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We spent four amazing days in Paris during our trip to Europe last year. Paris is an iconic city home to some of the most well-known landmarks in the world. These famous Paris landmarks include renowned museums, medieval churches, massive monuments, and ornate buildings.
Everyone has heard of the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower, but only some know of other incredible landmarks throughout the city. To truly see and savor Paris, you need a lot of time. I recommend you spend at least four days in this fantastic city to ensure you can experience the highlights.
Visiting Paris, France
Paris, France is a vast city, so deciding where to stay during your trip can feel overwhelming. Plan ahead and determine what famous Paris landmarks you don’t want to miss. Many landmarks are located near the meandering banks of the Seine River as it flows through the city’s heart.
To better understand the layout of Paris, I want to quickly share some helpful background. The city is divided into 20 arrondissements, which are administrative districts of the city. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th arrondissements are grouped into a single sector called the Paris Centre. From the Centre it’s easy to walk to many, but not all, of the most famous Paris landmarks.
And in this post, I will tell you which arrondissement each Paris landmark is in.
Where To Stay In Paris
During our 4-day trip to Paris, we chose to stay in the 1st arrondissements, near the Louvre and the Seine River; however, your family may want to focus on a different area. No matter where you stay, all the landmarks can be reached by foot, via a quick Uber ride, or using the abundant city public transportation.
Booking.comFamous Paris Landmarks
I wrote this post to highlight some of the most popular famous Paris landmarks. I chose only 11, but the list could easily be double that size. There are so many unique historical and beautiful places spread throughout the city!
Many of these Paris landmarks are entire destinations within themselves and could take anywhere from a half day to a full day to visit, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre. Others are perfect for shorter 2-3 hour side trips, such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Notre Dame Cathedral.
#1 Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a global cultural icon and one of the most recognized structures in the world. Built as the centerpiece for the 1889 World Fair, the Tower is the most visited monument on earth with an entrance fee. It’s no wonder it’s one of the most beloved famous Paris landmarks!
Of course, the Eiffel Tower is very popular, so purchase tickets ahead and arrive early, as the lines can be long. You’ll need to budget at least 3-4 hours in total to make it through lines, ascend the Tower, and take in the beauty of the Paris skyline.
There is a system of elevators to take you up into the Eiffel Tower. For safety reasons, the steps only go to the second floor for safety reasons.
After dusk, the Eiffel Tower lights up in a gorgeous light show that’s too good to miss! The lights go off briefly at the top of every hour after the sun sets. So, you may want to plan your visit in the hours just before sunset to see the lights in the evening.
Numerous Seine River boat cruise operators are near the base of the Tower, along the river. These tours are a fantastic way to see Paris and the Eiffel Tower by boat. We had such a great time on our Seine River cruise!
#2 The Louvre
The Louvre is one of the world’s largest and most famous art museums. It is home to some of the most well-known pieces of art in the Western world, like the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo.
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With 35,000 works of art spread over 72,753 square meters, visiting the Louvre is a rewarding but massive undertaking. Be sure to get tickets ahead of time. Getting tickets for the first time slot of the day will allow you to beat the crowd and be one of the first visitors to the Museum. This is key because certain works, especially the Mona Lisa, will immediately attract long lines.
The scope and size of the museum’s collection are vast, and there is something or everyone, with nearly every type and period of art presented. Visiting the Louvre could even be a multi-day experience. If you are only interested in seeing the Mona Lisa and quickly browsing some of the remaining artworks, we recommend spending at least 4 hours.
Be sure to bring walking shoes and have a museum map available. There are several restaurants, snack stands, and shops located inside the Louvre.
#3 Notre Dame Cathedral
Notre Dame is a medieval Catholic cathedral known worldwide as an architectural marvel and setting of the beloved novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
The cathedral is considered one of the most outstanding examples of French Gothic architecture. Its detailed sculptural design, ornate decoration, rose-colored windows, and flying buttresses perfectly blend medieval engineering and art.
Notre Dame was completed in 1260 and has been modified numerous times in succeeding centuries. In 1832 Victor Hugo published his book “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” which brought the cathedral worldwide attention.
Unfortunately, in 2019, the cathedral caught fire and was extensively damaged. Major renovations are underway, and it’s expected to reopen on December 8th, 2024.
