Paris is known as the city of lights and the city of love, but it should also be known as the city of tourism. In 2014, the capital of France received 22.4 million visitors, which made it one of the world’s top tourist destinations. With a rich culture, intricate historical past and a multitude of modern amenities and one-of-a-kind sites, it can be hard to choose where to spend your time during your visit to Paris, so we’ve compiled a list of the 5 Best Places to Visit in Paris, France!
1The Eiffel Tower
While it might seem cliché, the Eiffel Tower is one of the top tourist destinations in the world for a reason. Built in 1889 as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower is a wrought iron lattice tower that towers 1,063 feet above the city.
To visit the Eiffel Tower, you may encounter long queues so it may be beneficial to purchase your tickets online before visiting. Tickets are 11£ for an adult or 7£ for the stairs.
The Eiffel Tower isn’t just about watching the twinkling lights and seeing the city from on high. The Eiffel Tower also has two restaurants, a champagne bar several shops.
2The Catacombs
The Catacombs of Paris are underground ossuaries that hold the remains of over 6 million people. Steeped in mystery and a bit macabre, the catacombs are the result of historical graveyards overflowing and Paris being in desperate need of a place to put their dead.
To visit the catacombs, visitors must follow a series of rules set out beforehand and pay a 12 EUR fee. You will then be taken on a 45-minute tour that will take you deep beneath the streets of Paris and you will learn about the long and often disturbing history of the catacombs. Keep in mind, the catacombs have a strict 200-person capacity and in summer you may have a wait time after buying your tickets.
The catacombs can be cool, so bring a sweater and the tour is not suitable for people with heart or respiratory problems, those with a nervous disposition or children.
3Musee De Louvre
The Musee De Louvre is considered to be one of the best museums in the world. Housing over 35,000 paintings, sculptures and artifacts, the Louvre welcomes 10 million visitors per year.
Visiting the Louvre can be daunting due to its size so it’s best to have a game plan. The Louvre is open from 9:00AM to 6:00PM with extended hours on Wednesday and Friday. To save a bit of time after clearing security, consider purchasing tickets before arriving at the Louvre and it may be helpful to know what to want to see the most when visiting the museum, since the amount of artwork that can be seen at the museum can be staggering.
4Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame Cathedral is a historic Catholic cathedral on the Seine. The cathedral is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture and is a must see when in Paris.
Used in many setting shots and featured in fictional stories, the cathedral is well known for its flying buttresses and its famous gargoyles that overlook the city.
The cathedral is open every day of year 8:00AM to 6:45PM with modified hours on the weekends.
5Musee d’Orsay
On the left bank of the Seine is the Musee d’Orsay, a museum housed in a former railway station built around 1900. It holds the largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist paintings in the world. Containing some of the world’s most famous artworks, including Monet’s Lunch on the Grass and Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux Ugolino.
Figuring out what to see in the Musee d’Orsay may be easy for some, but keep in mind that the locations of artworks are changed on a nightly basis. With over 3.5 million visitors a year, peak queuing times can mean longer waits so be prepared for that, especially on Tuesday and Sundays.
