This is the best-of-Paris route — iconic landmarks balanced with hidden gems, world-class art, and neighbourhood flavour. Covers the essential experiences without turning the trip into a checklist.
Early entry to beat the queues. Take the stairs to Level 2, then the lift to the top. Morning light over Paris is exceptional.
Cross the Seine to the Trocadéro esplanade for the classic Eiffel Tower photo. The fountain and formal gardens make it the best vantage point in the city.
The Impressionist masterpieces: Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Degas. The building itself — a converted Belle Époque railway station — is half the experience.
The Gothic masterpiece reopened in 2024 after the 2019 fire. The restored interior is stunning — a once-in-a-generation chance to see it fresh. Queues move, but arrive with time.
Just steps from Notre-Dame — the most beautiful Gothic chapel in the world. Fifteen stained glass windows in afternoon light are unforgettable.
Finish the day with dinner on the quieter of Paris's two islands. Brasserie de l'Île Saint-Louis does classic Alsatian choucroute and duck confit in a warm, historic room.
The world's most visited museum. Denon Wing for the big names (Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, Venus de Milo); Richelieu Wing for Dutch masters and fewer crowds.
Grab a sandwich from a nearby boulangerie and sit in the arcaded Palais Royal gardens — one of Paris's loveliest hidden spaces, with striped columns and fountain.
The trendiest quarter in Paris: medieval streets, Jewish bakeries, concept stores, and the best people-watching in the city. Walk Rue des Francs-Bourgeois to Place des Vosges.
Paris's oldest and most elegant square. Sit under the arcades, visit Victor Hugo's free house-museum, or just watch the city drift by.
The recently restored Belle Époque palace hosts world-class temporary exhibitions. Even if nothing's on, the glass-domed hall is jaw-dropping.
If you haven't done the night visit yet, the tower lights up every hour on the hour after dark with a 5-minute sparkle show. Best viewed from Trocadéro or Champ de Mars.
The white basilica crowning Paris's highest hill. Climb before the crowds, enjoy the panoramic view, then wander the village streets below.
Montmartre's best market street with the oldest windmill-restaurant in Paris. The Impressionists painted here — Renoir's Bal du moulin de la Galette was set right here.
One of Paris's best food streets. Pick up a sandwich, charcuterie, or sit at any of the bistros. La Chambre aux Confitures has 200 kinds of jam — worth a browse.
Napoleon III's outrageously ornate opera house. The self-guided tour covers the Grand Foyer, marble staircase and the Chagall ceiling above the 2,000-seat auditorium.
🎫 Book tickets via GetYourGuideThe famous dome of the main hall is stunning, but the rooftop terrace is the real prize: free views over the whole city, Eiffel Tower included.
The summit view at sunset is one of the great Paris moments. Watch the city light up as the sun drops, then see the Champs-Élysées glow below.