Paris, the city of lights and love is a favourite amongst many travellers. It’s a destination you can visit time and again, as the place is chock-full of unique discoveries … But where do you start when it’s your first time in Paris? That’s where this travel guide to Paris comes in handy!
Before this city trip to Paris, I had visited the capital of France only once on a very rushed school trip. Ever since, I wanted to go back to visit Paris on my own terms and pace. When the time finally came, I thoroughly prepared our city trip to Paris, trying to include all the must sees for a first time visit.
But before we get to the fun part of what you can see and do on a city trip to Paris, let’s focus on some practical information first.
How to get to Paris?
If you’re travelling to Paris from Belgium, the Netherlands or Germany, the high-speed Thalys train is a great choice. We hopped on the Thalys in Brussels and set foot in Paris less than an hour and a half later. The Paris Nord Station, where the Thalys arrives, is only a short metro ride away from the city centre. When coming from Great Britain, you might want to check out the Eurostar train – a good alternative to the Thalys when crossing the North Sea.
When travelling to Paris from further afield, flying will probably be your transportation of choice. Paris’ two main airports are Charles de Gaulle and Orly. While the latter is closer to the city itself, it’s actually easier to reach Paris from the Charles de Gaulle airport. More information on how to get to Paris from both airports, can be found on their mutual website.
How to travel around Paris?
While I’m a big fan of walking as much as possible on a city trip, you won’t be able to conquer Paris by foot alone. The city is simply too big and the attractions too far apart from one another. Luckily, Paris’ metro system is highly efficient, whizzing you from one neighbourhood to the next in the blink of an eye.
When we went on our city trip to Paris, we bought Mobilis day trip passes. With this type of ticket you can take the metro as much as you want during one day in the selected zones. The Parisian metro system counts five zones. Most sights and attractions lie in zone one and two, but it’s best to check beforehand whether or not you’re going somewhere that might be located outside of them.
To find out which type of public transportation and ticket you need, you can check the website of RATP, the Parisian public transport company.
Where to stay in Paris?
As Paris is so big, finding the perfect accommodation for your city trip might be a difficult search. The capital of France consists of twenty arrondissements, of which the lowest numbers are closest to the city centre.
The first arrondissement is a good place to stay in Paris. Many famous sights and neighbourhoods lie in or close to this area. Another popular arrondissement is the seventh, which is home to the Eiffel Tower. If you like to stay in the middle of the Parisian hustle and bustle, you might want to look at the fifth arrondissement, which includes the lively Latin Quarter.
However, if you don’t want to break the bank to score accommodation, these low-numbered arrondissements are not the best option. In that case it’s best to stay a bit further away from the city centre, like we did.
We stayed at hotel Arcadie Montparnasse. The rooms are basic and rather small, but good value for money. While this hotel lies in the fourteenth arrondissement and thus farther away from the centre, its location is still excellent. The hotel is only a couple of minutes walking from the Montparnasse station, where many different metro lines pass. As such you can get to all the best things to see in Paris in no time. It’s also an ideal base if you want to take a day trip outside of the city, to for instance Versailles.
Wherever you choose to stay, check the proximity of the metro lines before booking. Especially if you’re not staying in the most central arrondissements, you really want to have more than one metro line with a stop close to your accommodation in Paris. The city simply isn’t walkable and otherwise you’ll lose lots of precious vacation time on getting where you want to be.
How much time do you need for a city trip to Paris?
As Paris is so big and filled to the brim with beautiful architecture, stunning museums, finger-licking restaurants and patisseries, marvellous parks … you could spend weeks here and still not have discovered it all.
For a first city trip to Paris, I would recommend three to four days. This will allow you to check out most of the main sights and optionally take a day trip to Versailles. Try to arrive early on the first day and leave rather late on the last, to optimize your time. If you travel to Paris by Thalys, this shouldn’t be a problem as the train has many departures every day.
What to do in Paris on your first city trip?
Below I list all the places we visited on our city trip in Paris. It includes all the spots you cannot miss during your first time in Paris and some lesser known locations. The map indicates where all everything I list is, so you can see which places are close to one another and easily combined.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to fit all the worthwhile and famous spots into a three- or four-day city trip. Additionally, what you think is a must visit might differ from my view. Therefore, you’ll find a list of extra attractions at the very end of this blog post. As such, you can swap places from my visit that are of lesser interest to you or you can add extra things if you have more time in the city of lights.
