A Quick Guide To The Top Eight Paris Tourist Attractions

It's the greatest place in the world to visit, and there are a lot of Paris tourist attractions. So many attractions that it can be a challenge to decide what to see, and then figure out how to see them. That's why we've created this quick guide to the top attractions in Paris — the things that visitors really want to see. Take a few minutes to explore this guide and you won't have to regret missing any of them.

We suggest you don't try to fit in more than two Paris tourist attractions in a day. You'll want to leave time to catch a leisurely lunch or relax in a park or explore a neighborhood or walk along the river. Also remember that you'll have to travel between points and you'll probably get distracted, lost, or hungry in between. Getting distracted is part of the fun of being in Paris, and getting hungry… well, there's just not a better place for that.

1. The Eiffel Tower – The Pointed Lady

Eiffel Tower – How to Get There

The best view of the Eiffel Tower is from across the river, from the plaza at Palais de Chaillot at Trocadero. So that's where to start out, at Metro Trocadero, where you take in the magnificent sight and then walk down the steps, through the gardens of Chaillot, and across Pont d'Iléna to the Tower itself.

Another nice way to arrive is from Metro Alma Marceau. Walking across the bridge (Pont d'Alma) gives you another lovely view of the tower, and the walk along the river from there is very nice. (You can't get lost, just head for the tall pointy thing!)

We don't like arriving via RER Champs de Mars Tour Eiffel or Metro Bir Hakeim — neither is pretty enough for us — but we do love riding Metro Line 6 to Trocadero (from direction Montparnasse) for the fabulous view of the Eiffel Tower as the train crosses the river. Have your camera ready.

• Metro Trocadero — Line 6 or 9
• Metro Alma Marceau — Line 9

Eiffel Tower – How to Get Up!

We know from experience that the absolute best way to get up the Eiffel Tower is on a skip-the-line tour. We used to think we could do everything on our own, but once we were on a tour that bypassed the ticket lines and took us directly to the elevator, we were hooked. Look, if you stand in line you can expect to wait two hours or more, on virtually every day of the year. Do you want to wait in line, or do you want to have fun? Insiders Tip — these tours sell out, so you must book early.

Eiffel Tower – More Information

• Summer Hours – Daily, 9:00 AM to 12:45 AM
• Winter Hours – Daily, 9:30 AM to 11:45 PM
• Book a tour online…
• Interactive Metro Map…

2. The Louvre Museum

The Louvre – How to Get There

If you love art or if you love history or if you love stunning buildings, you're going to want to visit the Louvre. And so are another 9 million people every year. There are going to be lines, there are going to be crowds. You need a plan! First up — the transportation plan.

You can simply take Line 1 to Metro Palais-Royal-Musée-de-Louvre (that whole name is one Metro station), where you get direct underground access to the Carrousel de Louvre and the ticket booths. You can do that, but we don't. Instead, we make a journey of it. We recommend taking Line 1 to Metro Tuileries. From there stroll through the gardens, visit the lovely Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, and then enter the museum through the Insiders Secret stairs that go from the gardens into the "back door" of the Louvre. (See photo above.)

Advisory — You can also used the misnamed Metro Louvre-Rivoli on Line 1, but that doesn't get you into the Louvre or the gardens. It drops you off on the far corner of the Louvre on Rue de Rivoli.

• Metro Tuileries – Line 1
• Metro Palais-Royal-Musée-de-Louvre – Line 1
• Guide to the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel…

The Louvre – How to Get In

The Louvre is very popular, and the ticket lines are massive. Once again, guided tours are your friend. We recommend a small-group, skip-the-line tour that gets you into the Louvre as quickly as possible and takes you to the most famous works of art. Afterwards, you're free to explore on your own as long you want. Trust us, it's the best way to do it.

Another way to skip the ticket lines is by making sure you have a Paris Insiders Pass in your wallet. You can order the pass online before you leave home and use it to get into almost all of the Paris tourist attractions. (The Eiffel Tower is an exception.)

• Guide to Louvre Museum Tours…
• RECOMMENDED – The Top Louvre Skip-the-Line Tours…
• Guide to the Paris Museum Pass…

The Louvre Museum – More Information

• Read Our Guide to the Louvre…
• Security Notice – It is strongly recommended not to bring luggage or backpacks to the Louvre.
• Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday – 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Wednesday, Friday – 9:00 AM to 9:45 PM

3. Notre Dame Cathedral

Notre Dame – After the Fire

Following the tragic and spectacular fire of April 2019 the cathedral is closed for repair for an indefinite period. However, it's still an amazing sight and watching the work progress is fascinating.

