Top 10 Reasons To Visit Paris, France – Best Guide
The city of Paris needs no introduction and is one of the world’s most popular tourist destination. Paris is often referred as the city of art, light and love due to the remarkable sculptures, beautiful city lights and also romantic ambience here. The city has a rich history with many famous landmarks and monuments such as the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysées / Arc of Triumph, Louvre and Notre-Dame. Besides that, Paris also has a strong influence in the world of fashion, food, design and architecture.
City of Art, Light and Love
With all these in mind, there is no reason why you wouldn’t fall in love with Paris. If you haven’t read our previous post on Paris, we highly recommend you to check it out. The best time to visit Paris if you want smaller crowds, cheaper fares and fair weather is during fall/autumn (September-November).
Paris during fall/autumn (Image credit: Getty Images)
When travelling in Paris, we do recommend you to get either Paris Visit Pass or The Paris Pass. Depending on where and what you plan to visit, these passes can save you time, money and ease the trouble of purchasing separate tickets for the metro, RER or the bus.
– Zone 1-3 : travel within Paris and nearby suburbs
– Zone 1-5 : travel within Paris, nearby suburbs until ORLY/CDG Airport, Disneyland and Versailles.
Paris Visit Pass (Image credit: Klook)
For The Paris Pass you will get all the perks of Paris Visit Pass and also free entry into over 60 museums in Paris. So if you are planning to explore all the museums in Paris, go for the complete package The Paris Pass.
The Paris Pass (Image credit: parispass.com)
So getting that out of the way, let’s dive right in on what are the Top 10 Reasons to Visit Paris – The City Of Art, Light and Love?
1. Discover the “Iron Lady” of Paris
The Eiffel Tower, also known locally as the “Iron Lady” (La dame de fer) is one of the most recognisable landmarks in the world. It was completed in 1889 by Gustave Eiffel and his company to commemorate the 100 years anniversary of the French Revolution.
Iconic landmark of Paris
Being one of the most visited and tallest structures (324m/1,063ft) in Paris, getting tickets to visit this iconic landmark is not easy and have to be made in advance to avoid disappointment. The tower is segregated into 3 levels with different views and experience for visitors.
Eiffel Tower at night
Eiffel Tower
You will have a few options to go up the Eiffel Tower; via stairs, lift or a combination of both. Majority of the visitors here opt to go for the lift tickets, so they can have a more comfortable trip. The downside however, is that the tickets are more pricier than the stairs option and the queue for the lift tickets can last up to 3 hours.
Be prepared to wait – Eiffel Tower
Long queue for the lift access – Eiffel Tower
If you are feeling fit enough to scale the 674 steps to the 2nd floor, then you can expect a shorter queue (around 30 minutes). The duration to climb up to the 2nd level would could take around 40 minutes depending on your pace. Click here to book your tickets.
Stairs access – Eiffel Tower
In total, there are 1,665 steps to the summit of the Eiffel Tower. However, the stairs access from the 2nd level to the top level is not open to the public. You can only visit the summit via the lift access tickets. Visitors can expect to see a restaurant, glass walkways, boutiques and the Gustave Eiffel Room at the 1st level.
Level 1 – Eiffel Tower
Glass walkaway – Eiffel Tower
On the 2nd level, you can check out the gift shop, dine at the Michelin-star Le Jules Verne restaurant, or simply enjoy the view at the observation deck.
Level 2 views – Eiffel Tower
Observation deck (Image credit: toureiffel.paris)
At the summit, you will be able to see Gustave Eiffel’s office (which includes maps, wax characters and Eiffel Tower blueprints) and enjoy the spectacular views from the Eiffel Tower while sipping on champagne at the bar.
View of Champ de Mars from the summit (Image credit: toureiffel.paris)
Wax figures in Gustave Eiffel’s office at the summit (Image credit: toureiffel.paris)
2. Explore the Palace of Versailles
Being one of the most visited place in Paris, the Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles) symbolises the pride and royal heritage of France. The Palace of Versailles is located around 20km from Paris and originally built as a hunting lodge by Louis XIII in the 16th century. His son, Louis XIV also known as the Sun King, rebuilt and transformed the lodge by setting up a government and palace here. The palace was used as the main residence for the French monarchy for more than 100 years until the French Revolution.
The Palace of Versailles
Today, the palace is a UNESCO World Heritage site and boasts various monumental buildings and landmarks such as; Hall of Mirrors, Garden of Versailles, the Royal Opera and the Royal Residences. Make sure to book your tickets beforehand as the queue here can get quite long for those without tickets. To get here via train, take the RER Line C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, followed by a 10 minutes walk to the Palace of Versailles. You can also take the Versailles Express shuttle bus which departs daily from the Eiffel Tower.
Huge crowds to the Palace of Versailles (Image credit: waitamoment)
Be sure not to miss any of these attractions while you are here :-
The Palace
With over 2,300 rooms in the palace, you can easily spend a few hours here. The most popular rooms here are the Royal Opera, Hall of Mirrors, The Crusades Room and the King’s Apartment just to name a few.
The Hall of Mirrors (Image credit: Shutterstock)
The Royal Opera (Image credit: Palace of Versailles)
The King’s Apartment (Image credit: Palace of Versailles)
The Gardens
While visiting the Hall of Mirrors in the palace, you will get a stunning view of the Versailles Garden from the central window. To maintain the garden’s 16th century design, it requires replanting to be done every 100 years.
The Gardens view from the Hall of Mirrors
Visit this stunning garden
The Estate of Trianon
This estate was built by the royal monarchs, so that they have their own private getaway from the main palace. Among the highlights here, are the Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and Queen’s Hamlet.
The Estate of Trianon – A place of intimacy
The Queen’s Hamlet (Image credit: Palace of Versailles)
The Royal Stables
Built back in the 16th century, the Royal Stables was used to home the horses ridden by the royal monarchs. All the horses here were fully trained for hunting and combat. Also available here is the Gallery of Coaches and the Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery in the Small Stables.
Royal stables (Image credit: paristoversailles)
Sculptures and Mouldings Gallery (Image credit: Palace of Versailles)
3. Visit the world’s largest museum: The Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre) is one of the most popular and iconic symbols of France, spanning over an area of (782,910 sq ft/18 acres) making it the largest museum in the world. Inside the museum, you will be able to see its massive collection of more than 38,000 objects, all dating back from the prehistoric times. The museum is segregated into 8 different categories: Decorative Arts; Egyptian Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Near Eastern Antiquities; Paintings; Prints and Drawings; and Sculpture.
Entrance to the Louvre Museum (Image credit: Louvre Museum)
Inside the Louvre Museum – Apollo Gallery (Image credit: Getty)
The famous Mona Lisa painting is displayed here as well
The Louvre Museum is part of the Louvre Pyramid which is considered to be one the the greatest innovative architectures of all time. The Louvre Pyramid is the brainchild a Chinese-American architect, I. M. Pei and officially opened its doors in 1989. During its debut, the Louvre Pyramid received mixed opinions on its design. Some praised the creative looks of the pyramid while others hated the design and called it an Egyptian death in the centre of Paris. Despite all the criticism it received, today the Louvre is one of the most loved and visited places in the world.
One of the most visited place in the world
The waiting line for the museum can be as long as 2 hours, so be sure to book ahead of time to save you time and secure your spot. There are 4 entrances to the museum which not many people know about. The main entrance to the Louvre Museum is through the Pyramid Entrance which is not hard to miss. This entrance has the longest wait time and is more crowded compared to the others. If you haven’t bought the museum tickets, then you will have to use this entrance.
Layout of the 4 entrances to the Louvre Museum (Image credit: Louvre Museum)
A typical day at the main pyramid entrance
The 2nd entrance is the Carrousel du Louvre which is also known as the mall entrance. The entrance is easily assessable from outside the Louvre and can only be used for those who already purchased their tickets.
The mall entrance – Carrousel du Louvre
The 3rd entrance is the Passage Richelieu (Porte de Richelieu) which is located on Rue de Rivoli, near the sculpture garden. This entrance, is reserved for groups and visitors with membership cards (Amis du Louvre, ICOM, Louvre Pro, Ministère de la Culture and Pass Education).
Passage Richelieu (Porte de Richelieu) entrance
The passage to the entrance
The sculpture garden near the Louvre entrance
The 4th entrance, Porte des Lions is located near to the pyramid entrance and attracts a fair amount of crowd. If you are planning on using this entrance, do not bring a large bag or helmet. Otherwise, you will be denied access as there are no lockers available at this entrance.
Porte des Lions entrance
4. Visit the most famous cathedral in the world – Notre Dame
Sitting in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, is one of the most famous cathedrals in the world, Notre Dame Cathedral Paris (Notre Dame de Paris). Listed as an UNESCO heritage site, the cathedral is the first few French Gothic cathedrals to be built in the 12th century and took around 200 years to complete. The name, Notre Dame is derived from French which means “Our Lady”.
Notre Dame annual light show (Image credit: Getty Images)
Notre Dame Cathedral Paris before 2019 fire incident
There is no entrance fee to visit Notre Dame. However, if you wish to visit the tower and the crypt, then a small entrance fee will be charged. For Paris Pass holders, access to these 2 attractions is included in the ticket. You can attend the mass while you are here or explore the artworks, relics and Gothic architecture of the cathedral.
Notre Dame’s High Altar (Image credit: bloomberg)
Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Image credit: bloomberg)
Rose windows (Image credit: bloomberg)
The Cathedral of Notre Dame gained its popularity after Victor Hugo’s novel on “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” in 1831. It has since appeared on numerous cartoons, movies and storybooks world-wide. Victor Hugo himself mentioned that the Hunchback of Notre-Dame in his novel was just fictional. However, there was a hunchbacked sculptor during that time who was working on the cathedral which may have inspired him to create the character.
The popular Disney movie “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame)
You can also explore the bell tower and the 2 gargoyle themed towers which the main character of the famed novel/movie “Hunchback of Notre Dame” lived. Since there are no elevators here, you will have to scale the 387 stairway to get to the top of the tower.
The Gargoyles of Notre Dame Cathedral
The 387 spiral steps up
In April 2019, while undergoing restoration works, the roof of Notre-Dame caught fire and seriously damaged the cathedral. Due to the ongoing reconstruction works, the cathedral is closed and expected reopen before the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. To get here using the metro, use any one of these lines; RER B Train Line (blue) : St-Michel Notre Dame, RER C Train Line (yellow) : St-Michel Notre Dame, Metro Line 4 (fuschia) : Cité.
The tragic incident in April 2019 (Image credit: Getty)
Ongoing reconstruction works (Image credit: Getty)
5. Arc De Triomphe
Visit one of the most popular landmarks in Paris, The Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile which is located at the centre of a massive roundabout in the 8th Arrondissement of Paris. The Arc de Triomphe was built in 1805 to celebrate Napoleon Bonaparte’s victory over the Russian and Austrian troops in the Battle of Austerlitz.
The Arc de Triomphe
Military parade on Avenue des Champs-Elysées
The arc took 30 years to complete and since then, have been used by soldiers as a victory lap. Under the arch, you will be able to see the names of the 660 Generals and soldiers who perished during the war inscribed on the walls. The arch is also a memorial place for the Tomb of an Unknown Soldierkilled in WWI. Every evening at 6.30pm, the tomb will be lighted with a flame, accompanied by a ceremony to honour the Great Dead.
Inscription inside the Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe Paris’ Memorial Ceremony (Image credit: legion)
You can also visit the top of the arc by using the lift or climbing up the 284 staircase. This 60m/164ft arc offers a panoramic view of the busy 12 streets stretching out from the base of the roundabout, creating a star shape. The arc is often referred asPlace de l’Étoile which means “Square of the Star” and can be quite confusing if you are driving here the first time.
12 streets on this busy roundabout (Image credit: Getty)
View from the top of Arc de Triomphe
There are no lines in the roundabout and the traffic which is entering the roundabout has the “right of way”, opposite from the normal rules. If you are walking here, do not cross the street to reach Arc de Triomphe! Since the traffic is pretty wild, use the underground passageway on the Champs-Elysées to get to the arc safely.
Underground passageway
Depending on your age and nationality, the entry to the top of the arc could be free. Click here to find out more. The Paris Pass holders are also entitled to a free entry. Even if you don’t intend to go up the arc, we do recommend you to at least visit the base of this monumental arc.
Take a stroll at Arc de Triomphe
6. Drop by Musée d’Orsay
The Musee d’Orsay may not be as famous the the Louvre Museum, but it is definitely a local favourite. The museum is located in the 7th arrondissement, opposite the Tuileries Gardens, on the former grounds of the Orsay railway station. It was built for the World’s Fair in 1900 and showcases art collections from 1848 – 1914.
Musee d’Orsay
Check out the clock at the 5th Floor
The museum is a former train station
Here, you will be able to see various sculptures done by French artists (Bartholdi, Carpeaux, Barye, Bourdelle), paintings done by Impressionist artists (Cézanne, Monet, Picasso, Renoir, Van Gogh) and even a cinema which features black and white film (including Charlie Chaplin). There is an entry fee to visit the museum, but if you hold the Paris Pass, entry is free for you. Click here to book your tickets.
