Paris’s Monuments: there are more than 3,000 protected historic buildings.
No one visits them all, and that’s not the point. The real question when planning a trip is simpler: which ones are worth the trip, in what order, and how long should you spend at each.
This page answers that. It starts with the ten monuments you’ll regret not seeing. It then offers two itineraries depending on how much time you have. Finally, it lists all the Parisian monuments we cover, organized by category—arches, palaces, private mansions, bridges, towers, and memorial sites.
The ten Paris monuments you must see first
The Eiffel Tower remains the obligatory starting point.
It towers over Paris at 324 metres. Built for the 1889 World’s Fair, it was meant to be dismantled after twenty years. But its radio telegraphy antennas saved it.
Allow two to three hours for the climb, much less if you simply admire it from the Trocadéro. Incidentally, this is the best viewpoint of the Eiffel Tower.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Notre-Dame reopened in December 2024, five years after the fire. The cleaned stone has regained a brightness unseen for centuries. Entry remains free. However, the crowds are considerable, and we recommend reserving your free entry for the day and time of your visit.
Book Notre-Dame Cathedral tickets (Free entry but reservation recommended to avoid queues)
Sainte-Chapelle
A hundred meters or so from Notre-Dame. In "real life," it has an impact that photographs simply cannot capture.
More than a thousand thirteenth-century stained-glass panels, spread across the two levels of the chapel and within a confined space. On a clear day, the upper level is one of Europe’s most beautiful interiors. A half-hour visit is enough, but choose a sunny day—it’s the height of the experience.
The Arc de Triomphe
Commissioned by Napoleon I in 1806 and completed thirty years later, under King Louis-Philippe I.
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has rested here since 1921, and its flame is rekindled every evening. The terrace offers the only view where you truly grasp the star of the twelve avenues converging at Place Charles-de-Gaulle.
The Panthéon
Designed as a church, transformed into a republican necropolis during the Revolution, and never quite choosing one identity over the other.
Descend to see Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Zola, Marie Curie, Joséphine Baker. Climb up for the Foucault pendulum and, in season, for the colonnade.
Les Invalides
This is four things in one, all in the same place. First, a hospital commissioned by Louis XIV for his soldiers. Then a complex of churches. Next comes Napoleon’s tomb beneath the golden dome. Finally, the Army Museum, which encapsulates everything the Hôtel des Invalides stands for. Note that it can easily occupy half a day on its own.
L'Opéra Garnier
The best way to visit is during the day, without a performance—this is how you truly experience it. The grand staircase and the foyer were designed to be seen, not just passed through.
The auditorium ceiling is by Chagall, added in 1964—a deliberately anachronistic touch that still sparks debate.
And finally, this is the setting where the Phantom of the Opera lurks in Gaston Leroux’s book.
La Conciergerie
Originally a royal palace before becoming a prison, this immense 14th-century Gothic vessel was where the kings of France wielded their power. Visitors can see Marie-Antoinette’s cell (where she spent her last night) and the Hall of the Men-at-Arms.
A combined ticket with the neighboring Sainte-Chapelle avoids waiting in line.
Place de la Concorde
It’s not a monument itself, but it holds one: the Luxor Obelisk. Gifted by Egypt, it was erected in 1836 on the very spot where the guillotine operated forty years earlier. It’s free, permanent, and encapsulates two centuries of history in a single landmark.
Three museums are worth visiting on Place de la Concorde:
Musée de l'Hôtel de la Marine (3 exhibitions)
the Eiffel Tower for the altitude — Eiffel Tower entry reservation
The Arc de Triomphe to understand the city’s layout – Book Arc de Triomphe tickets
Sacré-Cœur Basilica for the widest, free view from the forecourt.
Tour Saint-Jacques, the sole survivor of a vanished church, open for climbing only in summer and by reservation.
