The Experiences You Can’t Miss On A First Trip To Paris

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed about exactly what to do with your days when you visit Paris for the first time. There’s tons of popular attractions, museums and landmarks to consider, but what are the things you absolutely can’t afford to miss on a first visit? Well, that’s what we’re going to show you in this guide.

We’ve visited Paris more times than we can count and we’ve done everything there is to do as tourists. We love the city’s stunning architecture, lively atmosphere, delicious food, diverse arrondissements and of course famous attractions. But not everything is worth doing, and some things are more worth doing than others. Read more about us.

In our opinion, the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles are the three truly unmissable attractions to see in Paris. Sure, it’s a bit cliche, but they’re all awesome so our advice is to embrace the cliche! Then, it’s all about adding in whatever else suits your particular travel style. And trust us when we tell you there’s so much more you can add in.

If you’re a serial planner like us, take a look at our popular Paris guidebook which goes into much greater detail. But for now in this guide, we’re going to walk you through what we consider to be the must-do things to do on a first visit to Paris, based on our own extensive experiences in the City of Lights. Okay, let’s begin!

Note: Our content is reader supported and contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you and it helps us keep this site running.

Climb The Eiffel Tower

Okay, let’s kick things off with one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks – the Eiffel Tower. Is it worth doing? A resounding oui. It’s surprisingly affordable and it’s far too iconic to pass up, so make sure it’s firmly on your Paris itinerary.

We’ve been up the Eiffel Tower a few too many times, exploring all 3 floors at different times of day. But each time we bought the cheapest and most basic tickets, which meant we had to climb 327 metal steps to the 1st floor and then 347 more steps up to the second floor, before taking the elevator to the top floor – steps to the top aren’t open to the public, otherwise we’d have climbed them too.

If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, you can pay a bit more for your tickets to include elevator access to each level so you wouldn’t have to take a single step. We actually think the views are better from the 2nd floor because from the top everything just looks tiny, so if you want to save a few euros and don’t feel like you absolutely must go to the top, stick the middle instead.

Naturally, the Eiffel Tower is one of the busiest attractions in Paris, so we strongly recommend booking your tickets online in advance well before arriving. We’ve seen some seriously long lines here which is such a waste of precious vacation time, so get organized. Read our guide to visiting the Eiffel Tower for the first time to learn more.

Tickets

Here’s the official website to book your tickets – you’ll select a date, level (2nd floor or summit) and time slot. There’s tons of different prices for various age groups and whether you’ll be going to the 2nd floor or summit by stairs or by lift, so make sure you pick the correct ticket type.

We don’t necessarily think a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower is essential (there are other attractions in Paris you should save your tour allowance money for). But feel free take a look into the following options if you really want to learn about its history from a local guide:

• Viator
• Tiqets (use WATM10NOW for 10% off)
• Get Your Guide

Tip: Our favorite place to take a photo of the Eiffel Tower is from the Place du Trocadero. It has a fantastic front-on view of the tower and it’s amazing at sunset, but it’s also known for pickpockets so always watch your belongings.

Explore The Louvre Museum

The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world, and after doing it twice ourselves we honestly think it should be on everyone’s Paris bucket list. Whether you’re interested in art or not, visiting the Louvre is a must because it’s home to some of the most iconic masterpieces on the planet. You don’t get to see things like this every day, so don’t miss it.

The Louvre displays around 35,000 works of art at any given time, which includes famous paintings, sculptures, objects and architectural remains. Its 3 main areas are called the Denon, Richelieu and Sully wings – the Denon wing is the most popular because it’s home to the Mona Lisa and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Truthfully, we thought the Mona Lisa was massively overrated, but we know you still have to see it.

Even after our two visits to the Louvre which lasted around 4 hours each, we still barely scratched the surface. It’s enormous, and it’s not linear (you can pick and choose which way to explore rather than following a set route) so don’t be surprised if you get lost. There are four floors, countless rooms and even a few hidden away rooms that can only be reached by certain elevators. Plus, they tend to periodically close down areas for temporary renovation, see this list of closed rooms to learn more.