Notre Dame – How to Get There

What's the most-visited attraction in Paris? According to some estimates it's Notre Dame. The cathedral is easy to find since its square, twin towers stick up above the surrounding buildings in central Paris. So, getting there is basically just getting to central Paris and heading for the bell towers.

Our recommended way of arriving from elsewhere in Paris is to take Metro Line 14 to Cité. This station is in the centre of Île de la Cité (one of the islands in the middle of Paris) and it's so deep beneath the Seine that you ride an elevator to get to the surface, where you arrive among the stalls of the flower and plant sellers. Follow the towers (or the crowds) to reach Notre Dame.

• Metro Cité – Line 14
• 10 Secrets of Île de la Cité…

4. Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe – How to Get There

This triumphal arch was commissioned by Napoleon as an homage to the armies of France (and of himself, of course). It's located at the top of Champs Elysées in the center of the Place de l'Étoile — the world's first organized traffic circle. The fast way to get there from elsewhere in Paris is take the Metro to station Charles de Gaulle-Êtoile. Once there, choose one of the Champs Elysées exits and then take another stairway down to the underground passage that gets you safely to Place de l'Étoile. Don't try to cross the traffic circle!

Although we're not the biggest fans of Avenue des Champs Elysées, it is something you should experience once. So, an alternative way to reach the Arc de Triomphe is to get to Metro Franklin D. Roosevelt and walk up the avenue.

• Metro Charles de Gaulle-Êtoile – Line 1, 2 or 6
• Metro Franklin D. Roosevelt – Line 1 or 9

Arc de Triomphe – How to Get In

If you just want to get to the place and see the Arc from the outside, that's free, and it's certainly worthwhile. But it's much, much better to get inside so you can climb the stairs to the top. If you have your Paris Museum Pass you get in for free. But, you can also wait in line at the Arc and buy a ticket right on the spot. The view is another one of our favorites, with vistas across the roofs of Paris and straight sight lines to the Louvre in one direction and the Grande Arche in the other.

• La Grande Arche & Other Paris Monuments…

Arc de Triomphe – More Information

• Our Guide to the Arc de Triomphe…
• Opening Hours – 10:00 AM to 10:30 PM
• Closed – January 1, May 1, July 14, November 11, December 25

5. Sacre Coeur

Sacre Coeur – How to Get There

Like the Eiffel Tower, the Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre is a Paris attraction that's easy to see from just about anywhere in the city. So, in a way, getting there is once again a matter of keeping it in sight and heading for it. Sacre Coeur is the big white church that dominates the skyline from its perch on top of the hill of Montmartre.

We recommend you go up to the church by one route and down by another. Take Metro Line 2 to Anvers station (on Boulevard de Rochechouart) and walk up Rue de Steinkerque to reach the funicular train that takes you up the hill. (Unfortunately, Steinkerque has become jammed with junky souvenir shops, but just keep your eyes focused on the church above you!) At the top, climb more steps to the basilica itself, but don't forget to linger for one of the most amazing panoramic views of Paris.

• Metro Anvers – Line 2
• Guide to the Paris Metro…

Sacre Coeur – How to Get In

Entrance to Sacre Coeur is free, but the highlight of the church is the view from the dome, and there is a small fee for that. For the most striking views visit and climb the dome at dusk or dawn. There are 300 steps to climb, so be prepared!

Plan to spend an hour at the basilica and then wander through Montmartre for a taste of village life. Head west from Sacre Coeur and you'll find Rue Lepic, which winds down the hill to turn into Rue des Abbesses. After passing shops, boulangeries, and restaurants you'll come to Place des Abbesses, where you'll find the Metro station the serves Montmartre.

• Metro Abbesses – Line 12

Sacre Coeur – More Information

• Our Guide to Sacre Coeur…
• Opening Hours – Daily, 6:00 AM to 10:30 PM
• Access to the Dome – Summer, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM. Winter 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Basilica Website…

6. Musée d'Orsay – The Impressionist Museum

Musée d'Orsay – How to Get There

We love the Impressionist painters, so it's no surprise that d'Orsay is our favorite major museum in Paris. The fact that it's housed in a stunning, Belle-Époque building (formerly a train station) only adds to its attraction.

