21 Best Landmarks In Paris

You’re planning a vacation to Paris and looking for the best landmarks to visit? We’ve got your back! Paris is a must-see location. Its rich history, engaging culture, and romantic attractiveness have drawn millions of visitors worldwide.

Paris, nestled along the tranquil banks of the Seine River, has an astonishing collection of icons that are not just architectural wonders but also emblems of the city’s enduring history.

Let’s take a virtual tour of the finest landmarks in Paris, each of which tells a different tale about the city’s past and present.

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1. Eiffel Tower

Location: Champ de Mars, 5, avenue Anatole France

The Eiffel Tower, Paris’s most iconic monument, was created by Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution.

The Eiffel Tower represents an architectural masterpiece, weighing over 10,000 tons and formerly standing as the highest building in the world. It also offers a great view from the summit, so make the effort to get there.

Instead of standing in line for hours, you may buy your tickets and skip the wait. When visiting the Eiffel Tower, there are two methods to get there: the daring may take the steps, while the others can use the elevator.

2. Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral

Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral with Red and White Roses in Foreground, France

Location: 6 Parvis Notre-Dame – Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 Paris, France

Indeed, this architectural marvel illuminates the whole region. Notre Dame, with its lofty towers that inspired one of Victor Hugo’s novels, bears a testament to Paris’s past.

The building process began in 1163 and lasted over two centuries. When you explore the Cathedral, you will learn about these historical facts and fall in love with the stained glass as well as the rose windows.

The Notre Dame Cathedral is now closed to the public as it is being restored. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2024. You may still stroll up to and around it to see its exquisite architecture, which makes it one of Paris’ renowned landmarks.

3. Louvre

Location: rue de Rivoli, 1st district

It was the French monarchs’ palace, and via its diverse collections, it now allows visitors to experience Western art from the Middle Ages until 1848, as well as ancient civilizations.

The Louvre Museum now houses almost 38,000 works of art. Be sure to see the medieval foundations on the bottom ground level.

I propose that you prepare for your visit by visiting the Museum’s website: the Louvre is so large that you can easily get lost, both metaphorically and physically.

4. Panthéon

Location: 5th arrondissement

Built to be a church, the Panthéon evolved into a necropolis for France’s most notable residents and a well-known national monument.

The Panthéon dominates the center of the Latin Quarter. It overlooks the 5th district from atop Montagne Sainte-Geneviève. The Parisian Pantheon was created as a monument and was inspired by the Pantheon in Rome.

The crypts within are home to some of the world’s greatest French celebrities. This includes renowned names as well as a short sentence summarizing their life.

5. Grand Palais

Location: Avenue Winston Churchill – 8th district

The Grand Palais was created for the 1900 World’s Fair and is today one of France’s most crucial exposition sites. It has previously served as a WWI military hospital and the French opposition headquarters.

Today, it is still utilized as an event hall, but beneath Europe’s biggest steel and glass roof, you’ll also discover a science museum and the National Galleries’ fascinating exhibitions.

6. Opera Garnier

Location: Pl. de l’Opéra, 75009 Paris, France

The Opera Garnier was built to house the Paris Opera. In 1989, the opera relocated to the more modern Bastille Opera House, causing the Opera Garnier to formally alter its name to the Palais Garnier and became mainly a home for ballet.

You may enjoy a self-guided tour of its stunning interior, which includes an enormous grand staircase as well as a horseshoe-shaped theatre with a Marc Chagall-painted roof. Don’t miss Box Five, which is devoted to Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera.

7. Champs-Élysées

Location: 8th arrondissement

The Champs-Élysées are famous for its cinemas, coffee shops, and luxury stores, in addition to the conclusion of the famous Tour de France cycling event as well as the annual Bastille Day military show. The title is taken after the Greek legendary place of the Elysian Fields.

Les Champs-Élysées, as the flagship site for retail super-brands both new and old, sets the flag for the French capital’s title to be Europe’s greatest shopping destination.

8. River Seine

The Seine continues to play an essential role in French life, society, and character. The harbor of Le Havre at the starting point of the Seine is France’s biggest international marine port, and the river traverses the Île-de-France, or the Paris Region, the richest and most populous of France’s 27 administrative regions.

The Seine is at the core of Parisian life, dear to all Parisians, a vital artery teeming with commercial and recreational activity. Events such as Paris Plages as well as The Banks of the Seine, in addition to riverboats, are the local favorites.

9. Arc de Triomphe

Location: 75017 Paris, France

This landmark may be found in the 8th, 16th, and 17th arrondissements. Jean Chalgrin designed the Arc de Triomphe. It commemorates France’s illustrious history and pays honor to those who fought and died for the country during the French Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

The renowned monument receives approximately 1.5 million visitors every year on average, which makes it one of France’s most visited attractions.

10. Centre Pompidou

Location: Place Georges-Pompidou, 75004 Paris, France

The Centre Pompidou is a Paris landmark known for its contentious design, but it is best known for its world-class treasures of modern art. The Pompidou Centre is particularly well-known for its public library, which has around 500,000 books and other media.

With six levels of contemporary and modern art to enjoy, including a rooftop patio to explore, it’s no surprise that the Centre Pompidou is one of Paris’ most popular attractions.

