Things To Do in Paris

About

Paris is the capital of France and known as the city of love. It is located in the north of France and is subdivided by the river Seine. In total, the city includes 20 districts and over 2 million inhabitants. Not only is Paris a cultural landmark in France but it also plays a global cultural role. The city is famous for its art scene, fashion, history, and its café culture. For this reason, the city is one of the most visited cities in the world. Visitors travel to Paris to explore the world-famous Eiffel Tower, historic churches, art galleries, museums, and the romantic streets and alleys of the city. The city offers a vast variety of luxury and affordable hotels for the visitors to choose from when they travel to Paris. Tourists may rent a car or use the city’s highly efficient public transport to travel across and explore the city.

In this travel guide, we will take a closer look at the most popular destinations in Paris. This way you can plan your vacation and plan a Paris itinerary for your trip.

History and Culture

The origin of Paris dates back to 259 BC. During these times, Celtic settlers lived in the area around the Seine. Over the years, Paris went through a lot of development. In the 11th century, the city became wealthy due to its trade in silver. Yet, in the following years, Paris was involved in several conflicts and wars including the Hundred-Year War and the Napoleonic Wars. During World War II, the city was occupied by the Nazis for four years and was eventually freed in 1944.

Nowadays, Paris plays great importance in French culture. Countless museums and historic monuments make it one of the most cultural cities in France. In the last few years, Paris had to suffer from several terrorist attacks. In November 2015, 137 people were killed and 415 people were injured when a short series of terrorist attacks hit the city.

Things To Do in Paris

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the tallest landmark in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the whole world. It is located on the Champ de Mars in the capital of France and is 324 meters tall. Originally, the monument was built for the World Fair in 1889 and was designed and built by Gustav Eiffel, which is why the tower is named Eiffel Tower. It was constructed between 1887 and 1889 and consists of three platforms.
The third platform is 276 meters above the ground and is the highest lookout-deck for visitors in the EU. Although the Eiffel Tower was originally criticized by the Parisian, it is now the most touristic place and one of the top things to do in Paris. Visitors can access all three platforms. There are also restaurants and souvenir shops inside the tower. The best times to visit are at sunset or early in the morning before the tourist crowds arrive. From all three platforms, visitors can overlook the whole city of Paris.

Ticket prices vary between 10,40 Euros and 25,90 Euros depending on whether you only want to visit the first two platforms or all three and whether you are taking the stairs or the lift to get up. There are 674 steps to the second level, which takes around 30-45 minutes to climb.

Louvre Museum

The Louvre is located on the right side of the river Seine and is the largest art museum in the world. In the 16th and 17th centuries, the building used to be a royal palace for kings but during the French Revolution, the palace turned into a museum and was opened to the public in 1793. The museum is built in charming baroque-style and comprises four floors, 300 rooms, and eight curatorial departments. Over 38000 objects from prehistoric times to the 21st century are exhibited including paintings, drawings, sculptures, and antiquities. The most famous and visited painting is the Mona Lisa from Leonardo da Vinci, which was painted in the early 16th century. The picture shows a lady that is infamous for her slight and mysterious smile. In 1989, the Louvre Pyramid in the main courtyard was finished. It was designed by architect I.M.Pei and is made of glass and metal. Around the main pyramid, there are also three smaller ones, that are often overlooked. Today, the big pyramid is the main entrance to the museum.

When booking entrance tickets, it is best to book online to reduce waiting times. The entrance fee is 17 Euros for adults. However, every first Sunday of the month, the entrance is free between 6 pm and 9:45 pm.

Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is located at the end of the famous shopping street Champ Élysée and at the center of Palace Charles de Gaulle. It was commissioned by Napoleon and designed by Jean Chalgrin in 1806. The arch is 50 meters high and is built in romantic-neoclassicism architecture. On each pillar, there are sculptures that show victory scenes of the French Revolution.

Additionally, the names of all French victories and generals are engraved in the monument.

