Things to Do in Paris

Paris's icon is unmissable at sunset when the city glows gold and the tower sparkles every hour after dark. Book online — queues without a booking can be 2+ hours.

The world's most visited museum: the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace, and 35,000 other works. It's vast — plan your visit around the highlights you care most about.

The world's finest Impressionist collection in a converted railway station: Monet's Water Lilies series, Van Gogh's Self-Portrait, Renoir, Degas, Seurat. The architecture itself is extraordinary.

Paris's hilltop village: the white domes of Sacré-Cœur, Place du Tertre where artists paint portraits, the vineyard, and winding cobbled streets where Picasso and Modigliani once lived. Free to explore; skip the tourist portrait touts.

Walk the Quais de Seine from Notre-Dame to the Eiffel Tower along the riverbanks — a UNESCO heritage site. The bouquinistes (green-box booksellers) have lined these banks since the 16th century.

The Sun King's palace of 700 rooms, the Hall of Mirrors, and 800 hectares of baroque gardens — the most visited château in the world. Take the RER C (40 min from central Paris, €3.85 each way).

Europe's finest modern art museum in an inside-out building with coloured pipes: Picasso, Kandinsky, Matisse, Duchamp, and major temporary exhibitions. The rooftop terrace has exceptional 360° views.

Paris's best traditional market: fresh cheese, charcuterie, oysters, rotisserie chickens, seasonal vegetables, and the covered Beauvau market with its specialist food shops. Bustling Tuesday–Sunday mornings.