Paris attractions

A district of many monikers, Paris’ 3rd Arrondissement has come to be dubbed Upper Marais or Haut Marais, the Temple District, and le troisième (the 3rd). No matter what you call it, this trendy neighborhood is an interesting one, offering cultural attractions and nightlife, along with a diverse vibe from the expat, immigrant, and LGBTQ+ communities who live here. Among its visitor highlights are standout museums such as the Picasso Museum and cocktail bars that spill out onto the streets.

Boasting the title of Europe’s largest urban waterpark, Paris’ Aquaboulevard is a favorite destination for families and thrillseekers alike, offering a tropical escape right in the heart of the city’s southwest. Conveniently located just over the Boulevard Périphérique in the 15th arrondissement, this expansive park is a year-round attraction thanks to its unique indoor-outdoor layout. Aquaboulevard is packed with features to keep all ages entertained for hours.

The Beauvais–Tillé Airport (BVA, or Aéroport Paris Beauvais, opened in 1956 and is hub to a handful of budget airlines flying to and from 60 destinations in 21 countries throughout Europe—from Poland to Ireland—as well as North Africa. The airport has two terminals and handles nearly 4.5 million passengers each year.

While Paris’ 1st Arrondissement is unabashedly a tourist part of town, its 2nd Arrondissement (le deuxième) is the place to see a more traditional, elegant side. The district showcases a mix of boulevards and buildings dating from before and after the city’s redevelopment in the mid-1800s. Here, historic cobblestone lanes and glass-covered arcades give way to bistros and boutiques in a place where you can find the historic textile district of Sentier, the restaurants of Montorgueil, and the financial district of Bourse.

Bustling with cultural diversity, Paris’ 4th Arrondissement is home to large Jewish, LGBTQ+, and expat communities, as well as a near-constant throng of visitors who come to discover the bohemian Marais area, the Seine islands, and trendy museums, shops, and riverside promenades such as Quai de l’Hôtel de Ville. Though busy and expensive, it’s nethertheless a popular central Paris zone where both tourists and locals converge.

Located in the heart of Paris—a stone’s throw from the Louvre Museum—the Église Saint-Germain l’Auxerrois is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the French capital. The church boasts a centuries-long storied history: It served as a royal church in the 14th century, hosting kings and queens for Mass, and its bells signalled the start of the infamous 1572 St. Bartholomew’s Day massacre.

Though Paris may be best known for arts and culture, Discovery Palace (Palais de la Découverte) is a must-see attraction for science enthusiasts. Open since 1937, the Palais hosts exhibits and interactive experiments on everything from acoustics to genetics. Though the planetarium show is only in French, English speakers enjoy a Palais tour.

It’s easy to rack up thousands of steps when exploring Paris, making green spaces like the Esplanade des Invalides a welcome spot for respite. This city park stretches from the Seine to the Les Invalides museums, with grassy lawns for picnicking and admiring the surrounding architecture, including the gilded Dôme des Invalides, Paris’ tallest building besides the Eiffel Tower.

Designed for nobles to play an early variant of tennis, the eponymous jeu de paume (palm game), this grand building stands proud in the Tuileries Garden. Rather than sports, the Jeu de Paume now houses Paris’ premier art center for photography, cinema, and video, exhibiting the works of iconic shooters such as Richard Avedon, Diane Arbus, and Cindy Sherman, as well as noteworthy newcomers.

Gérard Mulot pâtisserie has been a Paris institution for nearly half a century. Founded in 1975, the Saint-Germain-des-Prés bakery has earned a stellar reputation for its breads and desserts. Recently renamed Maison Mulot, the patisserie offers a mix of classic and contemporary treats, including croissants, macarons, baguettes, and other classically French delicacies. This popular foodie stop is an elegant place to enjoy sweet and savory treats while soaking up the neighborhood’s romantic ambiance.

One of Paris’ most unusual attractions, the Paris Sewer Museum (Musée des Égouts de Paris) celebrates the “City within a City” that exists under the capital’s streets. Stretching some 1,304 miles (2,100 kilometers), the sewers are a marvel of modern engineering, and this museum captures their history in all its pungent glory.

The Théâtre de la Ville boasts a storied history: Originally a fortress dating back to the 12th century, it was destroyed six centuries later and rebuilt in the 1860s as a theater as part of Baron Haussmann’s wave of reforms. The acclaimed French stage actress Sarah Bernhardt served as its director for 24 years, and today, the theater hosts numerous productions, ranging from musical concerts, plays, and dance performances.

From the outside, this pastry shop resembles a high-end jeweler—and it is true that founder Pierre Hermé, the "Picasso of Pastry," puts out immaculate creations that are as pretty (and nearly as expensive) as rare gems. The Left Bank flagship location of Hermé's now-thriving bakery chain offers an assortment of rainbow-hued macarons, exquisite chocolates, decadent jams, and other inventive treats.

The Atelier des Lumières, Paris’ first digital arts museum, is housed in a former steel foundry. Within the vast venue, 140 projectors create larger-than-life art and light shows that visitors can immerse themselves in. The museum has hosted a range of exhibitions since its 2018 debut, each dedicated to topics ranging from Ancient Egypt to the Impressionists and Van Gogh.