Les Bateaux Parisiens depart at the foot of the Eiffel Tower – Book a Seine cruise with « Bateaux Parisiens » – Departure from Musée des Arts Premiers-Jacques Chirac – Eiffel Tower – Port de la Bourdonnais 75007
The Bateaux-Mouches just a stone’s throw away - Book a Seine cruise – Departure Pont de l’Alma 75008 – Port de la Conférence – Bateaux-Mouches
or even Vedettes de Paris - Book an evening cruise – Vedettes de Paris – Departure Tour Eiffel – 2 Port de Suffren 75007
or a little further away on the Île aux Cygnes, the Capitaine Fracasse cruises – Book a Capitaine Fracasse cruise – Departure from Île aux Cygnes – Bir-Hakeim Bridge
Others are right by the exit of the Musée d'Orsay:
Vedettes de Paris – Book Paris: Seine dinner cruise with panoramic views and Champagne (Port Solférino – approx. Musée d'Orsay)
Paris-Canal Cruises - Seine and Canal Saint-Martin Cruise Booking – Port Solferino – Musée d’Orsay – Parc de la Villette
Other companies depart from the Pont Neuf - Pont-Neuf Vedettes Cruise Booking – Departure from Square Vert-Galant
A practical option: the Batobus Taxi Shuttles - Batobus River Taxi Booking (9 stops) (Hop-on Hop-off - 1 or 2-day pass - Easy to travel from one museum to another)
And finally, a fun curiosity: the Amphibious Bus, running on roads and the Seine - Starting from Champ-de-Mars near the Eiffel Tower - Amphibious Bus Booking – Departure Eiffel Tower - Learn more: Amphibious Bus Marcel the Duck, for a mixed land and Seine cruise
Book online for anything that costs money: the queue without a ticket is sometimes longer than the visit itself.
Entry to all of Paris’s paid monuments, museums and other buildings can be booked online directly from our site: Click here on Reservations
Group by district rather than by desire — the Île de la Cité alone concentrates three major monuments.
Our Stay Generator automatically optimises the “geographical” layout of everything you want to see or visit. Click here on Generateur de Séjours or see below “Bonus: 5 key tips for planning and enjoying your stay in Paris.”
Check the day of closure, which varies from site to site and is almost never the same. Nearly all sites to visit are documented in our database. From our fact sheets, you’ll find contact links to get more information.
Arc de Triomphe — Austerlitz, World War I and the Unknown Soldier
Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel — topped by the Horses of Saint Mark from Venice
Colonne Vendôme — a bronze shaft cast from Prussian cannons
Colonne de la Bastille and the July Revolution of 1830 — A memorial and tomb
Luxor Obelisk — a gift from Egypt now standing in Place de la Concorde
Place Charles-de-Gaulle and its star-shaped roundabout formed by 12 converging avenues
Les Invalides in Paris — hospital, cathedral, military pantheon, and museums
Palais du Luxembourg — gardens, museum, and the Senate all in one place
Élysée Palace — seat of power and symbol of the French Republic
Palais de Chaillot and Trocadéro Gardens — UN headquarters for two days
Grand Palais — a century of "multidisciplinary" exhibitions on the republican axis
Palais de Justice de la Cité — History of France and Paris
Conciergerie — Gothic monument, royal palace, court of justice, and prison
Palais des Tuileries — a ghost in French history
Construction of the Louvre Palace over 8 centuries by 13 kings
Louvre Pyramid — a subject of controversy, aesthetic and technical advancements
Hôtel de Ville de Paris — history of insurrections, born from the 1871 fire
Palais Garnier — a marvel of the Second Empire, its construction and history
Sorbonne University — a historic university with a recent chaotic past
Paris Military Academy — a place of memory, an impressive monument
Economic, Social and Environmental Council — advisory chamber, debated utility
Hôtel de Sully — the private mansion of Henri IV’s right-hand man
Sully Hotel — a fine private mansion, now the “Centre des monuments nationaux”
Hôtel de Sens — private mansion of the archbishops of Sens, built at the end of the 15th century
