Paris is one of those cities that you can easily fall in love with, and visiting once is simply not enough to truly admire its beauty, history and food! Whenever I travel there, I lose myself in the food, the art, the cafes, the strolls across the streets. Somehow, I still never feel I scratch the surface as I always happen on more places that need to be seen and experienced.
Planning your first trip may seem dizzying with all the art, museums, cafes, history and restaurants. Where do you start? These are my top places to carve out time for on your first trip to the City of Light.
Museums
- The Louvre: houses over 380,000 pieces displayed over 652,300 square feet and is considered the largest museum in the world. Musée du Louvre, 1st arrondissement, +33 1 40 20 53 17, louvre.fr. Opening hours: M, Th, Sa–Su (9 am–6 pm), W, F (9 am–9:45 pm), Tu (closed). ADMISSION FEE AND ADVANCE TICKETS RECOMMENDED. Free days: first Sunday of each month (Oct–March), Fridays after 6 pm for those under 26. A guided tour is ALWAYS a good idea to fully make the most of your limited time while visiting!
- The Musée d’Orsay: houses the best impressionist and post-impressionist work in Paris. This is my favorite museum. You’ll find masterpieces by all the great artists of the world, including Degas, Monet, Manet, and Van Gogh. 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 7th arrondissement, +33 1 40 49 48 14, musee-orsay.fr. Opening hours: Tu–W, F–Su (9:30 am–6 pm), Th (9:30 am–9:45 pm), M (closed). ADMISSION FEE, free first Sunday of the month. Guided Tours in just 2 hours are a great way to learn about the artists and the impressionist movement.
- The Shoah Memorial (the Holocaust Museum) is one of the most in-depth museums on the Holocaust. It is a little known museum but worth taking time to see. 17 Rue Geoffroy l’Asnier, 4th arrondissement, +33 1 42 77 44 72, memorialdelashoah.org. Opening hours: Su–F (10 am–6 pm), Th (10 am–10 pm), Sa (closed). A free guided tour is given at 3 pm (in English) on the second Sunday of every month.
Museum Travel tip: Get the Paris Museum Pass. This four-day pass is a good value and covers over 50 museums and attractions. It covers all the museums above, so getting this pass and using it to see all the attractions listed in this article will save you some money!!
Churches
- St Chapelle Cathedral is not to be missed for the stained-glass windows. It was created to house Christian relics by Louis IX such as the Crown of Thorns. 10 Boulevard du Palais 75001 Paris http://www.sainte-chapelle.fr. Opening hours: 9 AM to 5 PM. ADMISSION FEE
- Notre Dame: A not to miss destination, whether you choose to visit just the outside with its glorious position along the River Seine, or want to admire the beautiful stained glass rosettes and gothic architecture form the inside. Advance reservations are required, though it is free to get in. https://www.notredamedeparis.fr/en/visit/reservation/ . Opening hours: Mon-Fr 8 am to 7 pm, Sat-Sun, 8:15 am to 7:30 pm
Sight Seeing
- Versailles is an all-day affair and well worth it! I recommend that you go on a weekday to avoid paying for the gardens. Also, go in the reverse order as everyone else and you will not deal with such a large crowd. Go to Marie- Antoinette’s estate than the gardens and last see the Palace.
Place d’Armes, Versailles, phone: +33 1 30 83 78 00, website: en.chateauversailles.fr. Opening hours: Tu–Su (9am–6:30pm), last entry at 5:45pm, M (closed). “The Passport” ticket gives you admission to all the palace tours (grounds, Trianon Palaces, and Marie Antoinette’s estate), the Musical Fountain Show, the Musical Gardens, and the exhibitions: ADMISSION FEE. You can also sign up for a guided tour with hotel pick up from Paris if you want to avoid the public transport.
- Pere LaChaise is the most visited cemetery in the world. Here you can visit the grave of the Doors Leader, Jim Morrison, along with Chopin, Moliere, Edith Pilaf, Rossini and Oscar Wilde. Boulevard de Ménilmontant – 75020 Paris. Free entry for all. A detailed plan can be downloaded from https://www.paris.fr/cimetieres Guided tours are organized on Saturdays and Sundays. More information on www.paris.fr/cimetieres. November to mid-March: Monday-Friday, 8h-5:30 a ; Saturday, 8: 30-5: 30; Sunday and public holidays, 9h-17h30. From mid-March to October: Monday-Friday, 8 a-5 p Saturday, 8.30 am-6 pm; Sunday and public holidays, 9 a – 5 p.
- Eiffel Tower is best seen in the early morning to beat the crowds. Champ de Mars, 7th arrondissement, +33 8 92 70 12 39, toureiffel.paris. Opening hours: Daily (9 am–midnight) during the summer, with slightly shorter hours during the rest of the year. ADMISSION FEE AND ADVANCE TICKETS RECOMMENDED, depending on how high you go. If you can’t get a ticket on their website, consider signing up for a guided tour where tickets are included. They also have some lovely dining facilities with incredible views in case you want to celebrate a special occasion while there. Check out the restaurants here and make sure you have reservations for the sit down venues: https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/restaurants-shops
Travel Tip: On the way to the Eiffel Tower, stop at La Fromagerie Cler at 31 Rue Cler, 75007 Paris, France. You will find the best cheese and accompaniments in Paris. Take a picnic to eat before heading up the Eiffel Tower.
Au Revoir et bon voyage! And make sure you also check out my Travel Tips on France post to get better prepared for your trip!