Tickets

The Louvre is open 9:00am-6:00pm on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s open 9:00am-9:00pm on Wednesday and Friday, but most importantly it’s closed on Tuesday.

Tickets cost €22 for adults, it’s free for under 18’s, and it costs €6 for an audio guide. It’s essential to book your tickets well in advance because you have to pick a time slot and they sell out quickly (here’s the official site to book your tickets). The Louvre is also included on the popular Paris attraction passes.

We thought booking the 9:00am time slot would make life easier but it doesn’t because every single person in Paris is desperate to get in early so the whole place is swamped. And we had to wait over 30 minutes just to get through security for our time slot. After lunch, the museum starts to get quiet and by the afternoon it’s like a completely different place, so book a later time slot if you’d rather do it without the crowds.

Remember when we said you don’t need a guided tour for the Eiffel Tower? Well, the Louvre Museum is the one place you should use your allotted tour money. We’ve done the self guided audio tour and it’s okay, but it’s not amazing. Next time we do the Louvre we’ll 100% book a guided tour like this cheaper one or this top rated one because they take you straight to the most important things and explain things far more thoroughly.

Take A Day Trip To The Palace Of Versailles

Are you planning to take a day trip from Paris to see the Palace of Versailles? If not, you should. It actually took us a few trips to Paris before we finally made it to Versailles because it’s such a time sucker. But now that we’ve walked around the palace and grounds, we definitely think it’s worth using up a half day on your itinerary, even if it’s your first time in Paris and you only have three or four days.

What will you find? Well, just the 60,000 works spread across hundreds of rooms – including the King’s and Queen’s state apartments, and of course the famed Hall of Mirrors. Then there’s the enormous palace grounds, the Trianon Estate and the Queen’s Hamlet which are well worth seeing.

The major downside for us was crowds. Even on a rainy and windy November morning the lines to get in for each time slot were outrageous. We’d pre-booked an early time slot but ended up waiting for ages in the rain to get in, only to be packed inside the palace like sardines. but once we got out into the grounds and explored the other areas like the Trianon Estate it got much quieter.

We took the RER C train from Invalides in Paris to Versailles Château Rive Gauche, then walked 15 minutes from the station to the palace entrance. It took us around 6 hours to see everything on site, plus one hour travel time each way for a total of 8 hours. So it’s a pretty long day, but it’s worth it. Here’s our guide on visiting the Palace of Versailles from Paris to learn more.

Tickets

The Palace of Versailles is open Tuesday-Sunday from 9:00am-6:30pm, but it’s closed on Monday. And the Trianon Estate is open from 12:00pm-6:30pm on the same days.

Ticket prices vary based on how much you want to see (ie. just the palace or including other areas), seasonality and extras. The most basic ticket you can buy gets you access to just the palace, it costs €21 for adults and it’s free for under 18’s. Again, we very strongly recommend booking tickets well in advance so you can get the time slot you want before it sells out. Here’s the official website.

If you don’t want to deal with figuring out trains, tickets and audio guides yourself, book a top rated tour like this one that includes transport, entry and guided tour of the palace grounds – or this one that has the same perks but explores the palace by bike which would be fun for families.

Go On A Seine River Cruise

One of our favorite things to do in Paris is to casually stroll along the banks of the River Seine with a croissant and a coffee. But a much easier and more popular way to see top sights from the Seine is to take a relaxing cruise. And honestly, Paris has got this down to a tee. The cruises are cheap, quick and allow you to see the city from a unique vantage point. So it’s a win all around.

Basic cruises last one hour and pass by the Louvre, Conciergerie, Notre-Dame, Eiffel Tower and famous bridges like the Pont Alexandre III – so you get to see some top attractions. Plus, the boats have covered lower decks and wide open upper decks which allows you to choose the most comfortable spot based on weather, crowds and accessibility.

