Paris attractions

Old-fashioned magic tricks and antique curiosities await at this little museum, tucked away in a 16th-century underground cellar in central Paris. It isn’t well-known, and a visit won’t take more than an hour of your time, but it’s entertaining for kids and budding magicians, especially thanks to the mini magic show that’s included with the entrance fee.

The 5th arrondissement—also known as the Latin Quarter—is a district of Paris on the left bank of the River Seine, where ancient Gallo-Roman ruins are situated. As home to the Sorbonne University, the area often bustles with students. Among its highlights are the Panthéon, a crypt housing famous French artists and intellectuals, and the Jardin des Plantes, a large botanical garden containing several museums.

Laid out by Louis XIV, the Grands Boulevards were the original Parisian boulevards: a series of eight tree-lined promenades that would later become the heart of Belle Époque Paris. Today, the Grands Boulevards is a lively district, where you can wander through opulent 19th-century shopping arcades, admire magnificent Haussmannian mansions, and watch a show at some of Paris’ most legendary theaters.

Housed in a Frank Gehry-designed building, La Cinémathèque Française holds one of the largest collections of films and movie memorabilia in the world. The site includes a museum, cinema, research library, and extensive shop, allowing visitors to trace the history of film from its earliest days to the modern era. The museum showcases an impressive array of costumes, props, posters, and cult objects, while the theater screens classic films and retrospectives.

Located on the outskirts of Paris, in the suburb of Saint-Denis, this magnificent basilica is renowned for housing the tombs of France’s monarchs: 43 kings and 32 queens, as well as 60 princes and princesses. With both Romanesque and Gothic design features, the Basilique de Saint-Denis also has stained glass windows dating back to the 12th century and intricate vaulted ceilings. While a bit far from the city center, it is well worth the detour.

Completed in 1929, Villa Savoye is a sleek, minimalist country house in the suburbs of Paris, which represents one of the most groundbreaking designs in 20th-century architecture. Designed by legendary Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier, who was inspired by steamships and other modern technologies, the building illustrates his famous saying: “The house is a machine for living.” Villa Savoye is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with other Le Corbusier-designed locations in India, Japan, and Argentina.

Fittingly located within the Paris-Le Bourget business airport, the Air and Space Museum is one of the world’s largest and oldest museums dedicated to aeronautics. Inside the cavernous hangar, there’s a planetarium with flight simulators, plus more than 150 aircraft, including a 747, Concorde, DC3, Mirage, and an Ariane rocket. There’s also an array of rare aviation memorabilia, dating back as far as the 16th century.

The former residence of Josephine de Beauharnais and Napoleon Bonaparte, Château de Malmaison is both an opulent palace and an important historic landmark. The château is about 9 miles (15 kilometers) west of Paris in Rueil-Malmaison and once served as government headquarters, but it’s most famous for its elegant grounds. Tour the private apartments that still hold personal items, from musical instruments to weapons, along with the rose garden and other outdoor highlights.

Glittering performances at Folies Bergère have attracted tourists and Parisians alike for over 150 years—and the show very much goes on. Legendary names have graced its stage, including Josephine Baker and Jean Gabin, while today’s shows range from concerts to musicals, comedy and dance. The exquisite theater itself is just as impressive, with art deco flourishes, and backstage areas are accessible to the public on occasional behind-the-scenes tours.

The Living Museum of the Horse (Musée Vivant du Cheval) is housed in the Château de Chantilly’s Great Stables, the largest in Europe. The museum’s exhibits trace the historical relationship between human and horse, from domestication to the horse’s role in war, hunting, and recreation. The highlight is a chance to see the resident horses in action during dressage demonstrations and equestrian shows.

Chatou, on the banks of the Seine in the far west of Paris, is known for the Île des Impressionnistes (Island of the Impressionists), where Monet, Manet, Renoir, and others set up their easels to immortalize the sparkling waters and lazy bathers. Many visitors don’t even think of venturing out this far, but those who do will find small museums, riverside walks, and architectural charm.

The Café de Flore is one of Paris’ most storied cafés. Once frequented by artists and intellectuals such as Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus, Pablo Picasso, and Ernest Hemingway, the art deco café in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighborhood is a Paris institution and a throwback to the Left Bank’s era as a bohemian enclave.

The Paris Orly Airport (ORY), or Aéroport de Paris-Orly, was built in 1932 and is the city’s secondary airport, after Charles de Gaulle. However, with almost 30 million passengers per year, it could hardly be considered a small transportation hub, despite primarily serving budget and regional airlines.

Formerly known as 58 Tour Eiffel, the dining destination on the Eiffel Tower’s first level has been reborn as Madame Brasserie. Overseen by star chef Thierry Marx, the two-story restaurant and lounge offers seasonal, French-Asian cuisine. Its several dining areas welcome casual daytime visitors or those looking for a formal evening meal, and its Paris views are hard to beat.

The Museum of Illusions Paris is a fantastically mind-warping attraction, which is designed to challenge visitors’ powers of perception, and is home to a wide array of boundary-pushing exhibits, installations, and illusion rooms. Suitable for both young and old, and conveniently located in the heart of the French capital, it offers boundless opportunities for play and discovery, not to mention photo opportunities.

