Here's Paris!
INCLUDED IN THIS DOCUMENT
Overall information
Top Attractions
Museums
Photography spots
Do Nots
Overall Infomation
Holidays
The two biggest holidays in France are Bastille Day and All Saints Day.
Bastille Day (July 14th) is celebrated with a mixture of military parades, dancing and fireworks. It commemorates the storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, and has been commemorated in France for more than a century. Celebrations are held throughout France. Look over the parade time and route to either avoid or join in the festivities.
All Saints Day (November 1st) is a more private affair where families place flowers – most commonly chrysanthemums – on graves in honor of their dead relatives. Many businesses and tourist locations will be closed or hours reduced.
Other dates to look out for:
May 1st - Labour day.
May 8th - Armistice Day, World War II
May 9th (in 2024) - Ascension Thursday
May 20th (in 2024) - Whit Monday
August 15th (in 2024) - Assumption day
Sign Up For A Walking Tour
This is a great way to see the main sights of the city in a couple of hours. Book a walking tour with local guides and get an insight into the city’s history, culture, and architecture. Most of the time they are free and they work for tips. These are offered by Parisians who know the area and offer some great insights into the attractions of the city.
Stay Safe
Paris is very very touristy and because of that there are a lot of people that will try to con you out of money. People will try and have you sign documents and then demand money NEVER SIGN ANYTHING no matter how kind they seem or you want to be. Say no thank you and walk away.
Always be mindful of your belongings and keep things in zippers and closed bags and purses. Pick pockets are rampant and they will grab your phones and run. Just like in any other city, leave all important documents like your passports in your Hotel.
Paris is a great city and very accessible for credit cards and ATMs but always keep a little bit of cash on you on the odd occasion that a little shop you enter doesn’t have a credit card machine.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
As I am sure you are all aware the Cathedral had a huge fire in 2019 destroying a significant amount of the original roof and Spire at the top. The restoration is still underway so I will not be including this as a stop. At this time there are still barriers blocking the public from getting close to the cathedral and even photos are not the best due to the distance and the surrounding fencing. If you would like to see it the address is 6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Place Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris in the 4th arrondissement.
Covid
Most locations DO NOT require masks but many recommend them. Make sure you are keeping a mask with you at all times in case individual businesses require them for entry or anything changes.
Food Carts
You will see a lot of movable food carts in main tourist attractions, from kebabs to crepes to regular sandwiches most all of these cooking batters or street food materials are stored in the sewer.
This is well known amongst the Parisian population and is one of Paris' best-kept secrets. Ensure that you are purchasing your crepes from a reputable business in a 'building' that is not movable and has proper food storage locations.
Top Attractions
Eiffel Tower
Information:
The design of the Eiffel Tower is attributed to Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, two senior engineers working for the Compagnie des Établissements Eiffel. It was envisioned after discussion about a suitable centerpiece for the proposed 1889 Exposition Universelle, a world's fair to celebrate the centennial of the French Revolution. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Initially hated by many Parisians, it is now a famous symbol of French civic pride.
Location:
Champ de Mars, 5 Av. Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France (7th Arrondissement)
Time:
Estimate 3 hours, Open 9:30am to 10:30pm
Cost:
Ticket with Access lift to second-floor: Adult €17.10, Ages 12-24: €8.60
Ticket with Access lift to the top: Adult €26.80, Ages 12-24: €13.40*
*Easily the second best option, if you have never been to Paris you’ll want to splurge on going all the way to the top.
Ticket with access stairs to second floor: Adult €10.70, Ages 12-24: €5.40
Ticket with access stairs 2nd floor + lift to top: Adult €20.40, Ages 12-24: €10.20**
**I would highly recommend this one if everyone in your party is able-bodied. It is the cheapest way to do the entire Eiffel Tower and you feel a big sense of accomplishment walking up all those steps. It does take longer though since you aren’t taking the elevator and it is only sold on the day at the base of the tower, instead of ahead of time. NOTE: Sometimes this line can be up to an hour.
