The Best Paris Tourist Destinations
Discover These Amazing Tourist Destinations in Paris
Many people would agree that Paris is a city rich in culture. This is not only because of its architecture but also its food, art, and music.
It’s no wonder that Paris is the fifth most visited tourist destination on the planet. People from all over the world come to this city every year to marvel at its beauty.
We agree that Paris is home to incredible things to do and see. There are countless things for tourists to do. You could easily spend two full weeks in this vast city and not see everything.
When visiting a new place, many people love visiting the most popular sites because they don’t want to miss out. Oftentimes, these places are the most visited for a reason. Here are seven of the most popular tourist destinations in Paris.
7 Most Popular Tourist Destinations in Paris
1. The Eiffel Tower (La Tour Eiffel)
This is the icon of Paris, the most popular tourist destination there. It’s located on the Champ de Mars at 5 Avenue Anatole France.
You can enjoy the beauty of the Eiffel Tower in the daytime and see views of the city. But, it’s also lit up at night by beautiful twinkling lights and looks spectacular. Tours run daily, and they are very affordable as long as you aren’t visiting on a special occasion.
A great way to enjoy the view is to eat in one of the two restaurants in the tower. There are also souvenir shops, and even a post office, so you can send a postcard directly from the Eiffel Tower! If you make it to the second floor, you’ll be able to see for miles (assuming the weather permits).
You can also enjoy the architecture and beauty of the tower from nearby places like a park and the Seine River. This is a place you want to make sure you prioritize!
2. Louvre Museum (Musée du Louvre)
This art museum is a former imperial palace of France. It’s now the largest and one the most famous museums in the world, not just Paris. The Louvre is the most frequently visited museum in the world, with over eight million people visiting every year.
The museum contains over 500,000 objects and displays over 35,000 pieces of art at a time. The permanent collection is 652,000 square feet. You could easily spend an entire day here!
The art spans from ancient civilizations to the 19th century. It includes pieces such as pottery, jewelry, tapestries, mosaics, sculpture, bronzes, and more.
The most famous work of art in the Louvre is the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. Two other masterpieces that became popular after The Da Vinci Code are the Louvre Pyramid and inverted Pyramid.
Even if you don’t consider yourself an art lover, you will find something to marvel at here. Don’t miss this treasure!
3. The Victory Gate (Arc de Triomphe)
The Victory Gate is the second most popular monument in Paris after the Eiffel Tower. It’s also the largest gate in history.
The gate was built to celebrate Napoleon’s victory when he won against Austria in the Battle of Austerlitz. The gate is located in the middle of Place Charles de Gaulle, at the end of Champs-Elysees street.
The gate contains four sculpted groups, each representing something different. One represents the time in 1792 when 200,000 volunteers rose up to defend the nation. Another shows Napoleon’s triumph, another the resistance to an invasion, and the last one the Treaty of Paris.
There is also a flame that hasn’t been extinguished since it was lit back in 1923. It is there to commemorate an unknown soldier who fought in World War I.
This is a perfect spot to take pictures and enjoy the history behind it.
4. Place de la Concorde
This is the main town square in the French capital. You can find it near Tuileries Gardens and Champs Elysées, next to the Seine River. It’s surrounded by important buildings and other popular tourist destinations in Paris.
Some of the square features are an Egyptian obelisk, water fountains, statues, and artistic lamp posts.
Place de la Concorde has a lot of history. It was used as a spot for large gatherings and a guillotine. Sadly, many people were killed here.
This destination has also inspired stories. It’s been used for several movies, including The Devil Wears Prada and Star Trek. It has also been the setting for the novel, Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
5. Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame de Paris)
The Notre Dame Cathedral is definitely one of the most popular tourist destinations in Paris. It’s the most famous church and hosts millions of tourists every year.
The cathedral is located on Île de la Cité, a small island in the middle of the Seine River. Construction on the cathedral began in 1163 and was not completely finished until 1345. During the French Revolution in the 1790s, much of the cathedral was damaged. Restoration began in 1845, and then in 1991, another restoration began.
Then in 2019, a tragic fire broke out, destroying much of the building. This restoration project was finally completed in 2024.
Notre Dame is considered one of the best examples of French Gothic architecture. It was one of the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress.
Both the inside and the outside of the cathedral are breathtaking. The inside contains amazing stained glass windows and beautiful artwork. Make time for this historical masterpiece!
6. Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles)
This palace has more than 700 rooms, making it one of the largest in the world. The Palace of Versailles is surrounded by well-kept gardens, a park, and other structures. It’s beautiful and could easily take up most of a day to enjoy.
The palace is so large it almost feels like it’s a city. In the palace you can find a hall of mirrors, opera hall, art museum, private apartments, salons, and more.
This palace is rich with history as it was home to many famous occupants. Some of these include King Louis XIV and Marie-Antoinette.
It might be worth it to purchase a guided tour to make sure you don’t miss anything important. You will be amazed by this extravagant place! You’ll understand why this is one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Paris.
7. Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin)
The Latin Quarter might just seem like a historic area, but it’s so much more than that! These cobblestone streets are home to much history and beauty.
A few of the things you will see are jazz clubs, night clubs, churches, famous hotels, restaurants, bookstores, historic monuments, a university, and more. Here are a few things we recommend you stop and see:
- The Pantheon – This historical monument is the burial place of many famous people including Victor Hugo, Rousseau, Voltaire, and more. You can go inside to see some amazing murals, Foucault’s pendulum, and the great dome.
- Church of Saint-Julien-le-Pauvre – This is the oldest church in Paris. It has some massive columns and ancient statues.
- The Place Saint Michel – This is a neat area that has some famous spots, including the Saint Michel Fountain and Boulevard Saint Michel. You may come across a concert or dance performance as well as some fun shops.
- The Medieval World – Here you will find some buildings from the Medieval time period. You can explore the museum and see some of the most ancient Baths in the country.
- The Sorbonne – Here you will see the Sorbonne building, which used to be a theological college for poorer students. But it’s now part of the University of Paris.
We hope this list inspires you to take a trip to Paris! No matter which places you decide to visit during your stay, don’t forget to purchase travel health insurance before you leave.
Even if you just plan to see the architecture, art museums, and amazing scenery, accidents still happen. You could be one traffic accident or incidental trip away from an expensive hospital stay.
The medical care in France is good, but it will cost you a lot of money. You won’t be covered under the national health insurance. You will need to have your own international policy. Make sure to get one before you go!
Call us at 480-813-9100 or send us a message to learn more. We will find you the perfect plan for your trip to the most popular tourist destinations in Paris. This will provide you peace of mind so you may enjoy charging your credit card with fun things instead of international hospital bills.
Enjoy your travels to Paris!
