Paris welcomes tens of millions of visitors annually, making it one of the world’s most beloved cities. While the entire city feels like an open-air museum, certain landmarks have become essential stops on every traveler’s itinerary. These iconic attractions have earned their popularity through centuries of history, architectural brilliance, and cultural significance. Here’s your guide to the ten most visited sights in Paris—each one offering a unique window into the soul of the French capital.​

1. Eiffel Tower

The iron lattice tower that defines the Paris skyline remains the city’s most recognizable symbol. Built by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair, the structure was initially criticized by Parisian artists and intellectuals who considered it an eyesore. Standing 330 meters tall, it held the title of the world’s tallest man-made structure until 1930.​

What many visitors don’t realize is that the Eiffel Tower was meant to be temporary—originally slated for demolition after 20 years. It survived because it proved useful as a radio transmission tower. Today, the monument recently underwent restoration to return it to its original bronze-gold shade, and special behind-the-scenes tours during heritage days allow visitors to explore areas normally closed to the public.​

2. Louvre Museum

The world’s largest art museum houses over 35,000 artworks across 782,910 square feet of exhibition space. The Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory of Samothrace represent just three of the countless masterpieces within these walls. The former royal palace became a public museum during the French Revolution, democratizing art that had previously been reserved for the aristocracy.​

The iconic glass pyramid entrance, designed by I.M. Pei and unveiled in 1989, sparked controversy similar to the Eiffel Tower’s debut—critics called it a modernist intrusion on classical architecture. Today, it’s become as iconic as the palace itself. About three-quarters of the Louvre’s visitors come from abroad, demonstrating the museum’s truly global appeal.​

3. Notre-Dame Cathedral

Following its triumphant reopening in December 2024 after the devastating fire, Notre-Dame once again welcomes visitors to experience its Gothic grandeur. This masterpiece, begun in 1163 and completed in 1345, survived the French Revolution, two World Wars, and most recently, the fire that destroyed its iconic spire and wooden roof.​

The restoration included recreating the medieval “forest” of wooden beams supporting the roof—a painstaking process that required sourcing oak trees and using traditional carpentry techniques. Plans to eventually reopen tower access will allow visitors to once again climb to see the famous gargoyles and chimeras that peer down over the Seine.​

4. Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Perched atop Montmartre hill, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica offers one of Paris’s most stunning vistas. This white-domed basilica was built starting in 1875 as a symbol of French resilience following the Franco-Prussian War. The basilica celebrated 140 years of continuous worship in 2025, and while entry to the main basilica remains free, access to the dome provides even more spectacular panoramic views.​

The climb through Montmartre’s charming cobblestone streets, past artists’ studios and intimate cafés, makes reaching Sacré-Cœur as memorable as the destination itself. The neighborhood maintains the bohemian spirit that attracted artists like Picasso, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Van Gogh a century ago.

5. Arc de Triomphe

Napoleon commissioned this monumental arch in 1806 to celebrate his victory at Austerlitz, though he never saw its completion in 1836. The Arc de Triomphe honors French soldiers who fought in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, with names of generals and battles carved into its surfaces.​

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier beneath the arch, installed after World War I, features an eternal flame rekindled every evening at 6:30 PM. Climbing the 284 steps to the top rewards you with spectacular views down the Champs-Élysées and across the twelve avenues that radiate from this central point like spokes on a wheel. Standing at the center of the Place de l’Étoile, you experience Paris’s grand urban planning at its finest.

6. Palace of Versailles

Though technically outside Paris, Versailles draws visitors eager to experience the opulent former royal residence. This palace showcases the absolute power of French monarchs, particularly Louis XIV, the Sun King. The famous Hall of Mirrors, sprawling gardens with musical fountain shows, and the intimate Petit Trianon where Marie Antoinette sought refuge from court life all tell the story of royal France before the Revolution.​

New exhibitions continue to refresh the visitor experience, and summer evening garden shows feature period music and spectacular fireworks. The sheer scale of Versailles—with over 2,300 rooms and 1,800 acres of gardens—requires at least half a day to appreciate properly.​

7. Musée d’Orsay

Housed in a stunning former railway station, the Musée d’Orsay specializes in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces from 1848 to 1914. Works by Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Degas, and Cézanne fill its galleries. The building itself—a Beaux-Arts railway station built for the 1900 Universal Exposition—provides an architectural backdrop as impressive as the art it contains.​

