Things to do · Paris · France
20 best things to do in Paris
20 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
The essential sights in Paris are Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and Musée d'Orsay. Of the 20 picks below, 8 are free, 7 work on a rainy day and 5 suit children. Allow about 4 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Eiffel Tower
- Free sights
- 8
- Good on a rainy day
- Louvre Museum
- Time to see the highlights
- 4 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eiffel Tower | 7th arrondissement | 2–3 hours with the summit | Mid-priced |
| Louvre Museum | 1st arrondissement | 3–4 hours | Mid-priced |
| Musée d'Orsay | 7th arrondissement | 2–3 hours | Mid-priced |
| Notre-Dame Cathedral | Île de la Cité | 1 hour | Free |
| Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre | Montmartre | Half a day | Free |
| Arc de Triomphe | Champs-Élysées | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| Seine river cruise | Seine | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Sainte-Chapelle | Île de la Cité | 45 minutes | Mid-priced |
| Luxembourg Gardens | Saint-Germain-des-Prés | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Le Marais and Place des Vosges | Le Marais | Half a day | Free |
| Musée Carnavalet | Le Marais | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Musée de l'Orangerie | Tuileries | 1–1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Tuileries Garden | 1st arrondissement | 45 minutes | Free |
| Musée Rodin | 7th arrondissement | 1.5 hours | Mid-priced |
| Père Lachaise Cemetery | 20th arrondissement | 1.5–2 hours | Free |
| Catacombs of Paris | Montparnasse | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| Palais Garnier | Opéra | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| Canal Saint-Martin | Canal Saint-Martin | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Panthéon | Latin Quarter | 1 hour | Mid-priced |
| Jardin des Plantes and Grande Galerie de l'Évolution | Latin Quarter | 2–3 hours | Low cost |
The 20 best things to do
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Landmark · 7th arrondissement
1.Eiffel Tower
Gustave Eiffel's 330-metre iron tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair and is the city's defining view. You can climb the stairs to the second floor or take lifts to the summit; the second floor often gives the better, less hazy panorama. After dark the tower sparkles for five minutes on the hour.
For the classic photo without the crowds, walk across the river to the Trocadéro terraces early in the morning.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with the summit
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Summit tickets sell out in summer and school holidays; book timed tickets on the official site weeks ahead.
- Iconic
- Views
- Kids
- Couples
- After dark
Museum · 1st arrondissement
2.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. 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.
Go straight to the Mona Lisa at opening time or leave it for the final hour, then explore the quieter Richelieu wing.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Timed-entry tickets are effectively required; reserve online before you go.
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Museum · 7th arrondissement
3.Musée d'Orsay
Housed in a Beaux-Arts railway station, the Orsay has the world's best collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art: Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh and Cézanne. It is smaller and easier to enjoy than the Louvre, and the giant station clock on the fifth floor frames a view of Sacré-Cœur.
Start on the fifth floor with the Impressionists before tour groups arrive, then work downwards.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Book a timed slot online, especially for weekends and Thursday late openings.
- Art
- Iconic
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Religious site · Île de la Cité
4.Notre-Dame Cathedral
Paris's Gothic cathedral reopened in December 2024 after the restoration that followed the 2019 fire, with its cleaned stone and rebuilt spire. Entry to the nave is free. The square in front marks point zéro, from which distances across France are measured.
Queues move quickly early on weekday mornings; a free online time slot can shorten the wait at busy periods.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
Religious site · Montmartre
5.Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre
The white basilica crowns the highest hill in the city, and the steps below it are one of the best free viewpoints in Paris. Behind it, Place du Tertre fills with portrait artists, while the quieter streets around Rue de l'Abreuvoir and the Montmartre vineyard keep their village charm.
Take the funicular up (it accepts a Métro ticket) and walk down through the back streets towards Abbesses.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Landmark · Champs-Élysées
6.Arc de Triomphe
Napoleon's triumphal arch stands at the top of the Champs-Élysées above the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, where a flame is rekindled every evening. The rooftop terrace, reached by 284 steps, looks straight down the avenue towards the Louvre and across to La Défense.
Use the underground passage from the Champs-Élysées; never try to cross the roundabout on foot.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- History
- Iconic
- After dark
Experience · Seine
7.Seine river cruise
An hour on the river passes Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Eiffel Tower, with most of the bridges in between. Several operators sail from near the Eiffel Tower and Pont Neuf; evening departures show the illuminated monuments and the tower's sparkle.
Choose a sailing that leaves about 30 minutes before the hour after dark so you pass the Eiffel Tower as it sparkles.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- Views
- After dark
- Iconic
Religious site · Île de la Cité
8.Sainte-Chapelle
This 13th-century royal chapel is almost entirely walls of stained glass: 1,113 scenes in fifteen windows that glow on a sunny day. It sits inside the Palais de Justice, a five-minute walk from Notre-Dame, and a combined ticket with the Conciergerie is available.
Visit on a bright morning; the upper chapel is at its most spectacular when the sun is on the south windows.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Security queues can be long; a timed ticket bought online helps.
- Architecture
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Photo spot
Garden · Saint-Germain-des-Prés
1.Luxembourg Gardens
The Senate's formal gardens are where Parisians read on the famous green chairs, children sail wooden boats on the octagonal pond and older locals play pétanque. There is a puppet theatre and a playground, and the Medici Fountain is one of the most romantic corners of the Left Bank.
Rent a toy sailboat at the Grand Bassin; it is one of the least expensive and most memorable things to do with young children in Paris.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Couples
- Outdoors
Neighbourhood · Le Marais
2.Le Marais and Place des Vosges
Paris's oldest planned square, Place des Vosges, is the start of a walk through the Marais's aristocratic mansions, Jewish quarter around Rue des Rosiers and dense streets of boutiques. The free Musée Carnavalet, devoted to the history of Paris, is on the way.
