Top 7 bucket-list Paris monuments to see on tour
Whether you’re planning a weeklong visit to Paris or bundling the City of Light into a larger multicity trip, here are seven monuments that belong on your Parisian can’t-miss list.
A trip to Paris is the stuff travel dreams are made of, and the French capital never seems to run out of awe-inspiring landmarks. Go Ahead traveler Jodie shared how Paris had long been on her travel wish list. “I thought often about what I would do and see there,” Jodie said. “Sit at a cafe and have a glass or two of wine, go to the top of the Eiffel Tower, wander through the Louvre and marvel at Notre-Dame.” Whether you’re like Jodie and Paris has always called to you, or you’ve just finished “Emily in Paris,” and there’s nowhere you’d rather visit next—here are seven iconic monuments in the City of Light you can’t miss while on tour.
Are you a big “Emily in Paris” fan? Check out these Parisian filming locations that served as the backdrop for Emily’s balades (French for strolls) through the city.
1. The Eiffel Tower
Attractions in Paris don’t get more iconic than the Eiffel Tower. And one of the best things about it is that at more than 1,000 feet tall, you don’t need to head to the 7th arrondissement (the term for Paris’ neighborhoods) to see it. Simply stroll through one of the city’s central arrondissements and catch a glimpse of its pointed peak.
If want to see the Eiffel Tower close-up, all of our Paris tours include a stop at the Parisian icon. Go ahead and take as many photos as your camera’s storage limit will allow. Then let our expert guides regale you with insider intel about this 19th-century, wrought-iron tower, which was named after Gustave Eiffel, the French civil engineer whose firm designed it. Did you know that the creation of the tower was met with controversy? Many people at the time didn’t think it would be feasible to make a structure of such height. According to traveler Jodie, seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time was the highlight of her trip to Paris. “It literally took my breath away,” she said.
There will be plenty of opportunities to see the Eiffel Tower during our Paris: the City Experience tour, but consider striking out during free time in the evening to get a closer look at the nightly light show. The tower takes on a totally different atmosphere, and seeing it shine is one of our favorite things about Paris.
Check out our Paris Travel Guide for tips about packing, what to see, do, and eat in the city—did someone say crepes?—and more.
2. The Arc de Triomphe on Avenue des Champs-Elysees
The more than one-mile stretch between Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe is among the most beautiful city streets in the world. Avenue des Champs-Elysees’ wide, sycamore-lined sidewalk is made for leisurely strolls at any hour of the day. But if you’re looking to do more than just walk and take in the scenery, the Haussmann buildings that dot Champs-Elysees are full of fancy restaurants, designer boutiques, and, for some evening revelry, glamorous bars. During our Grand Tour of France, you’ll get to drive down this famous boulevard with a full view of yet another iconic Paris monument: the Arc de Triomphe.
Located on the western edge of Champs-Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe was built in 1806 (finished 30 years later) to honor French soldiers who died in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. Until the 1938 completion of the Monumento a la Revolucion in Mexico City, the Arc de Triomphe was the tallest triumphal arch in the world at nearly 165 feet tall. It features countless sculptures, including one of Napoleon being crowned by the goddess Victory, as well as the historic La Marseillaise volunteers marching to the capital.
3. The Louvre Museum
Of all the attractions in Paris, this museum is one of the best. Located in the 1st arrondissement, the Louvre has earned the distinction of being the most-visited museum in the whole world. And why not? The striking glass pyramid outside its doors can only hint at the artistic treasures that can be found inside, including the enigmatic “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci. But did you know that the museum started as a 12th-century castle? Remnants of this history can be viewed at the galleries today. No wonder visiting this museum us one of our favorite free-time winter activities in Paris.
When it first opened as a museum in the late-18th century, it housed 537 paintings. Now, the Louvre’s collection comprises approximately 616,000 pieces. It would take weeks to see the 38,000 that are on the display. Many of our Paris trips, like our London & Paris tour, give you an entire free day that can be devoted to the Louvre if that’s up your alley. But if not, maybe you’ll want to add the plaza just outside the museum to your list of picnic spots in Paris. It’s as atmospheric a people-watching perch as any in the City of Light.
