Paris blends historic landmarks, natural scenery, and local food experiences. We've organized 9 attractions across 3 categories. Each attraction card includes entry fees, opening hours, and local tips so you can plan straight from the page. Use the quick links below to jump to your favorite category.
The 330m wrought-iron icon completed for the 1889 World's Fair. Three observation levels: 2nd floor at 115m (best for photos), 1st floor at 57m (glass floor), summit at 276m (panoramic). After dark, sparkles for 5 minutes on the hour. Skipping the queue requires either pre-booked tickets (sells out 2-3 weeks out in summer) or climbing the stairs to the 2nd floor.
Elevator 2nd floor $19 / €18; summit $35-41 / €33-39; stairs $12 / €11 9:30-23:00 (extended to 0:45 mid-June to early September) 1.5-2 hours
Local tip: Pre-book online 2-3 weeks ahead in summer. The Trocadéro plaza across the river is the postcard photo angle. After dark, time your visit so you're at Trocadéro for the on-the-hour 5-minute sparkle.
Louvre Museum
#2
World's largest art museum — 480,000 works across 73,000 m². The signature pieces are Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Closed Tuesdays. The pyramid entrance designed by I.M. Pei is the iconic exterior shot.
Local tip: Always pre-book online with timed entry — security queue without can hit 90 minutes. Best 3-hour route: Mona Lisa → Venus de Milo → Winged Victory → Cour Marly → exit. Bring water; cafés inside are overpriced.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
#3
Reopened December 2024 after 5-year restoration following the 2019 fire. Free entry to the nave. The 387-step bell tower climb (separate ticket) gives a Quasimodo view across Paris. Sainte-Chapelle 5 blocks away is the alternative if Notre-Dame queue is too long — its 13th-century stained glass is more spectacular interior-wise.
Cathedral free; Bell tower $11 / €10; Sainte-Chapelle $13 / €12 8:00-19:00 (Sat-Sun until 19:30) 1-1.5 hours
Local tip: Reserve bell tower climb in advance — limited slots per hour. Combine with a walk through Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis (the smaller island has the best ice cream — Berthillon).
Arc de Triomphe & Champs-Élysées
#4
Climb the 50m arch at the top of the Champs-Élysées for arguably the best view in central Paris (the Eiffel + 12 radiating avenues). Below, the Champs-Élysées itself runs 1.9 km — the lower half is honestly chain stores; the upper half has the Grand Palais and the better dining streets in side neighborhoods.
Arc de Triomphe summit $14 / €13 10:00-22:30 (winter until 22:00) 1-1.5 hours
Local tip: Night view from the Arc is spectacular and lines are shorter. The pedestrian tunnel under Place Charles de Gaulle is the only safe way to reach the arch — do not try crossing the 12-lane traffic circle.
Neighborhoods & Culture
3 spots
Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur
#1
Hilltop artists' village topped by the white-domed Sacré-Cœur Basilica. Place du Tertre at the top has working portrait artists, though portraits cost $30-50 and the painters are tourist-priced. The dome climb has the second-best free skyline view in Paris (after the basilica steps themselves).
Basilica free; dome climb $6.30 / €6; funicular $2.30 / €2.15 Basilica 6:00-22:30; dome 9:30-19:00 2-3 hours including walk
Local tip: Best at 8-9 AM (before tour buses) or sunset on the front steps for skyline views. Avoid the friendship-bracelet scam at the steps — wave them off firmly.
Le Marais
#2
Trendy historic district covering the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. Picasso Museum (€16 / $17), the Place des Vosges (Paris's oldest planned square), and a concentration of independent boutiques, falafel shops, and gay bars. The only major district where most shops open on Sundays.
Free to wander; museums vary Most cafés/shops 10:00-22:00; museums vary Half day
Local tip: Sunday morning is the best time — most other Paris districts are closed. L'As du Fallafel queue moves fast despite looking insurmountable; the falafel is genuinely excellent at $9.
Latin Quarter & Saint-Germain
#3
5th and 6th arrondissements — the Sorbonne University, Pantheon (Voltaire and Rousseau's tomb), Luxembourg Garden, and the most concentrated bookstore-and-café streets in Paris. Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots are the historic literary cafés (Sartre, de Beauvoir, Hemingway).
Pantheon $13 / €12; Luxembourg Garden free Most spots 9:00-22:00 Half to full day
Local tip: Shakespeare and Company bookstore opens at 10 AM — go early. Luxembourg Garden's south lawn is a perfect picnic spot; buy bread + cheese + wine at any local boulangerie/fromagerie/cave.