We’ve done two Seine cruises, one during the day and one around sunset:

• The first time we did it with Bateaux-Mouches which started and ended near the Pont de l’Alma (here’s the map location).
• And the second time we did it with Bateaux Parisiens which started and ended close to the Eiffel Tower (here’s the map location).

Both times we booked the cheapest tickets for around €17 per adult, and they were equally as good. Look, it’s a cheap, easy and quick attraction that you kind of just have to do in Paris. It isn’t going to blow you away, but it gets you off your feet for an hour!

What if you want to do something a bit more special? Well, there’s tons of ways you can upgrade to include sunset, champagne, lunch or dinner. We recommend shopping around and reading reviews to make sure you pick the right cruise. A lot of the dinner boat tours we can find online get mixed reviews, but this one has good ratings.

Walk Around Montmartre

Montmartre (the 18th arrondissement) is a unique, charming and artsy neighborhood in Paris, and we love it. Its focal point is the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, which sits atop the natural highest point in Paris and has far reaching city views, but the whole area has a uniquely charming atmosphere.

After walking around Montmartre on a previous trip, we decided to spend a few nights at Hotel des Arts during our most recent visit to Paris and it was fantastic (here’s our guide on where to stay in Paris). Our legs got a real workout with those endless steep and winding cobblestone streets, but we loved the hidden away restaurants and cafes with such a chilled vibe.

Thanks to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, the Moulin Rouge and significant gentrification, Montmartre has become infinitely more touristy and expensive in recent years. But there are still some lovely hidden gems to unearth once you got off the main streets and away from the Place du Tertre.

Here’s what you should see in Montmartre:

• Sacré-Cœur Basilica – Entrance is free, but it’s 8,00€ to climb the dome
• Moulin Rouge – Birthplace of the can-can dance and Europe’s first cabaret shows
• La Maison Rose – Picturesque pink restaurant occasionally visited by Picasso
• Musee de Montmartre – A museum filled with works about Montmartre
• Place du Tertre – Lively square with artists selling their work
• Bouillon Pigalle – Extremely popular restaurant that always has a long line
• La Mascotte Montmartre – Popular 1889 art nouveau brasserie serving seafood
• Caves des Abbesses – A very popular wine bar

Travel Tip: If you want to go for a meal in Montmartre, don’t eat in the touristy areas. While these restaurants look nice, they are a tourist trap. Instead, walk down side streets and look to see where the locals go. We enjoyed Le St. Graal (burgers and beer) and Autour du Moulin (traditional French spot).

Visit The Musée d’Orsay

After the Louvre, the next most popular museum to visit in Paris is the Musée d’Orsay, which showcases Europe’s largest collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist art through paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects. The museum was originally a railway station called the Gare d’Orsay, which became apparent as soon as we stepped foot inside the vast interior.

Works of art in the Musée d’Orsay by the likes of Monet, Manet, Degas, Renoir, Van Gough, Seurat, Toulouse-Lautec and Cézanne begin at the exact time period where the Louvre ends. Now, we don’t know a huge amount about the history of art, but at least knowing the timelines followed on from each other helped us understand more about the two most famous Paris museums.

At first we felt overwhelmed by the 5 floors inside the Musée d’Orsay but we actually liked the layout and it ended up being way easier to get around than the Louvre. And some of our favorite artworks were located on the 5th floor, so don’t forget to go all the way up to the top.

We’d already eaten so we didn’t grab lunch in the museum’s beautiful restaurant which is filled with French frescoes, but we’d definitely do it next time. There are also smaller cafes inside if you’d prefer a lighter (and cheaper!) bite.

Travel Tip: Head to the 5th floor and look for an enormous clock face near the gift shop in the back of the museum. On a clear day, you can see the Sacré-Cœur Basilica in the distance. It’s awesome!