Also known as the Bois de Vincennes Zoological Park, Paris Zoological Park is part of the National Museum of Natural History and focuses on showcasing animal behavior in a naturalistic setting. After an extensive renovation, the zoo is bigger and more impressive than ever, housing 255 species including ring-tailed lemurs, giraffes, zebras, jaguars, penguins, and pumas. Visitors who come here can explore different biozones and visit temporary exhibitions too.

One of Europe’s largest and grandest theaters, with a screen as wide as an Olympic swimming pool, Le Grand Rex Cinema is among Paris’ top venues. In addition to new releases and other film screenings, the cinema hosts concerts, comedy shows, theatrical events, and glittering movie premieres attended by some of the world’s top celebrities.

The City of Lights may be one of Europe’s more refined destinations, known for its rich literary, artistic, and intellectual heritage, but an evening of entertainment at Oh! César Cabaret offers travelers an experience that’s full of glitz, glam, and fun. Just like the 3-course dinners, the Oh César! show is oh so French and designed to impress.

With seven locations across Paris, Lyon, Toulouse, and Arras and a wide range of course options, L'Atelier des Chefs Cooking School lets you bring the flavors of France home with you. Each location offers a unique environment and experience, but all have modern, airy kitchens where you can learn to craft classic French dishes while celebrating the tradition of the country’s famous cafés, bistros, and brasseries.

Peacocks stroll among flourishing plants at the Paris Floral Park (Parc Floral de Paris), an 86-acre (35-hectare) botanical garden within the Bois de Vincennes—the city’s largest green space. Add play areas, Paris’ only ropes course, mini golf, ping pong, and traditional marionette shows for a family-friendly getaway within city limits. Come summer, the park hosts a series of festivals showcasing theater to jazz.

First opened at its current location in 1807, the Théâtre des Variétés is one of Paris’ oldest playhouses. The centuries-old venue was initially known for high-energy variety shows, but it expanded its repertoire, earning a reputation for colorful cabarets and musical performances. Today, it is known for witty comedic plays and family-friendly productions.

The aquarium on the lower floor of the 20th-century Palais de la Porte Dorée makes a great rainy-day stop for families and anyone with a keen interest in marine life. Hundreds of species of colorful fish, coral, and reptiles—including rare albino alligators—call the exhibition hall home, while temporary exhibits take on weighty subjects such as global warming and ocean conservation.

Set in a cool 16th-century cellar vault within the Passy district’s historic limestone quarries, the Paris Wine Museum is a star find for wine connoisseurs (and those who want a break from the summer heat). Exhibits cover winemaking paraphernalia, such as historic grape presses and Cognac-making machines, and most admissions include a glass of wine from the museum’s own vineyard. The site is complemented by Les Echansons restaurant, which is open for lunch and on Friday evenings.

Théâtre le Ranelagh offers a rare chance for English-speaking theater lovers to experience the French theater scene with the help of translated subtitles. One of the few Parisian theaters to offer subtitled shows, this historic playhouse makes classic French plays such as Cyrano de Bergerac more accessible to an international audience. Although the building is rather unremarkable on the outside, inside, you’ll see its connections to Louis XV.

The Musée Edith Piaf, housed in the former apartment of the iconic Parisian singer, is one of Paris’ most unusual museums. Squarely aimed at Piaf fans, this petite, private venue brims with personal mementos, including photographs, accessories, records, and boxing gloves owned by Piaf’s lover Marcel Cerdan, considered to be France’s greatest boxer. Her famous black dresses are a highlight of the museum’s compact but meaningful collection.

Built back in 1913, this elegant theater in the 9th arrondissement is still going strong over a century later. It got its start showing movies in Kinemacolor, the first technology able to colorize films. Many stars graced its stage over the decades that followed, from acclaimed French actor Robert Lamoureux to none other than Orson Welles, who had a 2-month run here. Today, the theater still keeps Parisians entertained with its plays and performances.

When cocktail o’clock rolls around after a busy day of sightseeing in Paris, Bar Hemingway is a stylish place to grab a drink. For starters, it’s inside the Ritz, but it also comes with a large serving of literary cachet: it was a favorite nightspot of author Ernest Hemingway in the 1920s, hence its name.

Around 500 species of animals are spread across this 50-acre (20-hectare) site, which is situated within an ideal day-trip distance from Paris. Dotted with leafy oak trees and ponds, Attilly Wood Zoo feels more like a forest park than an amusement park, making it a great pick for families who prefer to see wild animals in nature-based settings. Highlights include the after-lunchtime feeding sessions when you can help feed hippos, giraffes, wolves, and other animals.

Founded by a New Zealander in Paris with a passion for languages, this niche museum showcases everything you could want to know about communication and the structure of languages. Well-curated quizzes, interactive exhibitions, and historical finds, such as a replica of the Rosetta Stone and an early version of an Enigma coding machine, await to intrigue culture-curious kids and adults alike.