Hercules the Archer – Bourdelle
The Four Parts of the World Holding the Celestial Sphere – Carpeaux
Poppies – Monet
Charlie Chaplin films featured here
7. Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Anyone who have been to La butte Montmartre, have surely seen the shining white church on top of the hill. The church which you see is the Sacré-Coeur Basilica (Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris) The church sits on one of the highest points in Paris at 130m/427ft and consists of narrow, windy and steep roads. The Sacré-Coeur Basilica was built in 1875 after the French was defeated by the Prussians to serve as penitence for their sins and misery during the war.
Sacré-Coeur Basilica on Montmartre hill
Montmartre village
Although this church has aged, but it has still managed to stay white without much maintenance. This is due to the white stone used during the construction of Sacré-Coeur which emits “calcite”, a substance which actually cleans the stones, maintaining its white colour.
Sacré-Coeur Basilica
The place where the Sacré-Coeur was built is called Montmartre, which means Martyr Mountain. It was at Montmartre where the patron of saint Paris (St. Denis) was beheaded while trying to preach the Gauls. But unlike any normal person, Denis picked up his severed head and continued walking for 6km along the street now called “Rue des Martyrs” (Martyrs Street), before finally collapsing after he found a place to bury his head. St. Denis even gave a sermon during his walk.
Statue of St. Denis at Sacré-Coeur
The Sacré-Coeur today serves as a Roman Catholic Church, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and welcomes visitors to see the church’s architecture and also stunning view of Paris. To get to the here via metro, get off at Anvers station and walk around 600m to reach the Montmartre hill. At the base of the hill, you can either climb the 222 steps or take the funicular which takes about 1-2 minutes to reach the top.
Half way there
The funicular at Sacré-Coeur
Inside the church, you will be able to see the grand pipe organ and one the largest mosaic in the world which features the picture of Jesus Christ with open arms.
Jesus Christ with open arms mosaic – Sacré-Coeur
Holy water font inside the Sacré-Coeur
The bell tower here also contains one of the world’s heaviest bell named “Savoyarde”, which weighs 19 tonnes. It was brought to Sacre-Coeur in 1895 and required 21 horses to drag the bell up the Montmartre hill. There is no entrance fee if you are visiting the church. However, visiting the dome and crypt does carry a fee. Click here to find out. If you’re interested in joining a tour, fret not as all Paris Pass holders are entitled to a free Montmartre and Sacré Coeur walking tour.
The bell tower
Explore the crypt
8. Discover the Empire of Death: The Paris Catacombs
Most of us know Paris for its charming and beautiful city. But did you know that underneath this city, there is a massive and complex tunnel system? The tunnel stretches on for over 320kmcovering an estimated area of 2,000 acres and was used as a underground burial system, giving it the nickname “Empire of Death”.
Collection of bones at the Paris Catacombs (Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Would you want to visit this catacomb?
The Paris Catacombs was introduced in the 17th century, when overcrowding became a huge issue as Paris kept on expanding into its role as a global hub. The situation in Paris became so bad that the corpse would just be piled up on each other causing the nearby shops to lose their business as the stench was unbearable. The solution was to place the remains of the dead into limestone quarries which had already existed underneath the streets of Paris in the 13th century. It took around 12 years to transport over 6 million bones into the catacombs!
Illustration of Paris in the 17th century
The solution to solve cemetery overcrowding (Image credit: catacombes.paris)
In the catacombs, you can expect to spend an hour exploring the narrow tunnels 30m beneath ground, so those who have claustrophobia might want to skip this attraction. The average temperature here is 14°C, so you might want to carry an extra jacket while you are here.
The sign above translates to “Stop! This is the Empire of the Dead”
Entering the ossuary of the Paris Catacombs
Carvings of Port Mahon made in the walls of the Paris Catacombs
The Paris Catacombs is open to visitors to explore, however only 1.5km of the tunnel is assessable to the public for safety reasons. Although there have been quite a few people known to illegally explore and swim in the tunnels, we don’t recommend that you try it as there have been people who had gotten lost and died in the tunnels.
One of the many illegal entrance to the Paris Catacombs
The illegal section of the Paris Catacombs
Secret altars illuminated by candles
Daredevil surfing through the forbidden Paris Catacombs (Image credit: Caters)
Would you swim/surf here?