Overall Tips:
There are A LOT of tours if you’d like, but you might not have the time to take as many pictures and explore slowly
Purchase the tickets ASAP if you are buying option number 2, you can schedule a time so that you don’t have to wait in the lines
Go early in the mornings, crowds will be a little lighter and you can spend the rest of the day doing other things
Don’t go after dark, you can’t see the city from the top. Look at the structure itself instead. Although going right at sunset is a great option.
The Louvre
Information:
Home to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the Louvre is considered the world's greatest art museum, with an unparalleled collection of items covering the full spectrum of art through the ages. It is the world's most-visited museum and a historic landmark in France. The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built in the late 12th to 13th century under Philip II. In 1546 Francis I converted it into the primary residence of the French Kings. The pyramid, along with the vast lobby beneath it, opened to the public on April 1, 1989.
Location:
Musée du Louvre, 75001 Paris, France (2nd Arrondissement)
Time:
You can spend a whole day here but would recommend 2-3 hours depending on how big of an art person you are. Open 9 AM to 6 PM daily except Tuesdays.
Cost:
€17 if you purchase online, €15 in person. Purchasing online allows you to skip the line.
- In addition to the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions of the Louvre, a ticket gives you to the Musée Eugène-Delacroix within 48 hours of first use.
- Combined tickets covering museum admission + the guided tour are available at €26, offered in English they last 1.5 hours. Audio tours are also available to purchase at €5
- Tickets are free on the first Friday of the month after 6 p.m. (except in July and August)
Overall Tips:
Evenings tend to be quietest, try going after 3 to hit a lull in the crowds.
Do not forget to go to the Napoleon III apartments. They are located in the Richelieu wing, this area of the museum is quieter and not as well traveled but beautiful and incredible to see how Napoleon the 3rd lived.
If you have pre-purchased a ticket but the line at the pyramid looks long ensure to utilize the Carrousel entrance located on the North side of the Museum. (Looking at the pyramids with the garden behind you this will be on the left and is underground).
Top Things To See:
The Mona Lisa
The Raft of the Medusa
The Wedding at Cana
The Venus de Milo
The Monzon Lion
Portrait of a woman
The Coronation of Napoleon
Liberty Leading the People
The Winged Victory of Samothrace
The Dying Slave by Michelangelo
Gabrielle d’Estrées and one of her sisters
The Winged Bulls
The Seated Scribe
The Lacemaker
The Turkish Bath
The Horse Tamers
The Mummy
Arc de Triomphe
Information
The Arc de Triomphe was begun in 1806, on the orders of Napoleon I to honour the victories of his Grande Armée. Inspired by the great arches of antiquity, the monument combines the commemorative with the symbolic and it has always played a major role in the national republican consciousness. Every evening, the flame is lit on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the Great War.
Location
Pl. Charles de Gaulle, 75008 Paris, France (8th Arrondissement)
Time
Less than an hour, open 10 am–10:30p.m daily
Cost
€13 per person
Overall Tips
The Arc has a lot more availability and most of the time can work around your schedule. Check the availability a few weeks prior to your trip to see if you should book tickets or just play it by ear.
Download the Arc de Triomphe app before you go. The app gives you interesting facts about the Arc and helps identify buildings you see from the top.
Champs-Elysees
Information
Avenue in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France, running between the Place de la Concorde in the east and the Arc de Triomphe in the west. It is known for its theatres, cafés and luxury shops, as the finish of the Tour de France cycling race, as well as for its annual Bastille Day military parade. The name is French for the Elysian Fields, the place for dead heroes in Greek mythology. It is commonly regarded as the "most beautiful avenue in the world"
Time
Less than an hour, most shops are open 10 a.m. to 8:00p.m daily
Overall Tips
Spend time walking slowly up and down visiting shops. Don’t forget to visit Laduree for Macarons, it is one of the world's best-known sellers of the double-decker macaron.
