This “Big Four” is a must-see for anyone visiting Paris.
The most famous museum in Paris — and probably in the world. Inside the 60,000 m² palace, nearly 35,000 works of art are displayed — from ancient Egyptian mummies and the Venus de Milo to Da Vinci’s iconic “Mona Lisa” and masterpieces by Rembrandt. Tickets can be booked online. Entry costs €17. The Louvre is open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays).
La Conciergerie is the oldest prison in the city. It’s worth visiting for many reasons: these ancient stone walls (the prison occupies the former palace of the Capetian dynasty) remember Marie Antoinette, her accusers, revolutionaries, and other remarkable figures who shaped the history of Paris.
The 300-meter-tall symbol of France stands at the center of the Champ de Mars. The tower has four levels: the ground floor (ticket and souvenir area, where you can also send a postcard), the first floor (57 meters, souvenir shop and the 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant), the second floor (115 meters, stunning city views, and the Le Jules Verne restaurant), and the top floor (276 meters, reached by glass elevators — a perfect spot to toast with a glass of champagne for €15–20 at the Champagne Bar).
The ascent to the top costs €28.30; to the second floor — €18 by elevator or €11 on foot. In summer, the tower is open from 9:00 a.m. to 12:45 a.m., and in winter from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
This famous monument stands in the very heart of Paris — on Place Charles de Gaulle. The arch was built in the early 19th century to celebrate Napoleon’s victory at Austerlitz and to honor soldiers who died for France — the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier lies beneath it.
The arch is 50 meters high and features an observation deck with panoramic views of Paris. Tickets cost €22 in peak season and €16 in the off-season. From April to September, it’s open from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.; from October to March — from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
The most famous Gothic cathedral in France — with majestic vaults, ancient stained glass, and its legendary gargoyles. Immortalized by Victor Hugo, it’s located on the Île de la Cité, the site of Paris’s first Christian church. Notre-Dame is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. Every Wednesday (at 2:00 p.m.) and Saturday (at 2:30 p.m.), you can enter for free and listen to a guided talk about the cathedral.
Paris has countless other attractions — here are just a few that we recommend visiting.
This one can hardly be marked on a map — the Paris Catacombs stretch for many kilometers! Since the late 18th century, this vast network of tunnels and caverns has held the remains of more than six million people.
This is how the name of this Parisian landmark sounds in French. The quarries became an alternative to traditional cemeteries when city authorities decided to transfer here — more than 20 meters underground — the remains from the old Cemetery of the Innocents.
Today, the carefully arranged pyramids of human bones make the Paris Catacombs one of the most haunting attractions in the world. You can enter through the access point near the Denfert-Rochereau metro station.
The photo of this “sweet” Parisian attraction decorates every third Instagram feed — of course, we’re talking about the legendary pastry macarons! Every Parisian knows that the best macarons can be found at the famous pâtisserie Ladurée (it’s from here that they are delivered to the tables of the Prince of Monaco and other aristocratic families).
A special place on the map of Parisian landmarks belongs to the majestic and tranquil Père-Lachaise Cemetery. Here rest some of the greatest figures of world culture — Molière and Frédéric Chopin, Marcel Proust and Jim Morrison.
And how many legends are tied to this place! For instance, in the tomb of Pierre Abélard and Héloïse, lovers from around the world leave love notes (it is said this helps preserve affection for life), while psychics “recharge” at the grave of Allan Kardec, founder of Spiritism. To cure infertility or impotence, it is customary to kiss the lips of the statue on journalist Victor Noir’s tomb. And the monument on Oscar Wilde’s grave has seen more kisses than one could count!
Does such a Parisian landmark as the Pont Marie, spanning the Seine, need any special introduction? One of the oldest bridges in Paris, it connects the Hôtel de Ville embankment with the Île Saint-Louis. According to city legend, two lovers who kiss under the Pont Marie will remain together forever — even beyond death!
