Things to do in Paris
Top things to do in Paris include Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Louvre, Les Halles, and the 1st arrondissement. Plan each day around one neighborhood to avoid backtracking, then add your dates to check opening hours and booking needs.
First visit? Start with these — and plan each day around one neighborhood:
- Eiffel Tower★ 4.7 · 499.1k reviewsGustave Eiffel tower from the 1889 Exposition Universelle, standing above Champ de Mars in the 7th arrondissement.
- Louvre Museum★ 4.7 · 381.2k reviewsFormer royal palace in the 1st arrondissement, facing the Tuileries and the Seine.
- Louvre, Les Halles, and the 1st arrondissementThe geographic centre: Louvre, Tuileries, Palais Royal, Place Vendôme, and the Les Halles transport hub.
- Getting aroundParis Metro and RER cover the city, with RER B linking Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare du Nord, Chatelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, and Denfert-Rochereau for…
By TripSapien · Updated November 3, 2026
About Paris
City overview
Paris is arranged by the Seine, the two river islands, and a spiral of 20 arrondissements that starts near Notre-Dame's Kilometre Zero. The Louvre-Tuileries axis, the Latin Quarter around the Sorbonne, the Marais around Rue des Rosiers, and Montmartre above Pigalle give first-time visitors a practical mental map.
Food & drink
Paris food ranges from croissants, steak frites, onion soup, crepes, and macarons to falafel on Rue des Rosiers and Vietnamese banh mi around Rue Mouffetard. Budget travellers can use bakery sandwiches, street crepes, and EUR20-40 prix-fixe menus away from the Champs-Elysees. Wikivoyage notes Paris has Europe's deepest Michelin field and the world's second-highest Michelin-star count after Tokyo.
What Paris is best for
Paris is best for architecture, history, art, music, and food.
- How long to stay
- A weekend to a week
- Typical budget
- Higher-end
Top sights
Ranked using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Notre-Dame de Paris
- 2Sainte-Chapelle
- 3Arc de Triomphe
- 4Musée d'Orsay
- 5Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
- 6Père Lachaise Cemetery
- 7Seine river walk
1Notre-Dame de Paris
4.7★ · 102,700Cathedral on Ile de la Cite where Paris distances start at Kilometre Zero. The island also holds Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, and bridges to both the Latin Quarter and the Marais.
Wikipedia
2Sainte-Chapelle
4.6★ · 50,748Royal chapel on Ile de la Cite, famous for its 13th-century stained-glass walls. It sits inside the Palais de Justice security perimeter, so entry takes longer than the chapel size suggests.
WikipediaBook a timed ticket and avoid carrying large bags because courthouse security slows the line.
3Arc de Triomphe
4.7★ · 301,616Napoleonic monument at the west end of the Champs-Elysees in the 8th arrondissement. The terrace view lines up the Louvre, Place de la Concorde, Champs-Elysees, and La Defense on one axis.
Wikipedia
Show 4 more sights
4Musée d'Orsay
Impressionist museum inside the former Gare d'Orsay railway station on the Left Bank. The 1900 station clock and the upper gallery view over the Seine are as memorable as the Monet, Degas, and Van Gogh rooms.
5Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
White basilica on the Butte Montmartre in the 18th arrondissement, above Abbesses and Pigalle. The steps face south across central Paris and the funicular avoids the steepest climb.
Wikipedia6Père Lachaise Cemetery
Large cemetery in the 20th arrondissement with cobbled lanes and famous graves from Oscar Wilde to Edith Piaf. It pairs with Belleville or Ménilmontant rather than the Louvre-side core.
Wikipedia7Seine river walk
The UNESCO-listed riverbanks connect the Eiffel Tower, Musée d'Orsay, Louvre, Ile de la Cite, and Notre-Dame. Walking the quais is often faster and clearer than making short Metro hops through Chatelet.
Neighborhoods
1Le Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissements)
Former marsh district of Rue des Rosiers, Place des Vosges, Musee Carnavalet, Hotel de Ville, and Centre Pompidou. It has small streets, Jewish bakeries, boutiques, and busy bars without the Champs-Elysees scale.
2Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés
Left Bank university-and-cafe territory around the Sorbonne, Panthéon, Jardin du Luxembourg, Saint-Sulpice, and Boulevard Saint-Germain. Rue Mouffetard and Place de la Contrescarpe keep the student-food angle visible.
3Eiffel Tower, Invalides, and the 7th arrondissement
Grand Left Bank district anchored by Champ de Mars, Les Invalides, Musée d'Orsay, and Rue Cler. It is quieter at night than the Marais and practical for families who want the tower close.
Show 26 more neighborhoods
- 4Montmartre and Pigalle
The 18th arrondissement hill around Sacre-Coeur, Abbesses, Pigalle, and the Moulin Rouge. Expect stair streets, portrait painters, music bars, and bracelet sellers near the basilica steps.
- 5Canal Saint-Martin, Belleville, and Ménilmontant
Northeast Paris around the canal, Rue Oberkampf, Parc de Belleville, and Pere Lachaise. It is better for bars, street art, and neighborhood food than for postcard monuments.
- 612th Arrondissement
The 12th arrondissement is one of the largest districts in Paris and includes the expansive Bois de Vincennes park. Gare de Lyon serves as a major arrival point for travelers coming from Switzerland, Italy, or the south of France.
- 713th Arrondissement
The 13th arrondissement is a mix of residential and business areas with attractions like the Bibliothèque Nationale de France and the Chinatown of Paris.
- 814th Arrondissement
The 14th arrondissement is known for Montparnasse, the Paris Catacombs, and Parc Montsouris, with lively cafés and restaurants along Boulevard du Montparnasse and rue Daguerre. While mostly residential, it offers a mix of dining options and historical sites to explore.
