The world is full of charming city and one of the most visit has to be Paris, the city of Light. With so many places of interests, I have come up with this blog, Paris Must Visit Attractions like I did for Macau, Hong Kong, Bandung and even Jakarta.
Classified into 20 arrondissements, with first arrondissement located at the heart of the city where the Lourve Museum is and spiral outwards in ascending order.
In addition, Paris is divided into the left bank (La Rive Gauche) to the south and right bank (La Rive Droite) to the north by the Seine River. Both side consists of numerous Paris must visit attractions.
Paris Must Visit Attractions
Beginning with the LEFT BANK …
Eiffel Tower
Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France
Tel: +33 8 9270 1239
Opening Hours: Daily 0900 to 0045
Admission:
Ticket with lift access to second floor – Adult 16€ | Youth (12 to 24) 8€ | Child (4 to 11)/Disabled 4€ | Child (under 4) Free
Ticket with lift access to top floor – Adult 25€ | Youth (12 to 24) 12€ | Child (4 to 11)/Disabled 6€ | Child (under 4) Free
Ticket with stairs access to second floor – Adult 10€ | Youth (12 to 24) 5€ | Child (4 to 11)/Disabled 2€ | Child (under 4) Free
Ticket with stairs access to second floor + Lift Top Floor – Adult 19€ | Youth (12 to 24) 9€ | Child (4 to 11)/Disabled 4€ | Child (under 4) Free
Website: https://www.toureiffel.paris/en
Paris most famous monument cum attraction has to be the Eiffel Tower. Whoever visited Paris, will make sure this goes on the itinerary. This number one tourist attraction is visited by million of visitors yearly.
The night view of the Eiffel Tower is gorgeous.
So is the day view. You can take photos of this monument from various location and at different time of the day, each giving you a different feel. No matter it is your first visit or n number of visit, you won’t get sick of the Eiffel Tower view.
Les Invalides
Place des Invalides, 75007 Paris, France
Tel: +33 (0)8 25 05 44 05
Opening Hours: Daily 1000 to 1800
Admission:
Single ticket: Full price €12 | Reduced price €10
Groups (from 10 people): €9 per person
Under 26 within EU and under 18, disabled visitors and an accompanying person, jobseekers, French and foreign soldiers, journalists: Free
Website: https://en.parisinfo.com/paris-museum-monument/71310/Hotel-national-des-Invalides
Within the ground of Les Invalids, also known as Hôtel Royal des Invalides, housed numerous museums; Musée de l’Armée, Tomb of Napoléon, Historial Charles de Gaulle, Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération, Musée des plans-reliefs.
It was built in the 1670s by Louis XIV to house wounded and homeless veterans who had fought for France, till today it is still serving its original objective.
Musée d’Orsay
1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 75007 Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 40 49 48 14
Opening Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesday, Fridays to Sundays 0930 to 1800 | Thursdays 0930 to 2145 | Closed on Mondays
Admission Tickets: Full rate €12 | Concessions €9 (18 to 25 years old) | Free (under 18 years old)
Website: http://www.musee-orsay.fr/
A former railway station that housed major 19th- & 20th-century European art collections.
Rodin Museum
77 Rue de Varenne, 75007 Paris, France
Tel:
Website: http://www.musee-rodin.fr/en
Curated with the works of the famous French Sculptors, Auguste Rodin in the 18th-century hotel (Hotel Biron).
Around Latin Quarter …
The Bouquinistes
Along the banks of the Seine,
Walking along the Seine River, you will meet these roadside stalls selling antiques, second-hand books, painting and souvenirs such as postcard, fridge and key chains with Paris iconic attraction. The most prominent Bouquinistes is opposite the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
Le Jardin du Luxembourg
Rue de Médicis, Rue de Vaugirard, 75006 Paris
Tel: +33 (0)1 4071 7560
Opening Hours: Opens between 0730 and 0815, and closes between 1630 and 2130 according to season
Admission: Free | Guided Tour available
Entrance to the garden is either from Rue Vaugirard or Rue Guynemer. Popular suntan park for the local to enjoy the sun. The 25 hectare garden was an initiative of Queen Marie de Medici in 1612. Inspired by Boboli Gardens in Florence, split into French gardens and English gardens.
