Paris attractions

Blending revolutionary history and bohemian-cool atmosphere, the Bastille neighborhood of Paris is a hub for the city’s creative culture. At its heart is Place de la Bastille—where crowds stormed the Bastille prison—while the modern-day Bastille Opera House (Opéra Bastille) hosts cutting-edge performances. Browsing its covered markets, art galleries, workshops, and gardens is a chance to immerse oneself in the Parisian way of life. Nightlife draws revelers from across Paris to the neighborhood’s many venues, from cocktail bars to gourmet eateries and wine cafés.

The Pont de l’Alma crosses over the River Seine in the center of Paris, connecting the Champs-Élysées area to the Les Invalides monument, where Napoleon Bonaparte is buried. Although it was built to commemorate the Battle of Alma in the Crimean War, the bridge is better known these days as the site where Princess Diana died in a car crash.

Located across from the Louvre Museum in the heart of Paris, the Palais-Royal is a 17th-century architectural highlight known for its scenic gardens and regal heritage. As its name suggests, the palace used to house French royalty, but it’s now used for government affairs. Luckily, you don’t have to be a government employee to visit—Palais-Royal’s shop-filled galleries, outdoor art installations, and oasis-like gardens are a popular public meeting place.

Delighting audiences since 1860, Au Lapin Agile is one of the oldest and most beloved cabarets in Paris. The 2-story cottage in Montmartre is emblematic of the bohemian district and is famed for once attracting a loyal following among artists such as Modigliani, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Utrillo. Picasso was another regular, and he immortalized the haunt in his 1905 painting, At the Lapin Agile, which now hangs at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met).

One of only two Seine islands in Paris (the other is the neighboring Île de la Cité), Île Saint-Louis is a tranquil oasis in the city center. Most of its cityscape dates back to the 17th century, and it’s known for its scenic quays, elegant residences, and unhurried pace. Long a retreat for the city’s wealthy, Île Saint-Louis still retains its aristocratic allure, and its townhouse-lined streets are a lovely place to stroll.

The most prestigious and largest cemetery in Paris, the Père Lachaise Cemetery (Cimetière du Père Lachaise) was founded in 1804. Today it’s the site of more than 70,000 ornate tombs, including those of some of France’s most important public figures, from writer Honoré de Balzac to actress Sarah Bernhardt. It’s also the final resting place of international luminaries, including Jim Morrison and Oscar Wilde.

With its cobblestone streets and rows of elegant townhouses flanking a central tree-lined park, Place Dauphine is the epitome of a Parisian square—albeit a triangular-shaped one. Come here on a sunny afternoon and you’ll find terrace cafés spilling out onto the triangular plaza and locals gathering to sip coffee, share a bottle of wine, and play a game of pétanque (boules) on the shaded lawn.

The imperial tomb of French statesman and military leader Napoleon Bonaparte sits inside the 17th-century Dome Church, topped by a gilded dome that’s the tallest in the city. Surrounded by grand statues in the church’s crypt, Napoleon’s Tomb is a highlight of Les Invalides, a vast museum complex comprising the Army Museum (Musée de l’Armée) and other exhibits related to France’s military history.

Originally built for the 1937 Universal Exhibition, the Palais de Chaillot houses an array of Paris’ top cultural attractions, including a national theater, multiple museums, and even an aquarium. The landmark building, renowned for its art deco design, stands directly across the River Seine from the Eiffel Tower, and its terrace is a popular photo spot. Admire the building from the outside or go inside to explore its institutions.

La Madeleine, located in the heart of Paris, is a striking neoclassical Catholic church that was designed as a tribute to Napoleon’s army and its victories. With its impressive grand columns and Greek temple–style design, it’s a big draw for architecture lovers, history buffs, and photographers alike. Parisians attend regular services here, as well as weddings, high-profile funerals, and concerts.

Part of the sweeping complex at Les Invalides, the Army Museum (Musée de l’Armée) was officially founded in 1905, when the Musée d’Artillerie and Musée Historique de l’Armée merged. History buffs, take heed: It’s the largest museum of military history in France, containing thousands of rare weapons and artifacts dating from antiquity to the 20th century.

Built in 1653 by Cardinal de Richelieu, the impressive La Sorbonne building in Paris’ Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin) houses classrooms for several universities, including the University of Paris. In addition to a historical library, the Sorbonne campus—the intellectual heart of the student-filled district—features a chapel and an airy courtyard. Though the complex is not open to the public, you can admire the exterior of this famed scholarly hub.

Eclectic and edgy Montparnasse is one of Paris’ most interesting districts, home to museums, monuments, and the city’s only skyscraper. Located in the 14th arrondissement on the Left Bank, it was famously the stomping grounds of artists and intellectuals in the early 20th century, many of whom now rest in Montparnasse Cemetery.

Gare du Nord is more than just a major transportation hub—it’s a Paris attraction in its own right. Trains pull in from London, Brussels, and beyond, but inside the grand 19th-century terminal, travelers can also admire soaring glass ceilings, bustling cafés, and classic Parisian architecture. Whether you’re arriving, departing, or just passing through, it offers an energetic glimpse of city life on the go.

The Rodin Museum (Musée Rodin) opened in 1919, thanks to sculptor Auguste Rodin, who donated his life’s work to the state of France on the condition that it be displayed in his picturesque Parisian home, Hôtel Biron. Dozens of the artist’s best-known drawings and sculptures—including The Kiss and The Thinker—are displayed throughout the rococo mansion’s 18 rooms and flower-filled garden.

Located in the elegant 2nd arrondissement, the Galerie Vivienne is one of the most iconic covered shopping arcades in Paris. The gallery had a lengthy heyday after it was built in 1823, but its most prestigious shops later moved elsewhere. It was revived in the 1960s and is now home to a diverse array of luxury boutiques. Its design features a soaring glass roof, decorative terrazzo floors, paintings and sculptures depicting trade-related scenes, and a rotunda with images of goddesses and nymphs.

The oldest covered market in Paris, the Marché des Enfants Rouges has been in business since the early 17th century and remains a buzzing spot for both local and traveling foodies who flock here to buy fresh produce and dine on meals that reflect Paris’ multicultural population, from Japanese bento boxes to Moroccan couscous and mint tea.

Paris’ wine-making history dates back to Roman times, but only one small vineyard remains in the French capital: Clos Montmartre. Perched on a hillside plot in the Montmartre neighborhood, just a short walk from the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur and surrounded by residential buildings, the urban vineyard produces pinot noir and Gamay grapes and a selection of small-batch wines.

Located on Île de la Cité, one of the two remaining natural islands in the River Seine, the Palais de Justice preserves what remains of the former Royal Palace. Situated between the Gothic royal Sainte-Chapelle chapel and the former Conciergerie prison, the Palais de Justice is infamous for its role as a public execution site during the French Revolution.

The Mémorial de la Shoah (Shoah Memorial), Paris’ official Holocaust museum, was opened in 2005 on the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Located in the Marais district—the city’s historical Jewish quarter—on the site of the Memorial to the Unknown Jewish Martyr, the museum features both permanent and temporary exhibitions, the commemorative Wall of Names, and other moving monuments and tributes.

The Cluny Museum (Musée de Cluny) is one of Paris’ top museums and a highlight of the Latin Quarter (Quartier Latin). It occupies three buildings: the 15th-century Hôtel de Cluny, the Thermes de Cluny (the ruins of a Gallo-Roman bath complex), and a contemporary annex. While the six Lady and the Unicorn tapestries are its blockbuster attraction, other medieval treasures range from sculptures and stained-glass windows to paintings and gem-studded jewelry.

Housed within a striking building designed by renowned French architect Jean Nouvel, the Arab World Institute (Institut du Monde Arabe) celebrates cultures of the Arab world, from origins to today. From contemporary art to scientific objects, the cultural center showcases items from its own extensive collection as well as those on loan from national museums.

Housed in the stunning Hôtel Salé in Paris’ Marais district, the Picasso Museum showcases over 5,000 works by the legendary artist. From paintings and sculptures to ceramics, drawings, and prints, the collection offers a deep dive into Picasso’s creative world. Beyond the art, visitors can explore thousands of personal items donated by his family—including photos, letters, and notebooks, offering a rare glimpse into the mind of one of the world’s most influential artists.

Steeped in history, the Paradis Latin is one of the most legendary French cabaret theaters in Paris. Founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, it was rebuilt in 1889 by none other than Gustave Eiffel, and it retains its belle epoque-era décor to this day. The spectacular L’Oiseau Paradis show is an all-singing, all-dancing revue complete with dazzling costumes, acrobatics, and modern special effects—an unforgettable introduction to cabaret.

Pigalle has long had a reputation for debauchery. Paris’ former red-light district and a haven for turn-of-the-20th-century bohemians, Pigalle is today renowned for its (sometimes sordid) nightlife and festive spirit, as well as world-famous venues like the Moulin Rouge. But look past the neon lights and you’ll find a culture-rich district filled with charming cafés and entertainment venues.

With origins dating to the 18th century, the Marché d’Aligre is one of central Paris’ most bustling markets, and is particularly popular among adventurous foodies. It features an open-air section and a covered area—sometimes referred to as the Marché Beauvau—with bakeries, cheese shops, butchers, produce vendors, specialty stalls, and a flea market. Several well-rated cafés, restaurants, and wine bars surround this culinary paradise.

Located in the historic Latin Quarter neighborhood on Paris' Left Bank, Saint Étienne du Mont (Église Saint-Étienne-du-Mont) is one of the city's most interesting churches. The Gothic-Renaissance-style structure features two unique spiral staircases and the only remaining rood screen—an ornate partition common in medieval churches, used to separate the clergy from the worshippers—in the French capital. It's a great stop for visiting history and architecture buffs.

The Seine divides Paris into two: to the north is the Right Bank (Rive Droite), and to the south is the Left Bank (Rive Gauche). Although home to some of the city’s top landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, the Left Bank retains a romantic, bohemian reputation thanks to its universities, famous former residents, and literary and artistic hangouts.

Set at the end of the Parc du Champ de Mars within sight of the Eiffel Tower and Trocadero, the 18th-century École Militaire houses several military training facilities. Alma mater of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French classical main hall–marked by bullets fired by retreating German units during World War II–is still home to the officers’ academy of the French army. The Champ de Mars park just outside the complex originally served as the school’s parade ground.

The historic Dome Church at Les Invalides (Dôme des Invalides) is hard to miss, with its golden dome rising more than 350 feet (107 meters) into the skyline. The church, which hosted the royal Mass under Louis XIV, is home to both Napoleon’s tomb and the Army Museum (Musée de l’Armée), making it a must-see for those interested in architecture or European history.