Paris Attractions: 20 Must-See Places
Paris has more to see than the Eiffel Tower and Louvre. This guide brings together landmarks, art museums, neighbourhood walks and garden breaks. Choose by interest and combine nearby stops to spend less of your day travelling.
Jump to the 20 places ↓Where should you start in Paris?
Choose one main stop per day: Eiffel and the riverside, Louvre and Tuileries, then Montmartre. Add the Notre-Dame area or Marais if time allows. You do not need to squeeze all twenty entries into three days. Give Orsay separate time if art is a priority; if museums are not your interest, use that time for neighbourhood walks and gardens.
Free things to see in Paris
Gardens such as Tuileries, neighbourhood streets and exterior views help balance a budget. Distinguish a free outdoor walk from entering a building or viewing terrace. Museum concessions may depend on age, residence and date. Before buying a city pass, list the paid attractions you genuinely intend to enter and compare their official prices.
Which day should you visit the Louvre and Orsay?
Plan around the Louvre’s Tuesday closure and Orsay’s Monday closure. Choose one major museum and a nearby outdoor break rather than two large museums in a day. A ticket does not remove every queue, so leave time for security and transport. Hours and fees can change; check the official links before visiting.
How many days do you need in Paris?
Three days work for an introduction with selected stops, not every museum and neighbourhood. Consider four or five days for a slower pace. Versailles is a separate trip outside the centre and is not included here. Use the linked three-day mapped itinerary for a day-by-day structure, and this guide to decide which sights belong in your own selection.
Paris Attractions: 20 Must-See Places
Eiffel Tower
On a first visit, separate seeing the Eiffel Tower from going up it: a riverside view and a tower ticket offer different experiences.
Louvre Museum
Choose two or three collections instead of trying to finish every gallery.
Musée d’Orsay
The former station’s large interior makes this a stop for architecture as well as painting.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Pair the cathedral on Île de la Cité with the island’s streets and riverbanks.
Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte-Chapelle suits a short, focused architecture visit, with stained glass as the main attraction.
Arc de Triomphe
Seeing the arch from outside and visiting its terrace are separate choices.
Palais Garnier
Garnier can be worth considering for its staircase and decorated interiors even without attending an opera.
Montmartre
Treat Montmartre as a neighbourhood rather than just a climb to a viewpoint.
Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Make the white-domed basilica part of a Montmartre walk.
Le Marais
The Marais adds everyday city life between major monuments.
Luxembourg Garden
Luxembourg Garden is a chance to slow down after a busy museum visit.
Tuileries Garden
Between the Louvre and Concorde, Tuileries is a natural follow-up to a museum visit.
Musée de l’Orangerie
A focused art stop for anyone who wants unhurried time with Monet’s Water Lilies.
Musée Rodin
A different pace for a Paris art day, combining sculpture with a garden visit.
Panthéon
Explore architecture, French history and a monumental interior in the Latin Quarter.
Petit Palais
A grand façade and art collections make a museum break on a walk near the Champs-Élysées.
Palais-Royal
A short pause near the Louvre, with a courtyard, arcades and garden to slow the walk down.
Les Invalides
Beyond the golden dome, a large historic complex whose museum sections deserve time.
Pont Alexandre III
Add sculpture, ornate lamps and views between the riverbanks to your Seine walk.
Place des Vosges
A square framed by red-brick façades and arcades, ideal for a pause within a Marais walk.