Paris: City of Love or Capital of Fashion?- Top Passports

When it comes to Paris, there are plenty of reasons to visit the most romantic city in the world.

From the rich history, to the architecture that adorns the city, from the scenic walks along the Seine to the gastronomic paradise, Paris is a must-visit city, whatever the season. Called the “City of Light“, the “City of Love” or the “Capital of Fashion“, Paris is not only full of internationally renowned attractions, but is a destination that has a lot to offer: art, food, drink, culture, landscapes, history.

We made a list of some of the Paris attractions that we visited, that we liked and that we want to share with you.

The Arc de Triomphe (Arc de triomphe de l’Étoile) is the largest arch in the world and one of the most famous commemorative monuments, located in the center of the Charles de Gaulle Square (formerly called the Place de l’Etoile) from which 12 boulevards radiate, forming a star (étoile).

Napoleon I commissioned the Arc de Triomphe in 1806 – after his great victory at the Battle of Austerlitz (1805) – to celebrate the military achievements of the French armies. The arch, designed by Jean-François-Thérèse Chalgrin, is 50 meters high and 45 meters wide.

Under the arch is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and every evening at 6:30 p.m. its flame is rekindled – a tradition that was not interrupted even during the Nazi Occupation of Paris.

Whether you want to enjoy a walk around the base and under the arches of the Arc de Triomphe for free, or pay a €13 fee to climb the approximately 280 steps to the top (tickets can also be purchased online) and have part of a wonderful view of Paris, you should definitely not miss the most important tourist attraction in Paris.

Once you reach the terrace of the Arc, the panorama of the city is truly spectacular, and on a clear day you can see most of the tourist attractions in the city, especially the Eiffel Tower.

It was supposed to be a temporary structure, but today, the Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris. The original plan was for the tower to be dismantled after 20 years, but designer Gustave Eiffel added a radio antenna and telegraph transmitter to the top, and the French government decided that these would make the tower too useful to tear down. The French ended up using one of the transmitters to jam German radio communications in World War I.

The Eiffel Tower celebrated its 130th anniversary in 2019 – it was inaugurated on March 31, 1889 and opened to the public on May 15 of the same year.

More than seven million people visit the tower annually, making it the most popular and busiest tourist attraction in Paris. Approximately 300 million visitors have been to the tower since its opening.

To avoid the huge queues at the entrance, we recommend visiting the tower in less crowded months such as January, February, the first half of March and November. During the peak season, from mid-June to early September, you can wait up to two hours or even longer.

You can buy tickets on the Eiffel Tower website two months in advance and that way you will wait much less at the entrance. The ticket costs between €10 and €26. On the official website, you can find all the details, available in several languages, from the history, to the schedule, the waiting time and the best time to visit.

There are plenty of metro stations that will take you to the Eiffel Tower, but Place de Trocadéro offers perhaps the most impressive view of the “Iron Lady” in all her glory. It’s the perfect place to capture a full-length photo of the tower and watch the evening light show.

Moulin Rouge is a French cabaret opened in Paris in 1889. It has offered different types of shows over the years, in the beginning Moulin Rouge was a music hall where people discovered the Cancan dance. The Moulin Rouge‘s popularity has waxed and waned over time, but the venue has always provided guests with a great, glamorous atmosphere. The show they are putting on now is a beautiful dance and song show with glittering costumes and amazing choreography called “Féerie” (Fairy/Wonderful Show).

The Champs-Élysées, one of the most famous boulevards in the world, connects the Louvre Museum to the Arc de Triomphe through the famous Place de la Concorde and the Jardin des Tuileries. It is known to be the most glamorous shopping area in Paris, with all the luxury stores on either side of it.

Every day it is visited by approximately 300,000 tourists who come to shop, admire the majestic monuments or participate in the festive events that take place here.

Place Louise-Michel is a green area known for the 222 steps that lead to the Sacré-Cœur Basilica. The market extends to the top of the hill through a series of terraces with lawns, flowers, shrubs and a variety of tree species, including hazelnuts, chestnuts, magnolias, pomegranates and oranges.

The Sacré-Cœur Basilica, located at the top of Montmartre hill, offers a stunning view of Paris. Whether you’re an architecture buff or a believer, you’ll love Sacré-Cœur, where art and religion blend perfectly.

Being one of the highest points in the city (130 meters), this place has always been chosen by believers, due to the feeling of being closer to heaven and God.

Every year, more than 10 million tourists cross its threshold, making it the second most visited church in France, after Notre Dame, which receives around 13 million visitors. You can climb the dome of the church for a spectacular view of Paris, paying a fee of €6/person.

With a capacity of 2,200, the Opéra Garnier, also known as the Palais Garnier, is an architectural treasure and an essential venue for the ballet and classical music scene.

In front of the opera is Galeries Lafayette – a shopping center that offers an unforgettable shopping experience in the most fabulous fashion capital. It is one of the most popular, chic and distinguished shopping centers in Paris, dating back to the late 19th century.

The 43 meter high dome of the main hall became the emblem of the Galeries Lafayette , a particular feature being the warmth of light given to the great hall by the neo-Byzantine windows.

