Top 10 Sights You Can’t Miss Sightseeing Paris

Paris has so much to see and do! The culture and architecture of the city are one of a kind. Sightseeing Paris can be done on a budget keeping your bank account happy and having an amazing experience. Most of the sights to see are low cost, free, and easy to get to. Below are the top ten places you should put on your list when sightseeing Paris aka the City of Light.

 Notre Dame

*** Update: After the 2019 Fire in Notre Dame, the Cathedral is closed and won’t be reopened for years until repairs are made and the building is structurally safe for visitors. *** 

Notre Dame is the main Cathedral of the Catholic Church in Paris. The gothic style architecture is beautiful and hi-lights the choir’s voices during mass. If you are Catholic then you can attend regular Mass times. During Mass, the public is asked to be respectful of the service taking place.

Other than its religious significance, Notre Dame is also a historical landmark in Paris. Beneath the church is the crypt which costs €6 and you can also climb up to the tower for €8,50.

Apart from Notre Dame the other locations are still available to make the most out of your sightseeing Paris adventures.

 Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous landmarks in Paris! There is a ticket price to get up to the three levels of the tower. The ticket price to the 2nd level is €16 and €25 to the top. The lines are usually a long wait because there is only so much space in each elevator.  Below are some amazing views that can be seen from the second highest level of the Eiffel Tower.

 Arc de Triomphe

It is free to walk around and marvel at the beautiful monument but there is a ticket price of €8 to go to the top of the Arc. You can see the Champs Elysees from the top and other parts of the city. For only eight euros it’s worth it for the perspective shift.

 Champs Elysees

This is a long stretch of expensive name brand shops. For example, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, etc. The street is right in front of the Arc de Triumph. It’s great to stop and take pictures here for those IG posts. There are expensive restaurants here but if you have the budget for it spend on a traditional multi course Parisian meal. It’s worth it!

Palais Garnier

The Palais Garnier or Paris Opera House used to have performances in Opera, Theater, and Ballet. Now it is the home to the Paris Opera Ballet Company. There is a rich history of the arts in all three forms. Inside there is a museum that houses original ballet costumes, sets, scores from Mozart and Tchaikovsky, famous operas, and so many more! Degas famous “The Rehearsals” piece was featured in the Opera House Museum.

Needless to say, this is one of if not my favorite sight to see in Paris with my dance background and love of history.

 Louvre 

The Louvre is home to some of the worlds most famous artwork and cherished relics. The museum is very large and has many dedicated sections to break it up into categories. There are thousands of paintings, sculptures, relics from Egypt, etc. Tickets are €15. Free admission to the museum includes: under 18 years old, Fridays @6pm for those 26 and under, Bastille Day, from October to March every first Sunday of the month.

 Musée  de l’Orangerie 

The museum houses Claude Monet’s famous Water Lilies and the Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume collection . Ticket price is €9 except for every first Sunday of the Month admission is free. Also people under the age of 18 have free admission. If you don’t want to purchase individual tickets for each museum there is a pass available for majority of the museums in Paris under one ticket! You can pick and choose which one’s to go see and cut costs a little.

 Musée  d’Orsay 

The museum was constructed from a train station. There you can find pieces from Picasso, Renoir, Degas, etc. Ticket price is €12 except on every first Sunday of the month admission is free. Those under 18 are also free to enter the museum without a ticket purchase. Being a dancer myself this was one I was excited to visit because of the Degas ballerina collections he painted.

 Sacré-Cœur

Also known as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris. It’s a Catholic church and small basilica. It is famous for the white architecture in contrast to the gothic style architecture of Notre Dame. All churches are free to enter but may have a donation box set up for people passing through.

 Pantheon

The Pantheon looks out over all of Paris and has a monument to the French Revolution and infamous French nationals are buried there. It’s free to enter and wander around the monument.

I hope that this helps you in planning a trip to sightseeing Paris! If you have any questions feel free to comment. Paris can be expensive but some of the activities you can get by sightseeing on a budget. Museum passes are available to visit multiple for a cheaper price instead of individual tickets. For more on visiting Paris check out my Post on Shopping, Transportation, and Food in Paris!

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