Things Not To Miss in Paris: THE ULTIMATE LIST
The four places in the world I hear questions about most often as far as what to see and do there are the subjects of four blog posts that felt the most daunting for me to write: Paris, London, Rome and New York. Thereās SO MUCH to cover in each of these cities! In this post I’m going to go over Paris as best I can, and especially the Things Not To Miss in Paris. I haven’t seen and done EVERYTHING this city has to offer; but, based on what I HAVE seen and experienced, these are my recommendations for you. š
The Eiffel Tower
Of all the things not to miss in Paris this is without a doubt at the top of the list. What says, “Paris” more than the Eiffel Tower?! It’s visible from almost all over the city; but, for a must-see popular spot to view Paris’s icon, go to TrocadĆ©ro. The stop you’ll need to get off the metro is even called “TrocadĆ©ro” and it will let you out right where you’ll want to be for the best views. Lastly, don’t forget to look toward the Eiffel Tower for the first 5 minutes of every hour from sunset to 1 am when it sparkles.
The Louvre
This is without a doubt the most INCREDIBLE museum I’ve ever been to in the WORLD. You could spend weeks here (maybe months even?) and still not see everything. Plan to spend a SOLID day here from the time it opens until the time it closes. Or at least from the time it opens until the time you just can’t take in anymore. š Grab a brochure with a map that highlights the “must-see” pieces and be sure to check those out during your visit… The Mona Lisa, sculptures by Michelangelo, Hammurabi’s code, Liberty Leading the People, the list goes on…
MusĆ©e d’Orsay
Check out this other āmust-seeā museum in Paris. It was formerly a railway station and is now home to the largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art in the world. Both the art and the space itself are super impressive!
Notre Dame
I still can’t believe this beautiful place was almost completely lost to a fire. It’s closed and blocked off for reconstruction until who knows when; but, get as close to it as you can and take in the awe of this Paris icon from the outside.
Arc de Triomphe
Check out this famous monument dedicated to the soldiers who died in the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from WWI. I *highly* recommend going inside and checking out the views from the top of the monument as they’re my favorite in the whole city.
Champs-ĆlysĆ©es
Walk down this famous stretch of street from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde. It’s known for being the finishing stretch of the Tour de France, its military parades, and for high end shopping.
Place de la Concorde
This square was a significant place in the French Revolution. A guillotine was placed here under the revolutionary government and it’s where King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were hanged. The obelisk in the center of the square once marked the entrance to the Luxor Temple and was a gift from the Egyptian government.
Tuileries Garden
Visit one of the most beautiful parks in Paris, located between Place de la Concorde and the Louvre.
MusƩe Rodin
Check out this museum dedicated to the works of Auguste Rodin. I imagine you’ll recognize some of his most famous pieces.
Catacombs of Paris
Visit the underground tunnel system that holds the remains of more than 6 million people. This ossuary was the solution to the growing number of cemeteries in Paris.
SacrĆ©-CÅur
Check out this famous church high up on a hill with sweeping views of Paris down below.
Montmartre
Take a stroll through my most FAVORITE neighborhood in Paris. There’s fun energy, bohemian vibes, and tons of cool history to experience. Artists like Vincent van Gogh, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Picasso even lived in Montmartre and frequented the local cafes! How cool is that? You’ll love it here. I know it. š
Moulin Rouge
“Because we can, can, can!” š See a show at the Moulin Rouge. It’s seriously SUCH a fun experience. Yes there are topless women but not in a scandalous way. Think variety show with sparkly feathery costumes, singing and dancing, and wonder and awe and THAT’S what the show is all about. Go. I’ve been twice and I’d go again in a heartbeat!
Shakespeare & Company
Swing by this cozy little gem of a bookstore and spend some time browsing the shelves for unique treasures. If you do buy a book they’ll stamp the inside cover for you to indicate it was purchased from there.
Sidewalk Cafes
Make time for the quintessential Parisian experience of eating outside on the sidewalk seating at a cafe. You’ll notice that all the chairs are positioned to face the street at these cafes and though I don’t know why that is I absolutely love it! Take a leisurely lunch and enjoy people watching in the most magical city.
Palais Garnier
Visit this beautiful opera house and pay the admission fee if you’d like to see the inside. I’d highly recommend Phantom of the Opera fans to go inside. This is the opera house that inspired that story and it really does have an underground lake!
Pont des Arts
See the bridge that became popular for couples to leave their “love locks” on. The only problem was that SO many couples left locks here that it started to weigh the bridge down! Though the locks have been removed and replaced with clear panels on the bridge (to deter locks from being added again), it’s still a romantic spot to see in the city.
Pont de Bir-Hakeim
This is another beautiful bridge in the city that you may recognize from the movie “Inception.” It offers great views of the Eiffel Tower and plenty of cool photo ops as well.
Free Walking Tour
My most favorite recommendation to make for popular European cities is to take the free walking tour through Sandeman’s New Europe. The way it works is that a guide takes a group of visitors on a tour of the city and at the end of the tour the visitors tip the guide based on how good they felt the tour was. It’s as easy as that! The Sandeman’s website will tell you the time and place to meet your guide and also to look for the red umbrellas.
The guides hold up red umbrellas at the meeting point so you can’t miss them. The website also says you can book the tour in advance but it’s really not necessary. If you show up at the meeting point without a booking they’ll still be happy to have you. š Sandeman’s offers numerous other (paid) tours and though I haven’t done ALL of them, the tours I HAVE done through the company have been fabulous. š
Day Trips From Paris:
Palace of Versailles
Take the train from Paris to Versailles to see the grand Palace of Versailles where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette lived. Between the palace and the gardens there’s a ton to see, so plan on spending a solid day here.
Giverny
Visit the little town of Giverny where Monet lived and painted his famous water lilies portraits. Check out my post Visiting Claude Monetās House for more details about this day trip. š
Getting Around
All (or at least most) of Europe is SO easily accessible by public transportation and Paris is no exception. The Metro (city trains) and RER (commuter trains) are relatively simple to use and will get you to and from all the places I’ve mentioned above.
And that’s all I’ve got for Paris! What do you think? Did I cover it all? Anything I missed? Let me know in the comments. And if this list was helpful for you on your trip let me know that too. š
Safe travels friends!
CE
