What to see in Paris: the best-known sights

The best-known places in Paris, ordered by how much interest they draw around the world, with a short summary of each.

A list built from open Wikipedia and Wikidata data, ordered by how much interest the places draw around the world. Check opening hours and prices before you go.

  1. Eiffel Tower

    observation towerarchitectural landmark

    The Eiffel Tower is a lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower from 1887 to 1889.

    Paris, France

    See on Wikipedia

  2. Louvre

    art museumarchaeological museum

    The Louvre is a national art museum in Paris, France.

    Paris, France

    See on Wikipedia

  3. Notre-Dame de Paris

    minor basilicacatholic cathedral

    Notre-Dame de Paris, often referred to simply as Notre-Dame, is a medieval Catholic cathedral and basilica on the Île de la Cité, in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, France.

    Paris, France

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  4. Musée d'Orsay

    art museumnational museum

    The Musée d'Orsay is a museum in Paris, France, on the Left Bank of the Seine. It is housed in the former Gare d'Orsay, a Beaux-Arts railway station built from 1898 to 1900.

    Paris, France

    See on Wikipedia

  5. Champs-Élysées

    boulevardavenue

    The Avenue des Champs-Élysées, usually shortened to the Champs-Élysées, is an avenue in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, France.

    Paris, France

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  6. Bibliothèque nationale de France

    national library

    The Bibliothèque nationale de France is the national library of France, located in Paris on two main sites, Richelieu and François-Mitterrand.

    Paris, France

    See on Wikipedia

  7. Bastille

    castle

    The Bastille was a medieval fortress in Paris, known as the Bastille Saint-Antoine. It played an important role in the internal conflicts of France and for most of its history was used as a state prison by the kings of France.

    Paris, France

    See on Wikipedia

  8. Arc de Triomphe

    triumphal arch

    The Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile, often simply called the Arc de Triomphe, is one of the most famous monuments in Paris, France.

    Paris, France

    See on Wikipedia

  9. Venus de Milo

    statuearchaeological artefact

    The Venus de Milo or Aphrodite of Melos is an ancient Greek marble sculpture that was created during the Hellenistic period.

    Paris, France

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  10. Stade de France

    stadiumolympic stadium

    Stade de France is the national stadium of France, located just north of Paris in the commune of Saint-Denis. Its seating capacity of 81,338 makes it the largest stadium in France.

    Paris, France

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  11. Collège de France

    library

    The Collège de France, founded in 1530 by Francis I of France, is a higher education and research establishment in France. It is located in Paris near La Sorbonne.

    Paris, France

    See on Wikipedia

  12. Père Lachaise Cemetery

    cemetery

    Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in Paris, France, at 44 hectares.

    Paris, France

    See on Wikipedia

Texts and photos come from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, generally under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license: the author and license of each text and photo are on the article page linked at each place. Place data from OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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