4. Notre-Dame Cathedral
First opened in 1345 on Ile de la Cite, a small island on Seine River in the 4th arrondissement, this medieval cathedral has been a beloved Parisian icon for both locals and travelers alike. Many might know it as the dramatic site of Victor Hugo’s novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.” But it was also a celebratory destination when Paris was freed from the Nazis in 1944. Architecture buffs will love its flying buttresses (the supporting structures that jut out of the central building) and colorful, circular windows.
After a devastating fire in 2019, the cathedral was closed for extensive renovations until December 2024. Now that it’s officially open to the public, don’t miss your chance during your free time on, say our fabulous London & Paris tour, to step inside the storied cathedral. Or, let us do the planning and admire the historic site while walking around the Ile de la Cite on any of our trips to Paris.
Pro tip: It’s also a good idea to partner a meandering walk to the cathedral with a trip to Shakespeare and Company, the iconic 100-year-old bookstore just steps away from Notre-Dame. Made famous because the likes of Gertrude Stein, Picasso, and Hemingway often met there to workshop their latest projects—literature and art lovers consider it a Paris landmark, too.
Thinking about using a free day on our Paris: The City Experience to explore outside of the city? We’ve got a list for that! Check out these places in France you need to visit beyond Paris.
5. Sacre-Coeur Basilica
Perched on the highest point of the city in the 18th arrondissement, Sacre-Coeur, a Roman Catholic church that was completed in 1914, lords over Paris like no other building in town. This 272-foot-tall, all-white building is almost blinding in its striking position on top of Butte Montmartre. Travelers trek to this historic Paris monument not only to see one of the largest mosaics in the world—the ceiling of the apse was brought to life with illustrations of the risen Jesus Christ—but also for the incredible views of Paris.
From this point of view, the entire city is at your feet. Join revelers and street performers as they soak in the sights and the atmosphere; this is one of the most popular destinations in Paris to while away a lazy afternoon. Gather your new friends during your free time on our France for Solo Travelers: Paris, Provence & the Riviera tour and go to experience it all for yourself. Maybe even do what Go Ahead staffer Jackie did: “Get yourself an assortment of macarons at one of Montmartre’s patisseries, and bring them to the steps of Sacre-Coeur to look over the entire city at sunset,” she said. Looking for more insider tips for when you’re in Paris? Check out our list of 20 French traditions you’ve got to try in the City of Light.
6. Paris Catacombs
If you want to add a little spooky history to your Parisian escapades, consider adding a trip to the crypt during your free time in the City of Light. It might be a bit creepy for some, but one of the famous landmarks in Paris actually houses the remains of six million Parisians. The Paris Catacombs were created in 1810 after city cemeteries started reaching capacity. And what started as a practical solution to a pressing urban problem eventually became rather trendy—the Paris Catacombs were once so sought-after that space within was used for exhibitions, and way back when (in the 19th century), concerts were even hosted in these underground passages.
On our A Week in France: The Riviera, Provence & Paris tour, add the extension to Paris and use your free day in the city to take the 45-minute walk through bone-adorned passageways. The entrance to this historic Paris landmark is in the 14th arrondissement, about a mile south of the Luxembourg Gardens. And the one-mile path open to the public (though many more miles are used) is a one-way experience to see groups of bones organized by the cemeteries from which they were pulled. The catacombs are home to remains that date back to the 13th century and include those who perished during the French Revolution.
7. Statue of Liberty
Did you know that Paris has more statues of liberty than New York? Yes, the most famous of them was a gift from France that towers over the New York harbor, but there are hundreds of replicas scattered all over the world. The sculptor of the original, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, made a 9-foot-tall version of Lady Liberty that now stands in the entrance hall of another Paris landmark, Musee d’Orsay. On Ile aux Cygnes, an artificial island on the Seine in the 15th arrondissement, is a nearly 40-foot-tall replica gifted to France by U.S. citizens back in 1889. The tiniest one is hidden on the breastplate of Le Centaure, a bronze statue in the 6th arrondissement. There are a handful more tucked away in various parts of Paris. It’s up to you to find them (but as always, your expert Tour Director will be more than happy to give you a hint!).
What’s better than reading about famous attractions in Paris? Seeing them in person on one of our unforgettable Paris tours.
