We love Paris and have visited it on two occasions, each visit being about a week to ensure we see everything at a steady pace. We never get tired of the beauty of this city, and some of the most iconic sites you will ever visit around the world. We always choose to stay in smaller hotels which offer more personalised service, are less busy and we find offer larger rooms than the bigger hotels.

On our first visit we stayed at a gorgeous boutique hotel called Residence Henri IV which is situated within the Latin Quarter, and within easy walking distance of restaurants and major tourist destinations. The staff are lovely and the rooms are quite large by Paris standards, beautifully decorated in period furnishings. We don’t think you will be disappointed by this lovely hotel.

On our second visit we stayed at Hotel Villa d’Estrees, also located in the Latin Quarter. We could not complain about this hotel either, the rooms were beautifully decorated, the staff could not do enough for you, and it was very well located close to tourist attractions and the restaurant hub.

Paris is not a city that you should rush through. It is a city that needs to be enjoyed whilst soaking up its rich history and the romance of Paris, which is there to be found in amongst its people and lifestyle. Do not be tempted to try and do too much in a day, otherwise you will miss out on the little surprises that so many places offer, if you go looking for them.

So, let’s look at what makes Paris such a romantic city to visit. Our list is not in order of importance, but it is a comprehensive one which we have divided into different sections, just to make it a little easier for the traveller to absorb the information. This is why you need more than a couple of days to really see Paris properly.

Paris is divided into 20 arrondissements, and overlapping these administrative boundaries are the localised quarters. We have listed the 9 main quarters to assist you in exploring attractions near to each other, even if they are not in the same arrondissement. This way you do not spend your day hopping across the city from one attraction to another.

Invalides & Eiffel Tower

  1. The Eiffel Tower – located on the Champ de Mars it is probably the most famous landmark in Paris, so you must ensure you take the time to see the Eiffel Tower. The best way to buy tickets is on-line through their website and the tickets are emailed to you. Tickets only go on sale about 2 months in advance, and give you dedicated entry times. Pre-purchased tickets also allow you to go straight to the lifts on arrival, thereby avoiding the ticket queues. Please note that if you only buy a ticket to the 2nd floor on-line, you are not able to change that ticket for a summit ticket when you reach the ticket office. Therefore if you wish to visit the summit ensure you purchase the correct ticket.  As tickets sell out on-line very quickly, you should check every few days to see when ticket sales open for your preferred date.
  2. Les Invalides – located a short walk from the Eiffel Tower this vast complex of buildings includes the Hotel des Invalides, the Dome and the church of St Louis.  The whole construction was built to house old and invalid soldiers who where then often forced to beg for a living.  The gilded Dome monument houses the Tomb of Napoleon I. You can also explore France’s history through the War Musem located behind the main building. Well worth a visit if you have a few spare hours in your day.
  3. Musee d’Orsay – the home of France’s national collection from the impressionist, postimpressionist and art nouveau movements. There is a great model of Paris on display under a glass floor in this museum.

Additional places of interest:

  • Musee Rodin – where you will find Rodin’s bronze sculptures including The Thinker and Balzac.

Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Elysees & Grands Boulevards

  1. Arc de Triomphe – you won’t have trouble finding the Arc de Triomphe as it stands at the western end of the Champs-Elysees. Plenty of tourists are happy just to wander around the base and see the tomb of The Unknown Soldier, which was placed under the arch in 1920. The eternal flame is tended to every evening and there are always fresh wreaths placed around it.  There is a small museum inside the arch which gives a history of the monument with no less than 558 generals listed. If you can manage the 284 steps to the top the views over Paris are quite spectacular and worth the effort.
  2. Avenue des Champs-Elysees – no trip to Paris is complete without strolling this elegant, tree-shaded avenue lined with luxury shops. Many shops limit the number of customers inside at any one time, but there is still plenty of window shopping to enjoy. This was once the most fashionable meeting-place and upper-class residential area in all Paris.
  3. Place de la Concorde – covering 7.6 hectares in size and home to the Fountaine des Mers this is a significant tourist area. You will enjoy wandering around this area, but it would be a good idea to combine this with a walk through the Jardine des Tuileres and then further on visit The Louvre.
  4. Galeries Lafayette – beneath a stained-glass dome this opulent department store stocks just about every brand of designer label. It is such a huge complex that it can be a little overwhelming just to find the department you want. They do have some good sales though, if you happen to be there during sale season.
  5. Luxor Obelisk – one of two ancient Egyptian obelisks, they were carved to stand at the entrance of the Luxor Temple in the reign of Rameses II. This is the right hand obelisk from the temple standing at 23 metres high and is found in the Place de la Concorde.
  6. Pont Alexandre III Bridge – spanning the Seine this bridge connects the Champs-Elysees quarter with the Invalides and Eiffel Tower. It is widely recognised as the most ornate bridge in Paris.

