Millions of tourists visit the City of Light every year as it has so much to offer, from famous finds to hidden gems. Thinking of visiting for the first time? Or perhaps you know the city like the back of your hand? Either way, check out our must-see sights and quirky haunts that’ll make your trip a magical and memorable one.
First-time visit
Completely new to Paris? Don’t miss these must-see sights
The Louvre Museum is famous for its many masterpieces, including the iconic Mona Lisa. It’s impossible to see everything in one visit, so grab a floorplan and decide which artistic periods to focus on. Tip: avoid the worst of the queues by entering via the Carrousel du Louvre entrance.
The Musée d’Orsay holds a mesmerising collection of mainly French paintings, sculptures and photography, with works by Van Gogh, Cézanne, Renoir and Monet. Housed in a former train station that looks like a palace (Gare d’Orsay) you’re be dazzled by its beauty.
The Orangerie Museum houses Monet’s Water Lilies masterpieces, plus collections dedicated to great artists such as Picasso and Soutine. Finish with a walk around the landscaped Tuileries Gardens
Top tip!
Bag yourself free admission to one of these museums by planning your visit on the first Sunday of the month
Travel win!
Visiting during the week? Skip the queues with a Paris Museum Pass. Prices start from €48 for two days’ worth of admission at more than 60 of the top museums and monuments in and around the city.
Revisiting?
Been there, done that? Escape the old and discover the new with these alternative attraction
Curious corners
Once you’ve seen the Mona Lisa and Monet’s waterlilies, there are loads of smaller museums across the city to explore. At the Natural History Museum you’ll find a hall with thousands of animal skeletons – from huge whales to tiny parrots. Don’t miss the Gallery of Evolution, with more than 7,000 incredibly lifelike specimens, before venturing into the (free) botanic gardens, Jardin des Plantes. This urban oasis houses an indoor zoo – home to crocodiles, kangaroos, deer, flamingos and a snow leopard.
Look through a new lens
Climb Montparnasse Tower, the city’s only skyscraper, featuring a rooftop viewing platform with prime views of the Eiffel Tower. The 56th floor houses Restaurant Ciel de Paris, a glass-walled terrace and Champagne bar. Be sure to time your visit around dusk to see the city’s twinkling lights.
Cruise the canals
Explore the city as it was designed to be seen – from the water. Boat tours are available along the Seine, sailing past famous sights. For a more low-key waterside experience, head to the Canal St Martin – a 3-mile waterway with nine locks and trendy cafés, boutiques and bistros lining the water’s edge.
Play like a Parisian
If you’re no stranger to the usual sights, here are some hidden hotspots where few tourists know to venture…
Delve down underground
It might sound strange, but the Sewers of Paris are definitely worth a visit – and they’re far more hygienic and less whiffy than you’d expect! Built in 1370, these underground tunnels are now home to a unique exhibition that features information about the history of the sewers, as well as the huge machinery once used inside.
Bury your nose in a book
Billed as ‘the most famous independent bookstore in the world’ bookworms will love the Shakespeare and Company bookshop – a treasure trove of new and secondhand books (in English).
Getting around
The Paris Metro spans the city and is a reliable way to get from A to B. It’s also very affordable. Buy a single Paris Metro Ticket t+ for €1.90 or a carnet of ten journeys for €14.90. Staying for a week? Get the new Navigo Decouverte week pass for €22.80.
You can also grab a Vélib bicycle for short trips – the first 30 minutes’ use is free for manual bikes or pay a small fee for electric bikes.
Handy contacts
Paris Tourism Board en.parisinfo.com
Culture Trip –theculturetrip.com download the app for free on Apple or Android
Paris Museum Pass en.parismuseumpass.co
The expert recommends
Freya Godfrey, Commissioning Editor at Culture Trip, fell in love with Paris after a school exchange trip and has returned countless times. Here are her top tips for finding something to suit every taste and budget.
Panoramic paradise
A trip to Paris isn’t complete without making your way to the top of the iconic wrought–iron Eiffel Tower. If you’ve got a head for heights and fancy a challenge, skip the queues (and knock €15 off your ticket fee) by taking the stairs up to the second floor. While there are many steps to climb – 674 to be exact – you’ll be rewarded with views of the city’s sweeping skyline.
Top tip!
Waiting times for the Eiffel Tower are often in excess of an hour so buy tickets in advance and go in low season.
Roam like royalty
Covering 25 hectares, the 17th Century Luxembourg Gardens is a great spot on a sunny day. Once a royals-only stomping ground, members of the public can now spend hours strolling its winding paths, formal terraces, chestnut groves and manicured lawns, while seeking out the 106 statues dotted throughout.
Off-beat eat
Enjoy French cuisine with an Asian twist at Le Petit Marché in the fashionable Marais district with dishes such as caramelised duck breast served with roasted bananas and figs.
Gaze at grandeur
Though currently covered in scaffolding, Notre Dame Cathedral is still worth a visit – even if only from the outside – with its iconic rose windows, stone gargoyles and biblical sculptures.
Sample the street art
La Petite Ceinture is an abandoned railway overgrown with more than 200 species of colourful flora, all set against vivid graffiti and street art. The perfect antidote to the bustling city.
Shop ‘til you drop
Paris is a vintage lovers’ delight with its array of secondhand and retro stores. Rue Des Martyrs is a lovely little street brimming with gourmet food stores, florists, and independent shops. If you’re on a tight budget, try Les Puces de Saint-Ouen – the world’s oldest and largest flea market – situated on the outskirts of the city, perfect for antique jewellery, furniture, old books, records and vintage clothes.