Paris Attractions – Sites & Sights in the City of Light

There's a lot to see in Paris. Of course there are the big Paris attractions like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, a trip out to Versailles. But, we love Paris for the lovely, smaller, everyday sites and sights as well.

So, we'd like to introduce you to some of the less-well-known Paris attractions — the things that, nonetheless, help to make the city what it is, the city we love to spend time in. The gardens and parks, the city's squares and plazas, hidden attractions, family attractions, and even the bridges. We'll also share tips on visiting the bigger attractions.

Quick Guide to 8 Top Paris Tourist Attractions

It can be a challenge to decide what to see and then determine the best ways to see it all. So, let's start with some of the attractions we already know you will want to visit — like the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower and Musée d'Orsay.

In our quick guide to the top 8 tourist attractions we'll tell you how to get there, how to get in, share Insiders advice, and even tell you how to save on tickets.

The Top Attractions In Paris – 5 Insiders Itineraries

As we said, there are a lot of attractions in Paris, and we do mean a LOT! How are you going to fit in the top sights without getting too tired out? It's because of that question that we created five manageable half-day or full-day itineraries that take you to the top attractions in the center of the city.

Our itineraries take you to Montmartre; to the Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe; to the Eiffel Tower and the Trocadero; to the Musée d'Orsay; and tell you the best way to explore the Louvre.

The Gardens & Parks of Paris

Why does Paris seem greener and more open than most other European capitals? And how does it accomplish that when the population density is so high?

We think it's because of the proliferation of gardens and parks, found in every corner of the city. Some are large, like Jardin du Luxembourg, but many are tiny, pocket parks set on a corner or next to a Metro station. Read our guide.

The Bridges of Paris

They are more than simply a way to get across the river. The bridges of Paris are part of the city's past, and its present and, to our mind, are some of the most charming and interesting aspects of the City on the Seine.

These graceful and architecturally-interesting crossings add to the overall charm of the city, with the oldest bridge dating back to the reign of king Henry IV and the newest bridges as modern as today.

Les Places & Squares

Paris is the most densely-populated European capital city yet somehow manages to feel open and light. That's because, in addition to the parks like Luxembourg and the Tuileries, Paris is graced with a veritable plethora of public squares and plazas, called places in French.

These contribute to the openness, the airiness of the city and are the meeting places and crossroads of the urban area. Let's visit a curated selection of them.

Fun Family Attractions in Paris

Now let's move from the eerie to the cheery!

Paris is a great place for a family vacation. We've done lots of things with our son Alexandre over years — from zoos to parks to science museums to walking tours. Now we share some of our best ideas so you, too, can have fun with your kids in the City of Fun!