Day Trips
2 spots
Versailles Palace
#1
Louis XIV's 700-room palace and 800-hectare gardens. The Hall of Mirrors and the King's bedroom are unmissable. Closed Mondays. Add 2-3 hours for the gardens — the Trianon palaces and Hameau (Marie Antoinette's farm village) are 30 minutes' walk from the main palace.
Palace + gardens $23 / €21; passport (palace + gardens + Trianons) $32 / €30 9:00-18:30 (winter until 17:30); closed Mondays Full day
Local tip: RER C from central Paris ($5.20 / €4.85 each way, 45 min). Pre-book skip-the-line — the standard queue can hit 90 minutes. Bring a picnic; restaurants on-site are overpriced.
Disneyland Paris
#2
Two parks: classic Disneyland and Walt Disney Studios. The new Avengers Campus opened in 2022; Frozen-themed land opens 2026. Less crowded than Tokyo Disney but still 60-90 minute waits for headline rides on weekends.
1-day 1-park $78-100 / €72-93; 2-park $113-135 / €105-125 9:30-23:00 (varies seasonally) Full day
Local tip: RER A from central Paris ($6.40 / €6 each way, 35 min). Tuesday-Wednesday have the lowest crowds. Premier Access individual ride upgrades ($10-25 each) make a real difference on busy days.
Suggested Walking Routes
Half-day to full-day routes that hit the highlights without backtracking.
Right Bank Iconic Route
About 6 hours
1
Eiffel Tower (climb to 2nd floor)9:00-11:00
Tip: Stairs queue is half the elevator queue — climb the first 2 floors
2
Trocadéro photo + walk along Seine11:00-12:00
3
Lunch at Café Constant or Bistrot du Coin (7th)12:00-13:30
4
Champs-Élysées walk to Arc de Triomphe13:30-15:00
5
Arc de Triomphe summit climb15:00-15:45
Tip: Use the underground tunnel — never cross the traffic circle
Marais + Latin Quarter Cultural Walk
About 5 hours
1
Notre-Dame Cathedral (free entry)10:00-11:00
Tip: Reopened Dec 2024 after 2019 fire restoration
2
Sainte-Chapelle stained glass11:00-12:00
Tip: More dramatic interior than Notre-Dame for $13
3
Lunch at L'As du Fallafel + Place des Vosges picnic12:00-13:30
4
Picasso Museum (Le Marais)14:00-15:30
5
Walk to Saint-Germain via Pont Neuf bridge15:30-16:30
6
Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots coffee stop16:30-17:30
Tip: Iconic literary cafés — order au comptoir to save $4 per coffee
By Interest
Quick picks based on travel style — couples, families, budget travelers, and more.
All three together build the canonical Paris romantic evening. Book Bateaux Parisiens 2 weeks ahead and Moulin Rouge 4-6 weeks ahead.
Art lovers
Louvre + Musée d'Orsay + Centre Pompidou
Three eras of Western art in three days. Louvre for ancient through 1850, Orsay for impressionism (Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir), Pompidou for 20th century forward.
Foodies
Bouillon Chartier + L'As du Fallafel + Marché des Enfants Rouges + Pierre Hermé
Classic French + Israeli + market + pastry covers four authentic Paris food categories without breaking the bank.
Family with kids
Disneyland Paris + Eiffel Tower stairs + Jardin d'Acclimatation
Disneyland for the day, Eiffel stairs (kids love climbing), and Jardin d'Acclimatation amusement park in Bois de Boulogne for a quieter day.
Budget travelers
Free museum first Sundays + Sacré-Cœur free view + boulangerie picnic at Champ de Mars
First Sunday hits Louvre + Musée d'Orsay free. Sacré-Cœur view costs nothing. Picnic at the foot of the Eiffel Tower is the best free dinner spot in Paris.
Architecture buffs
Notre-Dame (post-restoration) + Sainte-Chapelle + Pompidou + La Defense
Gothic + High Gothic + brutalist + modern in one day. Walking distance between Notre-Dame and Pompidou; La Defense is 15 min by Metro 1.
Practical Tips
Local know-how that saves you time and money on the ground.
1
Always say 'Bonjour' before any question — Parisians' coldness reputation comes from skipping this. After a polite greeting, most switch to English.
2
Pre-book Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Versailles tickets 2-3 weeks ahead in summer. Day-of tickets are often only available for terrible time slots.
