A city full of museums, art galleries and other top attractions – it’s hard to make a mental map in your head of it all, let alone create an itinerary when there’s so much to see and do. Every tourist’s nightmare is leaving without having seen and done ‘true Paris’ so we thought, let’s make it easy, let’s whittle down a bucket-list of must-see attractions in Paris so that you can rest assured you will leave with the best ticked off your list.
- Louvre Museum
The Louvre, Paris’ most famous art gallery, is notable for its mysterious Mona Lisa and modern glass pyramid – among many other things. It’s an iconic building in Paris and well worth a visit (even if it’s just to see the outside!) Dating back to the 12th century it has undergone huge redevelopments over centuries, first starting as a fortress, then used as a palace, where it now stands as a world-class museum housing some of the most valuable pieces of art that exist. Spanning over eight departments there’s something there for everyone, from Ancient Egyptian Antiquities to sculptures and paintings dating up to the 21st century.
- Notre Dame
On the
Île de la Cite,
Notre Dame sits proud and surveys the city. As one of the most important cathedrals in Paris it’s steeped in history and famed for its French Gothic architecture, for which it is revered. You must visit Notre Dame and climb up its two towers for views over central Paris and count the gargoyles and chimera perched on the outer walls. Within this large cathedral, you’ll be stunned by the intricacy of the stained glass windows and can marvel at the huge nave which measures 12 double decker buses, with a great organ which was installed in the 13th century!
- Eiffel Tower
Although not one of the
60 attractions included with the The Paris Pass the Eiffel Tower is an iconic monument in Paris. So even if you can’t get to the top, it’s almost even better just standing at the bottom and looking up. Right at the end of the Champs de Mars, the
Iron Lady as it’s known to the French measures 320m in height and weighs around 10,000 tonnes. It was originally built to be the entrance arch when the World’s Fair came to town in 1889 and it was named after the architect Gustave Eiffel. Now, it’s arguably the most recognisable feature on Paris’ skyline – hence its place on the bucket-list.
- Seine River Cruise
Get a view of Paris from a different perspective. How? On a
Seine River Cruise. The Bateaux Parisiens will take you on an unforgettable cruise around Paris where you can get unrivalled views of the centre - just from a different view point! As you wind around the river, you’ll pass the Notre Dame, Louvre and Eiffel Tower; perfect if you want to tick off your bucket list in one go! Sit back and enjoy the hour long cruise on the open top deck for a truly memorable experience.
- Wine Tasting
If you want to return home with more than just a few pictures and memories, why not take something back you'll never forget: knowledge of French wine. There’s no other place to learn how to be a true connoisseur than at
Ô Château. Home to Paris’ leading sommeliers, take a one hour introductory course and learn everything there is to learn about reds, whites and pinks – just make sure you remember it all after all that sampling. Pre-booking is essential.