The Best Paris Attractions & Activities

The Eiffel Tower, Paris’s iconic landmark, soars above the city with sweeping views from its platforms. Built in 1889, it dazzles with nightly illuminations and remains a symbol of French artistry, engineering, and romance.

The Louvre in Paris, once a royal palace, is the world’s largest art museum. Its vast collection spans from ancient civilisations to iconic masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, all beneath the striking glass pyramid entrance.

Notre-Dame de Paris, a Gothic masterpiece on the Île de la Cité, is famed for its rose windows, flying buttresses and sculpted façades. Fully restored after the 2019 fire, it once again stands as a symbol of Paris and a treasure of French heritage.

Sacré-Cœur crowns Montmartre with its gleaming white domes and panoramic views over Paris. This Roman-Byzantine basilica offers a serene interior, stunning mosaics, and a spiritual retreat above the city’s lively artistic quarter.

commissioned in 1806 by Napoleon to celebrate his victories, taking thirty years to build, finally completed in 1836. Visitors can climb steps to the top where there is a viewing platform

The Panthéon, in Paris’s Latin Quarter, is a neoclassical monument honouring France’s great figures. Once a church, it now houses the tombs of Voltaire, Rousseau, and Marie Curie beneath its magnificent dome.

The Catacombs of Paris form an eerie underground maze lined with the bones of millions. Created in the 18th century from former quarries, they offer a haunting yet fascinating glimpse into the city’s hidden history.

The Cinémathèque Française, in Paris, celebrates cinema’s history and art. Designed by Frank Gehry, it features film archives, exhibitions, and screenings, making it a must-visit for movie lovers and cultural enthusiasts alike.

The Département des Monnaies, Médailles et Antiques in Paris, part of the Bibliothèque nationale de France, holds vast collections of coins, medals, and ancient artefacts, showcasing centuries of art, history, and craftsmanship.

Église Luthérienne de Billettes, in Paris’s Marais district, is France’s only Lutheran church in a medieval cloister. Its serene atmosphere, elegant architecture, and historic setting make it a peaceful hidden gem in the city.

The Grand Palais in Paris is an architectural icon of glass and steel, built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle. It hosts major art exhibitions, cultural events, and fairs beneath its magnificent domed roof.

The Jardins du Trocadéro, across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, feature grand fountains, statues, and terraces. Created for the 1937 Exposition, they offer spectacular views and a perfect spot for photos and strolls.

La Madeleine, in central Paris, is a grand neoclassical church resembling a Roman temple. Dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, it features majestic columns, rich interiors, and hosts concerts amid its striking architecture.

Maison de Balzac, in Paris’s 16th arrondissement, was home to writer Honoré de Balzac. Now a museum, it displays manuscripts, personal items, and artworks, offering insight into the author’s life and literary world.

The Musée Antoine Bourdelle in Paris celebrates the sculptor’s life and work within his former studio. Surrounded by peaceful gardens, it displays monumental bronzes, plaster studies, and drawings that trace Bourdelle’s artistic evolution.

The Musée de l’Opéra, within the Palais Garnier in Paris, showcases the history of French opera and ballet. Exhibits include costumes, set designs, and artworks, offering a glimpse into the grandeur of the Paris Opera House.

Musée de la Poste in Paris traces the history of communication through interactive exhibits, vintage stamps, art, and postal artefacts. Modern and engaging, it reveals how mail shaped culture and connected people across centuries.

Musée du Vin – Caveau des Échansons, in Paris, is set in historic 15th-century wine cellars. It showcases France’s rich winemaking heritage through artefacts, tastings, and exhibits celebrating centuries of viticulture.

Musée Grévin, in Paris, is a historic wax museum featuring lifelike figures of celebrities, historical icons, and cultural legends. Blending art and illusion, it offers immersive displays in a lavish Belle Époque setting.

Musée Jacquemart-André, in Paris, is a lavish 19th-century mansion showcasing fine art, furniture, and décor collected by Édouard André and Nélie Jacquemart. It offers a refined glimpse into Parisian elegance and artistic taste.

The Palais de Chaillot, in Paris’s Trocadéro area, offers stunning Eiffel Tower views. Built for the 1937 Exposition, it houses museums of architecture, maritime history, and ethnology within its sweeping neoclassical wings.

Palais de la Découverte, within the Grand Palais in Paris, is a hands-on science museum. It features interactive exhibits on physics, astronomy, chemistry, and biology, inspiring curiosity through engaging demonstrations and discoveries.

The Petit Palais in Paris, built for the 1900 Exposition Universelle, houses the City’s Museum of Fine Arts. Its elegant Beaux-Arts design and free-entry galleries showcase paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts from antiquity to the 20th century.

The Élysée Palace in Paris is the official residence of the French President. This grand 18th-century mansion, with elegant gardens and opulent interiors, serves as the heart of French political power and state ceremonies.

Palais Brongniart, in Paris, is a neoclassical masterpiece designed by architect Alexandre-Théodore Brongniart. Once the Paris Stock Exchange, it now serves as a prestigious venue for conferences, exhibitions, and cultural events.