Climb The Arc de Triomphe

Next up is the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées, neither of which we’d say are truly unmissable, but they are cool to see so you should go if you have plenty of time available on your Paris itinerary. Now, exploring the base of the famous Arc de Triomphe is completely free, but it costs €16 for adults (free for under 18’s) to climb up to the observation deck. Here’s the official site to book tickets.

Even if you don’t pay to go up, there’s plenty to see on the ground floor like the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and intricate carvings of battles. And you can still see the chaotic traffic which is a real eye opener! But it is a much better experience if you go up.

We used our Paris Museum Passes to get free entry, before climbing 284 steps to the observation deck at the top. It was a bit of a lung buster and we didn’t know what to expect, but we were pleasantly surprised.

First, we climbed 202 steps to the attic room which highlighted important information about the monument. Then we climbed another 82 steps to the terrace which ended with far reaching views over Paris and the 12 avenues leading away from the arc like spindles on a bike wheel. Oh, and it was so much more fun to watch the traffic from above!

After we’d finished taking photos from the observation deck, we took a slow walk down the world famous Avenue des Champs-Élysées, grabbed an overpriced coffee and looked in a few shops. It was fun but we were ready to get back into less commercial areas like Le Marais and Saint Germain.

Travel Tip: Do not cross traffic to visit the Arc de Triomphe. Look for an underground tunnel on the Avenue de la Grande Armee which connects directly to the base of the landmark.

Admire Notre-Dame de Paris

The Notre-Dame de Paris is a famous medieval Catholic cathedral located on the Île de la Cité, and it’s a stunning example of Gothic architecture from the Middle Ages with beautiful stained glass windows, an ornate flying buttress and gargoyles surrounding the entire perimeter. Mark prefers the York Minster in England, but it’s where he grew up so he’s biased!

Sadly, Notre-Dame caught fire in April 2019 and had to be carefully reconstructed over several years but thankfully it reopened at the end of 2024. You do not need a ticket to enter the main part of the cathedral, but guided tours are required to access any other areas. There’s always very long lines to get inside Notre Dame, but here’s a top tip – you can book this free reservation online in advance to skip the line.

You can also take this outdoor walking guided tour or visit the Archaeological Crypt underneath the building. We visited the Archaeological Crypt and thought it was well worth a quick hour of our time. It’s a small but interesting museum showing the foundations of buildings constructed between the Gallo-Roman era and the 18th century.

Indulge In Parisian Café Culture

What would a first trip to Paris be without immersing yourself into the enviable Parisian cafe culture? All around the city you’ll find countless cafes with tables and chairs spilling out into the streets, and one of our favorite things to do as tourists is simply grab a seat in a cosy looking cafe, have a slow lunch with a glass of wine, enjoy with a crepe for dessert and watch the world go by.

In Paris, meals are meant to be leisurely and social affairs, so don’t rush. It’s more about the experience than the drinks and food. But if you want to mix coffee with traditional French fare, look for larger restaurants with prime real estate on street corners because they’re usually (but not always) French restaurants.

Some cafes offer non-stop service from morning until night, whereas other more upscale places will close for a few hours between lunch and dinner. Always check the hours of operation before visiting any restaurant, and in peak tourist months you should always reserve a table when possible.

Our favorite parts of Paris to sit and relax in cafes are Saint Germain and Le Marais. Both arrondissements have tons of foodie options and a relaxed higher end atmosphere. We especially like Rue de Buci in Saint Germain – it’s where you’ll find us next time we’re in the city!

Here are some of the most iconic places to eat in Paris:

• Café Procope – Oldest and most established café dating back to 1686
• Au Pied de Cochon – Open 24 hours a day
• Les Deux Magots – Opened in 1885, its been a favorite for famous artists and writers
• Bofinger – One of the most magnificent brasseries in Paris
• La Poule au Pot – A brasserie with 2 Michelin stars
• Le Train Bleu – Lavish spot inside Gare de Lyon train station

Travel Tip: The major downside to sitting in a Parisian café is cigarette smoke. If you’re a non-smoker like us, this is the one thing we just can’t get on board with. If you want to avoid most of the smoke, pick a seat inside because all the smokers will sit outside on the patio.

