What to See in Paris: the Top 10 Sights and Our Hidden Corners

The top 10 at a glance

Prices observed in October 2026.

1. The Eiffel Tower

Paris's most visited monument is open every day with a timed ticket. The 2nd floor gives the best view; the summit costs more for a slightly higher one. For the photo, head to the Trocadéro esplanade. All the details are in the Eiffel Tower page.

2. The Louvre

The world's most visited museum is open 9 am to 6 pm, except Tuesday, and until 9 pm on Wednesday and Friday. Do not try to see everything: pick the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and one wing. Hours and booking are detailed in the Louvre page.

3. Notre-Dame de Paris

Reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire, the cathedral is free to visit every day. Only the tower climb is paid and it is by reservation only. The Notre-Dame de Paris page gives the hours and how the slots work, and the Sainte-Chapelle, on the same island, can be visited right after.

4. Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur

The Sacré-Cœur basilica is free and open every day from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm; only the climb to the dome is paid. Allow half a day for Montmartre, Place du Tertre and the lanes around it. Come early in the morning to avoid the groups.

5. The Arc de Triomphe

Its panoramic terrace, reached by 284 steps, looks over the twelve avenues of the Étoile. Access is through the underground passage, never by crossing the roundabout. See the Arc de Triomphe page.

6. The Sainte-Chapelle

This Gothic chapel and its 13th-century stained glass are open every day, 9 am to 5 pm (7 pm from April to September). Book an online slot to cut the wait at the security check. A combined ticket with the neighbouring Conciergerie is available for €30 (€23 at the EU rate).

7. The Musée d'Orsay

Housed in a former railway station, the Musée d'Orsay holds the finest Impressionist collection in Paris. It is open 9:30 am to 6 pm except Monday, with a late opening on Thursday. The time slot is compulsory.

8. A cruise on the Seine

Seeing Paris from the water is the most relaxing way to review the monuments you have already visited: Notre-Dame, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay and the Eiffel Tower go by in an hour. Boats leave from the foot of the Eiffel Tower or from the Pont de l'Alma. Our Seine cruise guide compares the options.

9. The Palace of Versailles

Thirty-five minutes from Paris on the RER C, the Palace of Versailles easily fills a day with the gardens. It is closed on Monday. The Passport ticket costs €35 (€25 from November to March); book ahead in high season.

10. The Marais and Place des Vosges

The Marais is explored on foot: mansions, Place des Vosges, the Carnavalet museum (free collections), the Picasso museum and cobbled lanes. It is the nicest district for a Sunday stroll.

Our hidden corners

Once you have seen the essentials, these free places show a quieter side of Paris:

• The Butte-aux-Cailles, a village in the 13th arrondissement with small cobbled streets.
• The Rue Crémieux, a lane of pastel houses in the 12th.
• The Wall of Love in Montmartre.
• The Canal Saint-Martin, with its footbridges and locks.
• The Buttes-Chaumont park and the Coulée verte René-Dumont for a green break.

For more, read our guides Unusual Paris and Paris covered passages.

Booking and planning

• Book ahead for the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Sainte-Chapelle and Orsay; our guide booking ahead in Paris lists the lead times.
• Group by district: Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle and the Louvre in the same morning; Arc de Triomphe, Trocadéro and the Eiffel Tower on the same day.
• Choose the right time: see the best time to visit Paris.
• Compare passes if you visit many museums: see the Paris pass comparison.
• Get around by metro: see metro and RER in Paris.

Going further

To spread these visits over several days, follow the itinerary Paris in 3 days. For districts, the Montmartre page and the Marais one are good starting points.