As a woman who didn’t leave the United States/Canada until the age of twenty, visiting Paris felt like touching ground on a different planet. The artist, and art lover, inside of me was in heaven. Here are some of the best places to visit in Paris.
From the gold statues on the Paris Opera House, to the gardens of the Tuileries, to the seemingly endless works at the Louvre, Paris is a testament to what human minds and human hands can create.
The Best Places to Visit in Paris
Trocadéro
The image of the Eiffel Tower at night (above) was taken at Trocadéro. This place offers unobstructed views and there is a great café called Café Kléber (link here) where you can have a delicious meal while you take in the scenery.
Paris Opera House (Opéra National de Paris)
We did not see an Opera here (definitely a goal for the next time we visit!) but the architecture is so spectacular that it’s worth a visit. (Photo above)
The Louvre and Tuileries Gardens
The Louvre is home to many priceless works of art (Including the Mona Lisa and the Victory of Samothrace). Link to museum website is here. Here is an article that details some top works to see during your visit (link here).
Before or after your visit to the Louvre, it’s worth it to stop at the Tuileries Gardens. The gardens are located adjacent to the Louvre and are a great place to soak up Paris.
The Arc de Triomphe
Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Sacré-Cœur Basilica is one of the best places to visit in Paris because it yields three beautiful sites. First, the Basilica itself is incredible and also free most days (website located here for more information). Second, it is also located in Montmartre, the highest point in Paris with beautiful views of the Eiffel Tower and the entire city. Montmartre has been home to many famous artists including Picasso, Monet, Renoir, and Degas. This article details some of Montmarte’s former residents (link here). It was truly surreal to walk the streets where many famous artists had lived, worked, and found inspiration. Third, many artists live their today and sell their artwork which is a great souvenir to take home.
The Eiffel Tower
I mentioned Trocadéro as a great place for a meal and view of the Eiffel Tower but visiting the Eiffel Tower, and taking the elevator to the top, is a necessary part of any first-time trip to Paris. I recommend signing up for a day tour because tour groups get to skip the long line. When I was there, the line was a 3-hour wait for the elevator to the top, but since we were with a tour, we got straight in with no wait. The tour we took included both a ticket to the top of the Eiffel Tower and a cruise along the Seine where you get an unparalleled view of Notre Dame Cathedral. They also picked us up from our hotel which was convenient. We used city discovery (link to the skip the line tour and Seine river cruise is here).
Place de la Madeleine Square
This square is gorgeous and a great place to pick up gifts and souvenirs that are of the non-touristy variety. Shops include Nicolas for fine wines and champagnes, Hediard, and the famous Fauchon delicatessen (perfect for legendary macarons). Link to Fauchon is here.
Other places to visit
- If you’ve got time, Monet’s Garden in Giverny is worth the trip. It’s not far from Paris and there are tours that pick you up at your hotel and bring you back. Any art lover will love the experience of being in the garden where Monet painted his famous works.
- Château de Versailles
- Champs-Élysées
- Musée d’Orsay
- The Paris Catacombs
One last restaurant recommendation
Bistrot Paul Bert is an authentic bistro experience that we greatly enjoyed on our last trip. We got the steak au poivre (photo above) and it was delicious. Link to an article about the restaurant is here. Note- their hours change sometimes.
A note about getting around Paris
One negative experience we had was with a cab driver who seemed to take us for a ride to get extra cash (as it was evident that we were tourists). For the most part, we utilized the Paris Metro to get around. It was inexpensive and easy to navigate. This website has great information about getting around by subway – link here.
Thank you for stopping by Gathering of Lines Home Design. I hope you enjoyed this travel journal about the best places to visit in Paris! Check out my last travel piece about Washington, D.C. (Link here).