If it's your first time to Paris, you'll probably want to spend some time at the world-renowned Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre-Dame, but don't miss out on other notable city jewels such as the Musée d'Orsay, the Luxembourg Gardens or Le Marais. Here is a checklist so you don't miss anything special. Also checkout our breakfast places in Paris.
The Pont Alexandre III stands as an emblematic example of Beaux-Arts style with breathtaking views of the sparkling Seine River below.
Inaugurated on the occasion of the 1900 Universal Exhibition, the bridge commemorates the signing of the Franco-Russian Alliance of 1892 and connects the Invalides to the Grand Palais and Petit Palais. The ornate reliefs at the center of the bridge’s arches further reference Franco-Russian relations depicting the Nymphs of the Seine and Nymphs of the Neva.
Located in the heart of the 6th arrondissement, the Jardin du Luxembourg fuses together Italian, French, and English landscape design over its nearly 60 acres of gardens. Marie de’ Medici, the former Queen of France, longed for a palace and garden that resembled those of her childhood in Florence, thus commissioning the grounds in 1612.
Overlooking the Seine River on Île de la Cité, this Rayonnant-style marvel holds Europe’s largest surviving medieval hall, Salle des Gens d’Armes. La Conciergerie's imposing structure details the craftsmanship of Gothic architects through its vaulted ceilings and soaring towers. While its impressive structure exudes an air of nobility, its past reveals a much more brutal reality.
A masterclass on Gothic style, the jaw-dropping Sainte-Chapelle roots connect back to the reign of King Louis IX. The chapel was commissioned in 1238 to hold the king’s collection of Passion relics, including the Christ's Crown of Thorns.
In its 120 years of existence, the Moulin Rouge has seen showbiz stars, musicians, actors and stately names pass through its doors. And, tourists aside, this cabaret venue is also iconic for Parisians, who go more for the club scene at The Machine and rooftop Bar à Bulles that lie within.
The Palais Garner is a 2,000-seat auditorium and the very pinnacle of Parisian opulence – from the classical sculptures on its exterior to the mirrors, marble and parquet flooring of the Grand Foyer. There’s also the Grand Escalier, all red satin and velvet boxes, plus the library, museums and emperor’s private salons.
If there’s one place in Paris you can unapologetically whip out that selfie stick, it’s the Place du Trocadéro. The wide promenade at the center of Palais de Chaillot offers sweeping views of the iconic Eiffel Tower and sloping Jardins du Trocadéro below.
Quite possibly the most famous man-made structure in the world, the Eiffel Tower was originally erected as a temporary exhibit for the Exposition Universelle of 1889. It provides heart-stopping views over Paris and is visible from most vantage points across the city. Aside from the new glass floor installed in 2014, which truly messes with your perception if you’re brave enough to walk across it, there’s also a panoramic champagne bar on the third floor, a brasserie and a Michelin-starred restaurant. At night, the Eiffel’s girders sparkle like fairy lights on a Christmas tree.
Only in Paris could a cemetery be considered an astonishing tourist attraction. With nearly 110 acres of cobblestone pathways, cascading trees, and commanding burial chambers, the Père-Lachaise Cemetery is one of the most famous and beautiful burial grounds in the world. However, the graveyard wasn’t as beloved when it opened in 1804.
The old Belle Époque Orsay train station was converted into the Musée d’Orsay in 1986 to house one of the world’s largest collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. Aside from works by Monet, Renoir, van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec, you’ll find a dapper collection of decorative arts from the Art Nouveau era and a wide range of 19th-century sculpture. Digest it all with a coffee in the café behind the museum’s giant transparent clock.
Designed by Jacques-Germain Soufflot in 1757, the Panthéon began as a replacement for the original Church of Sainte-Geneviève on the same site. The soaring dome and Corinthian columns of Soufflot's neoclassical design pay homage to the original Roman Pantheon.
Covered in copper-gilded ornamentations and intricate sculptures, the Palais Garnier stands as an opulent symbol of Paris’s appreciation and respect towards the arts. Emperor Napoleon III commissioned Charles Garnier to construct a theatre from the Paris Opera and Paris Ballet in 1861. The opera house's lavish design includes the infamous Grand Staircase and gilded auditorium, where you may just catch a glimpse of the "Phantom of the Opera."
The Fondation Louis Vuitton’s 11 ultra-sleek galleries opened in the Bois de Boulogne in 2014. Since then, Frank Gehry’s astonishing building has played host to a rotating programme of shows by high-profile modern and contemporary artists.
One of the most historic markets in Paris, Marché d’Aligre has survived revolutions, riots and waves of gentrification. But whatever tribulations come their way, the vendors continue to flog their second-hand garments, bric-à-brac and cheap food on this stretch near Bastille.
When Dutch artist Ary Scheffer built this small villa in 1830, the area teemed with composers, writers and artists. Novelist George Sand was a guest at Scheffer’s soirées, along with Chopin and Liszt. The museum is mainly dedicated to Sand, but also displays Scheffer’s paintings and other mementoes from the Romantic era.