Paris attractions

Expect bright lights, extravagant costumes, and raucous music at the world-famous Moulin Rouge. Opened in the Belle Epoque of 1889 to celebrate Paris' thriving creative scene, the windmill-cum-cabaret hall has never stopped basking in fun and frivolity. As a staple of Parisian nightlife, an unforgettable evening at the Moulin Rouge is a must on any traveler's France itinerary.

With its gigantic dome and snow-white facade gazing down over the city from the Butte de Montmartre (Montmartre Hill), the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur—or Basilica of the Sacred Heart—is one of Paris’ most magnificent monuments.

Formerly a humble hunting lodge, the Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles) is the extravagant creation of King Louis XIV, AKA the Sun King. Embellished in royal decadence, Versailles features hundreds of rooms with frescoed ceilings and carvings, plus the Versailles Gardens (Jardins de Versailles), which brim with geometrically designed walkways and fountains. No visit to France is complete without visiting the royal residence.

Though it translates to “New Bridge” in French, the Pont Neuf is in fact the oldest bridge in Paris, built in 1607 to connect the banks of the river Seine to Ile de la Cite. Known in the 18th and 19th centuries for its unsavory street vendors and pickpockets, Pont Neuf is now a tranquil pedestrian bridge and meeting place for visitors and locals alike.

The Pont des Arts—also known as the Passerelle des Arts—is one of central Paris’ most romantic bridges. Famed for the “love locks” that couples once clipped to its railings, the bridge has shed some weight in recent years, but not its amorous associations. These days, the pedestrian-friendly bridge is perfect for sightseeing or picnicking.

Located on the Île de la Cité—just steps from Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame Cathedral—the Conciergerie is a major Paris landmark with both a royal pedigree and a dark history. Once a wing of the former Palais de la Cité, the 14th-century building housed doomed prisoners (including Marie Antoinette) during the French Revolution.

An island at the center of Paris, Île de la Cité is the site where the Parisii tribe of the Sequana river, now known as the Seine, first settled. Centuries later, that primitive village has given way to some of the city’s most stunning attractions, from the Palais de Justice and Sainte-Chapelle to La Conciergerie and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

A short train ride from Paris, Giverny is best known as the home of Claude Monet, who created many of his iconic paintings. Head to this tiny, bucolic village to see the impressionist master's beautifully preserved home and gardens. Here you can see the famous water lily pond and Japanese gardens that inspired so many of the world's best-known Monet paintings.

The Panthéon, which dates back to 1790, is one of Paris’ most striking monuments. A fine example of early neoclassical architecture, the mausoleum houses the remains of some of France's most revered artists and writers, among them Rousseau, Voltaire, Zola, and Dumas.

An architecturally and politically important building, the Hôtel de Ville in Paris has housed various government bodies since the 14th century; it’s currently home to Paris’ mayor and city council. The landmark is famed for its decorative facade and well-appointed interiors, and it also hosts exhibitions and events throughout the year.

The church of the former Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés anchors the vibrant St Germain des Prés neighborhood, considered a legendary part of Paris’ Latin Quarter. Just off the abbey’s main square are historic haunts like Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore, where Hemingway, Sartre, Picasso and Simone de Beauvoir frequented.

The smaller companion to the neighboring Grand Palais, the aptly named Petit Palais is both an art venue and an architectural landmark. Like the Grand Palais, the Petit Palais was originally built for the World’s Fair in 1900. Today, it houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris (the Fine Arts Museum of the City of Paris).

Built by King Louis IX to house a relic of the crown of thorns—now kept at nearby Notre Dame Cathedral—the 13th-century Sainte Chapelle is renowned for its striking Gothic architecture and some of the most exquisite stained glass windows in Europe.

With more than 61 acres (25 hectares) of flower-lined lawns, formal French gardens, and shady chestnut groves, the Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg) are one of Paris’ most idyllic green spaces. On sunny afternoons, this is the Left Bank picnic spot of choice for fashionable Parisians.

The Paris Catacombs (Catacombes de Paris) date back to the 1700s, when the ossuary was formed from an old underground quarry. Over the years, more and more remains were brought here from overcrowded cemeteries to make room for the city's development, up until 1860. For those with an interest, it’s a fascinating look at a former burial practice.

Poised overlooking the Seine, the Palais Bourbon dates to 1722. Originally built for the Duchesse de Bourbon (a daughter of King Louis XIV), the Palais Bourbon has been used to house legislative bodies, including the French National Assembly—the lower house of the French Parliament—since the end of the 18th century.

