Ah Paris French capital of gastronomy and love, Paris has an incomparable historical and cultural heritage. This is also what the millions of tourists who come to visit Paris appreciate each year. But it is not enough to be a foreigner to love Paris, because even when living in the capital, it is not uncommon to be surprised when discovering or rediscovering one of the wonders that the city has to offer.
With so much to see and do in Paris, it’s hard to put together a list that gets to the point while having a realistic experience of all that Panama has to offer. We have still selected the crème de la crème of Paris for you with some famous places, others off the beaten track, to help you plan a long weekend or a stay of a few days in the capital.
How to go to Paris?
Paris is certainly the best-served city in Europe, with 6 major train stations and two international airports. If you are leaving from France, Belgium or Switzerland, the train is certainly the best solution to get to the capital. But if you are traveling from other countries to Paris then you have to look for a flight or a more comfortable trip, you can always look for a jet charter. It will not only make your trip easy but also provide you most comfort along with time-saving.
How to get around Paris?
Getting around Paris is not complicated. The Parisian metro links the whole city and you can easily and quickly get from one point to another by taking 1 to 3 metro lines.
There are also buses, trams and taxis if you have to travel at night in particular. If you come to Paris by car, you should know that parking in the capital is a real headache. To help you, see our article “ Cheap parking in Paris: where to park in Paris? “!
1. The Louvre
The Louvre is none other than the best art museum in the world but also the most visited. With 210,000 m² of exhibitions, where you can find works from almost every civilization in the world, it is also the largest.
The three most popular works here are The Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Beyond these must-haves, the best thing to do is to know where you are going, and what you want to see first. But don’t be afraid to get lost, because you might stumble upon something memorable!
Anyway, you’ll have to come back more than once to learn all the secrets of the Louvre Museum!
2. The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is to Paris what the Statue of Liberty is to New York and what Big Ben is to London: the ultimate emblem.
The French engineer Gustave Eiffel, already famous for the construction of viaducts and bridges, worked for two years to erect this emblematic monument of the Universal Exhibition of 1889. It also salutes the centenary of the French Revolution.
Today it is certainly the night that it is most beautiful when it is highlighted in a sparkling spectacle. The latter was only intended for the transition to the year 2000, but it was so popular that the 20,000 bulbs were reinstalled for permanent use in 2003.
The Iron Lady does her electric dance for five minutes every hour from nightfall to one in the morning. Very visited, expect to queue to climb to the top!
3. The Basilica of the Sacred Heart
It’s hard not to believe that you are ascending to heaven when you visit the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, this white castle perched at the top of Montmartre. The French government commissioned it in 1873, after the devastating years of the Paris Commune and the Franco-Prussian War.
It was the architect Paul Abadie who built the Sacred Heart, using elements of the Romanesque and Byzantine style for its design. Construction lasted until World War I, and the basilica was finally consecrated in 1919.
4. The Arc de Triomphe
Stretch your legs and climb the 284 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. Up there, you will have a breathtaking view of the Champs-Elysées and the arch of La Défense.
It is also a privileged place to observe the driving techniques of Parisians: the roundabout of the Place de l’Etoile is at times anarchic. Indeed, when there is an accident here, the fault is automatically shared 50/50 on the report.
Back at the bottom of the arch, have a thought for the Unknown Soldier whose grave is under the Paris monument.
5. The Catacombs of Paris
Are you coming to visit Paris? Dare to descend into the bowels of the city! Visiting the Paris Catacombs is arguably the scariest attraction Paris has to offer, with miles of tunnels lined with femurs and skulls of six million deceased Parisians.
Built 18 meters underground at the end of the 18th century to prevent the disease from spreading in the cemeteries of the city center, the Catacombs are now the scene of an icy promenade.
6. The Luxembourg Gardens
What to do in Paris to escape the hubbub of the capital? This 25-hectare park is an elegant way to escape the hustle and bustle of the Left Bank. Bordered by Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, these beautiful gardens are adored by Parisians eager to lounge on a garden chair in the sun or enjoy an impromptu picnic.
Kids of all ages can take a small sailboat race in the pool behind the Senate, stroll through the children’s playground, watch a puppet show, or ride the oldest merry-go-round in town. Joggers come to run there, while others come for a walk in the orchard and the apiary, where beekeeping is taught and honey is sold in the fall. Do not miss the excellent art exhibitions at the renowned Musée du Luxembourg.
7. The Rodin Museum
Once the workshop of the great sculptor, this imposing 18th-century residence is one of the most beautiful museums in Paris and contains more than 7,000 sculptures by Rodin, including his great masterpieces such as The Thinker, The Kiss, The Bourgeois de Calais and La Porte de l’Enfer, alongside 8,000 drawings and gouaches by the artist.
The charming part of the Rodin Museum, with its fountain, rose bushes and a pleasant beer garden, makes it an ideal choice for spending a pleasant afternoon when visiting Paris. The museum also hosts special exhibitions and a cycle of exhibitions of contemporary works. After three years of renovations, the museum fully reopened in November 2015.
How to go to Paris?
Paris is certainly the best-served city in Europe, with 6 major train stations and two international airports. If you are leaving from France, Belgium or Switzerland, the train is certainly the best solution to get to the capital. But if you are traveling from other countries to Paris then you have to look for a flight or a more comfortable trip, you can always look for a jet charter. It will not only make your trip easy but also provide you most comfort along with time-saving.
How to get around Paris?
Getting around Paris is not complicated. The Parisian metro links the whole city and you can easily and quickly get from one point to another by taking 1 to 3 metro lines.
There are also buses, trams and taxis if you have to travel at night in particular. If you come to Paris by car, you should know that parking in the capital is a real headache. To help you, see our article “ Cheap parking in Paris: where to park in Paris? “!
