Experience the best Paris tours

It’s hard to capture Paris in just a few top landmarks. With its many museums, monuments, cafes, and gardens, the City of Light has so much to experience. But whether it’s your first or fifth trip to Paris, these are the landmarks you’ll always remember and want to visit again and again.

• Eiffel Tower: The jewel of the Paris skyline, the “Tour Eiffel” was designed by the architect Gustave Eiffel in 1889. Also known as the Iron Lady, this beloved landmark is not only a site to be seen but to be experienced from the inside out. 
• Arc de Triomphe: Located in Paris’ eighth arrondissement, this arch is a marvel of neoclassical architecture with views of the city as stunning as those from the top of the Eiffel Tower — once you’ve seen both, you decide which you prefer. 
• Cathedral of Notre Dame: After its devastating 2019 fire, Notre Dame is being restored to its former glory as a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. It’s definitely worth a tour outside the cathedral on your trip to Paris. 
• Louvre Museum: Our best advice for visiting this museum is to either get there early (but every tourist has that plan) or book a skip-the-line tour. It’s the largest art museum in the world, and millions of tourists flock to it every year to get a glimpse of the Mona Lisa and other famous works, so it’s not an easy museum to navigate without a guide. 
• Seine: It’s hard to miss this river that runs through the heart of Paris. It’s crossed with ornate and historic bridges and surrounded by famous sites. Take a Seine river cruise to see them all.
• Shakespeare and Company: Founded in 1919, the original Shakespeare and Company was a hangout for famous expatriate writers of the “lost generation:” James Joyce, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, F. Scott Fitzgerald, just to name a few. The Shakespeare and Company bookshop we know today, which sits just opposite Notre Dame, opened in 1951 and has since become one of the most popular bookstores in Paris. It’s even a stop on our Latin Quarter tour. 
• Musée d’Orsay: If you’re looking for a less crowded art museum than the Louvre, check out the Musée d’Orsay, a favorite among Parisians. With an art collection that spans from 1848 to 1914, this museum is still popular with tourists, but you won’t have to push through crowds of people just to get a glimpse of anything. 
• Luxembourg Gardens: There are many gardens in Paris, but we think the Jardin du Luxembourg is the most beautiful. They have classical statues, loads of flowers, and the striking Medici Fountain. 
• Montmartre: In this bohemian heart of Paris, you can experience the nightlife of the Moulin Rouge, snap a photo at the Cafe des 2 Moulins that was featured in the film “Amélie,” and enjoy breathtaking views from the Sacré-Cœur Basilica.
• Paris Catacombs: Venture more than 60 feet below the streets of Paris to get chills from the world’s largest catacombs.

Paris is filled with interesting art, fountains, parks, and even shop windows to mesmerize the whole family, but maybe you need specific activities to entertain your toddler or teen. 

Read our complete guide to Paris with kids for more practical tips, but here are some great options for families: 

• Packing a picnic to eat in one of the city’s beautiful gardens. 
• Take a climbing tour of the Eiffel Tower. 
• Discover the unusual Museum of Fairground Arts. 
• Plat at Disneyland Paris (if the kids love Disney).
• Sample the city’s best chocolate treats.
• Walk through a covered street filled with toys.
• Ride the carouselarnival set up near the Eiffel Tower in warm weather and feel like a kid again yourself! 

Make the most of Paris museums and the free entry or discounted tickets they offer for kids under 18. Here are some museums that are free for kids: 

• Louvre (see even more with a guide)
• Musée Picasso
• Château de Vincennes
• Sainte Chapelle
• Conciergerie
• Panthéon
• Musée de l’Armée
• Grand Galerie d’Evolution

Paris’ popular science museum (Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie) also offers discounted tickets for kids and is a great place for interactive exhibits. 

To save even more on your trip, don’t miss the museums and landmarks that are free for everyone. These are our top picks: 

• Musée d’Art Moderne (Modern Art Museum)
• Petit Palais (see the Grand Palais and more with a guided tour) 
• Arènes de Lutèce
• Musée Carnavalet
• Mémorial de la Shoah

If you’re not traveling with really young kids, exploring the underground catacombs or walking through the city’s famous cemetery are some creepy and fun family experiences.