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all about Paris, France
What to See in Paris
One of the best value and most convenient ways to see the sights of Paris is with the Paris Museum Pass (previously known as Carte Musées et Monuments), a pre-paid entry card that allows entry into over 70 museums and monuments around Paris and comes in 2-day (€30), 4-day (€45) and 6-day (€60) denominations (prices as of March 2007). The card allows you to jump otherwise sometimes lengthy queues and is available from participating museums, tourist offices, Fnac branches and all the main Métro and RER train stations. You will still need to pay to enter most special exhibitions.
Note that most museums and galleries are closed on either Monday or Tuesday - check ahead to avoid disappointment! - and most ticket counters close 30 - 45 minutes before final closing.
Also consider the ParisPass also a pre paid entry card + queue jumping to 60 attractions including The Louvre, The Arc de Triomphe, as well as a river cruise, open top bus tour, cycle hire and allows free metro & public transport travel.
All national museums are open free of charge on the first Sunday of the month; note, however, that this may mean long lines and crowded exhibits. Keep away from Paris during Easter week. It's really crowded. People have to queue up at the Eiffel tower for several hours.
These listings are just some highlights of things that you really should see if you can during your visit to Paris. The complete listings are found on each individual district page (follow the link in parenthesis).
A good listing of almost everything to do in Paris are the 'Pariscope', the 'Officiel des spectacles', and the much hipper 'Zurban' , weekly magazines listing all concerts, stage plays and museums. Available from many kiosks. Unfortunately their website is of no use at all. If you prefer a web version, you can visit Cityzeum, with maps of Paris, audio tours to download freely and more than 2000 visit and entertainment points.
Landmarks
- the Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel). One of the most famous landmarks in the world.
- Père-Lachaise Cemetery. See the grave of Jim Morrison amongst many others.
- Catacombs. Used to store the exhumed bones from the overflowing Paris cemetery.
- Arc de Triomphe. The grave of the unknown soldier is under the arch.
- Notre Dame Cathedral. Impressive Gothic cathedral that was the inspiration for Victor Hugo's novel The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Saved in the 19th century by the best-known french architect Viollet-le-Duc.
- Sacré Coeur . A church perched on top of the highest point in Paris. Behind the church is the artists' area, in front are spectacular views of the whole city.
- Sainte Chapelle . Far more beautiful than the famous, but gloomy, Notre Dame. Make sure you go an a sunny day, as the highlight of this small chapel in Rayonnante Gothic style are the large stained-glass windows which soar up to near the vaulted ceiling. Also of interest is the extremely ornate lower level. If it happens to be rainy or cloudy, give Sainte Chappelle a miss, as the play of colored lights on the floor are well worth the wait for a sunnier day.
- Pantheon . Underneath, the final resting place for the great heroes of the French Republic; above, a marvellous view of the city.
- Chateau de Versailles. On the outskirts of the city, the "must see" home of the Sun King Louis XIV.
- Grand Arche de la Defense. A modern office-building variant of the Arc de Triomphe. Has a viewing platform.
Museums and galleries
- The Louvre. One of the finest museums in the world of art, art-history, and culture. Be prepared to walk as this is a fairly large facility and has many rooms to view.
- Musée d'Orsay. Home to the great artists of the 19th century (1848-1914) - Impressionists, post-Impressionists, and the rest...
- Centre Georges Pompidou. the great museum of modern art, the building an attraction in itself...
- Jacquemart-Andre Museum. Private collection of French, Italian, Dutch masterpieces in a typical XIXth century mansion... Official website
- Picasso Museum. Contains the master's own collections.
- Rodin Museum. His personal collection and archives, in a charming hotel and sprawling garden.
- Delacroix. National museum housed in the home of painter Eugene Delacroix.
- Invalides. Museum of arms and armor from the Middle Ages to today.
- Carnavalet. Museum of Paris history; exhibitions are permanent and free. Noted for its collection of French Revolution artifacts, such as David's famous painting Serment du Jeu de Paume. Has Proust's bed and the dauphin's room in the prison tower diarama. Located in the Marais.
- Cluny. Paris's medieval museum, housed in a part roman, part medieval building.
- Le Musée de l'AP-HP. Paris's medical history.
- Le Musee des Arts Decoratifs. Showcasing eight centuries of French savoir faire.
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