When we visited there in mid-2023, tourists were not allowed inside. The exterior was covered extensively in scaffolding, with occasional signs educating the public about the renovation inside. You can still view the church’s front facade and get a pretty good idea of the design and architecture of the building.
The area around the Notre Dame Cathedral is filled with charming restaurants, cafes, and shops, making this a perfect place to grab lunch and explore the heart of Paris.
#4 Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe stands at the center of Place Charles de Gaulle, at the busy juncture of 12 radiating streets. It was completed in 1836 after 30 years of intermittent construction.
The famous monument honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars. The Arch is a triumphant celebration of patriotism and a solemn vow of remembrance for those who fell fighting for their country.
The Arc de Triomphe is another quintessential Paris landmark that attracts viewers from all over the world.
Inside the Arch is a permanent exhibition about the design of the monument. At the bottom of the Arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. You can go to the top of the Arch, but only the lower part is accessible via an elevator. The very top has an observation deck and is accessible only by stairs.
The Arch de Triomphe is in the 8th arrondissement and is very busy with vehicular traffic. Be sure to avoid crossing against traffic in the roundabout! There is a pedestrian tunnel at Place Charles de Gaulle on the north side of the Champs-Elysees.
#5 Pont Alexandre III
Pont Alexandre III is an extravagant beaux-arts style bridge crossing the Seine River near the Eiffel Tower. The elaborate stonework and carvings make it arguably the most beautiful bridge in Paris.
On either end of the bridge are four gilt-bronze statues that shine like pure gold in the sun, creating a strikingly beautiful image. Other gorgeous sculptures adorn the bridge.
If you take a Seine river boat tour, you’ll go right under Pont Alexandre III, where you can get great pictures. The bridge has been featured in dozens of movies and music videos, including James Bond movies, The Sopranos, and a Moody Blues music video.
Prior to visiting the Eiffel Tower, we took a Seine River cruise and got to see this bridge up close, as you can see in my photos below!
#6 Palais Garnier
Palais Garnier (a.k.a. Opera Garnier) is a world-famous opera house and architectural marvel. Like many other Paris landmarks, it offers a lot in one place. It’s an opera house, museum, library, and architectural masterpiece.
Palais Garnier was designed by Charles Garnier and opened in 1875. It’s hard to describe the opulence and elaborate beauty of this building. Its massive spaces, highly detailed craftsmanship, and gorgeous appointments have made it one of the most famous opera houses in the world.
The smash Broadway hit “Phantom of the Opera” was based upon this opera house. The interior is enormous and maze-like, and the gilded auditorium seats over 2,000. The stage has an 8-ton bronze and crystal chandelier with 340 lights. The exterior has a long multi-column facade adorned with gold-winged statues of Apollo and other deities.
You’ll need to purchase a ticket or tour to see past the lobby. Self-guided or guide-led tours are available. It’s in the 9th arrondissement, near the Louvre and the city center. I recommend you set aside at least 4 hours to tour Opera Garnier.
#7 Luxembourg Gardens and Palace
We loved visiting the Luxembourg Gardens! The Garden is a picture-perfect sprawling city park that stretches over 25 hectares. The Garden has 106 statues spread throughout the park.
At its center is the monumental Luxembourg Palace. The palace and gardens were built in 1612 by Marie de Medici, the widow of Henry IV, who hoped to imitate a palace in her native Florence, Italy. The Luxembourg Gardners is a central part of Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserables and is where the principal love story of the book occurs.
Visiting the park is a spectacular way to enjoy a warm Parisian day, get some exercise, and see famous art and architecture. As you wander the Gardens, you’ll be delighted to find numerous pieces of art hidden across the landscape, making every turn an adventure.
We particularly loved finding the Medici Fountain (shown in my photo below), a hidden gem tucked away in a grove of trees near the palace.
The Grand Bassin (a lake) stretches out from the palace, making for great photos as the toy sailboats float along the surface. There are park benches everywhere, and in good weather, plenty of people will be sunning themselves on blankets or enjoying family picnics.
The Luxembourg Gardens is located in the 6th arrondissement and is free to enter. It’s not too far from our next famous Paris landmark!