Cluny Museum
6 place Paul Painlevé – 75005 Paris
Tel : +33 1 53 73 78 00 /+33 1 53 73 78 16
Opening Hours: Wednesdays – Mondays 0915 to 1845
Admission:
Full price – 5€ | Reduce price – 4€
Teenagers, less than 26 (EU citizens), Every 1st Sunday of the month – Free
Website: http://www.musee-moyenage.fr/en/home.html
The Cluny Museum (Musée de Cluny) or Musée National du Moyen Âge is a gem with ruins of the second-century Roman baths. Comprises two museums in one with French medieval art collection, such as the famous Lady and the Unicorn tapestries.
On the RIGHT BANK …
Arc de Triomphe
Place Charles-de-Gaulle 75008 Paris
Opening Hours:
1 April to 30 September – Daily 1000 to 2300
Admission: Full price 12€ | Concession 9€
Website: http://www.paris-arc-de-triomphe.fr/en/
French King, Louis-Philippe dedicated the Arc de Triomphe to the armies of the Revolution and the Empire; inaugurated in 1836. In 1921, at the base of the arch, buried the unknown soliders. The flame of remembrance is rekindled every day at 18:30.
Avenue des Champs-Élysées
De l’Arc de Triomphe à la place de la Concorde, 75008 Paris
Website: https://en.parisinfo.com/transport/73130/Avenue-des-Champs-Elysees
Avenue des Champs-Élysées begins from Place de la Concorde and end at the Arc de Triomphe. This two-kilometre road is lined with Flagship stores (Sephora, Banana Republic, Abercrombie), luxury boutiques (Louis Vuitton, Mont-Blanc) and lots of restaurants & cafe (Ladurée).
Every first Sunday of the month, this stretch is closed to traffic, open only to the pedestrians and cyclists. In addition, free entry for all the numerous French and Parisian museums. Plus there is free Wi-Fi available on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
Louvre Museum
Opening Hours: Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays 0900 to 1800 | Wednesdays and Fridays 0900 to 2145 | Closed on Tuesdays
Admission: Purchase online 17€ (enter within 30min) | Purchase at museum 15€
Website: https://www.louvre.fr/en
If you know only one painting, it would probably be the famous Mona Lisa painting. And this is found in the Lourve. It is the only painting crowded by visitors to catch a glimpse and a photo shot as souvenir.
Beside this world renown painting, this former palace is home to many collection. Classified into eight sections.
Tuileries Garden
113 Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
The current style was re-landscape by André Le Nôtre, gardener of King Louis XIV in 1664 is the passage way various attraction including the Louvre Museum and Avenue Champs-Élysées.
Around Marais …
Place des Vosges
Place des Vosges, 75004 Paris, France
Formerly known as the Royale is the oldest planned square in Paris, located in Marais in the 4th arrondissements.
Around Montmartre …
Basilique du Sacré-Cœur
35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 75018 Paris, France
Opening Hours: Daily 0600 to 2230
Mass:
Mondays – Fridays 0700, 11.15, 1500 (On Fridays only – Votive mass of the Sacred Heart), 1830 & 2200
Saturdays 0700, 1100 & 2200 (Anticipated Mass)
Sundays 0700, 1100, 1800, 2200
Website: http://www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com/english/
The Romano-Byzantine style Basilica perched on the summit of Montmarte where the first Christians of Paris with their bishop Saint Denis, the priest Saint Rusticus and the deacon Saint Eleutherius were martyred at the beginning of the 3rd century, giving the hill its name “Mount of Martyrs”. The French parliament vowed to built The Basilica of the Sacred Heart after the military defeat of 1870. Designed by Paul Abadie with six other architects succeeded him to complete the building.
Moulin Rouge
82 Boulevard de Clichy, 75018 Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 53 09 82 82
Website: http://www.moulinrouge.fr/?lang=en
Legendary Cabernet show in France with its famous windmill building in red.
Rue des Matyr
My favourite street in Paris decked with restaurants, Ice Cream Parlours, Bakeries and Patisserie. There are endless of choices along this street.
Canal Saint-Martin
Approximately 4.5km long surrounded in tranquil ambience and lined with retails and cafe. For a relaxing time, this is a worthy place well spent.