The museum’s clock faces offer unique vantage points overlooking the Seine, and the top floor’s windows frame perfect views of Sacré-Cœur across the river. Recent innovations include VR tours designed to engage younger audiences with these revolutionary art movements.​

8. Sainte-Chapelle

This Gothic chapel, built by Louis IX in the 13th century to house precious Christian relics including the Crown of Thorns, remains one of Paris’s most breathtaking interiors. The upper chapel features 15 massive stained-glass windows that reach 15 meters high, creating a kaleidoscope of colored light that depicts over 1,000 biblical scenes.​

Built in just seven years (1241-1248), the chapel represents the pinnacle of Rayonnant Gothic architecture. Its relatively small size means it’s often overlooked by first-time visitors, but those who include it consistently rank it among their most memorable Parisian experiences. The best time to visit is on sunny afternoons when light streams through the medieval glass.

9. Champs-Élysées and Place de la Concorde

The most famous avenue in the world stretches 1.9 kilometers from the Arc de Triomphe to the Place de la Concorde. While the Champs-Élysées itself functions as a grand shopping boulevard lined with flagship stores and cafés, the Place de la Concorde at its eastern end holds profound historical significance.​

This is where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were executed during the French Revolution. Today, the 3,300-year-old Luxor Obelisk, gifted to France by Egypt in 1829, stands as the square’s centerpiece. The avenue hosts major national celebrations including the Bastille Day military parade and serves as the finish line for the Tour de France, cementing its role in French national identity.

10. Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur District

Beyond the basilica itself, the entire Montmartre neighborhood deserves exploration. This hilltop village within the city maintains cobblestone streets, windmills, vineyard remnants, and the charming Place du Tertre where artists sell their work. The Wall of Love features “I love you” written in 250 languages, while the Moulin Rouge at the hill’s base continues its legendary cabaret tradition.​

Walking these streets where Picasso, Renoir, and countless other artists lived and worked connects you to Paris’s bohemian past. Small museums like the Musée de Montmartre and Espace Dalí add cultural depth to what might otherwise feel like a purely scenic visit.

Planning Your Visit

These ten attractions form the backbone of any Paris itinerary, but visiting them strategically makes all the difference. Book tickets online well in advance for the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and Versailles to secure your preferred time slots and avoid disappointment. Many Paris museums offer free admission on the first Sunday of each month, though advance booking remains essential for popular venues.​

Time matters when you travel. Paris For You app brings essential Paris information together in one simple app.

Paris continues to attract visitors from around the globe, with crowds at major attractions remaining substantial year-round, particularly from April through October. Early morning visits often provide the most comfortable experience with better lighting for photographs and fewer people competing for views.​

The Paris for You app features a FREE “Paris TOP 15 Must-See Places” map that includes all these attractions with additional context and themed routes to help you navigate between them efficiently. The app’s curated approach helps you understand not just what you’re seeing, but why these places matter in the larger story of Paris and French history.

Beyond the Checklist

What makes these attractions truly special isn’t just their fame—it’s how they connect you to different chapters of Parisian and French history. From medieval Gothic architecture at Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle, through the absolute monarchy symbolized by Versailles and the Arc de Triomphe, to the artistic revolutions captured in the Musée d’Orsay’s Impressionist galleries, each site represents a distinct era and cultural movement.​

The Eiffel Tower embodies the industrial age and Paris’s role as a center of innovation. The Louvre’s transformation from royal palace to public museum reflects France’s revolutionary ideals about art belonging to everyone. The Champs-Élysées serves as the stage for France’s most important national celebrations, continuing traditions that reach back centuries.​

Walking between these landmarks through Paris’s neighborhoods—crossing the Seine on ornate bridges, pausing at cafés to watch the world pass by, discovering unexpected courtyards and hidden gardens—transforms your visit from a checklist of famous sites into an immersive experience of how history, culture, and daily life interweave in this remarkable city.

Paris has mastered the delicate balance between preserving its heritage and remaining vibrantly alive. These most-visited attractions prove that popularity doesn’t diminish authenticity—instead, it confirms that certain places possess a universal appeal that transcends any single era or culture. Each visit offers the chance to see them anew, whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, because Paris rewards those who look beyond the obvious to discover the stories these monuments continue to tell.

Paris For You brings together must-see places, themed maps and practical tips in one app. Ideal for first-time visitors and for those who want to explore beyond the obvious.

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