Visitors can climb 284 steps to the top and enjoy the view of the Champ Élysée, the Eiffel Tower, the Sacre Coeur, and more. There is an underpass for pedestrians to get there because the monument is located in the center of twelve avenues and the busiest traffic junction in Paris. The admission to climb to the top of the Arc de Triomphe is 12 Euros.

Notre-Dame de Paris

There is a reason why Notre Dame Cathedral is mentioned in every travel guide and why you should put this impressive monument on your travel itinerary in Paris. Notre Dame was built in the 12th and 13th centuries under Bishop Maurice Sally and is one of the most visited monuments in Paris. It features astonishing medieval architecture and includes two 69-meter high towers, ten bells and three rose windows. The heaviest bell weighs 13 tonnes and rings during special occasions. In the past, it has announced the end of World War I and II as well as the coronation of Napoleon. Unfortunately, the roof of the catholic church caught fire in April 2019 and was severely damaged. Now, the cathedral is under restoration and reconstruction. The construction work is supposed to be finished by summer 2024 for the Summer Olympics in Paris.

The admission to visit Notre Dame is free but if you want to climb up the towers and the crypt there is an entrance fee of 6 euros. Booking tickets online is the best way to ensure a ticket. During busy times, tickets to the towers may be booked out.

Le Marais

Le Marais is a historic and one of the hippest districts in the heart of Paris. Make sure to explore this area during your Paris vacation! Le Marais is home to charming cobblestone streets, small alleyways, high-end boutiques, cafés, restaurants, and gay bars. Moreover, it displays some of the oldest Parisian houses as well as numerous museums and art galleries. The Place de Vosges is the city’s oldest square and definitely worth a visit with its surrounding red brick buildings. The Eglise Saint-Paul Saint-Louis du Marais is a baroque-style church in Le Marais, which is famous for its pastel-colored clock. Furthermore, the oldest house in Paris “Nicolas Flamel” is located here. In Rue Montmorency, visitors can marvel at the building that was finished in 1407. Also, the famous art gallery Centre Pompidou is found in Le Marais. Here, visitors can find the biggest collection in France of contemporary and modern art.

The best way for backpackers and solo travelers is to join a free walking tour. This is a good way to meet other travelers while exploring the district. On top of this, you will get insight from a knowledgeable city guide. Moreover, Le Marais features some of the best hotels in Paris.

Palace of Versailles

Visitors have to travel 20 km south of France to explore the famous Versaille Palace. Louis XIII built the castle in the 17th century and the palace used to serve as a royal residence until the French Revolution in 1789. Today, Versaille Palace is a museum of the history of France and one of the top tourist destinations in the country. It features several rooms, 6000 pieces of artwork, a park, and gardens. The whole estate is over 800 hectares big. This is why it is recommended to spend at least a few hours here when traveling to Versaille Palace. One of the most famous rooms in Versaille Palace is the Mirror Room, which is 73 meters long and comprises 357 mirrors. The War Room and Peace Room are both covered in marble panels and are decorated with trophies and weapons. In royal times, Louis XV would enjoy concerts in the Peace Room every Sunday. Another famous room is the Grand Trianon, which has a black and white floor and big arches on the side. In the gardens, visitors can explore four fountains that are located throughout the estate. From a viewpoint, you will get the chance to see all four fountains at once.

Conciergerie

The Conciergerie is part of the Gothic palace Palais de la Cite and is located on the island Ile de la Cite. This palace used to be a royal residence until the end of the 14th century. During this time, the royal palace was moved to the Louvre and the Palais de la Cite was transformed into a prison. Now, the Conciergerie is mainly used for law courts. Inside the Conciergerie, visitors can explore the Hall of Men at Arms with four large fireplaces, the Great Ceremonial Hall, the Guardroom, and the Sainte Chapelle with its famous stained-glass windows. Over the course of time, the Conciergerie caught fire twice. However, the damages were reconstructed. Admission to the Conciergerie costs 8,50 Euros for adults.