Additional places of interest:

  • Galerie Musee Baccarat – this crystal museum showcases services designed for illustrious dining tables over the centuries.
  • Musee du Parfum – the secrets of perfume-making are revealed at this museum.
  • Palais de Chaillot – the terrace separating the eastern and western wings of the palace offer stunning views of the river, Eiffel Tower and Jardins du Trocadero.

Louvre & Les Halles

  1. Jardine des Tuileres – these 28 hectare formal gardens in Paris are always beautiful and well maintained. It is a pleasant walk through these gardens and in a busy city such as Paris, a welcome relief from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The gardens extend for about 1 km from Place du Carrousel to Place de la Concorde.
  2. The Louvre – let’s take the hard work out of visiting the Louvre, because it is a place of organised chaos. The tourists are thick and don’t move quickly, thereby creating enormous traffic jams which makes seeing anything with perspective almost impossible. Unless you wish to cover every corner of The Louvre we would suggest doing a guided tour of major works only, which moves you through efficiently as you view a cross-section of what is on display. These tours are available every day at 11.15am and 2.00pm (except Tuesdays) with tickets only being available when you arrive at The Louvre. This tour takes about 1.5 hours. It still covers the Mona Lisa, which is what every tourist wants to see! There are a range of Guided Tours on offer which all have dedicated timeslots. If you would prefer to do The Louvre at your own pace, then you will still need to book a timeslot and allow yourself plenty of time, so our advice would be to book the early timeslots and beat some of the crowds. It is worth noting that on the first Saturday of each month, the museum is also open from 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. and admission is free for all visitors. We were not able to take advantage of this time, so we are not able to comment on what the crowds would look like if entry is free.
  3. Place du Carrousel – this plaza occupies the site on which the Tuileries Palace stood before it burned down, and the entrance portal is all that remains of this magnificent palace.

Additional places of interest:

  • Musee de L’Orangerie – located in the west corner of the Tuileres Gardens this museum houses Monet’s prized cycle of eight enormous Waterlillies which is located on the upper level.
  • Musee National D’Art Moderne (MNAM) – the national museum for modern art is one of the most visited museums in the world.
  • Carrousel du Louvre – this underground shopping mall is famous for its inverted glass pyramid which played an important role in The Da Vinci Code.

Montmartre

  1. Sacre-Coeur – we love this church which covers both Roman and Byzantine architecture. It is a working church and so regular services are held throughout the day. One thing to note is that photography is forbidden inside, and the photography Police keep a keen eye on you, so don’t think you can sneak a photo here or there. You are free to sit in the roped off area when services are taking place, but generally you can only walk around the sides of the church. The view from the steps at the front of the church is also pretty spectacular. There is a small cost to access the Dome but, be warned, there are some 300 steps to reach the top.
  2. Place Du Tertre – only a short walk from Sacre-Coeur you should not miss this artistic community. Full of artists working on their paintings in the central square you will be impressed by some of the beautiful artwork being produced, and all of it for sale. Surrounding the artists are plenty of other shops and cafes where you can also find other types of souvenirs such as scarves, keyrings and mementos to remind you of this unique area. We have bought art from here on both our visits, and if necessary the shops will arrange for postage home. The artists who paint here make a living from selling their art, so be generous, because it may not be the Mona Lisa, but a lot of it is of a high standard and good quality.

Additional places of interest:

  • Cimetiere de Montmartre – famous graves in this cobbled cemetery include Emile Zola, Alexandre Dumas and Jacques Offenbach, to name a few.
  • Dali Espace Montmartre – a permanent exhibition devoted to Salvador Dali has around 300 original artworks, including sculptures and engravings.
  • Moulin Rouge – no visit to Paris is complete without a show at the Moulin Rouge where you will be treated to fantastic costumes, sets, choreography and maybe a champagne or two!

