Paris is full of icons that everybody knows about. But Paris also has some surprising places that some people don't have a chance to visit! Here you'll find 16 amazing places to visit in Paris, from the most famous to some you may not have heard about!
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The Eiffel Tower
The symbol of this amazing city, the Tour Eiffel will take your breath away. Try to visit it close to the evening, so you get a chance to see it during the day and at night, with its beautiful lights. Going up is also great, but be prepared for long lines!
Arc de Triomphe
This is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, standing at the western end of the famous Champs-Élysées Avenue. You can visit it inside and climb the 284 steps to the top!
Place des Vosges
Place de Vosges is located in the Marais district and it's the oldest planned square in Paris. This is definitely our favorite square in the city! It's a great place for a picnic!
Have you booked your hotel?
We always choose our hotels as soon as we set the travel date to get great prices. And to do this we use Booking.com. It is the easiest way to search for available hotels, best location, and of course, the best price.
Jardin du Luxembourg
The Luxembourg Gardens are so beautiful and there you'll see many Parisians seated on lawn chairs reading a book or talking to friends and having a good time.
Louvre
Louvre Museum is the world's largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris. If you don't have a lot of time, you could still go and visit all areas that are free (keep in mind that you don't get to see the collections). And just being outside this building is also amazing! But if you do have time, make a full visit - or at least visit the parts you think you might like the most 🙂
Jardin des Plantes
Jardin des Plantes is a complex that includes a Botanical Garden, a Zoo and Galleries (we visited the Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy Gallery, and the Gallery of Evolution - these two are part of the Museum of Natural History).
Île Saint-Louis
Some say that this is where Paris started. The best thing to do there is to walk through the narrow streets, try some of the restaurantes, and, of course, the famous Bertillon Ice Cream.
La Chapelle Notre Dame de la Medaille Miraculeuse
The Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal is an important place of prayer and pilgrimage that draws believers from all over the world to ask the Virgin Mary’s protection. The chapel is simple and yet with such amazing energy once you get inside!
Petit Palais
We didn't visit the Grand Palais but we did go to Petit Palais and it's worth the visit! We had lunch there and recommend, not because of the food (which was good, by the way) but because of the amazing scenery you get while you are eating.
Tour Montparnasse
Go to Montparnasse Tower for an amazing view of Paris! Parisians also say the view from the top is the the best view of Paris! Why? Because there is the only place you will not see Montparnasse Tower disturbing the view 🙂
Le Marais
Another great place to walk and get lost. Enjoy the narrow streets and century old buildings. Don't forget to treat yourself with freshly made crepes from one of the many shops. The bèrre sucré (butter and sugar) and Nutella crepes are fantastic!
Montmartre
The mais draw to this neighborhood is the Sacre Coeur Basilica, a beautiful church sitting on top of a hill (you can climb the steps or take the funiculaire (tram). But behind the basilica you will find beautiful cobblestone streets lined with restaurants, shops and art galleries. Try to find your way out looking for the Abesses metro station. You will go down the Montmartre hill through a series of steps. It's a little steep, but it's totally worth it.
Canal Saint Martin
The Canal Saint Martin is series of locks used for navigation. Nowadays some boats still use it, but the main interest in this area is to stroll alongside the channel enjoying the views and hopping from one side to the other through the cast iron bridges. There are many excellent restaurants, but if you prefer you can take your food and spend time sitting by the water, having some wine, bread and cheese!
Château de Vincennes
Château de Vincennes is a fortress wich you can have access by the subway. It was built between the 14th and 17th centuries with the purpose to shelter the royal family and its entire domestic staff, part of the kingdom’s administration and the army for its defense. It was abandoned as a royal residence when Versailles Castle was finished and it was transformed into a prision. It is not a fairytale castle, it's more like one you would expect from a Game of Thrones episode 🙂
Parc Floral de Paris
Parc floral de Paris is a public park and botanical garden located within the Bois de Vincennes in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. There you can walk, enjoy nature, kids can play in the great playgrounds, have lunch, ride a surrey, or watch a free concert. The nearest metro station is Chateau de Vincennes so it's perfect to visit it on the same day you visit the castle.
And for kids of all ages...
Disneyland Paris
Disney Paris is about 45 minutes from Paris by RER, located in a city called Marne-la-Vallée. We are Disney lovers here at home so for us it is a must! We visited both parks in one day.
Also, remember that Paris (France in general) is THE place to eat well, but don't worry about spending a lot of money, Paris will treat you nice with every croissant bite you take 🙂 Take a look at this post where I talk about some delicious Parisan treats.
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