Place de la Concorde
Information
Paris’s largest square was plotted in 1755 and completed in 1772 between the Champs-Elysées and the Tuileries Garden. A guillotine was set up, and pillars of the French nobility, including Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, were executed here. Today you have to see the fountains created during the reign of Louis-Philippe in the 1830s, and the 3,500-year-old obelisk at the centre, which once stood at the entrance to the Luxor Temple which was presented to Charles X by the Viceroy of Egypt.
Location
75008 Paris, France (8th Arrondissement)
Time
This is a place to walk through and admire, take a few pictures and continue on
Cost
Free
Overall Tips
Do not spend too much time here. This is to appreciate the history of the area and a nice square to walk through as you continue on.
Note: The Place de la Concorde is a busy intersection with heavy traffic, circulating at high speeds. French drivers don't always pay attention to pedestrians, so tourists should make sure to get out of the way!
Jardin des Tuileries
Information
The Tuileries Gardens take their name from the tile factories which previously stood on the site where Queen Catherine de Medici built the Palais des Tuileries in 1564.
Location
75001 Paris, France (1st Arrondissement)
Time
2-3 hours open 7am to 11pm.
Cost
Free
Overall Tips
Nothing crazy here other than spend as little or as much time here as you’d like. There are no specific areas or art pieces to view just a nice piece of history.
Sacré Cœur Basilica
Information
Perched on the highest point of Paris, this is where you will find one of the best panoramic views of the city. This Roman Catholic church and the basilica is one of the most popular landmarks in the city. Besides being a religious monument and place of worship, Sacré Cœur is also considered a political icon for the historical significance of the victory over France in the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune when the radical socialist part ruled Paris from March to May in 1871. Marking the neighbourhood as one of the most revolutionary and rebellious in the city’s history.
Location
35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France (18th Arrondissement)
Time
1 hour at most the basilica is open from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm daily.
Cost
Entrance is free to the church, but there is an additional cost to climb to the top of the dome. Reservations are not needed.
Overall Tips
The Basilica has a dome at the top of the building, this dome is open and available to visitors. There are various rates to access the Dome depending on the time of year. Access to the Dome is outside the Basilica on the left.
Warning: there are 300 steps to climb and no elevator but the panoramic view of Paris is stunning. The dome is open from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm daily (in the fall/winter), the dome closes based on weather so ensure you go on a sunny day.
Reminder: this is a working church, people come to pray at all hours. You will not be let in if you're not dressed appropriately. Tourists visiting are asked to try to keep the noise down and not speak in the basilica.
You are asked to not take photos or videos in the church. Currently both the crypt and bell tower are closed to visitors. Check-in at the front if this has changed when you are there.
Musee d'Orsay
Information
The Musée d'Orsay displays a splendid collection of 19th- and 20th-century art (created from 1848 to 1914) in the converted Gare d'Orsay. This Belle Epoque railway station was built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. The museum holds mainly French art dating from 1848 to 1914, including paintings, sculptures, furniture, and photography. It houses the largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces in the world. It is one of the largest art museums in Europe.
Location
1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 75007 Paris, France (7th Arrondissement)
Time
Approx. 2 hours
Closed on Mondays.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday to Sunday 9:30am to 6:00pm,
Thursday 9:30am to 9:45pm.
Cost
Purchasing a ticket online gives you priority access within half an hour of the reserved time.
Regular hours: Online cost €16.00, at the gate €14.00
Late night hours: Thursdays from 6:00pm until last entrance at 9:00pm, online cost €12.00, at the gate €10.00
Overall Tips
Make sure you go to the correct entrance. Individual visitors without tickets: Seine river side, Entrance A. Visitors with tickets or passes or with priority entry: Rue de Lille side, Entrance C
The museum offers numerous tours in English for individuals. Note that tours are offered on selected days subject to change. Guided Tour + Museum admission €22,00
Buy a Combined Ticket to the Musee de L'Orangerie or the Musée Rodin
The museum has special collections that alternate throughout the year. Most are free to enter but could have a long line. Prior to going research what the additional collections are and if you can book a time to bypass the lineup.
