World famous landmarks, dazzling architecture, lamplit bridges that span the river Seine and charming bistros that line the streets and squares. With its scenic splendour, café culture and hundreds of museums and art venues, there is always a captivating buzz about Paris. So, what to see if it’s your first time? Jeremy Flint shares Paris must-sees for first time visitors.
Best places for aerial views of Paris
It is impossible to imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower, so any visit to this fascinating city must start here. The iconic and elegant technological masterpiece overlooks the Champ de Mars parc and Trocadero gardens (great for a picnic). At 320-metres tall, the wrought-iron structure is named after Gustave Eiffel, whose company built and designed it in the late 1800s. The views from every level are stupendous. If you’re feeling fit, head to the second level via a 704-step staircase. Or take the elevator to each level. The third floor has restaurants and bars.
Insider Tip: Head to the Champagne bar at the top for a special treat (and to avoid queues).
At one end of the Avenue des Champs-Élysées, the 50-metre-high Arc de triomphe is the focal point of the city’s most iconic avenue. Built in 1836 to commemorate Napoleon’s victorious army and France’s military prowess, the elaborately sculpted Arc is free to visit at ground level. Paying visitors can climb the 284 steps (or take an elevator part way and climb the rest) to the observation deck at the top for breath-taking views of the Eiffel Tower and Basilica of Sacré Coeur.
Must-sees for first timers in Paris
Stroll along the UNESCO-listed riverbanks of the Seine and admire the sights including the bouquinistes, the green book-sellers boxes (the book trade has been plied here since the 16th century), and Pont Alexandra III bridge with its ornate decorations, Art Nouveau lamps and huge gilded statues, from here you’ll have a fabulous view of the Eiffel Tower.
Place de la Concorde is where many were despatched by guillotine during the French Revolution, including King Louis XIV and Queen Marie-Antoinette. The square is home to two famous and picture-worthy fountains, and the 3,300-year-old Egyptian obelisk of Luxor and the Hôtel de la Marine. Like a miniature chateau, it was built to house the royal families overflow furniture and is now a marvellous museum.
The Musée d’Orsay, a former train station, houses a huge collection of magnificent masterpieces of French art and the view from the giant clock window is fabulous. Across the river, the formal 28-hectare Jardin des Tuileries filled with fountains, ponds and sculptures is a great place to sit and relax before tackling the Louvre, the world’s biggest museum which makes navigating it a fine art in itself. (The Good Life France podcast: the history of the Louvre and how to visit).
Give your feet a rest and take a boat cruise to see the sites from a Bateaux Mouches.
The Sacré-Coeur Basilica in Montmartre is a must-see. The Basilica is the second highest point in the city (after the Eiffel Tower) with impressive panoramic views over Paris, whilst its ceiling is decorated with the biggest mosaic in France. The nearby Place du Tertre is a perfect place to soak up the atmosphere of Paris.
If you dislike stairs be wary of the Abbesses metro stop which is recommended for visiting Montmartre and Sacré Coeur, but at 36 metres underground, it’s the deepest in Paris. If you’re elderly, lazy or exhausted, opt for Anvers (Metro line 2), which is kinder on the legs and a great approach to Sacré Coeur.
Many flock to see the great Cathedral of Notre-Dame on the Île de la Cité (due to reopen 8 December 2024). Don’t miss a visit to the ancient remains below the Cathedral, and a stone’s throw away is the 19th century flower market, a hidden gem. And why not take a break at the nearby restaurant Vieux Paris d’Arcole. Aside from the astonishingly pretty façade and an incredibly ornate interior, the staff are super friendly.
Head to the Grande Mosquée, the oldest mosque in mainland France, to see its impressive 33-metre-high minaret and beautiful gardens.
Finally, detour to the Marché aux Puces de Saint Ouen – a vast labyrinth of flea market shops, or Marché des Enfants Rouges in the Marais district, it’s the oldest food market in Paris and opened in 1615. There’s a fun restaurant just around the corner called PNY which serves some of the best burgers in Paris.
Jeremy Flint is an award-winning professional photographer and writer specialising in travel, landscape and location photography.
Take a Perfect Paris Tour with Janine Marsh, author and editor of The Good Life France
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