- 915th Arrondissement
This area is quiet and upscale, featuring the skyscraper Tour Montparnasse and Gare Montparnasse on its eastern edge. While it has fewer tourists, it still offers a mix of residential and office developments along the Seine.
- 1016th Arrondissement
The 16th arrondissement is a wealthy area in Paris, featuring the Jardins of Trocadero with views of the Eiffel Tower and the expansive Bois du Boulogne. It's also where the Roland Garros French Open takes place and home to the Paris Saint-Germain football club.
- 1117th Arrondissement
The 17th arrondissement is known for its Haussmannian architecture and a mix of neighborhoods, from the upscale Wagram-Monceau-Ternes with high-end shopping to the bohemian vibe of Batignolles. While there are no major sights or museums, there are plenty of restaurants and a classic Parisian atmosphere.
- 1220th Arrondissement
The 20th Arrondissement includes cosmopolitan districts like Ménilmontant and Belleville, known for their lively atmosphere and diverse culture. Père-Lachaise Cemetery, where famous figures are buried, is a notable landmark in the area.
- 134000 Nord
4000 Nord in Paris is an outer area featuring orthodox churches, including the église des Trois-Saints-Hiérarques.
- 144th Arrondissement
The 4th Arrondissement features historic sites like Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Centre Pompidou, along with the picturesque Île Saint-Louis, known for its cobblestone streets and 17th-century architecture.
- 155th Arrondissement
The 5th Arrondissement is lively with many restaurants, bars, and shops, including bakeries and a fishmonger. Key sights like the Pantheon and Luxembourg Gardens are nearby, and Rue Mouffetard offers a picturesque atmosphere with local merchants.
- 168th Arrondissement
The Avenue des Champs Elysées runs through the 8th arrondissement and leads to the Arc de Triomphe. This neighborhood also hosts the executive branch of the French government and several embassies.
- 17Adamville
- 18Alfort
An outer Paris area featuring the Musée Fragonard d'Alfort, a science museum established in 1766 with dinosaur and animal bones. The area also includes Catholic churches like Église Sainte-Agnès de Maisons-Alfort.
- 19Antony
The Musée du Domaine départemental de Sceaux, a mid-1800s castle with an art and ceramics museum, surrounded by formal gardens and fountains.
- 20Argenteuil
Known for its Catholic churches, including Église Saint-Martin de Bezons, Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption d'Eaubonne, and Église Sainte-Madeleine de Franconville.
- 21Arsenal
- 22Arts-et-Métiers
This lively area features trendy cafés, boutiques, and art galleries. Key attractions include the Musée des Arts et Métiers and the historic Marché des Enfants Rouges, Paris' oldest covered market.
- 23Auteuil
Tree-lined streets and elegant Haussmannian architecture, creating a peaceful residential atmosphere.
- 24Bas-Montreuil - République
- 25Bastille
The historic Place de la Bastille, a symbol of the French Revolution, surrounded by lively streets filled with cafés and restaurants. The area hosts a food market twice a week and is known for its village-like ambiance, especially along Rue de Charonne.
- 26Bel Air - Grands-Pêchers
- 27Bel-Air
Quiet and safe, Bel-Air offers a mix of green spaces like the Bois de Vincennes and cultural attractions such as the Palais de la Porte Dorée.
- 28Belleville
A lively area known for its artistic vibe, with cobbled streets, street art, and a mix of cultures.
- 29Bercy
A mix of shops, restaurants, and green spaces, with Bercy Village featuring converted wine warehouses into cafes and boutiques. The area is safe and family-friendly, with easy access to the Coulée Verte and the expansive Bois de Vincennes nearby.
Day trips
22km / 20-40min by RER C from central Paris
Versailles
Louis XIV palace and gardens on the southwest edge of the region. Reserve palace entry and leave time for the gardens, Grand Trianon, and the walk from Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche station.
75km / 45min train from Gare Saint-Lazare to Vernon plus shuttle
Giverny
Claude Monet's house and water-lily garden are strongest from late spring through early autumn. Avoid rainy days because the garden is the point of the trip.
32km / 40min by RER A to Marne-la-Vallee-Chessy
Disneyland Paris
Two-park resort east of Paris. It is an easy rail day trip, but weekend and school-holiday lines make dated tickets and early arrival important.
Getting around
Paris Metro and RER cover the city, with RER B linking Charles de Gaulle Airport to Gare du Nord, Chatelet-Les Halles, Saint-Michel Notre-Dame, and Denfert-Rochereau for EUR13. Metro Line 14 now serves Orly for EUR13, and the Seine quays are often the clearest route between Notre-Dame, the Louvre, and Musée d'Orsay.
Planning a Paris trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs before you go.
Things to do in Paris by month
Pick a month for weather, any sourced events, holidays or observances, and seasonal timing. June, August and September have the most comfortable weather (tagged below).
Common questions about Paris
- Which neighborhoods should I explore in Paris?
- Louvre, Les Halles, and the 1st arrondissement, Le Marais (3rd and 4th arrondissements), Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés are useful starting points. Plan each day around one or two neighboring areas to avoid unnecessary backtracking.
- When is the best time to visit Paris?
- June, August, September balance comfortable temperatures with fewer rainy days in Paris.
- How many days do you need in Paris?
- a weekend to a week gives you time for architecture, history, and art in Paris. Choose your month to see date-specific details.
- What is Paris known for?
- Paris is best for architecture, history, art, music, and food. For matched places, TripSapien checks available hours, closure signals, and booking links.
Ready to plan Paris?
Turn everything above into a day-by-day Paris plan, with every place checked for closures and booking needs on your dates.