What are the best places to visit in Paris, France?
What are the best places to visit in Paris, France? There is so much to see in Paris, so you have to plan everything beforehand.
The Eiffel Tower
It comprises 18,000 sections of iron (weighing more than 10,000 tons) and 2.5 million rivets. This unique structure is considered one of the best places to visit in Paris and is a masterpiece of architecture. The tower, which measured 324 meters high, was the tallest building in the world until the Empire State Building in New York City.
The Eiffel Tower is a must-see for first-time visitors. Many are awestruck by the massive pillars supporting this monument, which weighs in at 10,100 tons, upon arriving at the esplanade (where is the Information Desk).
The Eiffel Tower Gardens, which surround the esplanade, have been renovated with romantic Belle Epoque-style landscaping. The gardens are surrounded by leafy trees that shade pedestrian paths, which lead to ponds and a cave.
You can take an elevator or walk the 360 steps to reach the Eiffel Tower’s top-level at 57 meters. For example, the first level contains public toilets, a cafeteria, a brasserie restaurant, a gift shop, and a caféteria. There is also an outdoor terrace for enjoying the view.
Musee du Louvre – one of the most famous sights in Paris
The Louvre, a magnificent palace once home to France’s kings, is now the top museum in Paris. The museum is located in the courtyard of the Pyramid du Louvre. It houses the glass pyramid that Ieoh Ming Pei designed in 1917. The Musee du Louvre houses thousands of artworks. Many of them are masterpieces.
It’s impossible to see everything in one trip. However, tourists can choose to focus on a specific gallery, such as classical sculpture or Italian Renaissance art, or 17th-century French paintings. Or, they can take a self-guided tour of the Louvre Museum to see its highlights.
The Mona Lisa, also known as La Gioconda or La Joconde (or La Joconde in French), is Leonardo da Vinci’s most well-known piece. It was painted in 1503-1505. While many tourists only visit the museum to see this piece, many other important works of art must be seen.
Tourists should take a guided tour to get the most from visiting the Louvre. Skip the Line Tour to the Louvre Museum takes you straight to the museum’s most iconic artworks, such as the Venus de Milo or the Mona Lisa. A guide, an art historian, provides detailed commentary on the masterpieces during this three-hour tour.
The Jardin des Tuileries is one side of the Louvre. It is one of Paris’ most beautiful parks. Andre Le Notre, a celebrated landscape architect, designed the Tuileries Gardens in a formal French style from the 17th century. It features beautifully manicured trees, statues, and paths. You can relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery from the cafe-restaurants and park benches.
Notre Dame is one of the best places to visit in Paris
Notre Dame is located in Paris’ heart, on the Ile-de-la-Cite near the Latin Quarter. The Ile-de-la-Cite, an island in the Seine River, is Paris’s historical and geographical heart. This small piece of land was where the Romans built Lutetia, a Gallo-Roman city. The Kings of France lived here from the 6th to the 14th centuries.
The Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris was founded by King Louis IX (Saint Louis) and Bishop Maurice de Sully in 1163. Construction took over 150 years. While the cathedral was initially built in the Early Gothic style, later additions (the nave and west front) demonstrate the transition to the High Gothic style.
This magnificent medieval monument is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. The impressive building makes a striking impression with its elaborately decorated façade and gargoyles. The complex flying buttresses add structural support.
The Gallery of Kings, located above the west façade’s doorway, is worth a closer look. Rows of 28 intricately carved figures depict the French kings from Childebert I (511-5888) to Philippe Auguste. These figures lost their heads in the Revolution. (The Musee De Cluny now has the authorities.
What to look forward to when visiting Notre Dam
Admire the beautiful doorway and enter the sanctuary to admire the immense vaulted space. Visitors are beckoned by the glow of flickering candles, which seem to make the refuge seem endless.
This fantastic work of art features 80 Old Testament scenes centered around the Virgin. The rose window in the north transept is the most notable. Magnificent stained-glass windows illuminate the interior.