Top Things To See
Women Ironing
Poppy Field
Camille Sur Son Lit De Mort
Danseuses
Self Portrait
Starry Night (Not THE Starry Night but similar created one year prior)
Luncheon Grass
Renoir – Bal Moulin Galette
Paul Cezanne – Card Players
Gustave Caillebotte – Floor Scrapers
Museums - Paris Museum Pass
The PARIS MUSEUM PASS opens the doors to over 50 museums and monuments in Paris and the Paris region.
https://www.parismuseumpass.fr/t-en
The more you visit, the more you save. Take count of how many locations on the list you will want to do and see if the pass is worthwhile for you.
You will still need to make reservations once you have the pass.
Go online and when purchasing type in your Paris Museum Pass number. A two-day pass is €52.00 per person. It includes access to these museums:
- Arc De Triomphe
- Musée D'Orsay
- Musée Du Louvre
If you visit these three above the total would come to €46.00, if you were to go to one additional location on this list the pass would be worth it.
- Chapelle Expiatoire
- Conciergerie
- Musée De L'Orangerie
- Musée Picasso-Paris
- Sainte-Chapelle
- Musée Rodin
- And Many More!
Chateau de Versailles
Chateau de Versailles deserves its own section for everything that you can do here.
Information
Together with its gardens, the Palace of Versailles is one of the most famous world heritage monuments. The ensemble traces the architectural style of the 17th and 18th centuries and comprises: the Royal Apartments, the Hall of Mirrors, the Chapel, the Royal Opera and the Museum of the History of France. The Park is decorated with statues, fountains, water parterres and outstanding buildings such as the Grand Trianon and Petit Trianon, the Temple de l'Amour and the Hamlet of Queen Marie-Antoinette. Napoleon Bonaparte, following his takeover of France, used Versailles as a summer residence from 1810 to 1814. The palace and park were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979 for its importance as the centre of power, art, and science in France during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Location
Place d'Armes - 78000 Versailles. It takes approx an hour to get there with public transit from downtown Paris.
Time
Realistically this is an entire day event. You don’t want to rush through it.
There are four parts to Versailles: Please note that these times may change with the season
The Palace 9:00am to 6:30pm
The Estate of Trianon (AKA Marie-Antoinette’s Estate) 12:00pm to 6:30pm
The Gardens 8:00am to 8:30pm
The Park 7:00am to 8:30pm
The Palace is open every day except Monday.
Cost
There are two types of tickets offered - (Park entry is always free)
The Passport Ticket: Allows entrance into the Palace, The Estate of Trianon, and The Gardens €27.00
The Palace Ticket: Allows access to the Palace only €13.00
Additional Option: I would recommend purchasing a Guided Tour of the King’s Private Apartment. It is an extra €10.00 but allows you to see a different part of the Palace not many people have the opportunity to see and allows you to skip the line.
Note: Even if you purchase a ticket ahead of time to the Chateau you must wait in line to get your ticket and bags checked. With the tour of the King's Private Apartment, you get to walk to the front of that line and get in quicker than everyone else. The tour is an hour and a half and will lead you right out into the palace to continue seeing the main attractions. Try and get the earliest time possible for this tour. Most days only have two tour times 9:30 AM and 1:45 PM.
Overall Tips:
The Palace offers Audio Guides which are free to all visitors. Additionally, there is a mobile app that includes an audio guide tour of the Palace, the Gardens, the Trianon Estate, and the Gallery of Coaches, as well as an interactive map of the Estate. It can be used without an Internet connection once downloaded.
The best time to go to Versailles is during the week. Your tickets MUST be purchased ahead of time. No matter which you choose, if not, you risk them running out of tickets or the line being incredibly long.
The Estate of Trianon includes a fake peasant village created to provide scenic views and fresh milk and eggs for the Queen. It is a lovely area to sit and relax under some trees and have a picnic.
Note that Versailles only allows for small bags to be brought in. Avoid bringing large backpacks. Food and drink are not allowed into the palace itself but are alright to bring into the outdoor areas.
Avoid going to Versailles on a Tuesday as the rest of the museums in Paris are closed on Tuesdays, so expect massive crowds on these days!
