You’ve probably been to Paris. I mean, who hasn’t? But have you ever really seen it? Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with countless monuments and museums that will take your breath away. There are so many things to do in this city that it can be hard to decide where to start! That’s why I put together this guide for all my fellow travelers looking to explore Paris like a local. Here are some of my favorite spots:
The City of Lights
Paris is the most visited city in the world, and for good reason. It's a city of fashion, culture, art and history. There are over 2,000 restaurants - including many Michelin-starred establishments - along with 300 museums (including the Louvre) and over 100 parks that provide plenty of opportunities to work on your tan while you're here! You can bike along its extensive network of bike paths almost anywhere you'd like it's estimated that there are over 100 miles worth of bike lanes throughout Paris!
La Défence
La Défense is the business district of Paris, and it's located in the western part of the city. It's connected to the center by one of Paris' subway lines, which makes it easy for visitors to reach from all over town.
La Défense houses some 80 companies and organizations including many corporate headquarters and offices like LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (whose building you can see in this photo), Accor SA, Air Liquide SA and Société Générale S.A. There are also many shops here such as Le Printemps Haussmann department store or Galeries Lafayette Haussmann department store where you can find souvenirs or shop for clothes if you're feeling like splurging!
Versailles
Versailles is a city in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region of France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris, 22.5 km southwest from the centre of Paris. In a friendly tone
Arc de Triomphe
One of the most iconic monuments in Paris, Arc de Triomphe is a triumphal arch that was built in 1806. It’s located at the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle, which is one of the city's largest squares. It's so well-known that it’s often used as a symbol for Paris itself!
Arc de Triomphe has been featured in many movies like "Ronin" and "The Bourne Ultimatum." The names of soldiers who died during World War I are engraved on its sides. On top of it stands an imposing statue called La Marseillaise (The Hymn).
Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum, located on the banks of the River Seine in Paris, is the world's largest museum. Built in 1793 and originally called the Palais du Louvre, its name was changed to Musée du Louvre in 1793 and then again to Musée Napoléon at the end of 1816. It has been known as a museum since 1843 when it reopened after being closed during World War II.
The Louvre houses roughly 70,000 pieces of art (1) including some famous works by da Vinci and Vermeer but also ancient artifacts like a 5-ton stone pyramid from a tomb that dates back about 4500 years (2).
Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles is a royal château in Versailles, France. It was the principal residence of the Kings of France from Louis XIV to Napoleon III. The palace is also known for its extensive gardens, which are listed as among the most impressive in Europe and the world.
After much debate about whether or not to visit Versailles, we decided that it was worth it for us to go. We wanted to see how royalty lived back in the day and how different their lives were from ours today. We were not disappointed! The palace itself may seem like a simple place at first glance but once you get inside, you'll discover that there are many hidden gems within its walls (and outside too).
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Located near the Place du Parvis-Notre Dame, this cathedral is the most famous and iconic building in Paris. Its architecture is so beautiful that it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This is one of the most popular spots in Paris, so be prepared to wait before you're allowed inside! The line is usually long but moves quickly because of how many people are visiting every day. You can buy tickets online if you'd like to bypass the queue or just arrive earlier than normal (they open at 8:00 AM). If you want an audio guide, it costs extra but gives detailed information about each room or piece of art within Notre-Dame Cathedral—it's worth it if you want to learn more while admiring all its beauty!
Disneyland Paris
Located in Marne-la-Vallee, Disneyland Paris is the most visited theme park in Europe and the second most popular theme park in the world. It’s divided into 7 different zones: Main Street USA, Frontierland, Adventureland, Discoveryland (formerly known as Discoveryland), Mickey’s Toontown (formerly known as Fantasyland), Walt Disney Studios Park and Disney Village which offers many shops and restaurants.
Disneyland Park is home to Sleeping Beauty Castle at its heart while it’s surrounded by Main Street USA with its vintage cars traveling along this small-town street lined with shops such as The Emporium selling toys or Pottery Barn Kids selling clothes for children. There are also several restaurants including Café Hyperion serving breakfast all day long while Star Wars Launch Bay allows visitors to enter Darth Vader's TIE Advanced X1 space fighter from Star Wars: The Force Awakens which underwent a full restoration after being damaged during filming at Pinewood Studios outside London back in 2014.
Walt Disney Studios Park is home to many attractions based on characters from movies such as Ratatouille: L'Aventure Totalement Toquee de Rémy where guests can meet Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt) from Pixar's animated movie Ratatouille; Les Mystères du Nautilus where guests join Captain Nemo on an adventure undersea beneath the sea; Le Visionarium where guests see some of their favorite Disney stories come alive through innovative technology like 3D glasses using sensory effects such as wind gusts through speakers plus holography!
Montmartre
Montmartre is the highest point in Paris and an ideal place to visit for a day trip. It's home to many restaurants and cafes, as well as museums such as the Musée des Abattoirs. Artists have been attracted to Montmartre since the 19th century, so many of their works are displayed throughout its streets and alleyways.
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is a 19th-century iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. At the time of its construction, it was the tallest structure in Paris. The tower has three levels for visitors and an antenna at the top.
The Eiffel Tower was built from 1887 to 1889 as a temporary exhibit for the World's Fair (World's Fair 1889). Its elevation marks the highest point in Paris at 375 meters (1,230 feet) above sea level. It was originally meant to be dismantled after 20 years but proved so popular that it remained standing for over 100 years!
Paris, a city known for its rich history, culture, and unique charm is a traveler’s paradise.
Paris is a city known for its rich history, culture, and unique charm. While there are many places to visit in Paris, we’ve handpicked some of our favorite spots. If you want to spend your time exploring just one area of the city, these are our top choices.
The Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum houses over 35,000 works of art in an enormous building that was once a palace built by King Louis XIV (1638-1715). Today it's home to incredible sculptures by Rodin (1840-1917), Monet (1840-1926) and other famous artists from around the world. It also holds one of Europe's largest collections of Leonardo da Vinci paintings as well as paintings by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–69) and Velázquez de Silva y Pacheco (1599–1660). For those who love art history this is definitely a must see!
Eiffel Tower
You can't come all this way without seeing this iconic landmark! The Eiffel Tower stands 984 ft tall and has become one of the most recognizable structures in modern day architecture since its completion back in 1889 when it was built for France's World Fair event which ran from May 6th through November 11th, 1889, whose theme was "Honour to Industry." Though originally intended to stand for 20 years only due to fears about its safety due either earthquakes or high winds but later became permanent after public outcry against dismantling it once again surfaced during World War II because people worried about being attacked by German forces."
Conclusion
Whether you’re visiting Paris for the first time or a seasoned pro, there are plenty of things to do and see that will keep you entertained. We hope this guide has given you some ideas on what makes this city great!