At the epicenter of Paris’s chic Marais district is Place des Vosges, an elegant square filled with history and charm, and one of the most wonderful places to people-watch. Lined with perfectly symmetrical buildings with distinctive red brick and white stone facades and slate roofs commissioned by King Henry IV in the early 1600s.

Built under the orders of Louis XIV beginning in 1670, Les Invalides—also known as the Hôtel National des Invalides—was created as a hospital and care facility for wounded war veterans. Today, the site still serves that purpose, though the sprawling complex also comprises several museums, numerous courtyards, and Paris’ tallest dome.

Place du Tertre is a famous square in the Montmartre neighborhood of Paris known for its artists and bohemian crowd. It is located just a few meters from Basilique du Sacré-Coeur and close to where painters like Picasso and Modigliani used to live and work; at the time, Montmartre was called the capital of modern art in the early 20th century. In fact, there is a museum dedicated to the works of Salvador Dali a few steps from Place du Tertre. Its other claim to fame dates back to 1898, when Louis Renault’s first automobile was driven up the steep Montmartre hills, kickstarting the lucrative automotive industry in France.

With red marble columns and grandiose style, the Fontaine Saint-Michel is a beautiful fountain in the heart of the Quartier Latin (Latin Quarter. The statue at the center depicts the archangel Michael standing triumphantly over the devil—it’s said to be a symbol for Napoleon’s own triumphs—and the monument is flanked by spouting dragons.

Crazy Horse cabaret’s burlesque-style show celebrates femininity and the art of seduction, with elaborately choreographed routines performed by dancers wearing custom-made red-soled Louboutins, bob wigs, bright red lipstick—and often little else. Avant-garde artist Alain Bernardin established the intimate underground venue in 1951.

From riding Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain to flying with Peter Pan and snapping a selfie with Mickey Mouse, few theme parks serve up as much fairy-tale wonder as the magical kingdom of Disneyland®. With some 14 million annual visitors, Disneyland® Paris is Europe’s biggest theme park, boasting adrenaline-fueled rides, state-of-the-art movie sets, and spectacular shows and parades that make it a fantasyland for kids and adults alike.

An expansive green space that stretches between the Eiffel Tower and the École Militaire (Military School), the Champ de Mars has been an important public park since the 18th century. Key episodes of the French Revolution took place here, as did several World’s Fairs. Today, it’s a popular stop for relaxing and sightseeing.

Glass-sheathed, modern towers house a world-class book collection at the French National Library in Paris. More than 15 million volumes are here, including royal book collections that date back to the Middle Ages, and the library hosts rotating exhibitions that range from artistic masterpieces to historic manuscripts and artifacts.

The Wall of Love (Le Mur des Je T'aime) is a massive work of art featuring the words “I love you” written in over 250 languages. Composed of 612 dark-blue tiles, this work by artist Frédéric Baron and calligraphist Claire Kito is a favorite meeting spot for lovers and offers more evidence that Paris is in fact the City of Love.

Home to elegant hotels, storied couturiers, jewelry houses, and even the Ministry of Justice, the sweeping Place Vendôme is one of Paris’ most rarefied public squares. Located in the first arrondissement and near the Louvre, the square is famed for its history, impressive architecture, and for the Napoleonic Vendôme Column.

In Paris’ Beaubourg district, Centre Pompidou is a multidisciplinary cultural venue that’s home to the National Museum of Contemporary Art. Visitors come to see famous paintings by legendary artists, such as Henri Matisse and Wassily Kandinsky, and to marvel at the building’s design.

With its mixture of gourmet markets, cool bars, and historic landmarks, Paris' bohemian Bastille neighborhood allows travelers to escape the city's bustling center and discover the "Parisian's Paris." The heart of the area is Place de la Bastille—the former home of the Bastille fortress—where traffic whirls at a roundabout topped by the 170-foot (52-meter) Colonne de Juillet.

First opened in 1895 by Theophile Bader, Galeries Lafayette is a department store in Paris that houses luxury fashion brands including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Christian Dior. In addition to a stained glass dome ceiling and rooftop terrace with views of the Eiffel Tower, Galeries Lafayette features weekly fashion shows on Friday afternoons.

One of Paris’ top literary landmarks, Shakespeare and Company is an English-language bookstore in the Latin Quarter opened in 1951 by George Whitman. It was named after a bookstore founded in 1919 by Sylvia Beach, famous for hosting luminaries including Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and Gertrude Stein.