The Terrace of the Galleries offers a beautiful panorama over Paris, from where you can admire the Eiffel Tower, the Opéra Garnier or the Sacré-Cœur Cathedral.

For a break from shopping, you can stop at Galeries Lafayette Gourmet. Spread over 2 floors, Le Gourmet offers the best regional food products or international specialties.

If you want to eat the best macarons, fresh and tender, you should definitely stop by Jean-Paul Hévin Chocolatier (in 2005 he won the award “Best Macaron Maker in Paris“).

Jean-Paul Hévin is a French chocolate maker who operates 4 stores in Paris, 11 in Japan and 2 in Hong Kong.

The Tuileries Garden takes its name from the tile factories that once stood on the site where Queen Catherine de Medici built the Palais des Tuileries in 1564. The French-style gardens connect the Louvre museum to the Place de la Concorde and are the perfect place for a stroll or to relax.

Inside the gardens is also the famous Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, built around 1806 – 1808 to celebrate the Napoleonic victories.

The Louvre Museum is the most visited art museum in the world. Located in the heart of Paris, this historic building is a former royal palace with an area of 210,000 square meters.

The collection is divided into eight departments: Egyptian antiquities, Oriental antiquities, Islamic art, sculptures from the Middle Ages, Renaissance and modern times, art objects, paintings and graphic arts. The museum is open throughout the year, except for January 1, May 1 and December 25, and the price of a ticket costs €17/person.

The grand complex known as Les Invalides isn’t usually on the list of top Paris attractions, but it’s well worth a visit. It includes the imposing Hotel National des Invalides – a former hospital and infirmary, built in 1671 by King Louis XIV to house the wounded, elderly or homeless, the Dome des Invalides – home to the tomb of Emperor Napoleon I and the Musée de l’Armee (Army Museum) – the largest military history museum in France, housing an impressive 50,000 objects and artefacts (armour, weaponry and artillery dating from the 13th and 17th centuries, as well as maps, paintings, uniforms and medals).

Besides these, the surrounding lawns and gardens are only good for a walk or a picnic.

The Institut de France is housed in an imposing and remarkable baroque building with a partially gilded dome, located on the banks of the Seine. The Institut de France defines itself as “the protector of French arts, literature and science” and is also home to the Bibliothèque Mazarine , the oldest public library in France, open to both scholars and visitors.

The Domaine National du Palais-Royal – created by Cardinal Richelieu in 1633 – is just a short walk from the Louvre museum. In the past, the Palais Royal housed the royal families until the Palace of Versailles was built. The gardens are surrounded by gorgeous futuristic architecture with contemporary sculptures. Today, the Palais Royal belongs to the French government and houses the headquarters of the Council of State, the Constitutional Council and the Ministry of Culture.

In the center of Paris, in the middle of the Seine, there are two small islands: Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis. The Ile de la Cité is the oldest settlement in Paris and boasts 3 major Paris landmarks: Notre Dame Cathedral, Pont Neuf and Pont de l’Archevêché. Ile de la Cité is also the perfect place for a riverside picnic, and at night, the illuminated bridges give the island a magical look.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris is the most famous of the Gothic cathedrals built in the Middle Ages and is notable for its size, antiquity and architectural interest. Many visitors come to admire its stained glass windows, towers, bell and gargoyles.

On April 15, 2019, a serious fire devastated the famous cathedral and destroyed most of the roof. Since the fire, the building and its surroundings have been closed to the public, but you can admire it from the bridges crossing the Seine or from the small streets of the Île de la Cité.

Shakespeare and Company is an independent bookstore founded in 1951 that should be on the list of literature lovers visiting Paris. It is probably one of the most famous bookstores in the world and continues to serve as a purveyor of new books, an antiquarian bookstore, and a free reading library open to the public. In addition, the store hosts aspiring writers and artists in exchange for help from the bookstore.

The Alexandre III bridge is considered to be the most beautiful and elegant bridge in Paris, being decorated with lanterns, angels and nymphs. At 160 meters long, the Pont Alexandre III connects the Champs-Élysées and the Invalides district. The bridge was built as a symbol of the peaceful relationship between France and Russia, the first foundation stone being laid by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia in 1896.

Two large copper statues decorate the middle part of the bridge, facing each side of the river. One is named “Nymphs of the Seine” after the river that runs through Paris, and the other is “Nymphs of the Neva”, named after the river that runs through Saint Petersburg, Russia. At its four extremities are huge 17-meter-high pillars crowned with gilded bronze sculptures of winged horses depicting art, agriculture, trade and war.

From the bridge you can enjoy the view of the Eiffel Tower, the Seine and other impressive buildings such as the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais , regardless of the season or time of day.

The Panthéon in Paris dates from 1773 – the time when France was fascinated by all things Greek and Roman. With its 22 Corinthian columns, the Panthéon’s facade was inspired by that of Rome. The crypt contains the tombs of many great French notables such as Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas or Pierre and Marie Curie. From April to October, you can admire Paris from the dome, paying a fee of €2/person, and for the inside of the Panthéon you have to pay €9/person.