Musée d'Orsay is on the Left Bank in the St Germain area, pretty much on the border between the 6th and 7th Arrondissements. You can get there on Metro Line 12, from either Solferino or Asssemblée Nationale. But a more scenic route is to take Line 1 to Metro Tuileries (we know, we know, that's on the Right Bank) and then walk across the Tuileries gardens towards the Seine to find Passarelle Solférino, the pedestrian bridge that takes you across the river to Musée d'Orsay. Pause on the bridge to admire the view of the two great museums — the Louvre on your left and d'Orsay on your right.

• Metro Solferino & Asssemblée Nationale – Line 12
• History of the Musée d'Orsay…

Musée d'Orsay – How to Get In

There is no better example of the benefit of the Paris Insiders Pass/Paris Museum Pass than d'Orsay. As you approach the museum from the passarelle you'll find entrance Door A, on the left side of the building, where you you can't help but notice there is a loooong line of people waiting to get in. With your Paris Museum Pass, though, you casually stroll over the Door C, on the right, where there is no line and the smiling guard waves you through. It's simply worth it.

As you know, we also like guided museum tours, and there's a good 2-hour tour of d'Orsay that also gets you past the ticket lines.

Musée d'Orsay – More Information

• Opening Hours – 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM, Thursdays until 9:45 PM, closed Mondays.
• Museum Website…

7. Place de la Concorde & Jardin des Tuileries

Place de la Concorde – How to Get There

We're going to get you to start at the grand Place de la Concorde and then walk through the lovely Jardin des Tuileries towards the Louvre at its eastern end. Metro Concorde is one of the transportation hubs of Paris and from there you can get… well, almost anywhere. Hop on Metro Line 1, 8, or 12 to get to Concorde. Above ground, you'll want to spend some time admiring the fountains and sculptures in the place, take in the view of the Eiffel Tower, maybe have a glass of champagne in the bar at the newly-renovated Hotel de Crillon (if it's open yet), and consider whether or not you have the courage to ride the ferris wheel.

• Metro Concorde – Line 1, 8, or 12
• Our Guide to Place de la Concorde…

Jardin des Tuileries – How to Get In

Getting into the gardens is a matter of walking through the magnificent gates that face Place de la Concorde. There are other entrances, of course, but this is the most grand. You can just imagine Catherine de Medicis passing through the gates in the mid-1500s, on her way to the Louvre palace.

• Summer Hours – 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM
• Spring & Fall Hours – 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM;
• Winter Hours – 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM

8. Jardin du Luxembourg

Jardin du Luxembourg – How to Get There

Another Medici built this park, located on the other side of Paris. Marie de' Medici had Jardin du Luxembourg and its palace built in the early 17th century. Today the park and the palace are owned by the French Senate, but the park is open to the public. On any sunny day you will find hundreds of Parisians spread out in the park, lounging on the metal chairs, taking in the sunshine.

Luxembourg is huge — 56 acres — are there are a number of ways to access the park. Luxembourg station on RER Line C gets you to the eastern gates of the park. From there you also have a nice view up the hill to the Pantheon.

But we prefer to take Line 4 or Line 10 to Metro Odeon (on Boulevard St Germain) and then stroll south on the little streets that take you around Place de l'Odeon to find the entrance gate next to the Senate on Vaugirard. Opening hours vary, typically from 7:30 AM to sunset.

• Metro Odeon – Line 4 or 10
• RER Luxembourg – Line C
• For Opening Hours – Visit the Senat Website…

Jardin du Luxembourg – How to Get Out!

After we've enjoyed the sun, watched some chess games, visited the Orangerie, and had lunch at the cafe, we stumble out of the park (depending on how much wine was served at lunch) either by the east gate to walk up the the Pantheon, or (and this is our preference) leave by the west gate to walk along Rue de Fleurus, passing by Gertrude Stein's apartment on the left (there's a plaque), turning right on Raspail, to finally arrive at Metro Sevres-Babylone. Before we grab a Metro, we spend time browsing the Bon Marché department store and its amazing (amazing!) food store, La Grande Epicerie de Paris.

• Metro Sevres-Babylone – Line 10 or 12