So, now that we’ve got the practicalities out of the way, let’s get to the best part: what to see and do on your first city trip to Paris!
The Eiffel Tower
The seventh arrondissement is home to the Eiffel Tower, which is probably the most famous landmark in town. No city trip to Paris is complete without at least catching a glimpse of this iconic structure.
To visit or not to visit the Eiffel Tower?
Whether or not you should visit the Eiffel Tower is up for discussion. On the one hand, the tower is absolutely quintessential for Paris. On the other hand, it is the most recognizable and famous part of the city’s skyline and while you’re on it you can of course not admire it. So, while I agree that the best views over Paris cannot be found on top of the Eiffel Tower, I do believe it’s a good idea to climb the tower on your first city trip to Paris.
I went on the Tower twice now. The first time was at dark, so we could admire all the lights Paris is famous for. The second time we wanted to go up in the early evening, so we could still see the city in daylight and catch the sunset on top. This should be a great time to visit the Eiffel Tower. This might be the case, but unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate at all when we went up, so I can’t say for sure. It had been raining cats and dogs all day and when we were on the Tower, it even started snowing. If the weather is even half decent though, it must be lovely to admire Paris from its legendary Iron Lady.
Tickets for the Eiffel Tower
So, if you decide to visit the Eiffel Tower during your first city trip to Paris, it’s best to buy your tickets online. This allows you to skip the often tremendously long lines. Tickets are available two months in advance. As tickets do sell out, especially in high season, it’s best not to postpone your purchase too much once the tickets for your desired day are available.
There are two types of tickets to the Eiffel Tower. The first option, which we chose this time, gives you access to the first (57 metres) and second (115 metres) floor. The second type of tickets allows you to visit the top platform (276 metres) in addition to the lower floors. When you buy your tickets, you also have to choose whether you get to the second floor by lift or stairs. If you want to visit the top (always by lift), but choose to climb the stairs to the second floor, you can only buy your tickets at the Tower itself.
Online bought tickets contain a time slot. The time indicated is when you need to be in the queue for the visitors who already have their ticket. As you need to get through security first, it is recommended that you arrive 15 minutes early at the Eiffel Tower’s bottom.
On top of the Eiffel Tower
The first floor of the Eiffel Tower is not where you go for the views. What you do find here, however, is a discovery circuit to learn more about this icon of Paris. The second floor arguably has the best views, as you can still see the city’s details from this height, but you already have a nice bird’s view at the same time. Make sure to walk around the tower’s panoramic platform completely, to admire Paris from every possible corner. I can’t speak for the top floor, but on a clear day you should be able to see as far as 60 kilometres into the distance.
Views on the Eiffel Tower
Of course, climbing the Eiffel Tower is a wonderful activity to include in your first city trip to Paris. But admiring the Iron Lady itself might be even more rewarding. Spotting this landmark from anywhere in the city is a sport in itself and you should always keep an eye out for a glimpse of it. Apart from spontaneous encounters, there are many lists with lovely locations from where to gaze at the Eiffel Tower. Here I choose to only mention two that are right next to the monument.
At the bottom of the tower, you’ll find the Parc du Champ de Mars. Unfortunately, most of the green lawns are not accessible to the public, so you can’t spread out your picnic blanket here. Nonetheless, it’s a great spot for a stroll towards the tower, while spraining your neck gawking at it.
If you cross the Seine over the Pont d’Iéna, you’ll arrive at the Jardins du Trocadéro. From here, you get an amazing view on the tower and it’s a wonderful place for some photos. This is also where you want to admire the beautifully lit Eiffel Tower at night, when the lights sparkle for five minutes every hour. Just be aware that you’ll have to share these gardens with many other people.
The heart of the Seine’s right bank
In the middle of Paris, on the right bank of the Seine, lies the first arrondissement. An area filled with places you cannot miss on your first city trip to Paris.
Louvre
The Louvre might be the most famous museum in the world and houses epic masterpieces like Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. It’s thus no surprise that it’s on the list of things to do on your first visit to Paris. Even if wandering through an enormous art gallery doesn’t appeal to you, you should at least admire the Louvre’s exterior: a gorgeous and grand palace, in the middle of which you find IM Pei’s famous glass pyramid.
To be honest, we didn’t go inside on this trip either, as I had already visited the Louvre once and wanted to focus on other things during this trip. If you do want to go inside, make sure to plan you visit thoroughly. As you can roam the halls of this huge complex for days without seeing it all, it’s crucial to research beforehand where the artworks you don’t want to miss are located. Everything you need to know, can be found on the Louvre’s website. The website also offers suggested trails to follow throughout the museum, if you simply can’t make a selection yourself. You can book tickets online too.