The Paris Catacombs is located in the 14th Arrondissement at 1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy. To get here, you can take the metro line 4 or 6 to Denfert-Rochereau or take the Bus 38 and 68. Be sure to book your tickets ahead of time as only 200 visitors are allowed to visit at a time.
You can expect long queues to the Paris Catacombs (Image credit: freecityguides)
9. Go for a photoshoot at Place du Trocadero
Located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, is Place du Trocadero which is a popular public square to view the Eiffel Tower. Even though this square may not as well-known compared to the other landmarks, we do suggest you to visit this place as it offers a spectacular view of the 23 acres of Trocadéro Gardens (Jardins du Trocadéro) which consists of the Warsaw fountains and sculptures.
Place du Trocadero during sunset
Perfect spot for photoshoots – Place du Trocadero
Picturesque view of Eiffel Tower – Place du Trocadero
The square offers the perfect place to snap your photos and provides an ideal lookout spot for the Eiffel Tower light shows in the evening. Take a stroll down the steps from the terrace and you will reach the Trocadéro Gardenswhich was created back in 1937 for the Paris World Fair.
Water fountains at Trocadéro Gardens
Watch the Eiffel Tower light show from the Trocadéro Gardens
You can have a picnic at the garden, watch the mesmerising water features or join the kids at the playground and carrousel here. To get here via public transport, you can take the train (L or N lines), metro (use 6 or 9) or the bus (22, 244, 63, 72, or 82).
The crowd in summer – Trocadéro Gardens
Join the kids at the carrousel – Trocadéro Gardens
10. Take a day trip to Mont-Saint-Michel
Come and explore the magical island of Mont-Saint-Michel (Le Mont Saint Michel), which is considered to be one of most breath-taking places in France. Located in the bay shared by Brittany and Normandy, this holy island one of one the major pilgrim destinations for Christians and also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The magical island of Mont-Saint-Michel
Map of Mont-Saint-Michel
Although Mont-Saint-Michel is located further out from Paris (around 360 km), we’ve decided to add it into this list, just in case you might want to do a day trip or spend a night here. To get here from Paris, you can either drive, take the train/bus or just join the tour (Klook, Viator, etc) to have a worry free trip.
The village of Mont-Saint-Michel
If you insist on taking the public transport from Paris, we suggest using the bus as it is much more convenient and doesn’t require multiple transfers unlike the train. You can expect the following:-
Journey time around 5-6 hours to Mont Saint-Michel
The bus will stop at La Caserne, which is near to the Mont Saint-Michel bridge. From there, you can hop on the free Passeur shuttle bus (12 minute ride)
Passeur shuttle bus – Mont-Saint-Michel (Image credit: Getty)
The Mont-Saint-Michel is actually a tidal island; during low tide, the surrounding area will be covered with sand, enabling visitors to walk to the abbey or explore its perimeter. If you are unfamiliar with the area, this can be dangerousas the surrounding area consists of deep mud and quicksand. We do suggest you to join a walking tour with an experienced guide instead. During the high tide, the abbey looks like it is floating above the water and the surrounding area becomes an island.
Join a walking tour to Mont-Saint-Michel
Getting stuck in quicksand could be fatal at Mont-Saint-Michel (Image credit: Reuters)
High tide at Mont-Saint-Michel (Image credit: Pinterest)
So how did Mont-Saint-Michel come about? Well, its history dates back to the 8th century, when the bishop of the nearby town Avranches, claimed to receive the instructions from the Archangel Michael to build a church on the island. Over time, it transformed into a pilgrimage centre and in 966, the Benedictine abbey was constructed on the island.
Visit the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel
The gardens of Mont-Saint-Michel
What can you do at Mont-Saint-Michel?
You can spend a whole day admiring the medieval architecture and exploring the abbey or visit the boutiques, restaurants and museums here.
Explore the village at Mont-Saint-Michel
While you are here, do check out the fluffy omelettes which is served by one of the most popular restaurants on the island, La Mère Poulard since 1888. If you want to spend more time here, you could stay overnight at the island’s hotel which could cost a bomb or find an accommodation around the area to save money.
Hotels at Mont-Saint-Michel (Image credit: Hotels.com)
Try the world famous omelette
Have any experience or tips on travelling in Paris? Or are you planning a trip soon? Let us know and share your thoughts and questions in the comments section. We’d love to hear from you!
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