Passage Jouffroy and Passage Panoramas
10-12 Boulevard Montmartre, 75009 Paris, France (Passage Jouffroy)
11 Boulevard Montmartre, 75009 Paris, France (Passage Panoramas)
Passage Jouffroy and Passage Panoramas built in 1836 and 1799 respectively, are located along Boulevard Montmartre. Furthermore, they are directly opposite each other. Passage Panoramas is considered the first covered walkway in Paris.
On Île de la Cité …
Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
6 Parvis Notre-Dame – Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 42 34 56 10
Admission: Free
Opening Hours: Mondays – Fridays 0800 to 1845 | Saturdays & Sundays 0800 to 1915
Website: http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/
Stained glass and rose windows, the towers, the steeple and the gargoyles are the features of this Gothic architecture built from the 13 century, completed only in the 15th century.
Fun fact: Road distances from Paris in France are calculated from point 0 on the cathedral forecourt.
Marché aux Fleurs
Place Louis Lepine, 75000 Paris, France
Opening Hours: Mondays – Saturdays 0930 to 1900 | Sundays 0800 to 1900
This flower market is in existence for more than 100 years. A great place to stroll by if in the area.
Off The Beaten Track
Cimetière du Père Lachaise
16 Rue du Repos, 75020 Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 55 25 82 10
Opening Hours: Mondays – Fridays 0800 to 1800 | Saturdays 0830 to 1800 | Sundays 0900 to 1800 | Shorter hours Nov–mid-Mar
Website: https://www.parisinfo.com/musee-monument-paris/71470/Cimetiere-du-Pere-Lachaise
A 44-hectare containing 70,000 burial plots is the largest cemetery in the city of Paris. Furthermore, it has the tombs of famous people: Honoré de Balzac, Guillaume Apollinaire, Frederic Chopin , Colette, Jean-François Champollion, Jean de La Fontaine, Moliere, Yves Montand, Simone Signoret, Jim Morrison, Alfred de Musset, Edith Piaf, Camille Pissarro, Oscar Wilde.
Catacombs of Paris
1 Avenue du Colonel Henri Rol-Tanguy, 75014 Paris, France
Tel: +33 1 43 22 47 63
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sundays 1000 to 2030 (Last admission 1930) | Closed on Mondays
Website: http://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/homepage-catacombs-official-website
This underground ossuaries in Paris, France is not for the faint-hearted to visit. It holds the remains of more than six million people since the 18th century.
Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis
1 rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 93200 Saint-Denis, France
Tel: +33 1 48 09 83 54
Opening Hours:
FROM 1ST OCTOBER TO 31 MARCH [Closed on 1 January]
Mondays – Saturdays 1000 to 1715 | Sundays 1200 to 1715
FROM 1ST APRIL TO 30 SEPTEMBER
Mondays – Saturdays 1000 to 1815 | Sundays 1200 to 1815
Admission:
Free Entry to Basilica
Ticket Prices to Museum: Full Price – 9€ | Reduced Price – 7€
Website: http://www.saint-denis-basilique.fr/en/
This large medieval abbey church in the city of Saint-Denis, is a cathedral in 1966 and is the seat of the Bishop of Saint-Denis. Vatican has not granted the title of title of Minor Basilica even though known as the “Basilica of St Denis”. It is the burial ground for the royal of 43 kings, 32 queens and 10 servants to the monarchy, from the death of King Dagobert in 639 AD until the 19th century
Les Puces de Saint-Ouen
Avenue de la Porte de Clignancourt
Opening Hours: Saturdays 0900 to 1800 | Sundays 1000 to 1800 | Mondays 1100 to 1700
Admission: Free
Website: http://www.pucesparis.com
World’s largest Flea market is in Paris, covering seven hectares and hosts 14 markets:
Antica, Biron, Cambo, Dauphine, Django Reinhardt, Jules Vallès, le Passage, Malassis, Malik, l’Entrepôt, Paul Bert Serpette, des Rues, L’Usine & Lécuyer and Vernaison.
Paris
How to get there?
International Flight or train
When to go?
If you prefer to go at a quieter period, it got to be during August whereby most local will be travelling out of Paris for their Summer vacation, however avoid July as the city is fluxed by tourist. The second period is January if you don’t mind the freezing cold winter.
My favourite period is Autumn and I would opt for September and October.
Link to check out before you go:
RATP (Paris Transport Official Website)
Paris – Official Website of the Convention and Visitor Bureau
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport