History · Paris · France
8 historic sites to see in Paris
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Miguel Hermoso Cuesta, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral and Arc de Triomphe. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 12–16 hours across 6 areas; 4 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 4
- Time to see them all
- 12–16 hours
- Areas
- 1st arrondissement, Île de la Cité and Champs-Élysées
Historic sites in Paris
Museum · 1st arrondissement
1.Louvre Museum
It is far too big to see in one visit, so pick two or three wings. Entry is by timed ticket, and the Carrousel entrance under the shopping arcade is usually quieter than the pyramid.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Religious site · Île de la Cité
2.Notre-Dame Cathedral
Entry to the nave is free. The square in front marks point zéro, from which distances across France are measured.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Landmark · Champs-Élysées
3.Arc de Triomphe
The rooftop terrace, reached by 284 steps, looks straight down the avenue towards the Louvre and across to La Défense.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- History
- Iconic
- After dark
Religious site · Île de la Cité
4.Sainte-Chapelle
It sits inside the Palais de Justice, a five-minute walk from Notre-Dame, and a combined ticket with the Conciergerie is available.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Le Marais
5.Le Marais and Place des Vosges
The free Musée Carnavalet, devoted to the history of Paris, is on the way.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Food
- Architecture
Museum · Le Marais
6.Musée Carnavalet
Its permanent collection is free, which makes it a perfect rainy-hour stop between Marais cafés.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · 20th arrondissement
7.Père Lachaise Cemetery
It is free, atmospheric and surprisingly peaceful, especially on an autumn morning.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Historic site · Montparnasse
8.Catacombs of Paris
The visit is a 1.5-kilometre one-way walk with steep stairs.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| 1st arrondissement | Louvre Museum | 3–4 hours |
| Île de la Cité | Notre-Dame Cathedral and Sainte-Chapelle | 1 hour + 45 minutes |
| Champs-Élysées | Arc de Triomphe | 1 hour |
| Le Marais | Le Marais and Place des Vosges and Musée Carnavalet | Half a day + 1–2 hours |
| 20th arrondissement | Père Lachaise Cemetery | 1.5–2 hours |
| Montparnasse | Catacombs of Paris | 1 hour |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 4 free, 4 mid-priced. Book ahead for Louvre Museum, Sainte-Chapelle and Catacombs of Paris. The longest visit is Louvre Museum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Louvre Museum: Timed-entry tickets are effectively required; reserve online before you go.
- Sainte-Chapelle: Security queues can be long; a timed ticket bought online helps.
- Catacombs of Paris: Entry is by timed ticket and slots sell out; book online in advance.
How to fit them into 4 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (1st arrondissement and Île de la Cité): Louvre Museum → Notre-Dame Cathedral, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Île de la Cité and Champs-Élysées): Sainte-Chapelle → Arc de Triomphe, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Le Marais): Le Marais and Place des Vosges, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Le Marais, 20th arrondissement and Montparnasse): Musée Carnavalet → Père Lachaise Cemetery → Catacombs of Paris, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 8°C (46°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. One of the quietest months for sightseeing, with low hotel prices outside the school half-term week.
- January: highs of 7°C (45°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold and often grey, but museums are quiet and the winter sales (les soldes) usually start in early-to-mid January.
- November: highs of 11°C (52°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Damp and grey, but some of the lowest hotel prices of the year; Christmas lights go up mid-month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Le Marais — Medieval lanes, galleries, falafel and boutiques in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements
More of Paris
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Paris?
Louvre Museum. The world's most-visited museum holds the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace in a former royal palace.
+Which of these are free in Paris?
Notre-Dame Cathedral, Le Marais and Place des Vosges, Musée Carnavalet and Père Lachaise Cemetery.