Things to do in  France

An iconic symbol of Paris (and all of France), the Eiffel Tower is one of the most recognizable landmarks on earth. Gustave Eiffel designed the 1,050-foot (320-meter) iron tower to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution, and it was once the world’s tallest structure. View the architectural icon from afar, or visit its three observation levels for stellar city views.

The Louvre is home to a 35,000-strong collection of paintings and sculptures. Among the largest, most-visited museums in the world, the Paris powerhouse was established during the French Revolution. Today, the contemporary glass Louvre Pyramid heralds the museum’s entrance, which millions of tourists flock to every year to feast their eyes on masterpieces that span from antiquity to the 20th century.

Second only to the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral is one of Paris’ most iconic attractions, a marvel of medieval architecture that was immortalized in Victor Hugo’s classic novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. Today—after a lengthy restoration following the devastating 2019 fire that nearly destroyed it—the UNESCO World Heritage Site once more reigns supreme from the Île de la Cité, an island in the middle of the Seine River.

From Catherine de’ Medici to Napoleon Bonaparte, centuries of royal history have played out against the idyllic backdrop of the Tuileries Garden (Jardin des Tuileries). While its namesake palace burned down in the 19th century, the magnificent gardens—the work of Versailles landscaper André Le Nôtre—remain one of Paris’ most beloved public parks, with views of the Louvre Museum and the Seine River.

The River Seine acts as a dividing line between Paris’ historically sophisticated Right Bank and bohemian Left Bank, all while hosting sightseeing riverboats and offering plenty of opportunities for romantic strolls. The banks of the river are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are lined with some of the city’s top landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Musée d’Orsay, the Tuileries Garden, and the Louvre.

Rivaling the Louvre as Paris’ favorite art museum, the Musée d’Orsay is known for its impressionist, post-impressionist, and art nouveau collections. Equally impressive as what’s inside the museum is its exterior: a former Beaux-Arts railway station with an enviable location on the banks of the Seine River. Both architecture and art buffs will want this museum on their Parisian itineraries.

Formerly a humble hunting lodge, the Palace of Versailles (Château de Versailles) is the extravagant creation of King Louis XIV. Embellished in royal decadence, Versailles features hundreds of rooms with frescoed ceilings and carvings, plus the Versailles Gardens (Jardins de Versailles), which brim with geometrically designed walkways and fountains. No visit to France is complete without visiting the UNESCO-listed marvel.

Crowned by the Sacré-Coeur Basilica, Montmartre in Paris’ 18th arrondissement is famed for its cobblestone streets, artsy vibe, and panoramic central hill—a popular spot to watch the sunset. Visitors also flock here to imagine what life was like when artists such as Dalí, Renoir, Van Gogh, and Picasso lived and worked here, and to get their portrait sketched by a street artist in Place du Tertre.

Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles takes the award for the most visited château in France, and the magnificent Versailles Gardens (Jardins de Versailles) are world renowned. A series of beautifully landscaped gardens, show-stopping fountains, and tree-lined pathways covering 800 hectares (1,976 acres), the gardens center on the cross-shaped Grand Canal.

A short trip from Paris, the Normandy village of Giverny is best known as the former home of artist Claude Monet, who created many of his iconic paintings here. Most visitors head to this tiny, bucolic village to see the impressionist master’s beautifully preserved home and gardens, which feature the famous water lily pond and Japanese gardens that inspired many of his artworks.

More than 30 fountains dot the gardens of Versailles, the most famous being the Apollo fountain, with its horses and chariot, and the Neptune fountain featuring the god of the oceans with his wife. Built in the 17th century, when water was a scarce commodity, the Versailles Fountains (Les Fontaines) were a lavish show of Louis XIV’s wealth and power.

Though it translates to “New Bridge” in French, the Pont Neuf is actually the oldest existing bridge in Paris, built in 1607 to connect the banks of the Seine River to Île de la Cité. Ahead of its time, Pont Neuf was one of the city’s first bridges not to have houses built along its sides, which is why visitors today can still enjoy sweeping city views from the tranquil pedestrian paths.

Unveiled at the turn of the 20th century, Pont Alexandre III is arguably the most impressive of all the bridges crossing the Seine. Connecting the Champs-Élysées and Grand Palais on the Right Bank with Les Invalides on the Left Bank, the National Monument is renowned for its elaborate beaux-arts architecture. Four towers, each crowned with a gilded Pegasus, stand watch over the bridge, while the arch is punctuated with ornate bronze lamp posts.

As one of Normandy’s D-Day landing beaches, Omaha Beach was the backdrop to one of the most significant events of World War II, immortalized in the movie Saving Private Ryan and forever etched into history. Today, visitors to Omaha Beach can follow in the footsteps of the Allied soldiers and pay their respects at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial.

Like the neighboring Petit Palais and Pont Alexandre III, the Grand Palais was created for the 1900 World’s Fair. Instantly recognizable for its colossal nave and immense glass roof, the versatile venue has hosted a wide range of events, from the Olympic Games to Chanel fashion shows. Today, locals and visitors alike come to explore its art exhibitions, educational activities for children, and dining and social spaces, all incorporated into its elegant Beaux-Arts architecture.