runs 1.9 km from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe at Place Charles de Gaulle, lined with shops, cafés, and cinemas. The Arc commemorates military victories and holds the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and eternal flame. A ticketed rooftop offers views. Events include the Bastille Day parade and Tour de France finish.

See Paris’s landmarks from the water on a Seine River cruise. Typical routes pass the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, Île de la Cité, and Notre-Dame. Options include daytime sightseeing, evening illumination, and dinner cruises with onboard commentary or audio guides. Departures run regularly from central quays; standard trips last about one hour.

Montmartre is a historic hilltop neighborhood in Paris’ 18th arrondissement, known for the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur, panoramic city views, and the artists’ square, Place du Tertre. Explore cobbled lanes, see the tiny Clos Montmartre vineyard, and descend toward cabarets like the Moulin Rouge. A funicular helps with the climb; crowds peak at sunset.

Housed in a former Beaux-Arts railway station on the Left Bank, the Musee d'Orsay showcases French art from 1848 to 1914. Its renowned Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collections include works by Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh, and Gauguin. Highlights include the grand clock, sculpture galleries, and Seine views toward the Louvre.

The Latin Quarter, on Paris’s Left Bank, is the historic student district around the Sorbonne. Wander medieval lanes like Rue Mouffetard, browse secondhand bookshops, and pause in classic cafés. Highlights include the Panthéon, the Cluny Museum, and Roman Arènes de Lutèce, with the Jardin du Luxembourg nearby. Lively nightlife and affordable eateries abound.

Sainte-Chapelle is a 13th‑century Rayonnant Gothic royal chapel on Île de la Cité, commissioned by Louis IX and consecrated in 1248 to house Passion relics. It features towering stained‑glass walls—15 windows around 15 meters high depicting biblical scenes—and a late‑15th‑century rose window. Two stacked chapels. Enter via the Palais de Justice; timed tickets and security apply.

The Centre Pompidou is Paris’s landmark of high-tech architecture, designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers. It houses the Musée National d’Art Moderne, one of Europe’s largest modern and contemporary art collections, plus a vast public library. Ride the exterior escalators for city views, explore major temporary exhibitions, and linger on the lively piazza outside.