Hôtel de Beauvais — 5 historical facts
Hôtel de Mayenne — built in 1613 for Henri de Mayenne
Hôtel de Coislin, where Franco-American friendship was sealed
Hôtel d’Aumont — 150 years of private use followed by 200 years in state service
Hôtel Potocki — a perfectly preserved example of classical French architecture
Hôtel Carnavalet – Museum of Parisian Life — a glimpse into Paris’s past in a unique setting
National Archives Museum — stunning private mansions Soubise and Rohan in the Marais
Medieval half-timbered houses of the Marais from the 15th century
Tzara House — poet of Dada, minimalist aesthetic by Adolf Loos
Pont Neuf — Paris's oldest bridge still in service
Pont Alexandre-III — in honor of the tsar, elegant and refined
Pont Bir-Hakeim — exceptional view and symbol of World War II
Pont de la Concorde — a bridge steeped in history
Pont Royal — destroyed several times but still standing
Pont au Change — a link between the Pompidou Museum and the Latin Quarter
Pont Debilly in Paris — a bridge uniting places of memory, offering unique views
Pont Mirabeau — the name of an ambiguous revolutionary
Eiffel Tower — a technical and commercial feat, symbol of France
Tour Saint-Jacques in Paris — a story, the start of a pilgrimage
Clock Tower of the Palais de la Cité — Paris’ oldest clock
Kilometre Zero of France’s roads on the parvis of Notre-Dame
Panthéon de Paris — the nation’s temple to France’s great figures
Memorial to Templar Jacques de Molay at Square du Vert-Galant
Paris Catacombs — a resting place for 6 million Parisians
Sainte-Chapelle — a masterpiece touched by grace, once threatened with destruction
Palace of Versailles — gardens, park, Trianon and Queen’s Hamlet
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte — Fouquet’s masterpiece and Louis XIV’s wrath
Chantilly — castle, horses and an unmissable gem near Paris
Reservations to enter museums, monuments, shows, and Seine River cruises
Reservations for your arrival in France: flights, trains, cars
Reservations for your accommodation: hotels, apartments, guesthouses – in Paris or nearby
Notre-Dame de Paris entry reservation (Free entry but reservation recommended to avoid queues)
Book Château de Versailles: Entry Ticket + Gardens Access + Trianon Estate
The Catacombs
This curiosity closes this list from the bottom, twenty meters below ground. They contain the bones of nearly six million Parisians, transferred from unsanitary cemeteries in the late 18th century. Booking is essential, and the visit isn’t suitable for everyone (steep stairs). Don’t forget to dress warmly: the temperature stays at a constant 14°C (57°F) year-round.
If you only have a weekend
Two days are enough to see the essentials, provided you don’t crisscross Paris in all directions. Geography dictates the itinerary.
Day one — the Île de la Cité and the Left Bank
Start with Notre-Dame early in the morning—the forecourt features the statue of Charlemagne and the kilometer zero of France’s roads, which almost no one notices. Then head to Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie, which are right next to each other.
Traverse Pont Neuf — the oldest bridge in Paris still in service, completed in 1607 — then head toward the Panthéon. In the afternoon, visit Les Invalides and, weather permitting, the Eiffel Tower at sunset.Day Two — The Historical Axis
From the Louvre courtyard and its pyramid, follow the Tuileries Gardens to Place de la Concorde, then the Champs-Élysées all the way to the Arc de Triomphe. It’s a nearly four-kilometre walk in a straight line, laid out over three centuries—allow about an hour without stopping.
Finish at the Opéra Garnier or, if you prefer a higher vantage point, at the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur and on Montmartre Hill.Paris Monuments That Cost Nothing
A large part of Paris’s most iconic monuments can be admired without a ticket.
Notre-Dame and Basilica of Sacré-Cœur are free to enter.
Place de la Concorde, Place de l’Étoile, Pont Alexandre-III and Vendôme Column can be admired from the street.