#8 Pantheon
Did you know there’s another Pantheon outside of Rome? That’s right, Paris has its own Pantheon, and it’s one of the lesser-known famous Paris landmarks. Although the Roman Pantheon is probably the most popular, the Paris Pantheon is a gorgeous neoclassical and gothic masterpiece that will awe and inspire.
With its massive columns, dome, pediments, and ornate stonework, the Pantheon dwarfs the viewer with its raw size and scale. The building was built between 1758 to 1790 and was initially commissioned by King Louis XV. Here, you can visit the graves of famous French scientists, writers, and philosophers like Victor Hugo, Marie Curie, Voltaire, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
The building is filled with paintings, frescoes, a mausoleum, and a grand balcony from which you can look out of the central dome. It even has a working giant Foucault pendulum.
The Paris Pantheon is located in the 5th arrondissement in the Latin Quarter. Tickets are required and can be purchased at the door or in advance. Both guided and self-guided tours are available.
#9 Pont Neuf
Paris is filled with beautiful bridges, but only one has the honor of being the oldest standing bridge in Paris, Pont Neuf. This is often one of the overlooked famous Paris landmarks!
Pont Neuf spans the Seine River on the western point of the Ile de la Cite, an island in the middle of the river. This small island is the original settlement of Paris and was inhabited as early as 225 BC. Pont Neuf was completed in 1607 after 28 years of construction. It’s constructed as a series of short arch bridges, similar to Roman building techniques.
The bridge has many scary and odd masks, called Mascarons, that adorn the bridge. These macarons are copies of originals from the bridge’s 16th-century construction.
Interestingly, it’s believed the first photograph of a human ever taken was on Pont Neuf in 1838 by Louis Daguerre (of Daguerreotype fame).
Pont Neuf is located between the Louvre and Notre Dame. We walked over the bridge on our way to visit Notre Dame. It is a lovely place for a walk! So, don’t rush, and make sure to enjoy the journey.
#10 Musée d’Orsay
The Musée d’Orsay is the world’s sixth most-visited art museum and welcomed 3.2 million visitors in 2022. It houses the most extensive collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist masterpieces anywhere.
Famous artists at the Musée d’Orsay include Berthe Morisot, Claude Monet, Édouard Manet, Degas, Renoir, Cézanne, Seurat, Sisley, Gauguin, and Van Gogh.
You can purchase tickets for the Musée d’Orsay at the door or online in advance. The Musée d’Orsay is much smaller and more approachable than the Louvre, so you won’t need to prepare ahead for the visit. You typically won’t find massive crowds here and won’t have to navigate lines to see the art.
It’s a perfect 2-3 hour museum trip that will be inspiring if you have young (or old) art lovers in your family. Abby and I went there, and we loved exploring the history of French art together!
#11 The Moulin Rouge
Moulin Rouge is a legendary cabaret founded in 1889, the same year as the Eiffel Tower. Recognizable by its signatory red windmill, Moulin Rouge is known as the birthplace of the can-can dance. The scandal-filled history of the cabaret is marked by extravagant cabaret shows, concerts, and circuses that pushed then-current societal and cultural boundaries.
Today, you can dine and watch one of their popular revues filled with colorful costumes, high-energy dancing, acrobatics, animals, and stunts. There are two basic cabaret shows every night: at 9 pm and 11 pm. The dinner and show option starts at 7 pm. Tickets to the 9 pm show sell out quickly, so order ahead.
Furthermore, Moulin Rouge is located in the 18th arrondissement. It is about 15+ minutes north of the city center, so you will need to budget time to get there. Unless you’re staying close by, you will need to take a cab or use the metro, bus, or tram.
Visiting These Famous Paris Landmarks
Visiting Paris is a bucket list item for so many! Making the most of your vacation to the City of Lights requires some planning and a little bit of initiative. As you can see, there are so many famous Paris landmarks that you will be able to see on your trip to Paris, France.
There are too many options to see everything within the window of most people’s vacation schedule, so narrowing down the list of famous Paris landmarks is essential. But no matter where you go in the city, you’ll be left with an indelible impression.
The friendly people, great food, impressive buildings, incredible artwork, world-renowned monuments, and captivating history will make this trip a life-changing experience!
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