Paris, the City of Love and the City of Lights, has been attracting millions of visitors each year! The French capital has a lot to offer for everyone and there is so much to see and to do. From its wonderful historical monuments to its colorful gardens, Paris will definitely amaze you!
The Eiffel Tower, the iconic symbol of Paris, is surely a must-visit. However, there are many other monuments and attractions that you don’t want to miss when visiting this amazing city!
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Domaine National du Palais-Royal
You probably saw on Social Media these black and white columns and wondered where this place is! It is the Palais Royal, its courtyard and gardens; just a short walk from the Louvre Museum!
This Palace, built in 1633 by Cardinal Richelieu, housed the royal family until the famous Palace of Versailles was constructed. The artist Daniel Duren designed the Buren’s Columns. It consists of 260 broken columns, made of white marble with black and white stripes with three different sizes. Kids and adults try to climb these columns to take the famous shot! It is a well known place for locals and tourists but also for influencers and professional photographers.
Right next to the courtyard, you can find the peaceful garden and the fountain where you can rest or have a small walk.
Opéra National de Paris
Inaugurated in 1875 at the request of Napoleon III, the National Opéra of Paris or Palais Garnier is one of the most dazzling monuments that we visited in Paris and Europe! A real architectural masterpiece not to be missed in Paris!
We’ve visited Palais Garnier twice and each time we were amazed by its architecture! You will discover the history of the Palais Garnier, old costumes, sculptures of famous people in the Opera world and mythological figures.
Moreover, from the balcony you can enjoy a nice view on the Avenue de l’Opéra and most of the time, there are musicians and people singing and dancing next to the Opera building!
Panthéon de Paris and Rue Mouffetard
We were totally amazed when we first visited the Pantheon! This grandiose monument is full of history and culture. What will you discover there?
– The tombs of notable personalities who shaped the world that we live in today. Victor Hugo, Pierre and Marie Curies, Voltaire, Emile Zola, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Joséphine Baker, and more eminent people have their remains inside the crypt of the Pantheon.
– Foucault’s pendulum: Named after the French physicist Léon Foucault, this device was the first experiment that proved the Earth’s rotation in 1851.
– Paintings on canvas marouflé showing the life of Saint Geneviève and the story of the beginning of Christianity and the monarchy in France.
You can check on the official website of the Panthéon the opening times and the prices.
Right next to the Pantheon in the 5th arrondissement, Rue Mouffetard is one of the oldest and liveliest places in Paris. You can find there lots of cafés, restaurants, take away crepes, and souvenir shops. Lots of people and musicians gather at the main square especially at night and during the weekends.
The first time we went to Rue Mouffetard, we ate at a small creperie called “Au P’tit Grec ” and it was delicious! They have so many options of savory and sweet crepes. Finally, after Rue Mouffetard you can visit the Luxembourg Garden.
Luxembourg Garden and its Palace
Jardin du Luxembourg, or Luxembourg Garden, is our favorite place to rest and to take a break while exploring Paris. It is famed for its water fountains, trees, flowers, sculptures and statues!
It is a getaway from the busy city life of Paris for both locals and tourists. The park has lots of wood and metal benches and chairs so you will probably find a place to sit and have a small picnic. It has a free entrance and closes at night.
The Luxembourg Garden was designed in 1612 by Marie de’ Medici, Queen of France as the second wife of King Henry IV of France and mother of King Louis XIII. The Palace was built to be the royal residence of the regent Marie de’ Medici. Nowadays, it is owned by the French Senate.
Montparnasse tower
Would you go up the tallest skyscraper in Paris? It is definitely an experience not to miss! With a height of 210 m, the Montparnasse Tower will offer you a breathtaking panoramic view on Paris.
There are two options to go up the tower. The first one is to buy a ticket for Montparnasse Tower Panoramic Observation Deck. The second is to have a drink or a breakfast, lunch, dinner at le CIEL de Paris restaurant located on the 56th floor!
Louvre Museum and Pyramids
A trip to Paris is never complete without a visit to the Louvre! The Louvre Museum is home to the famous painting the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci but you will discover there much more! Each section of the museum will take you back in time to amazing eras. You will find valuable Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Egyptian and Persian Antiquities as well as a collection of graphic arts, islamic arts, decorative arts and amazing paintings and sculptures.
Here are our tips for visiting the Louvre:
– Make sure to have enough time to visit the Louvre, you can easily spend there a full day exploring all the sections.
– Buy your tickets online in advance so you can skip the long waiting queue for the ticket desk.
– Try to be there as early as possible, the Louvre museum opens at 9 am and closes at 6 pm.
– Have a map of the museum with you because it is very easy to get lost in the museum and you will find yourself touring the same sections! You can find the map at the entrance of the museum and online. You can also download the application “My Visit to the Louvre” on Iphone and Android.
If you don’t have time during your stay in Paris to visit the Louvre Museum, don’t forget to include in your itinerary the Pyramids of the Louvre by day and night. You can visit the Pyramids anytime, they are open to the public 24/7. At night, it is usually less crowded and the Pyramids are lit up. We were surprised to see how huge the building of the Louvre Museum is!
You can also see next to the Louvre the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel which was built between 1806 and 1808 in commemoration of the military victories of Napoleon.
These are the first six places that we recommend visiting in Paris.
If you like this guide, checkout the next six places in Part 2!
Have you ever been to Paris? What is your favorite attraction? Let us know in the comments below!
Note: We only recommend places that we enjoyed visiting with no commercial benefits.