Before visiting France, make sure to check the new travel regulations that are going to be implemented in 2025. If you’re traveling in 2025 or beyond, you’ll need to submit an ETIAS application before your scheduled trip.
Notable: In April 2019, a large fire caused significant damage to the cathedral. The medieval roof and 19-century spire were both destroyed. It is still unknown how much damage was done. The interior is currently closed to the public.
The structure is being stabilized and repaired. The city plans on rebuilding the cathedral and restoring it to its former glory. The restoration work is ongoing.
Avenue des Champs-Elysees
The Parisian boulevard most famous was once a barren field of marshland. Later, André Le Notre then transformed it into a landscape. Moreover, Baron Haussmann, a Parisian city planner, designed the boulevard’s elegant buildings.
The Champs-Elysees can be divided into two parts, with the Rond-Point des Champs-Elysees at its intersection.
The Champs Elysees’ lower section, which borders the Place de la Concorde with the Jardins des Champs–Elysees, contains a large park, the Jardins Des Champs-Elysees and the Petit Palais museum of fine arts. Additionally, the upper section, which extends to the Arc de Triomphe, is lined with luxury shops, hotels, restaurants, cafes, theaters, cinemas, and other entertainment venues. This lively area is popular with tourists and is a meeting place for Parisians.
The Champs-Elysees is known for its prestigious establishments. It is one of the best places to visit in Paris. Maison Laduree is a patisserie shop renowned for its 18th-century tea lounge and delicious pastries.
The top options for fine dining are Le Fouquet’s hotel and a restaurant, and L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon Etoile, a chic gastronomic restaurant, both of which have one Michelin star.
The Champs-Elysees is a place that has a reputation for being opulent. Still, there are plenty of sites that are affordable and cater to students and tourists on a tight budget.
Place de la Concorde
This impressive octagonal square, designed by King Louis XV in 1772, was the heart and soul of 18th-century Paris. Eventually, Place de la Concorde was the site of many important historical events, including Marie-Antoinette’s execution and Louis XVI’s execution. It was also part of Napoleon’s triumphal path.
The Place de la Concorde, with its magnificent dimensions, is one of the most beautiful squares in the city. On one hand, it offers a fantastic view of all the city’s landmarks. On the other hand, the Arc de Triomphe can be seen in one direction and the Louvre in the other. In the distance, the Eiffel Tower can also be viewed. Also, the Viceroy of Egypt presented Charles X with an Egyptian obelisk in the middle. Additionally, here is a Ferris wheel during summer.
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe honors the soldiers who served in the French Revolutionary and First Empire armies (Napoleonic Wars). Napoleon ordered the construction of this magnificent structure in 1806, but he died before it was completed in 1836. It is considered to be one of the best places to visit in Paris.
A viewing platform at the top of the monument offers panoramic views of all 12 avenues radiating from the Place de l’Etoile. Also, this includes the route from Avenue des Champs-Elysees, Place de la Concorde, and the Louvre. At the same time, Montmartre’s hilltop community of La Defense and the Eiffel Tower can be seen.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is located at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe. It was dedicated in 1921 to honor an anonymous soldier.
The Flame of Remembrance was lit at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in November 1923. It has never been extinguished since. A ritual is performed every evening at 6:30 pm to rekindle the flame of the tomb’s memorial.
Events to celebrate national holidays are held at Arc de Triomphe throughout the year. These include the November 11th (anniversary of the Armistice of 1918), a ceremony commemorating those who died in the war, and the May 8th Fete de la Victoire (Victory Day), which celebrates the end of WWII and liberation from Nazi occupation.
Guided tours in French are offered by the monument staff every day at 10:30 am. These tours are included in your admission ticket price. Moreover, you can also find documentation and multimedia presentations in multiple languages.
Tourists will love Arc de Triomphe’s gift shop and bookstore. An elevator allows visitors with limited mobility or young children to access the viewing platform. Although the visitors must still take the stairs.