The Hall of Mirrors is the biggest draw. If you want to get a good empty picture be there prior to 9am to be some of the first people in line to get into the palace. Once in the Palace head straight to the Hall of Mirrors and backtrack to see the rest later.
Food is very expensive on the grounds, I would recommend exiting the palace grounds (once you are done with your visit) and going to a local sandwich shop and bringing that onto the park gardens to enjoy a picnic.
Photography Spots
Paris is one of the most picturesque places in the world. A lot of places are also interesting tourist spots as well. If you find a cute cafe or restaurant try and also grab something small to help support the local business.
Just like anywhere popular, try hitting these spots early in the morning or later in the evening.
4 Av. de Camoens
Early morning would be best. Maybe before going up the tower
La Maison Rose
Really pretty when the sun sets
Has become very popular so be prepared for crowds
Address: 2 Rue de l'Abreuvoir, 75018 Paris, France
The Sinking House - Montmartre
How to get there: It’s in Montmartre, right next to the Sacre Coeur (most easily reached from the Anvers metro station). Near the top of the many steps to the Sacre Coeur, on the right-hand side, you’ll see a small grassy bank. The orange house is behind that bank, but, because you’re climbing a hill, you simply need to turn your camera about 45 degrees and voila.
Moulin Rouge
You can either visit this in the day or night, both are gorgeous just depends on the vibe
Address: 82 Bd de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France
Rue Crémieux
Starting to become very popular, will most likely be very busy
Avenue Silvestre de Sacy
Another good spot to get the Eiffel tower
Shakespeare and company
Grab a French book while you’re there! You are not allowed to take pictures inside the bookstore so ensure that you take all your pictures outside.
Address: 37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 Paris, France
Lamarck-Caulaincourt metro station
Active metro station, be careful of commuters
Place des Vosges
Address: Pl. des Vosges, 75004 Paris, France
The Palais Garnier - The Paris Opera House
Open from 10:00pm to 5:00pm, tickets are €14.00 per person
Address: Pl. de l'Opéra, 75009 Paris, France
Pont Alexandre III
It is named after Tsar Alexander III, who had concluded the Franco-Russian Alliance in 1892. His son Nicholas II laid the foundation stone in October 1896. His granddaughter was Anastasia Romanoff.
Address: Pont Alexandre III, 75008 Paris, France
Place du Trocadero
Will be very busy, be prepared
Champ de Mars
Nice place to grab some food and relax on the grass
Do Nots
Do not waste your time at Disneyland Paris. I am saying this as a lifelong Disney fan. If this is a goal in your life visit of course go but if you just want to see it to fill a day or because you think it will be fun, don't. It does not have the same feel as Disneyland or Disneyworld and there are so many things to see and do in Paris that are unique and different. Disney sadly is not one of them.
Do not think that this is a complete document, Paris is forever changing and things are happening all the time, if you’d like to find something specific make sure you do your own research.
Don’t buy bottled water in a restaurant unless you like or need bubbly water. Otherwise, stick to a “carafe d’eau”. Paris has some of the best tap water in the world. The water fountains around the city are safe to drink from and are eco-friendly so keep a bottle of water on you and refill as needed.
Don’t stick to the main streets, Paris is a relatively safe city with lots of cute areas and streets, take the road less traveled every once in a while and explore a side street or two. There are a lot of pickpockets though ensure you keep things in a zipped pouch.
Do not rush through, make sure you find time to stop in a cafe and enjoy a cup of coffee. Public washrooms in Paris also cost money so when you grab a coffee take a quick bathroom break.
Don’t eat near a major tourist destination. Hard to do but try and walk a few streets away from anything touristy. Restaurants near major tourist attractions will be more costly so try and venture a little ways away. Some are great for pictures or a quick bite but they will all be very expensive and not as authentic
Do not try and do everything. Paris isn’t a week-long excursion, people have lived there for years and have still not seen everything. Make sure you know that you can enjoy everything possible without actually seeing everything.
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