3
Order coffee 'au comptoir' (standing at the bar) — saves $3-4 per coffee. Same drink, half the price.
4
Navigo Découverte weekly pass ($33 / €30.75) is the best transit deal in Europe — covers all of zones 1-5 including Versailles and Disneyland Paris. Bring a passport photo.
5
Pickpocketing is real on Metro line 1. Keep wallet in front pocket, bag zipped, phone away from doors. Eiffel Tower base and Louvre area are the highest-risk pickpocket zones.
Getting Around
Paris Metro is the answer for 95% of trips. 16 lines, 308 stations, single ride €2.15 / $2.30. Navigo Easy card 10-pack ride saves 25% per ride. For stays of 4+ days, Navigo Découverte weekly $33 / €30.75 covers all of zones 1-5 including Versailles and Disneyland — easily the best transit value in Europe. Walking is genuinely the best way to see central Paris; the Marais to Tuileries to Saint-Germain to Eiffel is one walkable arc.
Scams & Tourist Traps
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Petition scam at Eiffel/Louvre — woman with clipboard asks 'Do you speak English?' for a 'deaf children's petition.' While you sign, accomplice picks your pocket. Just walk past saying nothing.
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Gold ring scam — someone 'finds' a gold ring on the ground near you and asks if it's yours. Says you can have it for 'just €20.' Ring is worthless brass. Wave them off firmly.
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Friendship-bracelet scam at Sacré-Cœur — men tie a string on your wrist 'for free' then demand €20-50. Once tied, refusing gets aggressive. Keep your hands in pockets near the basilica entrance.
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Unmarked airport taxis at CDG — drivers approach at arrivals offering 'cheap rides' for €100+. Fixed taxi rates from CDG: €58 / $61 to right bank, €62 / $66 to left bank. Always queue at official taxi rank.
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Pickpocketing on Metro line 1 — busiest tourist line (Concorde, Tuileries, Châtelet, Bastille). Keep wallet in front pocket, bag zipped, phone away from doors. Pickpockets work in pairs near entry/exit at stations.
Book Tours & Activities in Paris
Booking online is typically cheaper than walk-up rates and reserves your spot.
Common questions about attractions and activities in Paris.
What are the must-see attractions in Paris?
Paris's most popular attractions include Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, among others. We've organized 9 attractions across 3 categories below — see details for hours, prices, and local tips.
What free things can I do in Paris?
Free entry attractions include Notre-Dame Cathedral, Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur, Le Marais, among others. Parks, plazas, and public museums let you experience Paris without spending — perfect for budget travelers.
Which attractions in Paris are most expensive?
Notable paid attractions include Eiffel Tower (Elevator 2nd floor $19 / €18; summit $35-41 / €33-39; stairs $12 / €11), Louvre Museum (Pre-booked online $25 / €23; on-site €17 / $18 (longer queue)), Arc de Triomphe & Champs-Élysées (Arc de Triomphe summit $14 / €13). Booking online in advance is often cheaper than walk-up rates and lets you skip queues.
What are good day trips from Paris?
Day trip options from Paris include Versailles Palace, Disneyland Paris, among others. Most are reachable by train or organized tour bus within 1-2 hours each way.
What can families with kids do in Paris?
Paris offers parks, aquariums, hands-on museums, and themed attractions for families. Look for "family" or "interactive" keywords in the descriptions below.
Where can I see the best night views in Paris?
Top night-view spots include Eiffel Tower, Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur. Visit after sunset or join a night tour.
What scams should I watch for in Paris?
Petition scam at Eiffel/Louvre — woman with clipboard asks 'Do you speak English?' for a 'deaf children's petition.' While you sign, accomplice picks your pocket. Just walk past saying nothing. Also: Gold ring scam — someone 'finds' a gold ring on the ground near you and asks if it's yours. Says you can have it for 'just €20.' Ring is worthless brass. Wave them off firmly. Also: Friendship-bracelet scam at Sacré-Cœur — men tie a string on your wrist 'for free' then demand €20-50. Once tied, refusing gets aggressive. Keep your hands in pockets near the basilica entrance.
Where do locals recommend that tourists miss?
Hidden gems locals love: Latin Quarter & Saint-Germain. Check the "Local tip" section in each attraction card for insider details guidebooks miss.
More on Paris
Cost guide, itineraries, hotel picks — everything in one place.
Jimmy Kong
TripPick founder · Travel content creator
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.
8+ years analyzing travel data
30+ countries visited
Live exchange rate verified
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