Known as the “City of Lights”, Paris is celebrated as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Its amazing architecture, unique museums, parks, luxurious boulevards, and numerous monuments combined with typical sidewalk cafés, endless shopping opportunities, flea markets, and restaurants make up the truly unforgettable atmosphere of the city.
There are many ways of discovering Paris… Whether you wish to enjoy the city by simply walking the streets and absorbing the ambiance or you visit any of the world-famous sites Paris has, it is certain your visit to the city will be unforgettable.
PARIS HIGHLIGHTS
The Eiffel Tower
No one could imagine Paris today without it. But Gustave Eiffel only constructed this elegant, 324m-tall signature spire as a temporary exhibit for the 1889 World's Fair. Luckily, the art nouveau tower’s popularity assured its survival.
The Arc de Triomphe
The 1836 monument commissioned by Napoléon to commemorate his victory at Austerlitz (1805), this intricately sculpted triumphal arch stands sentinel in the center of the Étoile roundabout - arguably one of Europe’s most chaotic traffic spots.
The Louvre
Holding tens of thousands of works of art–from Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Greek antiquities to masterpieces by artists such as da Vinci (including his incomparable Mona Lisa), Michelangelo and Rembrandt–it’s no surprise that this is one of the world’s most visited museums.
Notre Dame de Paris
While its interior is closed off to visitors following the devastating fire of April 2019, this masterpiece of French Gothic architecture remains the city’s geographic and spiritual heart, rightly still an alluring attraction to countless visitors.
The Château de Versailles
Amid magnificently landscaped formal gardens, this splendid and enormous palace was built in the mid-17th century during the reign of Louis XIV – the Roi Soleil (Sun King) – to project the absolute power of the French monarchy, which was then at the height of its glory.
The Musée Rodin
Even if you're not an art lover, it is worth visiting this high-profile art museum to lose yourself in its romantic gardens.
Sculptor, painter, sketcher, engraver and collector Auguste Rodin donated his entire collection to the French state to display his works in the beautiful 1730 Hôtel Biron
The Musée d’Orsay
Musée d’Orsay may not be quite as famous as the Louvre—though it’s located a mere 10-minute walk away—but this Left Bank museum holds its own in its collection of artistic wonders. The museum is famous for holding the world’s largest collection of impressionist and postimpressionist art.
The Jardin du Luxembourg
This famous oasis of formal terraces, chestnut groves and lush lawns has is special for Parisians.
Napoléon dedicated the Luxembourg Gardens to the children of Paris, and many residents spent their childhood prodding 1920s wooden sailboats with long sticks on the octagonal Grand Bassin pond.
The Basilique du Sacré-Cœur
Begun in 1875 in the wake of the Franco-Prussian War and the chaos of the Paris Commune, Sacré-Cœur is a symbol of the former struggle between the conservative Catholic old guard and the secular, republican radicals, it was finally consecrated in 1919. You can enjoy the breathtaking view over Paris.
The Canal St-Martin
The tranquil, 4.5km-long Canal St-Martin was inaugurated in 1825 to provide a shipping link between the Seine and Paris' northeastern suburbs. Emerging from below ground near place de la République, its towpaths take you past locks, bridges and local neighbourhoods. Come for a romantic stroll, cycle, picnic or dusk-time drink.
EXPLORING THE CITY
Paris offers numerous types of transportation to choose from when you want to move around the city.
Whether you choose the highly developed network of public transportation, the various options for vehicle hiring, or you want to move by car, bicycle or taxi, you will be able to easily explore the city and everything it has to offer.
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