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Will you be traveling to Paris soon? Awesome! Using Go and Europe – The Europeans Travelers Guide, your best Europe travel guide tips, you’ll be able to visit the top tourist attractions around Paris.
Paris is a city of Poets, artists, playwrights, writers, journalists, and others who have expressed their affection for this city in writing. This location exudes culture, sophistication, class, and fashion.
Gallic tribes settled this region in the third century BCE, but the Romans turned it into a prosperous settlement, and Paris became the capital of the Merovingian dynasty in 508. Vikings sacked the city in 845, but it recovered and repelled subsequent Viking incursions. Paris was the economic and cultural center of France by the 12th century.
There aren’t many iconic cities that live up to their reputation like Paris. I have spent years visiting the city, have led tours here, and have even lived here for a time. It is one of my favorite locations in the entire world. It’s true what Hemingway said in his book, “Paris is a moveable feast, if you’ve lived there as a young man.”
In addition to being iconic, Paris is huge, with thousands of years of history and tons of stuff to do. Paris would require a lifetime to explore fully. With a bit of planning, it is possible to see the highlights in just a few days.
With this Paris travel guide, you’ll save money, get the most out of your trip, and maximize your time in the City of Light!
Saint Louis constructed it in 1238 to house holy relics he discovered during the Crusades and to serve as the Royal Chapel. This tiny Gothic chapel is considerably more beautiful than the nearby Notre Dame cathedral. The (mainly) original interior design is exquisite, including some of France’s few surviving stained glass examples. It is stunning. Please don’t skip it! Usually, there is a lengthy line, but museum pass holders can bypass it. Admission costs 11.50 EUR.
In the Louvre, you’ll find thousands of square feet and millions of pieces (like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo). To see everything requires at least two full days, but the highlights can be seen in a single afternoon (especially if you take the Louvre Highlights Tour, which includes skip-the-line entry). Admission is 17 EUR and timed skip-the-line tickets are another 17 EUR. If you genuinely want to avoid crowds, visit the museum on Wednesday night, when it is open until 11 p.m. After 7 p.m., there is hardly anyone there.
The Latin Quarter, a historic area close to Notre Dame, comprises tiny, winding streets that open onto cafe-lined squares at odd angles. It always feels like you’re stepping back several hundred years when you’re here. In addition, there are numerous restaurants, bars, and jazz clubs here. You’ll walk through the Latin Quarter and get skip-the-line tickets to Sainte-Chapelle.
The 300-meter tower, constructed for the 1889 World’s Fair, was initially reviled by locals. They hoped to demolish the metal asparagus, dubbed “the metal asparagus.” It is now the city’s most well-known symbol, and every resident will tell you they adore it. It is a beautiful structure. If you intend to ascend, you should arrive early
to avoid lines. Tickets range from 16-26 EUR. Alternatively, you can buy direct access to the top for 52 EUR. The Champ Mars (the grassy field in front of the monument) is ideal for photographs and picnics.
A full day is required to visit the renowned 17th-century palace (don’t miss Marie Antoinette’s home or the expansive gardens). Originally a hunting lodge, Louis XIV constructed this opulent palace to lure the nobility out of Paris and prevent them from plotting coups. It was enlarged over time and filled with countless allegorical statues and symbols to remind people that the king held the state’s power! Summer weekends, when the palace is less crowded, and weekdays are the best times to visit the gardens. The entrance fee to the palace is 18 EUR, while the entrance fee to the entire complex (including the gardens) is 27 EUR. We’ll take you on a Versailles tour led by a local expert guide and pick you up from Paris off-peak, so you won’t have to deal with crowds. Alternatively, entry without waiting in line costs 55 EUR.
Dozens of companies cover every aspect of life in Paris. It can be challenging to make sense of the seemingly endless listings on Viator and TripAdvisor. Some are free, such as New Europe’s tour, and provide a historical overview of Paris as they circle the city’s center. Walks offer incredible in-depth tours beginning at approximately 55 EUR, and you will receive specialized guides and bypass lines at major attractions such as the Louvre.
This lovely apartment dates from 1605. The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables author Victor Hugo was its most famous resident at 30. His former residence is now a museum devoted to his life and works. The museum is relatively small, but Hugo enthusiasts (like myself) will find it quite fascinating. It’s divided into different rooms based on his life stage, from infancy through death. Admission is complimentary.
Take a food tour to learn more about the history and culture behind Parisian cuisine. It is the best way to eat through the city while knowing what makes Parisian cuisine unique. Devour Tours offers in-depth food tours led by knowledgeable local guides who will introduce you to the culture and history of the local cuisine. This tour is for you if you’re a foodie like me who wants to learn more about the history and culture behind each dish! Food tours cost between 89 and 109 euros.