One of Paris’ most popular cabaret revue theaters, La Nouvelle Eve is situated on the edge of bohemian Montmartre. The elegant venue—originally dubbed Fantaisies Parisiennes, and undergoing many incarnations over the decades—was built in 1898 and still exudes an old Parisian vibe. But it’s the exhilarating, contemporary, and occasionally erotic performances that ultimately draw visitors. Watch the show only or combine your experience with Champagne or a full dinner.

Located next to the Sèvres porcelain factory on the edge of Paris, the Sévres National Ceramics Museum (Musée National de Ceramique de Sèvres) houses a collection of around 55,000 items, representing ceramic arts from around the world and many different styles dating from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era. A visit to this museum offers fascinating insights into the craft of clay.

Located in the heart of Paris’s 1st arrondissement, Les Caves du Louvre are dedicated to all things related to French wine: tastings, workshops, and meals with wine pairings, among other special events. Even better, everything takes place in a historic private mansion that has been associated with wine since the days of French royalty: It once belonged to a wine merchant from the 18th-century court of Louis XV.

Restaurant Les Ombres—whose name translates to "The Shadows"—is more than just a typical fine-dining destination in Paris. Situated on the roof of the Quai Branly Museum (Musée du Quai Branly), the restaurant is best known for its up-close views of the neighboring Eiffel Tower, offering patrons a great opportunity to enjoy French gastronomy and sightseeing at the same time.

One of the largest mosques in France, the Grand Mosque of Paris (Grande Mosquée de Paris) is a haven of tranquility within Paris’ Latin Quarter. Open to visitors, it’s celebrated for its ornamental architecture with Hispano-Moorish-style courtyards, lush gardens, and soaring minaret. The mosque’s on-site North African restaurant, tearoom, and women-only hammam make it an oasis of calm within the big city.

The Jacquemart-André Museum (Musee Jacquemart-Andre) is housed in a lavish 19th-century mansion that once belonged to Edouard André and Nélie Jacquemart, a globetrotting, art-collecting couple. It is just as famous for its Belle Epoque setting as its art collection—expect wallpapered libraries and elegant fireplaces that showcase the glamour of France’s bygone Gilded Age. The artworks also comprise a veritable treasure trove: Italian Renaissance paintings, works from Dutch masters, intricate French furniture, and medieval Islamic ceramics.

One of Paris’ most mind-bending attractions, the Paradox Museum challenges visitors’ perceptions (and even seems to bend the space-time continuum). Home to dozens of immersive installations and optical illusions, the museum invites travelers of all ages to navigate its wonderfully perplexing exhibits, and to take advantage of the many photo opportunities along the way.

The Musée de l’Homme in Paris is the city’s most famous anthropology museum. Located near the Eiffel Tower, this thought-provoking space showcases artifacts from around the world to chart human history and society from origin to evolution and looks at how we continue to adapt into the future.

The 5th arrondissement forms the heart of the Latin Quarter, the neighborhood that flourished around the Sorbonne, but it spills into the 6th arrondissement. Quieter, more stately, and chic, the 6th arrondissement is home to landmarks like the historic churches of Saint-Germain-des-Près and Saint-Sulpice Church (Église Saint-Sulpice) and the sprawling, picturesque Luxembourg Gardens (Jardin du Luxembourg). The winding, cobbled streets are tailor-made for wandering, and the district rewards visitors who take their time to explore.

Light, fluffy, and in an array of pretty colors, Ladurée macarons are a symbol of Parisian elegance. The bite-sized pastries, sold at beautifully styled stores across Paris (and the world), attract crowds of shoppers day after day. A visit to Ladurée for afternoon tea and a box of sweet treats to take away is a must-do for many tourists in the capital.

With its twin-towered facade and interior murals by Eugène Delacroix, Saint-Sulpice Church (Église Saint-Sulpice) is a must-see for fans of architecture and art. The third-largest church in Paris, this Italianate masterpiece towers over the Latin Quarter and neighboring Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Music lovers can stop by on Sundays to hear the historic organ, considered one of the most beautiful in the world.

Paris’ 11th Arrondissement is known for its densely populated, lively atmosphere and buzzing nightlife, which makes it a popular hangout spot for crowds of young and hip Parisians. Beyond its party scene, this vibrant eastern Paris district on the right bank of the River Seine has plenty to appeal to locals and visitors alike, with its revolutionary history, creative restaurants, and independent boutiques.

As the biggest and busiest airport in France and one of Europe’s most important international transport hubs, Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) is visited by just about every traveler to Paris. Also known as the Roissy Airport, CDG also offers flights to more countries than any other airport and hosts more airlines.

59 Rivoli is an alternative arts space in central Paris, which provides an interesting contrast to the French capital’s many staid institutions. Once an artists’ squat settlement in an abandoned building, it was bought by the City of Paris in the early 2000s. Now, visitors can see artists at work in their studios and check out rotating exhibitions by local Parisians.

The second-largest public park in Paris—and one of the city's beloved "green lungs"—the Bois de Boulogne is popular among both locals and visitors as a tranquil nature escape. Formerly royal hunting grounds, the sprawling parklands (more than twice the size of New York City's Central Park) contain botanical and rose gardens, walking trails, and recreational sites including a gallery, amusement park, and racecourses.