Top Places to Visit in Paris, France

Paris was the very first city I visited when I went to Europe for the first time. Since then, I’ve been back twice, and the city never seems to lose its magic. Here are the top places to visit in Paris:

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is such an iconic landmark in Europe and there is something magical about seeing it in person. It lights up at night, which adds to its splendor.

Juan proposed to me under the Eiffel Tower, so this place will always hold a special place in my heart. 

Check out our proposal story, featured on How He Asked:
 www.howheasked.com/cheyanne-and-juan

Versailles

Take a trip back in time by visiting the Château de Versailles. The history of this palace dates back to the 1600s. This UNESCO World Heritage site served as the royal residence of France up until the French revolution. Everything in the palace has remained untouched since the late 1700s. For example, Marie Antoinette’s bed is still made how it was when she lived there. She was the last person to sleep in those sheets.

Visiting Versailles allows you to get a glimpse of how French Royalty lived over 200 years ago.

Catacombs

The Catacombs are an underground tomb in Paris that hold the remains of 6 million people. Only a handful of people are allowed inside at the same time, and the tunnels are about 2 km long, so the majority of the time I was exploring I didn’t come across any other people. I felt like I was alone below ground with 6 million skeletons. It was a very unique and creepy experience.  

Travel Tip: Make sure to show up long before opening time. I made the mistake of showing up 5 minutes before the ticket booth opened and I ended up waiting in line for 4 hours! Very few people are allowed in the tunnels at the same time, and the average person spends 45 minutes exploring, so the line outside moves extremely slow. It is very important to be one of the first people in line to avoid an excessive wait time. However, if you do have a long wait, the experience is definitely worth it!

Louvre Museum

One of the most iconic museums in the world is located in Paris. The Louvre is home to famous works of art like Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

This museum is just as beautiful on the outside as it is on the inside, so even if you don’t want to buy a ticket to go inside, stop by and take a picture in front of the Pyramide du Louvre.

Love Lock Bridge

Paris lives up to its name, “the city of love”, with love lock bridge. A tradition dating back over 100 years involves couples decorating a lock, clipping it onto the Pont des Arts bridge, and throwing the key in the Seine River to symbolize their eternal love.

Recently, locals have complained about the locks becoming eyesores, so the city has started to remove the locks off the original Pont des Arts bridge. However, all the surrounding fences near the bridge continue to be decorated with locks, so you can still participate in this romantic tradition.

I love the fact that part of us will always remain in the City of Love.

Arc de Triomphe

One of my favorite things about walking around Paris is seeing different monuments that are full of history. The 200+ year old Arc de Triomphe is one monument that is very iconic to French culture.

Napoleon commanded the Arc to be built in 1806 to honor those who died fighting for France in the Napoleonic Wars and the French Revolution. Engraved on the walls is the names of the French generals and French victories. The arc now stands as a place of remembrance and meditation.  

Around the City

Paris is one city I will never get tired of visiting. I love wandering around, taking in the sights and sounds, and trying the delicious Parisian cuisine.

Have you been to Paris? If so, what were your favorite things to do?