Jardin des Tuileries
Right next to the Louvre’s courtyards is the Jardin des Tuileries. This beautiful, long-stretched park is one of Paris’ most popular and is part of the Banks of the Seine Unesco World Heritage Site. While the Jardin des Tuileries can be awfully crowded, it’s an absolute must to gallivant through it on your first city trip to Paris. Venture out of the centre lane too, so you can at least dodge some of the throngs of people at this park, that was designed by the same person as the gardens of Versailles.
Jardin du Palais-Royal
This secluded garden is a phot spot you don’t want to miss when you take your first city trip to Paris. The surrounding palace is gorgeous, but it’s the black-and-white striped columns of different heights that are the star of the show. Don’t stop here though, as the Jardin du Palais-Royal is also home to a lovely fountain, around which chairs are dispersed. It’s an amazing location to rest your feet and soak in some rays of sun!
Place de la Concorde
At the other end of the Jardin des Tuileries lies the Place de la Concorde. While this may not be Paris’ most atmospheric square, it is certainly charming and a must stop. Not only is it the largest square in town, it was also the stage for many events of the French Revolution, including the executions by guillotine of Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, and Maximilien Robespierre among others.
Apart from historically significant, this square is where you can admire the more-than-3000-years-old obelisk that Egypt gifted France. If you’re still not convinced, the Place de la Concorde is where you see quintessential Paris: the Jardin des Tuileries as an illustration of the romantic parks on the one side, the start of the Champs-Elysées on the other and the Seine in front. You can even spot the Eiffel Tower from here.
Île de la Cité & Île St-Louis
In the middle of the Seine, in Paris’ bustling centre, lie two islands begging for a stroll: charming Île St-Louis and its larger brother that houses the grand monuments, Île de la Cité.
Notre Dame
Unfortunately, this iconic Parisian cathedral cannot be visited anymore since a fire blazed through it in 2019. Luckily the two majestic bell towers and façade were saved, so you can still admire this sight that is so typical of Paris.
Pont Neuf
Paris’ oldest bridge, at the tip of the Île de la Cité, connects the island with the Seine’s two riverbanks. If you cross it to the right bank, you’ll end up a stone’s throw away from the Louvre.
Marché aux Fleurs Reine Elizabeth II
Close to the Notre Dame you can find the Marché aux Fleurs Reine Elizabeth II. This flower market is the oldest market of any sort in Paris. It has been running since the beginning of the 19th century. Nowadays it’s still a lovely place to walk through … Flowers are always a sight to behold, right?
Berthillon
Paris and ice cream is an association you might not easily make. This family-run ice-cream shop on Île St-Louis will make you feel differently, though. You can opt for take-away or you can enjoy an ice coupe at a table inside the cosy and small parlour. We went just after noon – when plenty of people were still having lunch – and didn’t have to wait, but I’m not sure this is the case throughout the day or at the height of summer. Don’t fret if the lines do get extremely long: plenty of establishments on the island also serve the one and only Berthillon ice-cream.
The Latin Quarter
This neighbourhood is home to many students, as the main campus of the Sorbonne University lies here. The Latin Quarter is atmospheric and teeming with life. Not only with students, but also tourists, for whom the area has much to offer as well. For some this quarter might be too crowded, but I personally loved the vibe. Stroll through the streets and enjoy a drink or bite in one of the countless cafes, restaurants and the like.
Panthéon
Originally, visiting the Panthéon wasn’t on our planning for our city trip to Paris, but the weather drove us inside. This huge mausoleum is as grand on the inside as it is on the outside. From the massive dome hangs a remake of Foucault’s pendulum. The original first hung here to demonstrate the rotation of the earth, adding to the Panthéon’s historic importance.
However, most history can be found in the huge crypt downstairs. Many of France’s heroes throughout the ages found their last resting place here. Take your time to pay homage to people like Victor Hugo, Louis Braille, Voltaire and Marie Curie. Tickets cost 11,50 euros.
Jardin des Plantes
Paris’ botanical garden might be a lesser-known park, but it is utterly lovely. The Jardin des Plantes lies a bit outside of the main hustle and bustle of the Latin Quarter, but in the end it’s only a pleasant walk along the Seine away. The garden itself is free to enter. There’s also a small zoo on the premises, for which you do have to pay.
