Stand on the Pont Neuf at dusk and you can watch the Seine turn gold while the Louvre's long facade slides into shadow. That single view explains why Paris rewards walking more than any checklist: the city's landmarks sit close enough together that a morning and an afternoon can hold several of them.
Paris suits travellers who like museums, architecture and long stretches on foot, and who are willing to plan around the days when individual sights close. It also suits anyone travelling on a budget, since national museums and monuments are free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month, and entry to the permanent exhibitions at city-run museums is free at all times.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, ordered with the strongest first, followed by a one-day plan and answers to the questions travellers ask most often.
Top things to do in Paris
1. Musée du Louvre
One of the finest museums in the world of art and culture, and home of the Mona Lisa among innumerable other works. The building and collection are enormous, so plan at least two visits rather than trying to see it in a single pass.
The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays. Most ticket counters close 30 to 45 minutes before final closing, so arrive well before the end of the day.
2. Tour Eiffel
No other monument better symbolises Paris. It is one of the city's main choke points, meaning the number of visitors who can flow through is restricted, so lines build quickly.
Arrive at least 30 minutes before opening time to avoid the worst of the queue. If you are fit, you can greatly reduce the wait by walking the first two levels and then buying an elevator ticket to the top.
3. Musée d'Orsay
An incredible collection housed in a former railway station, with works by the great artists of the 19th century from 1848 to 1914, including Monet's "Blue Water Lilies", Renoir's "Bal du moulin de la Galette", van Gogh's "Bedroom in Arles" and Whistler's "The Artist's Mother".
The Orsay is closed on Mondays, while the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, so check closing days before you fix your itinerary.
4. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris
An impressive Gothic cathedral that was the inspiration for Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Note that the cathedral's interior is described as gloomier than that of Sainte-Chapelle, so if stained glass is your priority, pair the two visits on the same day.
5. Sainte-Chapelle
An exquisite stained glass chapel, with an interior more beautiful than that of Notre-Dame. It is one of the sites with a choke point restricting visitor flow.
Arrive at least 30 minutes before opening time, or expect a wait of at least an hour. The Passion Monuments pass is valid for entry here.
6. Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe exudes grandeur and offers a central view of the city.
It sits at the head of the Champs-Élysées, so combine the two in a single walk. The Passion Monuments pass is valid for entry here.
7. Champs-Élysées
Widely regarded as one of the most recognizable avenues in the world.
Walk it in the same outing as the Arc de Triomphe, which anchors one end of the avenue.
8. Panthéon
Underneath lies the final resting place of great figures of the French Republic including Voltaire, Victor Hugo and Marie Skłodowska-Curie; above, there is a marvellous view of the city.
The Passion Monuments pass is valid for entry here, and monuments with website links require you to book a time slot for your visit.
9. Musée de l'Orangerie
Houses "The Water Lilies" (or "Nymphéas"), a 360-degree depiction of Monet's flower garden at Giverny, along with impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings by Cézanne, Matisse, Modigliani, Picasso, Renoir, Rousseau, Soutine, Sisley and others.
The museum sits by the Jardin des Tuileries, so it fits naturally into a day that also includes the Louvre.
10. Musée Rodin
A collection and archives dedicated to the sculptor Auguste Rodin, in a charming home with a garden.
The garden setting makes this a good choice for a slower half-day rather than a rushed stop between larger museums.
11. Musée Marmottan Monet
Holds over 300 paintings of Claude Monet, as well as works by Berthe Morisot, Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Monet's "Impression Soleil Levant" is on display.
If you are following Impressionist art across the city, this pairs well with the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée de l'Orangerie.
12. Musée national Picasso-Paris
Contains the master's own collection.
It is one of the city's noted collections of modern and contemporary art, alongside the Musée National d'Art Moderne and the Musée Rodin.
13. Catacombes de Paris
Used to store the exhumed bones from the overflowing Paris cemetery, with the bones of more than 6 million bodies lying here. It is one of the sites with a choke point restricting visitor flow.
Arrive at least 30 minutes before opening time, or expect a wait of at least an hour.
14. Opéra Garnier
A masterpiece of 19th-century theatre architecture built by Charles Garnier and inaugurated in 1875, housing the Paris Opera since it was founded by Louis XIV.
It is a natural stop on a walking route through the centre of the city.
15. Centre Georges Pompidou
The museum of modern art, where the building and the adjoining Stravinsky Fountain are attractions in themselves.
The Centre is closed for renovation until 2030, so plan your modern art time around the Musée National d'Art Moderne, the Musée Rodin and the Musée national Picasso-Paris instead.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start early at the Tour Eiffel, arriving at least 30 minutes before opening time to avoid the worst of the queue. If you are fit, walk the first two levels and buy an elevator ticket to the top. Continue on foot to the Arc de Triomphe and walk the Champs-Élysées.
Afternoon: Give the middle of the day to the Musée du Louvre, keeping in mind that it rewards at least two visits and that ticket counters close 30 to 45 minutes before final closing. If time allows, cross to the Musée de l'Orangerie for "The Water Lilies".
Evening: Finish at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris, then walk to the Sainte-Chapelle if you have not yet seen its stained glass. Remember that the Louvre is closed on Tuesdays and the Musée d'Orsay on Mondays, so check the day of your visit before committing to this plan.
Frequently asked questions
When is the cheapest time to visit Paris museums?
All national museums and monuments are free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month. Entry to the permanent exhibitions at city-run museums is free at all times, though admission is charged for temporary exhibitions. Expect long lines and crowded exhibits on free first Sundays.
Which days are museums closed?
Most museums and galleries are closed on either Monday or Tuesday. The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, while the Musée d'Orsay is closed on Mondays. Check closing dates before you travel to avoid disappointment.
How do I avoid the longest queues?
Several sites have choke points that restrict how many visitors can flow through, including the Tour Eiffel, Sainte-Chapelle and the Catacombes de Paris. Arrive at one of these at least 30 minutes before opening time, or expect a wait of at least an hour. At the Tour Eiffel, walking the first two levels and buying an elevator ticket to the top can greatly reduce the wait.
Is a sightseeing pass worth buying?
The Paris Museum Pass is a pre-paid entry card covering over 70 museums and monuments around Paris, and it allows you to jump lengthy queues. The ParisPass combines pre-paid entry and queue jumping at 60 attractions including the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe, plus a river cruise and free Métro and public transport travel. The Passion Monuments pass is valid for the Arc de Triomphe, Conciergerie, Sainte-Chapelle, Panthéon, Hôtel de la Marine, the Towers of Notre Dame Cathedral and Chapelle Expiatoire, but includes no public transport or queue jumping.
Decide which of these sights matter most to you, check the closing days against your dates, and start building your days around them.