The courtyards of several private mansions in the Marais — Hôtel de Sully, Hôtel de Sens — are open to the public and almost always deserted.
The Paris Monuments Where You Can Climb Up
Four vantage points, four heights, four atmospheres.
Seeing Paris’s Monuments from the Seine
The river remains the best guide. In fact, in one hour, it lines up the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Conciergerie, Notre-Dame, and the Eiffel Tower without you having to walk. From the water, you also get a better sense of just how monumental the bridges themselves are. For example, the elegant Pont Alexandre-III and its ornate lampposts, Pont Bir-Hakeim with its double-tiered structure.
Organizing without wasting time
Three principles are better than a long list of tips.
One last point, often overlooked: several national monuments are free for those under 26 residing in the European Union. The same applies on the first Sunday of the month for everyone at some sites. It’s worth checking before purchasing.
All the Monuments of Paris, by Category
Arcs, Columns and Squares
Palaces and grand buildings
Historic Townhouses and Old Houses
The Bridges of the Seine
Towers, bell towers and ruins
Places of remembrance and tombs
On the outskirts of Paris
Bonus: 5 essential tips to help you organize and enjoy your stay in Paris
Have you noticed that our website provides tools to help you easily plan your trip to Paris so that your stay is a stress-free success?
1. Phrasebook Translator for those who don’t speak French fluently
Do you struggle to find the right word or phrase in French? Click here on PHRASEBOOK – or at the top right of your screen. It’s a lexicon of 100 useful words and/or expressions for a tourist visiting Paris. At the restaurant, hotel, shopping, metro, greetings, asking for directions, etc. Eight languages are available. And guess what? Each word and phrase can also be heard aloud in French.
2. The VPBY Trip Generator
There are many interesting and educational things to see in Paris. We strongly recommend organizing your stay well. To help you, we offer you FREE access to our Trip Generator.
In just 5 minutes and 5 clicks, you’ll get your half-day-by-half-day itinerary, including reservations for all the sites you want to visit. No obligation. Reservations for your transportation (plane, train, or car) and accommodation are also included. Even suggestions for valuable souvenir gifts for you, your friends, and your family.
How does it work?
Click on "Paris Trip Organizer"—completely free—which will save you the hassle of trying to see as much as possible in the least amount of time. Then, you’ll need to make your selections:
1/ Choose your "general preferences" by clicking on the list (Museums, Churches, Monuments, Parks, etc.);
2/ The VPBY Trip Generator will then provide you with all the relevant listings;
3/ You select by clicking on the names of the museums, monuments, parks, or activities you wish to include;
4/ The organizer will return your itinerary for each day of your stay;
5/ with geographically optimized daily visits—if you wish—to avoid tedious and tiring travel.
It takes just 5 clicks and 3 minutes. And it’s completely free. To use it, click on "Paris Trip Organizer".
Note: Want to know what users of the VPBY Trip Generator think of their experience? Click on "They planned their trip with VPBY"
3. List of Reservations to Make
To avoid wasting time waiting in line, we recommend making your reservations online a few days in advance. All official reservations are useful and available on our website:
You will find links to all these reservations directly in the articles about the attractions that interest you or in the self-guided itineraries of our walks. By clicking on "Reservations" in the header bar, you will have access to all the reservations you need during your stay. For example:
4. Collectible Paris Photo Souvenirs
These are collectible HD photos available in digital format or as long-lasting prints (75 to 100 years). Their size ranges from postcard to large framed photo (1 meter or more on a side). A lifelong keepsake to decorate your home. High-quality souvenirs (unlike cheap Eiffel Tower snow globes or plastic models). At very affordable prices. Click on:
5. Take Home a Custom Photo Report of Your Stay in Paris
Professional photographers will capture your moments in Paris at your chosen locations or ones we recommend. Whether it's a "family" shoot, wedding, or other events. From 1 hour to a full day. The best value for money. Click on:
