Paris attractions

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.

With its diverse mix of ethnicities and vibrant art scene, Belleville is among Paris’ most fashionable and eclectic districts, which draws a hip crowd of young locals, students, and creative types. It’s also a hub for the French capital’s dynamic street art movement and boasts one of the hottest food scenes in the city. It’s worth making the trip out here from central neighborhoods for the Eiffel Tower views alone.

Picture a fairytale castle surrounded by forests and lakes, and Château de Chantilly is pretty close to what you’re imagining. Thought to be the inspiration behind Versailles, this 19th-century moated structure offers French-style gardens, stables, and ornate rooms filled with art and antiques. Just north of Paris, the château is an easy day trip, and it’s also home to Musée Condé—considered one of the country’s most important art collections.

Just across the river from the Eiffel Tower in the grand Palais de Chaillot building, the Architecture and Heritage City is a museum that presents the architectural history of France from the Middle Ages to today. The permanent collection comprises three floors of exhibits, offering a gem of a find for visitors interested in the evolution of French architecture.

Designed by French architect Jean Nouvel, the Quai Branly Museum (Musée du Quai Branly) is one of Paris' leading museums. Located right along the River Seine and adjacent to the Eiffel Tower, the museum showcases thousands of artifacts produced by Indigenous cultures from all around the globe. In addition to its permanent and temporary exhibitions, the museum also features attractions such as Les Ombres, a high-end rooftop restaurant.

Built in the 17th century, the grand Palais du Luxembourg served as a royal palace, a prison, and a Nazi headquarters before becoming the seat of the French Senate at the start of the Fifth Republic. The landmark building is a highlight of Paris’ 6th arrondissement and overlooks the formal gardens and tree-lined walkways of the Jardin du Luxembourg.

Fashioned from the blueprint of London’s world-renowned Madame Tussauds, the Grévin Museum (Musée Grévin), Paris’ own waxwork museum, has been sculpting famous faces since it was founded back in 1882. Today, more than 200 waxwork figures—including politicians, movie stars, and historic icons—are on display, making this a popular destination for tourists and visiting families.

The work of Salvador Dalí is celebrated at this fascinating gallery in Paris, which displays sculptures, lithographs, drawings, and furniture. It's a key stop for Dalí aficionados, but also offers an approachable introduction to the artist’s work, and one that doesn’t require a trip to Dalí’s home of northern Spain. In addition to the permanent collection, past temporary exhibits have explored a range of themes related to the artist, including street art, jewelry, and letters.

Housed in two grand manors in the Marais, the Carnavalet Museum (Musée Carnavalet) is one of Paris’ most important institutions. The official museum that charts the history of Paris—and the oldest City of Paris museum, dating back to 1880—it houses over 600,000 objects, from rare paintings to articles once owned by Napoleon. If you seek to understand the City of Light, start here.

Hidden under Notre-Dame Cathedral’s square, the Archaeological Crypt of the Île de la Cité is a fascinating descent into more than 2,000 years of Paris history. Excavated during the 1960s and 1970s, the crypt reveals the city’s architectural layers, from the ruins of the Gallo-Roman town of Lutetia, the predecessor of present-day Paris, to major developments in the 18th and 19th centuries.

A somber neoclassical monument, the Chapelle Expiatoire stands atop the Madeleine Cemetery where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette—plus hundreds of others—were unceremoniously buried during the French Revolution. Commissioned by Louis XVIII, Louis XVI’s brother, the memorial chapel features sculptures of the royal couple, although their bones are now elsewhere.

Affectionately known as “the belly of Paris,” Les Halles was once the site of Paris’ bustling central food market. A focal point of the city since the 11th century, the food stalls were dismantled in the 1970s to make room for the Forum des Halles shopping center and metro station. Completely renovated in 2010, the undulating glass-and-steel covering—known as La Canopée—is one of the most striking examples of contemporary architecture in the city.

Set inside La Maison du Bel Air—one of the oldest buildings in Paris’s Montmartre district—the Montmartre Museum is home to a collection of paintings, drawings, and posters by some of the neighborhood’s celebrated 19th-century artists. Renoir created works such as Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette in the neighborhood, and the museum celebrates its heyday as an artistic and intellectual hub. The Renoir Gardens are equally worth visiting, with a beautiful pond and meandering pathways.

Ever-changing exhibits spanning sculpture, video, graffiti, and paintings draw crowds to the Palais de Tokyo, the largest contemporary art center in Europe. In fact, the museum has no permanent collection—one way the space maintains its place at the city’s cutting edge after more than two decades. For visitors, it’s a chance to explore the vibrant modern art scene in Paris (and browse a gift shop that’s a destination in its own right).

The streets of Paris are filled with romance and excitement, but for travelers looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, a stroll along the scenic Canal Saint-Martin offers a quieter, more laid-back vibe. Lined with leafy trees, footbridges, and waterside cafés, it’s a favorite spot for locals and tourists alike to people-watch, dine alfresco, and soak up the bohemian feel of the neighborhood.

Architecture lovers, history buffs, foodies, and shoppers alike will enjoy perusing the aisles of Printemps, the luxury department store beloved by Parisians since 1865. Spread out across 27 floors and three buildings on Paris’ Boulevard Haussmann, this is the flagship store of the luxury French chain of the same name and offers everything from home goods to beauty products, food to high-end fashion.

Editor's note: Montparnasse Tower is closed for major renovations. A key element of Paris’ skyline, the 59-story Montparnasse Tower (Tour Montparnasse) stands in monolithic, modern contrast to the Haussmannian boulevards below. Debuted in 1973, the tower was France’s tallest building for decades; its stark look has caused controversy since its unveiling, and the city banned other construction taller than seven stories for years after it was completed. However, there’s no arguing with the panoramic views from its observation deck 656 feet (200 meters) above street level.

The Stade de France is the country’s largest sports and entertainment venue, and has been France’s national stadium since 1998. With a capacity exceeding 80,000, it has hosted the 2024 Summer Olympics, the 2007 Rugby World Cup, and the 1998 FIFA World Cup, as well as concerts by artists including Madonna, Beyoncé, and The Rolling Stones.

Located on the picturesque Place des Vosges in the Marais district of Paris, the Maison de Victor Hugo pays tribute to the French poet and novelist famous for such classics as Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. Today, the Hugo family apartment is a museum dedicated to the author’s life and works. The Maison de Victor Hugo contains manuscripts and correspondence belonging to Hugo, including some first editions of his work.

When it comes to scenic walkways, one of Paris’ best-kept secrets is the Coulée Verte René-Dumont (Promenade Plantée), the linear park that served as the inspiration for New York’s High Line. Following a disused elevated railroad track that once connected Bastille to Bois de Vincennes, the promenade features around 3 miles (5 kilometers) of tree-lined footpaths and trellised arcades, dotted with flowerbeds and street art.

Europe’s largest science museum, La Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie (City of Science and Industry), comprises an enormous range of interactive exhibits, hands-on experiences, and other attractions that appeal to visitors of all ages. The building’s sleek, futuristic design is a nod to its commitment to modernity and innovation, and its mission is to make science accessible to all.

The Parc des Princes stadium, which opened in 1972 in southwestern Paris, France is the home turf of one of Europe’s top football (soccer) teams: Paris Saint-Germain. When it’s not hosting matches, the 49,000-capacity arena is one of the city’s premier venues for outdoor sporting events and major concerts by international music acts.

Also known as the Cimetière du Nord, the Montmartre Cemetery is the third-largest burial ground in Paris, after Père Lachaise Cemetery and Montparnasse Cemetery. The storied necropolis contains some 20,000 graves, including those of luminaries such as author Émile Zola, painter Edgar Degas, and composer Hector Berlioz. Offering a break from the hectic sightseeing, it's a peaceful and evocative place for a stroll.

Few Parisian monuments are as symbolic of the French Republic as the 30-foot (9-meter) tall bronze statue of Marianne that stands at the center of the grand Place de la République. Representing the French values of “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity,” the monument presides over the pedestrianized square where Parisians meet for national events, political demonstrations, or to people-watch from one of the terrace cafés—all quintessentially French pastimes.

If you’ve ever wondered how coins are minted or what French francs looked like through the ages, a visit to the Paris Mint Museum (Musée de la Monnaie de Paris) provides a deep dive into the process of coining. Housed in the city’s oldest factory, which has been minting coins since the ninth century and still produces commemorative coins today, museum visitors can watch artisans at work, learn about the art of making coins, and admire the vast coin collection.

One of central Paris’ storied thoroughfares, Rue Montorgueil has a reputation as a culinary hub. Once home to Les Halles—Paris’ major food market, demolished in 1971—today, the street is lined with bistros, pastry shops, and other delectable addresses. Visit celebrated highlights including Stohrer, Paris’ oldest pastry shop; l’Escargot Montorgueil, a restaurant founded in 1832; and Au Pied de Cochon, a 24-hour eatery that specializes in pig trotters and other traditional fare.

As one of the largest flea markets in the world, Saint-Ouen Flea Market (Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen) is the go-to destination for savvy antique hunters, as well as anyone who wants to experience Paris like a local. A city institution that’s been running since 1870, the modern-day market features a dozen mini-markets and five streets of vendors, where you’ll find antique furniture, vintage clothing, classic vinyl, and countless other secondhand treasures. Prepare to spend hours browsing, bantering, and bargaining.

Home to one of the largest collections of Asian art outside Asia, the Guimet Museum (Musée Guimet) houses over 60,000 objects drawn from around the continent, from China to Afghanistan, including sculptures, paintings, ceramics, jewelry, and scrolls. The Paris museum hosts several temporary exhibitions each year.

The Bois de Vincennes is beloved as Paris’ largest green space, sprawling across 2,459 acres (995 hectares), which is roughly three times the size of Central Park in New York. Once a royal hunting ground, the park now boasts an array of attractions: a zoo, several lakes, botanical gardens, a working farm, a Buddhist temple, and the Château de Vincennes medieval fortress.

Located across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, the Paris Aquarium—also known as the Cinéaqua—is the most prominent aquarium in the city. Host to a shark tunnel, more than 10,000 marine species, a movie theater, and other attractions, it was founded in the 19th century, making it one of the world’s first aquariums. Visit this family-friendly destination to admire diverse critters that hail from French waters and overseas French territories.