Square René Viviani and surroundings
This square has a small, green park on it. A perfect place to relax amidst all the liveliness of this neighbourhood. Buy some delicious choux at specialty patisserie Odette that is just a few steps away. If you prefer other pastries, you can find them nearby too, for instance at Bertrand’s.
Just around the corner from Square René Viviani lies Shakespeare & Company, the most famous bookshop in town, and its adjacent café. The original store wasn’t on this location, but it received many famous authors back in the day, like Ernest Hemingway, Scott F. Fitzgerald and James Joyce. If you want to visit the current shop, make sure to go early or be patient. Queues here get very long.
Montmartre
Montmartre feels like a separate village in this big city. Its distinct character makes this neighbourhood an absolute must visit when you’re in Paris for the first time. Apart from going to the main sights, it’s a great idea to casually stroll through Montmartre’s quaint, artsy and sometimes steep streets.
Sacré-Coeur
This white basilica is arguably Paris’ prettiest catholic building (sorry Notre Dame). The Montmartre neighbourhood lies on a hill, with Sacré-Coeur proudly perched on top. As such, the basilica overlooks the city of lights and on a clear day you have an amazing view over Paris from the balconylike little square in front of this magnificent building.
The vistas from the top of the dome are said to be even more spectacular. For seven euros you can climb all the way up, but we skipped this as it was rather cloudy when we visited. Don’t fret if the weather doesn’t cooperate, though. The inside of Sacré-Coeur is free to visit and an amazing sight in itself.
Place du Tertre
Montmartre once welcomed the most illustrious artists in the world, like Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Edouard Manet, among many others. Nowadays, this area in Paris still breathes art, with the Place du Tertre being its beating heart. This square is where you can spot many painters, caricaturists and other artists live at work. You can even have your own drawing done!
Admittedly, the Place du Tertre lost plenty of its charm, because the terraces of the surrounding cafés and restaurants have overtook much of the square. The artists aren’t as numerous as they once were because of this, and they’re pushed to the side somewhat, but it’s still a place you must at least pass by on your first city trip to Paris.
Le Mur des Je t’aime
Le Mur des Je t’aime is one of my favourite photo spots in Paris. This big, midnight blue wall is covered in ‘I love you’s in 250 different languages. Can you think of a better place to take a picture with your significant other in the city of love? In addition, the nearby metro station Abbesses is one of few in Paris that still has the classic art nouveau look – a photo spot in its own right.
Montmartre’s windmills
Once upon a time, countrysidelike Montmartre provided the city of Paris with flour through its many windmills. Nowadays, only two original mills still stand and they are closely located to one another: Moulin Radet and Moulin Blute Fin. They may not be the most spectacular, but they’re so essential to the neighbourhood’s history, that passing by them on your stroll through Montmartre is a must.
Moulin Rouge
The most renowned cabaret in the world also boasts a windmill (moulin) on top, albeit not the one that originally stood here. Shows are rather pricy, but must be an amazing experience. If you don’t want to spend the money (we did neither on this visit), it’s at least worth a photo stop before whizzing out of Montmartre on the metro again.
In other neighbourhoods
Paris is so vast and has so many wonderful neighbourhoods, that it is impossible to discover them all to the core on one visit. However, there are some places outside of the forementioned areas that are worth a (small) detour.
Jardin du Luxembourg
Not too far away from the Latin Quarter is one of Paris’ most iconic parks. The Jardin du Luxembourg is filled to the brim with lovely corners. The Grand Basin that is overlooked by the Palais du Luxembourg is the absolute highlight of this garden. Once you’re done strolling around, claim yourself one of the iconic green chairs and soak in the sun, while enjoying the views and the picnic you brought.
Les Catacombes
Beneath Paris’ pavements and streets lie many tunnels. Originally they were quarries, until the city’s cemeteries started to overflow, causing numerous health risks for the population. Subterranean Paris became “l’empire de la mort” (the empire of death), as stands on an archway right before you enter the tunnels filled with bones and skulls from Parisians long perished. The skeletons are often arranged in some sort of artsy way. A ghastly, yet unique place of which you can discover the history through an audio guide.
If you want to visit Les Catacombes on your first city trip to Paris, make sure to purchase your ticket online. When writing this article, it is only possible to book an entry with time slot one week ahead of your visit. Making this reservation is mandatory. If you buy your ticket before the day you visit, it costs 29 euros. You could take a chance to save some money and wait until the day itself to make your reservation. If there are still available spots, entries for the same day are sold at a reduced rate. But it’s a risk, as tickets sell out regularly too.
