Top 10 Places to Visit in Paris You Can't Miss (2026)

Visiting Paris can feel strangely familiar, since so much of the city is already in your mind from movies, photos, and stories. Still, seeing it in person brings new surprises, like the size of the Louvre or how the Eiffel Tower changes throughout the day. So, even if it’s your first or fifth holiday, this guide highlights ten places to visit in Paris and shows you how to make the most of a short stay.

Why Paris Tops Every Travel List

It's pretty common to see the name of Paris appearing often on the list of the world's most visited cities. But it's quite understandable, since some of the famous places in Paris are global attractions and remain on the bucket list of every international traveller.

Even though the city is small in size, that’s what makes spending the holiday here more special. You are able to conveniently map out the required time for each popular place in Paris, France, without rushing or inconvenience.

Be it a church with historical significance or tasting Paris food in Michelin-starred restaurants, this city is going to meet and exceed all your holiday expectations. This mix is exactly why so many popular places in Paris, France, end up on nearly every visitor's list, year after year.

Top 10 Places to Visit in Paris

These ten cover the ground most first-time visitors want, and together they make up the classic top 10 places to visit in Paris.

1. Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower remains Paris’s most iconic landmark, no matter how many photos you’ve seen. Head up to any of its three levels for sweeping city views. For something truly special, visit at sunset when the tower glows gold, and the nightly light show begins.

• Best for: First time visitors, photographers, couples
• Entry fee: €14.80 to €36.70 for adults, depending on floor and stairs vs lift

2. Louvre Museum

The Louvre is more than just a museum. It displays some of the most remarkable artworks in history, making it a must-see for any visitor. Because the museum is so large, it is impossible to see everything in one visit. To make your visit easier, consider choosing a specific wing or theme before you go in.

• Best for: Art lovers, history buffs, rainy day plans
• Why it's famous: The world's largest art museum, home to the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and over 35,000 works across 8 departments
• Entry fee: €22 for EU citizens, €32 for non EU citizens (adult)

3. Notre-Dame Cathedral

Notre-Dame Cathedral suffered a fire in 2019, but now the restoration is complete and the cathedral has reopened. Its interior looks cleaner than it has in centuries. You can experience Paris’s medieval history by visiting Île de la Cité in the middle of the Seine.

• Best for: History lovers, architecture fans
• Why it's famous: A UNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral on Île de la Cité, immortalised by Victor Hugo, recently restored following the 2019 fire
• Entry fee: Free to enter the main cathedral

4. Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur

Montmartre was once home to artists like Picasso and Van Gogh, and it still feels like a small village above the city. The white dome of Sacré-Cœur gives you one of the best free views in Paris, especially when the evening light shines on the hillside.

• Best for: Art lovers, wanderers, sunset seekers
• Why it's famous: A hilltop artists' quarter once home to Picasso and Van Gogh, crowned by the white-domed Sacré-Cœur Basilica with panoramic city views
• Entry fee: Free for the basilica, small paid fee to climb the dome

5. Arc de Triomphe

At the top of the Champs-Élysées, this monument to Napoleon's victories also offers one of the best views in Paris. The climb is shorter and less crowded than the Eiffel Tower.

• Best for: Photographers, first time visitors short on time
• Why it's famous: Commissioned by Napoleon to honour French military victories, it tops the Champs Élysées and houses the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
• Entry fee: Paid entry to the terrace, free on the first Sunday of the month (November to March) and during European Heritage Days

6. Champs-Élysées

This tree-lined avenue stretches straight from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde, with flagship boutiques, cafes, and cinemas along the way. The real highlight is simply enjoying the walk.

• Best for: Shoppers, evening strolls
• Why it's famous: One of the world's most famous avenues, running from the Arc de Triomphe to Place de la Concorde, lined with boutiques, cafes, and cinemas
• Entry fee: Free (public street)

7. Seine River Cruise

Take a short boat ride along the Seine to see Paris from a new perspective. You’ll pass by Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower as you glide along the water. In the evening, the city’s lights make the cruise even more magical.

• Best for: Couples, relaxed sightseeing, first time visitors
• Why it's famous: A boat ride past Notre Dame, the Louvre, and the Eiffel Tower, giving a completely different angle on the city
• Entry fee: Around €15 to €20 for a standard 1 hour cruise, price varies by operator

8. Musée d'Orsay

This museum, once a train station, features one of the world’s best collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. You’ll find major works by Monet, Van Gogh, and Degas here.

• Best for: Art lovers wanting a quieter museum than the Louvre
• Why it's famous: Housed in a former Belle Époque train station, home to the world's finest Impressionist and Post-Impressionist collection, including Monet, Van Gogh, and Degas
• Entry fee: Around €16 for a standard adult ticket

9. Sainte-Chapelle

It’s easy to walk right by Sainte-Chapelle without realizing what’s inside, but once you enter, you’ll find one of the world’s most stunning stained-glass interiors. On sunny afternoons, the windows glow in a way that photos can hardly show.

• Best for: Architecture fans, quieter alternative to Notre Dame
• Why it's famous: A 13th century royal chapel built by Louis IX, famous for its soaring, jewel toned stained glass windows
• Entry fee: Around €22 for adults

10. Luxembourg Gardens

This 55-acre garden is a peaceful spot in Paris, where locals often relax on benches with a book and visitors enjoy a quiet break. It offers a real sense of calm between the city's busier sights.

• Best for: a quiet break, picnics, people watching
• Why it's famous: a 55-acre 17th-century garden built for Marie de' Medici, and one of Paris's most loved public parks
• Entry fee: free

What are the Best Romantic Spots Among These 10

Several of these ten places are especially romantic, so you might want to put them at the top of your list if that’s what you’re looking for. A sunset cruise on the Seine, evening views from Montmartre, and a relaxed afternoon in Luxembourg Gardens are some of the romantic places to visit in Paris. You don’t have to look much further than these for a memorable experience.

How to See Paris in 2 Days?

To see all ten in a short holiday, it helps to group them by location. Paris is best explored on foot between nearby sights, instead of going back and forth across the city.

Day 1 (Central Paris and the river):

• Morning: Louvre Museum
• Midday: Sainte-Chapelle, then a walk to Notre-Dame Cathedral
• Afternoon: Musée d'Orsay
• Evening: Seine River cruise at sunset

Day 2 (West and north Paris):

• Morning: Arc de Triomphe, then a walk down the Champs-Élysées
• Midday: Eiffel Tower
• Afternoon: Luxembourg Gardens for a slower break
• Evening: Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur for sunset

This split works well if you're specifically searching for places to visit in Paris in 2 days, since it avoids doubling back across the city and groups nearby places to travel in Paris into each half of your stay.

Tribe Travel Tip: Book Louvre and Eiffel Tower tickets online at least a few days ahead. Walk-in queues at both regularly run past an hour during peak season.

Before You Go

Paris is a city that's best enjoyed at your own pace, where every landmark has a story to tell. The places to visit in Paris in this guide, from the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe to the historic Notre-Dame Cathedral, are a great starting point for first-time visitors. Book tickets in advance for popular attractions and keep some free time to wander through nearby streets and cafés. If you're planning a holiday to France, Holiday Tribe's France holiday packages can help you experience Paris and beyond with ease.