Belleville & Surrounds

  1. Canal St-Martin – this 4.5km long canal is bordered by shaded towpaths and traversed by iron footbridges, but the most interesting part of this area are the old swing-bridges that still pivot 90 degrees when barges pass through the canal’s double-locks. A nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon wandering along the towpaths or exploring the many pretty shops along the way.
  2. The July Column – a short walk from Canal St-Martin this column was erected to commemorate the Parisians killed during the revolution of July 1830. Their bodies are interred in the marble base, whilst their names are inscribed on the column shaft. You can access the top if you feel fit enough to climb 238 steps onto the observation deck, offering a panorama view of the surrounding areas.

Additional places of interest:

  • Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise – the largest cemetery in Paris with over 3.5 million visitors per year. Guided tours can be booked.
  • Musee Edith Piaf – a small museum filled with memorabilia but you will need to book ahead if you wish to visit.
  • Marche Belleville – this vibrant market is filled with African, Middle Eastern and Asian stalls, with local artists also selling their works here.

Marais & Bastille

There are plenty of museums and places of interest in this part of Paris. Unfortunately we did not have time to see any of them, but if you have the time we suggest the following might be of interest.

  1. Hotel de Sully – this historic mansion is the headquarters of the Centre des Monuments Nationaux. The mansion’s two Renaissance-style courtyards are both festooned with allegorical reliefs of the seasons and the elements.
  2. Hotel de Ville – the seat of the Paris City Council since 1357 guided tours can be organised, but reservations are necessary. The building is adorned with 108 statues of illustrious Parisians.
  3. Maison de Victor Hugo – one of the symmetrical houses on the place des Vosges is the former home of Victor Hugo. The museum offers an evocative insight into the writer’s life with many drawings, portraits and furnishings preserved just as they were when he wrote much of Les Miserables here.
  4. Promenade Plantee – this pioneering park, with its walking path, flowers and park benches extending above the rooflines, has led to similar projects in the US and UK.
  5. Marche Bastille – if you only get to one open-air market in Paris this one is among the very best.

The Islands

  1. Notre Dame Cathedral – UPDATED – unfortunately the Cathedral is closed due to the devastating fire of 2019. However, the Cathedral will rise up out of the ashes in time and hopefully bring the tourists back to this beautiful place of worship. A little known fact is that all distances in France are measured from Kilometre Zero, marked by a bronze star outside Notre Dame.
  2. Deportation Martyrs Memorial – just behind Notre Dame you will find this significant and very moving memorial. We came across it quite by accident on one of our trips. It honours 200,000 plus people who were deported from Vichy to the Nazi Concentration Camps during WWII. It is well worth visiting, but locate it on a map so you don’t miss it as it is hidden underground.
  3. Sainte-Chapelle – there are 1,113 stained glass windows depicting Old and New Testament themes in this beautiful royal chapel of the Gothic period. It is one of the most beautiful buildings we have ever seen, and the traveller should not overlook spending some time here soaking up the history and the beauty of the building.
  4. Pont Neuf – Paris’ oldest and most famous bridge links the Ile de la Cite with the Seine’s left and right banks. Its semicircular benches, recessed into the sparkling white stone, are a picturesque spot to watch Paris’ riverboats pass by.
  5. Bridge of the Archbishopric – composed of three arches of stone this bridge is best known because of the thousands of locks that lovers have added to the railings. It is said the weight of the locks was so heavy it was damaging the iron railings, and so they were removed. However, that has not stopped more locks being added over time.

Latin Quarter

  1. Pantheon – located in the Latin Quarter it is a grand building of mammoth proportions. It is not as busy as other major attractions, but if you are visiting the Pantheon, you can walk down the main street in front of it and arrive at the Luxembourg Gardens, which are definitely worth a visit.
  2. St-Etienne-du-Mont – located just around the corner from the Pantheon this church is well known for both its facade and for the interior.  The most picturesque part of the interior which makes this church unique, is the jube; that is, the suspended gallery which separates the nave from the choir. Well worth a visit as it is a very impressive structure.
  3. Catacombs of Paris – this is one of those really interesting places that you might never put on your radar! There are supposed to be more than 6 million people who were buried here during the Revolution. However, if you are not comfortable with small spaces, or skeletons for that matter, then perhaps give this a miss. As it is a popular tourist stop it is best to turn up early and buy your tickets on-line if possible.
  4. Moufettard Markets – long narrow streets of plenty of shopping from hand bags, to scarves, to trinkets, this is a good way to spend half a day. These markets are located on rue Mouffetard and stretch down to Place de la Contrescarpe.

Additional places of interest:

  • Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes – this 1000 animal zoo also doubles as a research centre for the reproduction of rare and endangered species. It is the second oldest zoological garden in the world.
  • Musee National du Moyen Age – often called the Cluny Museum it is fittingly housed in both the remains of Gallo-Roman baths and the 15th century Hotel de Cluny. It holds some of the most wonderful tapestries.
  • Sorbonne Universite – one of the world’s most prestigious universities, it was founded in 1253 as a theological college for just 16 pupils.

St-Germain-des-Pres & Montparnasse

  1. Luxembourg Palace – an outstanding architectural masterpiece the Palace is now the seat of the French Senate. The best view of the Palace is from the gardens and there are some wonderful shots to be had when the gardens are in full bloom.
  2. Luxembourg Gardens – beautifully maintained gardens which spread gracefully in front of the Palace. There is always a lot of activity in the Gardens and dotted throughout you will find small cafes and stalls selling ice-creams and souvenirs. This is a place where you will enjoy the wonderful work of the many gardeners who maintain this beautiful area.

Additional places of interest:

  • Eglise St-Sulpice – this wonderful church became famous when Dan Brown set a scene for The Da Vinci Code here, bringing thousands of tourists to the site. Surprisingly, it is only slightly smaller than Notre Dame and the second largest church in the city of Paris.
  • Musee de la Poste – anyone inspired by travel and communication will enjoy this postal museum.

Day trips

  1. Palace of Versailles – there is nothing quite like the scale and grandeur of the Palace of Versailles. From the stunning architecture, beautiful paintings and decor, to the amazing size of the gardens you will enjoy a tour here. Like all top attractions it is very busy and there can be challenges for the keen photographer to capture a photo without a dozen tourists in it!
  2. Monet’s Garden – the beauty of Monet’s Garden is definitely dependent upon the season you travel. It is still beautiful to see, but be aware that if it is not in full bloom then it is not as stunning. The house has many original features and definitely gives you insight into Claude Monet’s passion for art and colour.

Note:  You can combine the Palace and Monet’s Garden in one trip, which we think is the best way to see both attractions. The Palace is only about 40 minutes from Paris, and then the distance between the Palace and Monet’s Garden is about 1 hour. We booked through Viator and we have no complaints at all about the tour which also included lunch. Most operators do pick you up from your hotel, but some have you meet them at a designated location.

Travel Tips

  • Like so many major cities Paris is busy all year round. It really makes little difference when you travel, except of course in their holiday season when the tourists are packed in. We always try to travel just either side of the high tourist season so we have less crowds to contend with.
  • Trains – the Paris Metro is easy to get around and offers a wide variety of ticket types. They are easy enough to buy when you get to a station, but do your research beforehand so you know what type of ticket will suit you best for your stay.
  • Leather shopping – if you are looking to buy some leather coats and/or down jackets then Avant Garde is the shop to find some great bargains. Catch the train to St Halles Station and then google the address to find directions from the station. The shop is at 14 Rue de la Cossonnerie, 75001 Paris, and only takes a few minutes to reach as it is located behind the station. They will make a coat for you if you have a few days, and you can bargain with them for price. But buyer beware, they can be pushy so you need to stand firm and not let them talk you into anything. At the end of the day if you do not find something you like, then walk from the shop.
  • In a city the size of Paris we always plan out our days prior to arriving and then buy all our tickets on-line. If you are able to do the same it will save you so much time as every tourist destination is busy and the queues are long. But make sure you only do one or two significant attractions per day, and try and make them close to each other. Leave yourself plenty of time for sitting and relaxing over lunch to re-energise, as there is a lot of walking in Paris.

Travel Alerts

  • The weather can be changeable depending on the season, with one day hot and the next cold and wet. Make sure you pack a poncho or umbrella and some warm clothes.

Travel Adventures

  • Don’t forget to explore Ile St Louis. It is full of lovely restaurants and shops. Most of the island is residential, but there is a wonderful ice cream shop called Berthillon. Well worth a visit.
  • Ile de la Cite should also be explored. Notre Dame is located here and there is still much to explore nearby.
  • Cruise down the River Seine – we booked through Bateaux Parisiens but they are probably all similar. It was a lovely way to see the evening lights of the Eiffel Tower and buildings along the riverbank.