Take A Wine Or Food Class

Wine and food are kind of a big deal in France, so Paris is the perfect place to take a wine tour or a class on how to make pastries or macarons for example. There’s also tons of foodie tours in different arrondissements, so look around for options near to where you’re staying.

We’ve taken both a wine tasting class and a macaron making class in Paris, and we can highly recommend both. There are lots of companies offering similar tours, so it’s best to read the detailed descriptions and reviews. Here are the classes we took:

Wine tasting at Les Caves du Louvre – This was a super easy and laid back tour through a wine cellar near the Louvre Museum that was once used by the royal family. We took a guided tour with premium tasting and our sommelier was fantastic. After it finished, we walked away amazed at how much we learned, and it was really cool to see this historic cellar. You can book it here.

Macaron making class at Galeries Lafayette – This was another excellent tour on which we learned how to make 2 different types of macarons, the classic French pastry. It’s actually a lot harder than it looks and it has a steep learning curve! The class leader showed us how to create the shells and make the ganache, which was a lot of fun. You can book it here.

If you don’t like the idea of wine or macarons, there’s so many more food tours you can try in Paris. Here are some of the top rated options we can find:

What To Do With More Time

The places we’ve featured so far are the attractions we would prioritize if it were our first time going to Paris again, but if you have more time available here are the attractions, museums and landmarks we also loved visiting:

• Sainte-Chapelle – Stunning gothic style chapel famous for its stained-glass windows
• Cluny Museum – Middle ages art museum inside an old Roman bath house
• Conciergerie – Former courthouse and prison where Marie-Antoinette was housed
• Jardin du Luxembourg – 60 acre green space with popular pond known for sailboats
• Palais Garnier – Stunning 1,979-seat opera house
• Musée Rodin – Sculpture museum showcasing the work of Auguste Rodin
• Mansion of Victor Hugo – The house of Victor Hugo from 1832 to 1848
• Tuileries Garden – Public green space located between the Louvre and Place de la Concord
• Musée de l’Orangerie – Impressionist and post-impressionist paintings near the Tuileries Garden
• Hôtel des Invalides – Army museum with tomb of Napoleon I
• Paris Catacombs – Underground ossuaries holding the remains of 6 million people
• Panthéon – The final resting place of many prominent French citizens
• Montparnasse Tower – A 59-story skyscraper with sweeping city views
• Centre Pompidou – Various multi-media exhibits with children’s play center

Travel Tip: If you want to visit Sainte-Chapelle, make sure to book your time slot in advance or you’ll end up waiting in a long line. Trust us, we know all about that line!

Paris Attractions Map

Click or touch the map below to activate, zoom in and out, and scroll around. If you’d like to see a bigger version, click the “view larger map” icon in the top right, and if you’d like to see anything specific, click the arrow and square icon in the top left.

Map key:

• Red – Our top recommendations
• Purple – Restaurants
• Yellow – Things to do with more time

Our Paris Photos

We always take so many photos when we visit Paris! Here are just a few more of our favorites to get you even more excited for your trip:

---

Next Steps

We hope our guide helps you figure out exactly what you want to do when you visit Paris, but please let us know if you have any other questions in the comments box a little further below.

Still figuring out your plans?

• Read our 2 days in Paris itinerary.
• Book your hotel in one of these Paris arrondissements.
• Here’s what it’s like to visit Paris in November.

Finally, if you’ll be visiting more places on the same trip, we recommend reading our France travel planning guide for helpful tips and advice.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

Enjoy this guide? Pin it for later!

All Rights Reserved © Where Are Those Morgans, LLC. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, maps, graphics, etc.) in whole or in part is strictly prohibited.