This monument is a Paris landmark in the middle of Place Charles de Gaulle. The arch, inaugurated in 1836, is dedicated to the victims of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. For great views and history, climb 284 steps up the Arc.
Despite having an outstanding exhibit on France, anti-Semitism, and the Holocaust, the Mémorial de la Shoah rarely attracts a large number of visitors. It’s unfortunate, as this site contains a wealth of in-depth information and an impressive collection. I’ve visited numerous Holocaust museums, and this is one of the finest and most comprehensive. I strongly endorse it. Admission is complimentary.
Tunnels were built initially as mines under Paris. During World War II, the French resistance utilized these tunnels, and rave parties flourished there in the 1990s. Within this labyrinth of tunnels are the renowned Catacombs of Paris, an ossuary containing the bones of more than six million Parisians. Public health concerns about overcrowded cemeteries led to the establishment of this cemetery in the 18th century. It is one of the most bizarre and exciting locations in Paris. It’s a walking tour with a local historian that includes skip-the-line access (lines often wrap around the block), and last-minute tickets are 14 EUR (they often sell out, however).
Pere-Lachaise Cemetery is the largest and most famous cemetery in Paris. It is the most frequented cemetery in the world and a tranquil, hauntingly beautiful area worth exploring. You can find out where Jim Morrison, Chopin, and Oscar Wilde are buried. Locals thought it was too far away in 1804. Père Lachaise had only 13 basses in its first year, but administrators decided to move two of Paris’s most famous artists, Jean de La Fontaine and Molière, there. It was a popular burial spot after that! Here you can learn more about the cemetery.
Paris’ largest park, Jardin du Luxembourg (Luxembourg Garden), is 56 acres. The garden, established in 1612, features more than a hundred statues, monuments, and fountains dispersed across the grounds. During the French Revolution, the architect of the Arc de Triomphe, Jean Chalgrin, restored and expanded the park. In the morning, many runners exercise in this area and join park-goers for a lunchtime picnic on a pleasant day.
You can’t leave Paris without checking out some of the music that attracted some of the best artists and musicians. There are a large number of excellent jazz clubs in the city. In 1984, the Duc des Lombards opened and became one of the city’s most famous jazz clubs. There is also an abundance of excellent music at Harry’s Bar.
In this Neoclassical building in the Latin Quarter, you’ll find Marie Curie, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Louis Braille, Victor Hugo, and Voltaire, among others. Admission costs €11.50.
The Gothic masterpiece in Paris builds between 1163 and 1334. Get a glimpse of the Gallery of Chimeras, beasts that peer over the balustrade from the north to the south tower, and the fantastic birds. This building still has some old Gothic charm, despite the exterior being cleaned up a few years ago. The cost to ascend the tower is 10 euros. Due to the 2019 fire, Notre Dame is presently closed.
Starving artists have lived in Montmartre since the Belle Époque in the 19th century. Along with the view of Paris, there are arty cafes and bars, a winery (Vignes du Clos Montmartre), and cobblestone streets. Despite its fading grandeur, it’s one of the hippest neighborhoods in Paris. It’s ideal for those who wish to visit Hemingway and Gertrude Stein’s favorite haunts. On top of the hill is the renowned Sacré-Coeur basilica. At dusk, ascend the stairs or sit on the sloping lawn to enjoy the views. The entrance to the basilica is entirely free.
There are numerous museums worth visiting in Paris. Don’t miss the Musee D’Orsay for impressionist art, the Holocaust Museum (one of the best in the world), the incredible Rodin Museum, and the Musee D’Orangerie (more impressionist art). There are over 50 museums in Paris and the surrounding area, so a museum pass lets you see them all. A pass for two days costs 52 EUR, a pass for four days costs 66 EUR, and a pass for six days costs 78 EUR.
The 9th arrondissement’s Parc de la Villete transforms into an outdoor cinema every July and August with an inflatable screen. It is extremely popular among locals, who typically bring food and wine! It is also free to attend.
The street stretches from the Arc de Triomphe to the Louvre, one of the most famous in the world. There are expensive shops and restaurants all around, but it’s an excellent place to shop and club at night. Come very early in the morning to see the area wholly deserted. It makes for fantastic photographs.
Some fantastic things are going on on July 14 to celebrate the anniversary of the Bastille during the French Revolution. During the Middle Ages, the Bastille represented royal authority in Paris. An important part of the American Revolution was capturing the city. You can watch a massive televised parade and a huge fireworks show (for the best views, go to Champ de Mars or the Jardins du Trocadéro).
Do you have any previous experience with Paris, or is this your first time? You may have heard of some Paris attractions in popular destinations. With our Europe travel guide tips, you’ll find everything you need to know about Milan.
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