Père-Lachaise
Paris apparently has a thing with creating special places to rest its dead. The world-renowned cemetery Père-Lachaise is another example of that. It might seem a little odd to go for a stroll around a graveyard, that in addition lies somewhat outside of the city centre, but Père-Lachaise is far more than just a burial ground.
It’s one of the largest green areas in Paris, filled with beautiful statues and the most adorned tombs you’ll ever see. Furthermore, Père-Lachaise is the final resting place of many famous residents of the city. Examples are Frédéric Chopin, Edith Piaf, Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde. We looked where to find those graves on the boards at Père-Lachaise and made a walk connecting them. In between it’s worth looking at the other tombs you pass, too. They’re often beautiful and reflect the stories of many people who once called Paris home. This place is simply filled with Parisian history in a unique way.
Champs-Elysées & Arc de Triomphe
(Almost) last, but certainly not least: the Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe are absolute icons of Paris and not to miss when you first visit the city. The Champs-Elysées runs from Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, and as such forms part of Paris’ historic axis. Home to plenty of stores, it’s a must visit for every shopping addict …
For me, however, the Arc de Triomphe is the pièce de resistance of this part of Paris. At the bottom, you’ll find the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, accompanied by an eternal flame, and other references to important moments from France’s history. The arch itself is gorgeous, but the top will quite literally be the highlight of your visit.
After climbing almost 300 stairs, you have a phenomenal view over every part of Paris from the Arc de Triomphe’s viewing platform. The Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Coeur, Place de la Concorde, the Louvre’s glass pyramid … They can all be seen from this 50-metres high monument. You can buy tickets with a time slot online. For adults they cost 13 euros.
Walk along the Seine
The Seine weaves through Paris’ most lovely neighbourhoods. So it’s no surprise that its banks are filled with charm, too. Make sure to take a walk along the waterfront. Especially the part close to the Île de la Cité is not to be missed. Here you’ll find street vendors selling all kinds of souvenirs and keepsakes with a retro touch from small, green street stalls. From here, you can go all the way up to the Eiffel Tower along the Seine. It’s a lovely stroll that passes some of the city’s most beautiful bridges, like Pont Alexandre III.
Versailles
Technically not in Paris, Versailles is an amazing day trip to include on your first visit of the city. To be honest, I wasn’t completely blown-away by the palace itself, but those gardens took my breath away every other step.
Versailles is easily reached by public transport from Paris. Tickets can be purchased online. Try to arrive as early as possible, as the domain is huge and you’ll want to see as much of it as you can. Try to align your visit with the Musical Fountains Show. More parts of the gardens are open then, but most importantly the numerous fountains are functioning and showing off. We couldn’t watch them all, and I would simply go back to discover more of this.
Have some time left in Paris?
If you have some time left or aren’t interested in some of the attractions I mentioned before, my bucketlist for the next time I visit Paris can be of inspiration:
- Hôtel des Invalides: Of key importance during the French Revolution. The adjoining church Eglise du Dôme includes Napoleon’s tomb.
- Musée Rodin: Museum dedicated to one of the world’s most famous sculptors. The gardens are supposedly worthwhile for art lovers and haters alike.
- Palais Garnier: Paris’ ornate opera building has one of the fanciest interiors one can find in this city of marvel.
- Angelina: This tearoom, with several branches throughout the city, serves acclaimed hot chocolate.
- Le Grand Rex: Iconic cinema that offers fun and interesting 50-minute tours behind the scenes.
- Galeries Lafayette: Incredible department store with an unbelievable glass dome and a rooftop that offers amazing views over the city.
- Boat tour along the Seine: Walking along the riverbanks is great, but admiring some of Paris’ most famous landmarks from the water might be even more remarkable.
- Centre Pompidou: Modern art museum with a quirky exterior too. Rooftop entry is included in the museum tickets, for sweeping panoramas.
- Le Marais: One of Paris’ most trendy neighbourhoods.
- Atelier des Lumières: The work of renowned artists is brought to life through light projections on the walls of this museum.
- Place des Vosges: The oldest square in town, lined with the most charming houses.
- Sainte-Chapelle: Famous for its ornate stained-glass windows. If the sun hits them right, the reflections inside the building are unbelievable.
- Mosquée de Paris: One of the city’s most beautiful places of worship.
- Musée d’Orsay: Masterpieces housed in an old train station.
What attractions or sights in Paris would you add to this list?