As the capital of France, Paris has endured as an important city for more than 2,000 years. Often referred to by nicknames such as 'city of love' and 'city of lights', Paris is now one of the world's most important centres for business, fashion, entertainment, art and culture.Just the mention of Paris conjures up images of the city's world-famous landmarks, museums and cathedrals.
Also called the capital of fashion, Paris is home to some of the world's top fashion designers, including Yves Saint-Laurent, Lancôme, L'Oréal and Christian Dior.The city's shopping scene ranges from malls to open-air markets, boutiques and flea markets.An overview of Paris's top tourist attractions :
The best organised tours
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When planning a trip to the captivating city of Paris, finding the perfect accommodation is key to a memorable experience. Hotel Bel Ami on bel-ami.parishotelinn.com, located in the heart of the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district, offers a stylish and contemporary retreat for travelers. With its modern design and sophisticated atmosphere, this boutique hotel provides a luxurious haven amidst the bustling streets of Paris. Its prime location allows easy access to iconic landmarks and cultural attractions, making it an ideal choice for exploring the city. For those seeking a more intimate and charming setting, Hotel Relais Bosquet Paris on relais-bosquet.parishotelinn.com is a hidden gem near the Eiffel Tower. This family-run hotel combines comfort and elegance, offering personalized service and a warm ambiance. With its proximity to the Eiffel Tower, guests can enjoy breathtaking views of this iconic symbol of Paris from the comfort of their rooms. Another excellent option is Les Jardins d Eiffel Hotel on les-jardins-deiffel.parishotelinn.com, which boasts a tranquil setting in the heart of the 7th arrondissement. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, this boutique hotel provides a peaceful oasis within the bustling city. Its comfortable rooms and friendly staff ensure a pleasant stay, and its close proximity to the Eiffel Tower and other attractions makes it a convenient choice for travelers. Whether you prefer modern luxury, intimate charm, or serene surroundings, these hotels offer a range of options to suit different preferences and provide a delightful base for your exploration of Paris.
25. Place des Vosges
The Place des Vosges, formerly called Place Royale, was the prototype for all residential squares in Europe. All the houses were built with the same design: red brick with blue slate roofs with sloping pitches. Not only is it shaped like a real square, but it is also the first square in the city designed by a monarch (Henry IV in the early 17th century) and, thirdly, it turned the Marais into a fashionable place for the French nobility in the decades before the French Revolution.
24.Moulin Rouge
The year 1889 is known as the year when France's most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower, was built. The Moulin Rouge is still considered the main entertainment venue in Paris and has been the subject of numerous films.
23.Conciergerie
The Conciergerie was built in the 10th century to be the main palace of the kings of France, who expanded it over the centuries. Its Great Hall was one of the largest in Europe; in another hall ate the palace's 2,000 workers; some of the buildings were converted into a prison in the 14th century; later the palace became a revolutionary court and prison during the Reign of Terror, with famous prisoners including Marie Antoinette and Madame du Barry; today the Conciergerie is a popular tourist attraction in Paris, but still serves as a court.
Pantheon
The Pantheon is the place where famous French citizens are buried. Modelled after the Pantheon in Rome, it was originally a church dedicated to St. Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris, and her relics. The church was converted into a mausoleum during the French Revolution to honour the revolutionary martyrs. Famous people buried here include Voltaire, Victor Hugo and Marie Curie.
21.Pere Lachaise Cemetery
The most visited cemetery in the world, Pere Lachaise became a municipal cemetery in 1804 under Napoleon. It is the final resting place of many famous people, including Jim Morrison of The Doors, writer Oscar Wilde and singer Edith Piaf. The cemetery contains many sculptures, as each family of the deceased tried to outdo the monuments placed there by other wealthy families. The result is many spectacular works of art that are just as interesting as the various graves of famous people.
20.Disneyland Paris
When Europeans cannot get to Los Angeles to see the original Disneyland, they head for Disneyland Paris, Europe's most visited theme park. In 1992, it became the second Disney park to open outside the United States.It is located about 30 km (20 miles) from the centre of Paris.A companion park, Walt Disney Studios Park, opened in 2002.
19.Musee de l'Orangerie
Travellers who appreciate impressionist and post-impressionist art need to check out the Musee de l'Orangerie. The museum, located in a corner of the Tuileries Garden, houses eight murals of Claude Monet's Water Lilies; these murals are considered the museum's highlight and also contain works by other Impressionist artists, including Picasso, Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse and Modigliani. The orangery was originally built in 1852 to protect the orange trees of the Tuileries Palace.
18.Palais Garnier
Architect Charles Garnier spared no ornamental detail when he designed the Palais Garnier in the 19th century, which is perhaps why the building was the most expensive of its time. Today, the Palais Garnier is still mainly used for ballet and also houses the Opera Library Museum.
17.Les Invalides
Les Invalides is a complex of buildings honouring the French army, built in 1670 as a hospital and rest home for veterans. Les Invalides is home to military museums and a church that is the burial place of its war heroes, including Napoleon Bonaparte.Les Invalides is the place where the insurgents obtained the cannons and muskets they later used to storm the Bastille, thus starting the French Revolution.
16. Cruise on the Seine
The Seine River crosses France for almost 800 km (500 miles) and heads towards the English Channel. A cruise on the Seine is one of the most romantic things visitors can do. Cruises on the Seine pass under many bridges in Paris, passing attractions such as the Louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower. A cruise on the Seine takes about an hour, but what a magical hour! A cruise on the Seine is also a good way to experience Paris by night.
15.Rodin Museum
Travellers who have seen copies of the famous sculpture The Thinker can visit the real thing when they're in Paris. The statue was sculpted by Auguste Rodin, a famous French artist of the early 20th century.The Thinker and 6,600 other sculptures can be found at the Rodin Museum, founded in 1919 in his former studio, the Hotel Biron in central Paris. Many of his famous sculptures can be found in the gardens surrounding the museum.
14. Les Catacombes
In contrast to the City of Lights, Les Catacombes represents the dark side of Paris. A little less than a mile below the streets of Paris, this tourist attraction has a creepy side: the remains of millions of Parisians who were moved there when the old cemeteries began to close years ago. Some bodies, such as those killed during the French Revolution, came straight here, bypassing the cemeteries.
13.Champs-Elysées
The tree-lined avenue of the Champs-Elysées is the most famous street in Paris and has even been described as the most beautiful avenue in the world. Just over one and a half kilometres long, the avenue connects the Arc de Triomphe and the Place de la Concorde.Life in Paris is located around the Champs-Elysees, an avenue lined with restaurants, luxury boutiques, museums and nightclubs. It is the site of the Bastille Day military parade and the end of the Tour de France.
12.Pont Alexandre III
In a city where romance reigns, what could be more romantic than the Pont Alexandre III, a bridge considered the most extravagant and ornate in Paris. Named for the Russian tsar, this single-arch steel bridge spans the Seine, connecting the Champs-Elysees, Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower. Seeing the bridge is almost like going to an art gallery, as numerous French sculptors created the statues, including winged horses, nymphs and cherubs that adorn its top.
11.Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles began life as a royal hunting lodge, but later became a palace housing the king's court. Its gigantic structure is ornate, opulent and over-the-top in its wealth. It is one of the most visited landmarks in Paris, with its magnificent gardens and the Hall of Mirrors with its 357 mirrors decorating 17 arches. The Palace of Versailles ceased to be a royal residence during the French Revolution and today houses a museum of French history.
When it comes to experiencing the authentic charm of accomodation nearby, staying at bed & breakfast in Paris is a fantastic choice. Paris is home to numerous charming and cozy bed and breakfast establishments that offer a unique and personalized experience for travelers.
