Things to do in  Île-de-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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

On the Right Bank of the Seine River, flanked by the Tuileries Garden and the Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde is the largest square in Paris. The infamous guillotines of the French Revolution were located here, but today it’s best known for striking monuments and storied architecture. Stroll through the sweeping square to admire the ancient Luxor Obelisk, monumental Fontaine des Mers and Fontaine des Fleuves, and palaces-turned-hotels.

An instantly recognizable symbol of Paris, the colossal Arc de Triomphe stands at the epicenter of Place Charles de Gaulle, where 12 of the city’s busiest avenues converge. The Napoleon-commissioned monument, adorned with high-relief sculptures depicting sword-wielding soldiers and inscribed with the names of generals and battles, commemorates French soldiers and military victories. The top of the arch, accessible via 284 steps, affords superb views over all of Paris.

Paris’ Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin) is a popular historical area of the Left Bank. Home to the main Sorbonne University campus, this student-filled neighborhood is known for its arty, intellectual feel. The Latin Quarter was also frequented by Lost Generation luminaries including Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald, as well as Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, and Pablo Picasso. Today, the area is distinguished by its buzzing cafés, lively restaurants, and must-see landmarks.

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.

Instantly recognizable for its gigantic dome and snow-white facade, the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur—or Basilica of the Sacred Heart—is one of Paris’ most magnificent structures. Completed in 1914 and now a listed national monument, the basilica overlooks all of Paris from its perch on the Butte Montmartre (Montmartre Hill). Visitors are free to visit the church (quietly), after which they can admire the spectacular cityscape.