8 Stunning Places to Visit in Paris France
Ever since I was little, visiting Paris was always a dream of mine. When I got engaged to my now-husband, he asked me what one place I always wanted to go was, and of course, I said Paris, France. It was a dream of mine to visit the Eiffel Tower one day and see the streets of Paris. As you probably guessed, my dream of Paris eventually became a reality. It became the first European country to check off my travel bucket list.
The first time I stepped foot in Paris, it made me literally like a kid in the candy store. I could not contain my excitement. I thought to myself, “OMG! I am in my dream city.” It seriously amazed me, and the feeling was so magical. Of course, because I had practically planned this trip in my head for my entire childhood, I literally had planned our adventure from start to finish. But, I can’t even tell you how overwhelming that was. It was so challenging deciding where to go when to go and how to find everything. In the end, we explored the city in the most amazing way. We decided to wipe our plans, and we ended up just going with the flow, and that indeed was the best way we could have explored Paris. So without further ado, here are 10 stunning places to visit in Paris in no particular order.
1. The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is arguably one of the most iconic landmarks, not just in Paris, but in the entire world. The iron tower is both a fantastic achievement of engineering and practically the most well-known symbol of Paris. It’s a must-see for all visitors to Paris. The Eiffel Tower is located on the Champ de Mars, in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. You can see the view of Paris from many levels of the Eiffel Tower. My favorite view of Paris was sitting on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower, enjoying champagne. If you are like most people, you probably want to go up into the Eiffel Tower. However, keep in mind that there is an entrance fee. There are also several tiers of pricing for visiting the Eiffel Tower, depending on how high you want to go.
2. Champs Elysées / Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is another one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France. It is located at the end of the Champs-Élysées. The Arc de Triomphe was built to honor those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The Arc de Triomphe has all of the French victories and generals inscribed on its inner and outer surfaces. The Arc de Triomphe is located in one of the busiest areas of Paris, at the end of Champs-Elysées. The Arc de Triomphe has a phenomenal panoramic view of the cityscape encompassing it where tourists can take photos. It has one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
3. Musée du Louvre
If you only have time to visit at least one museum in Paris, it should unquestionably be the Musée du Louvre. The Louvre is one of the best art museums you will ever visit in Europe. This museum features 35,000 works of art, including Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” An interesting fact that I learned about the museum when I was in Paris was that the Lourve served as a royal residence for several French powers, including Louis XIV. Also, just as an FYI, you can capture some great photos in front of the Louvre that you’ll be sure to love! Be sure to set aside enough time for the Louvre. It is huge and there is much to see.
4. Champs-Élysées
Paris’ most popular boulevard – expanding more than a mile from the obelisk at Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe – is a shopper’s biggest dream come true. Along this street, you’ll find luxury stores like Louis Vuitton and less-expensive stores like Adidas and Gap. I literally was in a shopping paradise on this street! Champs-Élysées is always bustling with locals and tourists, and you will find lots and lots of places to eat.
5. Seine River
One of the most famous rivers in Paris is the Seine. It runs directly through the heart of Paris. It is perhaps of the most famous waterways in the world. The Seine is excellent for photo backdrops, but it also is an essential water supply, a major transportation route, and necessary for commerce. My husband and I decided to enjoy this iconic river through a boat tour in the evening; however, there are several ways to enjoy the Seine. Alongside the banks of the river, you will find Parisians selling local goods, so don’t be alarmed if several of them approach you. Take your time to pass a few bridges over the Seine River, and you’ll be sure to find lots of photo-worthy moments.
5. Notre-Dame-de-Paris
Notre-Dame de Paris, also is known as the Notre-Dame Cathedral, is one of the most iconic churches in Paris. It is most famous for the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages. It is the most beautiful church I have probably ever seen. However, the Notre-Dame Cathedral has suffered lots of damage and deterioration over the years. Most recently, during a restoration campaign in 2019, a fire broke out in the cathedral’s attic, and the massive fire destroyed most of the roof, Viollet-le-Duc’s 19th-century spire, and some of the rib vaulting. On the top of Notre-Dame Cathedral, you can get some breathtaking panoramic views of Paris. Unfortunately, because Paris’s Notre-Dame Cathedral is undergoing extensive repair work, the site remains closed to the public until further notice. You can still however get some wonderful photos in front of the church.
6. Musee d’Orsay
Musee d’Orsay is home to one of the most extensive collections of Impressionist art in the world. You can see the famous works of Monet, Manet, Degas, Van Gogh, Gaugin and more. This museum is also known for being a work of art on its own. Musee d’Orsay was once Gare d’Orsay, an old train station, which was restored and was converted to an art museum.
7. Pompidou Centre
The Pompidou Centre is the biggest modern art museum in Europe. It has an exciting design, with plumbing and pipes located outside of the museum, color-coded in lively colors. It’s an impressive sight to see. This is massive museum, and you could roam this art museum for hours. From the top of the museum, you are treated to another beautiful view of Paris. We came across this museum on a bike ride in Paris. We truly enjoyed seeing it.
8. Carrousel de Paris
In Paris, you are bound to find a merry-go-round or two. There is nothing like a ride on a carousel to make a child… or an adult smile. Two of the most charming merry-go-rounds are just a few feet away from an attraction that you most likely have on your list of things to see, the Eiffel Tower. The Trocadéro Carousel is also known as the Carrousel de Paris. It is located next to the Fountain of Warsaw at the waters of the Jardins du Trocadéro. During the spring, this area is a sight to see. You can get amazing photos of the Eiffel Tower there.
Which attraction in Paris do you think to be the most interesting? If you haven’t been to Paris, which one would you like to see most? Could you leave us comments and let us know?
I have always wanted to visit Paris. Thank you for this wonderful information.
I’d love to visit. These all sound amazing!
Paris is on our bucket list