10.Place de la Concorde
At the eastern end of the Champs-Elysées is Place de la Concorde, the largest square in Paris with fantastic views in every direction. It was in this square that King Louis XVI of France, Marie Antoinette and many others were guillotined during the French Revolution. The large 3200-year-old Egyptian obelisk in the centre of Place de la Concorde was brought from the Temple of Luxor in the 19th century.
9.Sainte-Chapelle
Begun after 1239, the Sainte-Chapelle is considered one of the highest achievements of Gothic architecture. Its construction was commissioned by King Louis IX of France to house his collection of Passion Relics, including the Crown of Thorns of Christ, one of the most important relics of medieval Christianity. Although damaged during the French Revolution and restored in the 19th century, it retains one of the largest in situ collections of 13th century stained glass windows in the world.
8.
Centre Pompidou
Designed in the style of high-tech architecture, the Centre Pompidou is a cultural institution in the Beaubourg area of the 4th arrondissement. It houses a large public library, the Musée National d'Art Moderne which is the largest museum of modern art in Europe, a bookshop, a cinema and a panoramic terrace.The library occupies the first three floors of the building, while the museum's permanent collection is located on the 4th and 5th floors.' 'The Centre is named after Georges Pompidou, President of France from 1969 to 1974, who commissioned the building.
7.Musée d'Orsay
A must for art lovers, the Musée d'Orsay is known for housing the world's first collection of Impressionist paintings. Located in a former railway station, this large museum displays thousands of works of art and objects covering a period from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. Visitors can walk through several rooms to see works of art by many famous artists such as Monet, Van Gogh, Cezane, Degas, Pissarro, Renoir and Jean-Francois Millet.
6. Jardin du Luxembourg
Known in English as the Jardin du Luxembourg, this public park is the second largest in Paris. Visitors can picnic or take a leisurely stroll through beautiful lawns, formal gardens and orchards that feature many artistic statues and fountains. For fun and sports, there are jogging trails, tennis courts and fitness facilities. Children can play in the huge playground, ride ponies, watch a puppet show and sail model boats in a pond.
5.Sacre-Coeur
One of the most notable landmarks in Paris is the striking white-domed basilica of Sacre-Coeur. Located at the highest point of the city on the hill of Montmartre, this stunning basilica attracts many tourists each year to see its marble architecture and beautiful interior. A tour rewards visitors with views of golden mosaics, stained glass windows and one of the largest clocks in the world.
4.Notre Dame de Paris
No trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to the famous Notre Dame cathedral.More than 120 metres high, with two tall towers and a spire, this stunning church is considered a supreme example of French Gothic architecture. A tour of this 13th century masterpiece allows visitors to admire the beautiful rose windows, Gothic sculptures and a collection of relics.
3.Arc de Triomphe
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Paris, the Arc de Triomphe was built in 1806 to commemorate Napoleon Bonaparte's triumphal battles. Standing 164 feet tall and 148 feet wide (50 by 45 metres), the arch features intricate reliefs depicting victorious battles and engraved with the names of many who died fighting for the emperor.Beneath the arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the First World War.
2. Louvre
Topping the list of the world's most visited museums, the Louvre Museum is located in the Palais du Louvre, with its glass pyramid marking its entrance. Housing a collection of over 1 million objects, the Louvre boasts some of the world's most famous works of art, such as Leonardo da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa', Michelangelo's 'Dying Slave' and the Greek statue 'Venus de Milo'. Other popular exhibits include the extravagant flats of Napoleon III, the ancient Codex of Hammurabi, Egyptian antiquities and paintings by masters such as Rembrandt and Rubens.
1.Eiffel Tower
Visiting the iconic symbol of Paris is usually the number one thing to do for most tourists. Over 300 metres high in the Champ de Mars park, this iron structure was built for the 1889 World Fair. One of the most photographed tourist attractions in the world, the Eiffel Tower provides an excellent photo opportunity both day and night. Visitors can ride the lift to see incredible views of the city or dine at one of the two fine restaurants inside the tower.
Which Paris attraction do you find most interesting?