Come on a Sunday, when many Marais shops open while much of Paris is closed.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Shopping
- Food
- Architecture
Museum · Le Marais
3.Musée Carnavalet
The city's own history museum fills two Marais mansions with shop signs, recreated interiors, Revolution relics and Proust's bedroom. Its permanent collection is free, which makes it a perfect rainy-hour stop between Marais cafés.
Don't miss the courtyard garden and the room of old painted shop signs near the entrance.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Gallery · Tuileries
4.Musée de l'Orangerie
Two oval rooms built to Monet's own design hold his eight enormous Water Lilies panels, lit by natural light. Downstairs is a fine collection of Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse and Modigliani. The museum is small enough for an hour and pairs well with a walk through the Tuileries.
Arrive at opening and sit quietly in the first water-lily room before it fills.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Couples
- Rainy day
Garden · 1st arrondissement
5.Tuileries Garden
The formal garden between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde is the natural walking route between the big museums. Its ponds, statues and summer funfair make a pleasant break, and from the Concorde end the view runs up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe.
Grab a sandwich from a nearby bakery and eat it on the chairs around the Grand Bassin Rond.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
Museum · 7th arrondissement
6.Musée Rodin
Rodin's former home and studio, the Hôtel Biron, displays The Kiss inside while The Thinker and The Gates of Hell stand in the rose garden. It is one of the most relaxing museums in Paris, and the garden alone can be visited on a cheaper ticket.
Combine it with Les Invalides next door and Rue Cler for lunch.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Off the beaten path
Historic site · 20th arrondissement
7.Père Lachaise Cemetery
Paris's largest cemetery is a hilly, tree-shaded city of tombs where Chopin, Oscar Wilde, Édith Piaf, Molière and Jim Morrison are buried. It is free, atmospheric and surprisingly peaceful, especially on an autumn morning.
Download or photograph a map at the entrance; graves are hard to find without one.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Outdoors
Historic site · Montparnasse
8.Catacombs of Paris
About 20 metres below the 14th arrondissement, former limestone quarries hold the arranged bones of several million Parisians moved from overflowing cemeteries in the late 18th century. The visit is a 1.5-kilometre one-way walk with steep stairs.
Bring a layer; the tunnels stay cool all year, and the exit is some distance from the entrance.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Book ahead
- Entry is by timed ticket and slots sell out; book online in advance.
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · Opéra
9.Palais Garnier
The opulent 1875 opera house that inspired The Phantom of the Opera has a marble grand staircase, a gilded foyer and a Chagall-painted auditorium ceiling. You can tour it on most days without attending a performance.
Afterwards, walk to the free rooftop terrace of Galeries Lafayette for a view of the Garnier's roof and the Eiffel Tower.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Architecture
- History
- Rainy day
Waterfront · Canal Saint-Martin
10.Canal Saint-Martin
Locks, iron footbridges and plane trees line this 19th-century canal, where Parisians gather for picnics and drinks on warm evenings. It is the best place to see everyday, non-touristy Paris, with independent cafés, bookshops and bakeries close by.
Pick up wine and cheese and join the locals on the quays around sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- After dark
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · Latin Quarter
11.Panthéon
This neoclassical mausoleum holds the tombs of Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Marie Curie and Joséphine Baker, and a replica of Foucault's pendulum swings under the dome. The colonnade, open in the warmer months, gives a superb view over the Left Bank.
Visit the crypt first, then the colonnade if it is open during your visit.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Views
Garden · Latin Quarter
12.Jardin des Plantes and Grande Galerie de l'Évolution
France's main botanical garden includes glasshouses, a small zoo (the Ménagerie) and the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution, where a parade of stuffed animals marches through a soaring 19th-century hall. The garden itself is free; the galleries and zoo charge separately.
The Grande Galerie is one of the best rainy-day stops for children in Paris.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Rainy day
- Outdoors
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Louvre Museum, Musée d'Orsay, Musée Carnavalet and Musée de l'Orangerie |
| History | Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle and Arc de Triomphe |
| Views | Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre, Arc de Triomphe and Seine river cruise |
| Outdoors and nature | Luxembourg Gardens, Tuileries Garden, Musée Rodin and Père Lachaise Cemetery |
| Food and markets | Le Marais and Place des Vosges and Canal Saint-Martin |
| After dark | Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Seine river cruise and Canal Saint-Martin |
| With children | Eiffel Tower, Seine river cruise, Luxembourg Gardens and Tuileries Garden |
| On a rainy day | Louvre Museum, Musée d'Orsay, Musée Carnavalet and Musée de l'Orangerie |
What to book ahead
- Eiffel Tower: Summit tickets sell out in summer and school holidays; book timed tickets on the official site weeks ahead.
- Louvre Museum: Timed-entry tickets are effectively required; reserve online before you go.
- Musée d'Orsay: Book a timed slot online, especially for weekends and Thursday late openings.
- 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.
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Paris?
Eiffel Tower. Gustave Eiffel's 330-metre iron tower was built for the 1889 World's Fair and is the city's defining view.
+What can you do for free in Paris?
Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sacré-Cœur and Montmartre, Luxembourg Gardens, Le Marais and Place des Vosges and Musée Carnavalet. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Paris when it rains?
Head indoors to Louvre Museum, Musée d'Orsay, Musée Carnavalet and Musée de l'Orangerie.
+What is there to do in Paris at night?
Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Seine river cruise and Canal Saint-Martin are best after dark.