There are many reasons why Paris is one of the most iconic towns in the entire world. It is a dream destination for a huge number of people, and it just happens to be the town of sparkling lights and the town of lovers.
Romantics, beautiful aesthetic cafes, one of the most beautiful streets in the world, the Eiffel Tower, and super attractive people are just some of the trademarks of this amazing city. According to the testimonies of the people who had the chance to visit it, it is a town where you can experience the freedom to its fullest. Not only will material things and landmarks leave a special impression while visiting Paris, but the vibes you will feel there are the ones you will have a chance to experience only once in your lifetime.
The reasons for visiting Paris are numerous, and most certainly, you will never regret this decision of yours. By having this in mind, we have created this short guide to the most iconic attractions you will have a chance to see there.
Eiffel Tower
The first association with Paris is definitely the Eiffel Tower. This beautiful, iron tower is built as the showpiece for the International Exhibition of 1889 to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution. Since the Eiffel Tower, or the Pointed Lady, is a landmark of Paris, it is a must-visit. Also, this tower is amongst the most visited landmarks, with 5.5 million visitors every year. Besides visiting and getting in, you should also soak in some of the most beautiful views of this tower. The best view of this magnificent tower is from across the river and from the spot known as the Plaza Palais de Chaillot. So, this is the place you should start from. At the Metro Trocadero, where splendid sights will welcome you to Paris. Then, you should walk down the stairs all the way to the gardens of Chaillot and then across to the Pont d'Alene to the Tower.
From many spots, you can take in a fantastic view of the tower, and another nice way to reach the tower is from the Metro Alma Marceau. Also, walking across the bridge will take your breath away since you will see the tower to its fullest. You experience it all at once. A perfect walk by the river while approaching the most significant pointy thing. By the way, there is absolutely no way to get lost.
The Louvre Museum
It is a must-visit place in Paris, especially if you are a fan of art and history. Also, if you enjoy beautiful architecture, a visit to the Louvre is a must. If you are a fan of these things, you are sharing the traits with the 9 million people who visit this place every year. You need to be prepared for lines and crowds. However, there are shortcuts for this as well.
So, you will need a plan, and here it is. First things first, transportation. You can simply take Line 1 to the Museum Louvre (Palais-Royal-Musée-du-de-Louvre, which is the name of the Metro station), where you can get all the benefits, such as underground access to the Carrousel du Louvre and reach the ticket booths. You can do this, but you do not have to. Instead, you can just take a whole journey instead. So, if you are down to this option, then you can simply take Line 1 or Metro Tuileries. You can stroll through the gardens from that point and enjoy the wonders of Parisian horticulture. On this journey, you can stop by the magnificent Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, and after that, you will enter the museum through the Insider Secret stairs, and you will reach the so-called back door of the Louvre.
Since the Louvre is one of the most attractive spots in Paris, you will have a huge problem getting tickets since the lines for tickets are massive. In this case, tours you can find at paristickets.tours or guided tours are your best friends. Small-groups and skip-the-line tours will get you into the Louvre in no time.
Notre Dame Cathedral
Even though this beautiful cathedral was severely damaged during the fire in April 2019, the cathedral is still closed because of the ongoing reparations. However, it still gives off amazing vibes and serves as one of the most beautiful sights. Given the fact that Notre Dame is one of the most visited attractions in Paris, this place is easy to find because of the square and twin towers sticking out from the crowd of tall buildings. Since Notre Dame is located in central Paris, everything you will need to do is reach central Paris and follow the sound of the bell.
Sacre Coeur
Just like the Eiffel Tower, the Basilique du Sacré Coeur de Montmartre is just another attraction you will instantly spot. Just as with any other tall building, you will need to keep sight of it and eventually reach it. This basilica is a huge white building, sticking out from the hill of Montmartre. Unlike some other super famous places in Paris, entrance to the Sacre Coeur is free, and you will get the best view from the dome, for which there is a small fee. If you want to be overwhelmed by the view of Paris, then visit it at dusk or dawn. Also, you need to be physically prepared since there are 300 steps to climb. The plan for visiting this basilica is to spend an hour or two here and then wander through Montmartre to experience the village life.
Musee d’Orsay
If you are a fan of Impressionist art, then you will adore d’Orsay. This museum is housed in the building of Belle-Epoque which was previously a train station, which just gives a special charm to this phenomenal building. However, you must know that d’Orsay is a beautiful tourist attraction and that there is a long line of people waiting to enter. The history of this place is quite unusual, and you will most certainly want to hear more about it. This beautiful museum is located in the center of Paris on the banks of the Seine, which is opposite the Tuileries Gardens. Just as we have previously mentioned, this museum is located in the previously built railway station, which was built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. Every building was seen as the first work of art before it became a museum.
Arch the Triomphe
You cannot come to Paris without visiting this magnificent place. Napoleon built the triumphal arch as a tribute to the Army of France and for his own glory. A magnificent arch was located at the top of the Champs Elysees and in the center of the Place de l’Etoile, which was at the same time the first organized traffic circle. There are many ways to reach this significant place, and the fastest way is to take the Metro to the station named Charles de Gaulle-Etoile. You probably did not know that this is the most monumental arch out of all the arches ever built. This arch maintained the initial shape and design that were established in the 19th century. The initial aim is to glorify the ones fought in the French revolution, which is evident by all of the engraved names of generals and wars fought. The Arch is probably the most patriotic site in France since there is also the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I, where the Memorial Flame burns.
Top Fun Facts About Paris?
We all know that Paris is known as the City of Light. Namely, there are two legends about this nickname. The first theory suggests that this nickname originates from the 17th century or the Age of Enlightenment. Since Paris was the center of intellectuals sharing their theories and ideas, these people were known as the "lights." So, this theory suggests that there was the concentration of an enlightened mind. The second legend says that Paris was the first European city to adopt street lights. This is why Paris was named the City of Lights. In addition, Paris is known as the City of Love, Passion, Art, and Fashion. Another fun fact is connected to the Louvre. Did you know that the Louvre is the biggest art museum? It hosts over 38,000 pieces of art, and it is the home of the world’s most famous painting ever, Van Gogh’s Mona Lisa. You must have noticed that we mentioned the Metro as the main transportation system. Well, for good reason. The Paris Metro is the world's second-busiest underground network.
Living in Paris is probably one of the greatest privileges. Paris is a magical town, and you will certainly see a lot of magic on the streets of Paris. We can talk days and nights about this town since it is one of the biggest European treasuries. Paris holds the first place for so many things, which makes it a must-visit place in your lifetime.
