Paris City Tour
From the Louvre Museum to the Eiffel Tower, from the Sacré-Coeur to the Moulin Rouge: the 11 things you have to see and do in Paris
Paris! Its only name makes us think of film weekends and romantic getaways in the French capital. Walks through the Marais district, shopping in Place Vendôme and Rue de Rivoli, romantic sunsets over the Seine and dinners in a bistro on the left bank. Whatever your idea, Paris City Tour will make you dream.
The aroma of a freshly baked croissant, a crunchy macaroni or the best baguette in the world. There are endless things to do in Paris; the French capital is full of temptations. If you want to visit some of the most popular places, you can buy tickets in advance. Oh, and do not forget the camera!
Here are 11 places to visit in Paris, which includes attractions you should not miss (especially if this is your first visit to the French capital).
1. The Eiffel Tower
The most emblematic building to see in Paris. Once upon a time, an iron tower was built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889 and had to be dismantled. Fortunately, it was not and today is the most popular symbol of the City of Light and the most visited monument in the world, with more of six million visitors a year. The 324 meters of the tallest building in the city, illuminate after sunset with a set of bright lights. Take your partner to look at it during the night and you can always remember that you fulfilled one of the most romantic things to do in Paris.
2. The Musée d’Orsay
Do you fancy admiring Monet’s poppies between the walls of a historic train station with a lovely central clock? Well, the Musée d’Orsay is possible. In the heart of Paris, your collection of Impressionist masterpieces will leave you breathless.
3. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame
Imposing and mysterious, the Gothic cathedral of Notre Dame entered the collective imagination thanks to the novel by Victor Hugo. The entrance to the cathedral is free, but you pay for climbing its towers. From the top, you can enjoy a beautiful view of several of the best places to see in Paris. Are you ready to surround yourself with monstrous stone gargoyles?
4. The Louvre Museum
If you are an art lover, you should include the visit to the Louvre at the top of your list of things to do in Paris. The capital’s museum offers an incredible collection of art and antiques from all eras. The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world, being impossible to list all his masterpieces, including the smiling Mona Lisa of Leonardo da Vinci. One tip: before entering, browse one of the catalogs and choose what you are going to see. Not even in a whole week could you see everything.
5. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart is on the hill of Montmartre, a stone’s throw from Place du Tertre, the square of artists, painters, and bohemians. It is white and has the best panoramic views to see in Paris. If the sky is clear you can feel that the city is at your feet, like an open book.
6. The Sainte Chapelle
Do you want to surprise yourself? It goes up to the second floor of the gotiquísima Sainte Chapelle. It was built to house the relics obtained by the famous King St. Louis of France. Thanks to the light that seeps through your huge stained glass windows, it will appear to you that you have climbed into the sky.
7. The Centre Pompidou
In the heart of Beaubourg is one of the most curious buildings to see in Paris. The Pompidou Center shows its skeleton composed of a tangle of colored tubes and bright glass. Designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers, it is a modern art museum, research center, and a public library. It is a great building that you will love or hate with all your heart.
8. The Moulin Rouge
At the foot of Montmartre, there is a mill since 1889 embodies the myth of the most transgressive and libertine Paris: the legendary Moulin Rouge. Inside you can expect the glow of cancan dancers, colored garters and lots of champagne. However, it is also beautiful on the outside and posing for a photo in front of its red facade is necessary things to do in Paris.
9. The Opera Garnier
If going to the opera is for you one of the essential things to do in Paris, you should choose the one of Garnier. Purple stairways, golden stuccos, and crystal chandeliers: the Garnier Opera is the glamor in its purest form. Check it out on a tour or enjoy a special night out with a concert or ballet. Put on your best clothes and feel like a movie.
10. The Arch of Triumph
Along with the Eiffel Tower, they may be the two most iconic monuments to see in Paris. The Arc de Triomphe, built by Napoleon in 1806, will give you a different view of the grandeur of Paris. Climb up the spiral staircase, reach the summit and enjoy as never before the Champs Elysees, Place de la Concorde and the gardens of the Tuileries. Not bad, is it?
11. The Royal Palace of Versailles
A visit to Paris would not be complete without a visit to the historic Palace of Versailles. King Louis XIV ordered the erection of this grandiose baroque French classicist style and declared World Heritage by Unesco. Considered one of the most important monarchical architectural complexes in Europe, its size is fabulous, especially in spring, with gardens in bloom. It is easy to feel like a king in a place like this.
Check out: Paris 3 Days Itinerary