Sacré-Cœur

The Sacré-Cœur is a romantic catholic church located on top of the Montmartre – the highest point in the city. It was designed by Paul Abadie and finished in 1914. Nowadays, it is the second most-visited monument in Paris and a destination in every Parisian travel guide. The entrance of the church features three arches and two statues of French saints. Inside the church, visitors can marvel at the stained-glass windows and the spectacular paintings on the ceiling. In addition, the church contains a large pipe organ and five bells. The heaviest bell weighs more than 18000 tonnes and is the fifth-largest bell in all of Europe. If you travel to Paris, you should put this fascinating church on your travel itinerary. Admission to enter the church is free but it costs 5 Euros to climb up to the top of the dome. From here, tourists can enjoy a breathtaking view of the city. Besides, the church includes a lovely garden and several fountains.

Seine River

The Seine river is 775 kilometers long and the third-largest river in France. Its origin is 30 km northwest of the city Dijon and eventually, it connects to the English Channel. In Paris, the river is of big importance as it divides the city into two sides. This is why travel guides specify monuments and locations with the expression “left bank of the Seine” and “right bank of the Seine”. Furthermore, half of the Parisian water comes from the Seine. When you are exploring the city, you may have to cross the river a few times to get to different destinations in Paris. Luckily, the city comprises 37 bridges, which makes it easy to get around.

The oldest bridge is the Pont Neuf but the most famous bridge is the Pont des Arts, where lovers used to attach locks to the metal railing in order to confirm their emotions.

Ironically, part of the parapet collapsed due to the weight of over 1 million locks in 2014. Consequently, the city officials have taken off the locks and replaced the fence. There are also many boat tours that allow tourists to explore the city from a different perspective. When booking a tour, you can almost be certain that a city guide will be on board who can give you insight on the history and culture of Paris.

Moulin Rouge

Moulin Rouge offers a unique experience you should not miss out on during your vacation in Paris. The original cabaret house was opened in 1889. In 1915, the original building burnt down but that didn’t stop the operators from doing business. Moulin Rouge quickly became famous for its erotic can-can dance and is now a place to go to for musical dance entertainment. In the Féerie Shows, 80 artists in over 1000 revealing feather costumes and 60 chorus singers will give you a night of entertainment you will never forget.

Every evening the cabaret offers two shows that last for around 2,5 hours. Tickets start at 89 Euros. However, you can also combine the performance with dinner in the old theater. The total cost of dinner and the ticket for the show can easily go up to 200 Euros.

How to get to Paris

If you are planning a vacation in Paris, there are several ways to travel to Paris.

By Flight: Paris offers visitors three different airports to take a flight in or out of Paris. The busiest airport is the airport Charles de Gaulle. There are daily flights coming in and flying out of Paris from and to all the major airports on the world map. From the airport, visitors can take a taxi, the airport transfer service, or the RER train. The train takes approximately half an hour to travel to the city and costs 10 Euros. When booking a ticket from a European destination, you will be able to get tickets for as low as 50 Euros.

By Train: The closest international cities to Paris are London and Brussels. Brussels is approximately 300 km away. The train ride takes around one hour and twenty minutes and costs between 75 and 160 Euros.

The train ride from London, which is approximately 450 km away, takes around 2 and a half hours and costs between 110 and 140 Euros for a second-class ticket.

By Bus: The bus ride from Brussels to Paris takes around four hours with Eurolines FR and costs between 12 and 35 Euros.The bus ride from London to Paris takes around 9 to 10 hours, depending on the bus operator. The best operators are Eurolines FR and Flixbus. Tickets cost between 14 and 40 Euros.

By Car: If you are traveling by car, you can rent a car and go on a road trip in and around Paris. Make sure to have google maps as your traveling companion when traveling by car. This will give you more liberty to stop along the way and explore the area around Paris.