Best Place to Visit in Paris

Paris rewards those who wander without a plan — but a little guidance doesn't hurt

Whether it's your first visit or your twentieth, Paris has a way of revealing something new around every corner. This guide covers the essential landmarks, the museums that justify the queues, the neighbourhoods that feel like villages, and the practical details that make the difference between a good trip and an unforgettable one.

Eiffel Tower

No amount of photographs can prepare you for the sheer scale of Gustave Eiffel's iron lattice masterpiece. The summit offers a 360-degree panorama of the entire city, but the second floor has arguably the best balance of views and atmosphere — especially after dark when Paris shimmers below.

Musée du Louvre

The world's largest art museum houses some 35,000 works spanning millennia — from the Winged Victory of Samothrace to the Mona Lisa's famously enigmatic gaze. The building itself, a former royal palace anchored by I.M. Pei's glass pyramid, is as much a masterpiece as its collection.

Notre-Dame Cathedral

Reopened after its painstaking five-year restoration following the devastating 2019 fire, Notre-Dame stands once again as a testament to French Gothic architecture. The soaring nave, spectacular rose windows, and intricate stone carvings are even more poignant now — a symbol of resilience and craftsmanship.

Musée d'Orsay

Housed in a spectacular Beaux-Arts railway station on the banks of the Seine, the Musée d'Orsay holds the world's finest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. Walk among masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cézanne, and Van Gogh — the latter's work draws the largest crowds.

Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur

This hilltop village within a city is where bohemian Paris still breathes. The white-domed Sacré-Cœur basilica crowns the summit with one of the best panoramic views in Paris, but the real magic lies in wandering the winding cobblestone lanes, past artists' studios, vine-covered houses, and quiet squares.

Luxembourg Gardens

This 55-acre oasis in the heart of the Left Bank is where Parisians come to read, picnic, sail model boats, and simply sit in the iconic green metal chairs by the central fountain. The formal French gardens around the Medici Palace blend into wilder English-style grounds — a masterclass in landscape design.

Père Lachaise Cemetery

Part burial ground, part open-air sculpture museum, part landscaped garden — Père Lachaise is unlike any other place in Paris. Cobblestone lanes wind through elaborate tombs and funerary art, past the final resting places of Oscar Wilde, Édith Piaf, Jim Morrison, and Frédéric Chopin.

A Walk Along the Seine

The banks of the Seine are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a stroll along the river is perhaps the most quintessentially Parisian experience of all. Browse the bouquinistes' green boxes for vintage books and prints — they've been trading here for over 300 years. At sunset, the bridges turn golden.