11. Musée d’Orsay

Location: 7th district, 75007 Paris, France

The original structure at this location before the museum was Palais d’Orsay. It was constructed in 1810 but burned and destroyed in 1817. Following the destruction of the Palace, three architects were charged with designing and building the railroad station since this landmark was once a train station.

Tips if you want to view other landmarks from Musée d’Orsay: The first location is on the second level, behind the big clock, and offers a beautiful view of the Seine River. The second view comes from the terrace on the museum’s last level, immediately above the Café des Hauteurs.

12. Place Vendôme

Location: 1st district

The Place Vendôme is a famous and elegant neoclassical square in Paris. The exteriors of all the buildings were erected before the real construction of the plaza so that it would be beautiful.

The square became the Place des Piques throughout the Revolution. Later, a massive column was erected in the square’s middle, replacing the monument of Louis XIV. It features a low relief that resembles Trajan’s Column in Rome.

13. Saint-Jacques Tower

Location: Square de la Tour Saint-Jacques, 4th arrondissement, 75004 Paris, France

Saint-Jacques Tower served as a church for the local merchants as well as a pilgrimage site. It is situated on the route that leads to Santiago de Compostela.

A public area was built around the tower as well. The structure was the first one built in Paris under the Haussmann government. Paris desired green areas similar to those found in London.

The tour of the tower starts with its history, genesis, and hard construction. After numerous stops to learn about the mysteries of the tower, which had been partially demolished during the French Revolution, you may enjoy the breathtaking view from the top of the tower.

14. Hôtel des Invalides

Location: 7th arrondissement, 75007 Paris, France

Les Invalides is an expansive collection of structures and courtyards devoted to the entire military in Paris. The star of the display is Napoleon himself, whose tomb is housed beneath the characteristic huge golden dome.

His ashes were put in a red quartzite, over a black marble foundation from Sainte-Luce, and his coffin was buried in an open circular vault created in the heart of the Saint-Louis, beneath the dome.

15. Basilica of Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre

Location: 35 Rue du Chevalier de la Barre, 18th arrondissement

Parisians commonly refer to it as “that big meringue” that stands with its turrets sticking out like sharp peaks atop Montmartre’s steep heights, with more than a hint of disdain.

If you’re just getting to know the French capital, a trip to the old basilica is well worth it if only to soak in the sweeping vistas from the balconies outside.

To enter the Dome, use the door on the left side of the Basilica. That is, assuming you have the stamina to walk the last 300 stairs to the top–there won’t be an elevator.

16. Paris City-Hall

Location: 40 Rue du Louvre, 4th arrondissement

The Paris City Hall serves as one of the most visited landmarks in the French city. The ancient edifice, located on the shores of the Seine, has served as the headquarters of the city council since 1977.

The massive exterior is adorned with 338 individual sculptures of famous Parisians, including lions along with additional sculptural elements. Under specific situations, groups may visit the inside of the City Hall. It has enormous spaces that can accommodate lavish banquets and receptions.

17. Place des Vosges

Location: 4th arrondissements

The Place des Vosges is the city’s earliest properly designed public space, going back to the 17th century.

The structures and gardens seen today were authorized by King Henri IV and finished about 1612; the area was previously known as “Place Royale.”

You may window shop beneath the arched galleries, have lunch on one of the terraces, or look for the right artwork to display in your living room.

18. Alpine Garden

Location: 57 Rue Cuvier, 5th arrondissements

The Alpine Garden, as it is now known in the Jardin des Plantes, was created in the 1930s by André Guillaumin a botanist and an assistant to the head of Culture at the Museum.

The Jardin des Plantes conceals a stunning alpine garden. Once in the garden, there is an underground passage that leads to this secret alpine garden.

This garden is a wonderful find due to its private and secluded nature; it is less visited than the other ones and is a true cocoon for a bucolic escape.

19. Pont-Neuf

Location: 1st and 6th arrondissements, 75001 Paris, France

Despite its name, which translates as “New Bridge,” it is the city’s oldest bridge, across the Seine River. The bridge was built by King Henry III, although its design was revised many times before it was formally opened to the public.

The Pont Neuf provides excellent views of the Seine’s left and right banks, as well as the Ile de la Cité. This is also an excellent starting point for a romantic stroll around Paris before or after dusk.

20. Montparnasse Tower

Location: 33 Av. du Maine, 15th arrondissement

Montparnasse Tower, at 210 meters, is a tall skyscraper in Paris, France. This is the second-highest building in Paris, after the Eiffel Tower.

The building is largely used for workplaces, although it also has some commercial businesses and an observation deck on the 56th floor.

The Montparnasse Tower is open daily from 9:30 a.m. until 11:30 p.m. Only on Bastille Day does the tower close early for a ticketed event.

21. Les Halles

Location: 75001 Paris, 1st arrondissement

Les Halles de Paris is a title assigned to the Halles Centrales, a wholesale marketplace for fresh food goods in the center of Paris that inspired the name of the surrounding neighborhood.

For many years, this magnificent market served as the city’s food delivery core. The massive steel arches spanned the main market area, which sold vegetables throughout the day and also served as a common meeting place for Parisians.

Christine Rogador

Hi, I’m Christine – a full-time traveler and career woman. Although I’m from the Philippines, my location independent career took me to over 40 countries and lived in 4 continents in the last 10 years, including France. A self-proclaimed Francophile, I love everything France.