The best things to do in Paris
It's not a secret that Paris is the city of love. The French capital is a must-do destination for everyone. Paris a lot to offer: architecture, cultural heritage, gastronomy, French lifestyle, artworks, etc. Let's discover the best things to do in Paris besides visiting the Eiffel Tower.
Tour of Montmartre
Montmartre is one of the most famous and authentic areas of Paris. The 130-meter-high hill attracts tourists with its rich history and unique atmosphere. Here you will find street musicians, artists, cozy cafes and restaurants, paved streets, theaters, museums, and cabarets. Here lived and worked famous artists such as Renoir, Picasso, Van Gogh and others. Also, world-famous French films were filmed in Montmartre. In the streets of Montmartre you can find a shop where Amelie Poulin (the film “Ameli”) used to buy fruits and vegetables. Also, there is still a cafe in which she worked as a waitress. Among other sights of Montmartre there is the Wall of Love (La Mur des Je t’aime), the Square des Abesses and beautiful Basilica Sacré Coeur.
Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris opened in April 1992 and it is the largest amusement park in Europe. It covers an area of 1943 hectares. Disneyland is located outside of Paris in the small town of Marne-la-Valais, situated 35 km from the French capital. You can get there by regional train (RER). Disneyland Paris is divided into two theme parks: Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. There is also the Disney Village Hotel, gyms and tennis courts, over 50 themed cafes and restaurants, entertainment centers, clubs, many shops, swimming pools, a golf course, a bowling center, cinemas and much more. This is the perfect place to spend the day with friends, family, and children.
Arc de Triomphe
The Arc de Triomphe is one of the famous symbols of Paris and France. The arch is located on the Place de l'Etoile, on the historic “triumphal path” which connects two royal residences - Louvre and Versailles. The construction of Arc de Triomphe was started on the orders of Emperor Napoleon I in 1806, and completed under Louis-Philippe in 1836. The height of the arch - 49.54 m, width - 44.82 m, depth - 22.21 m. The monument weighs 50 thousand tons. At the top of the Arc, there is a viewing platform, from where you can see the Stars Square, the Champs Elysees, the Eiffel Tower and the district of Défense.
Eiffel Tower
This is undoubtedly the main construction of Paris, its symbol, heart, and soul of the city. Also, together with the Cathedral of Notre Dame, this is the most visited attraction of the French capital. The 324-meter high structure consists of 18,038 metal parts and 2,500,000 rivets. From the third floor of the “Iron Lady,” you can see all of Paris: the Field of Mars, the Chaillot Palace, the Museum of Man, the Sacré-Cœur Basilica, the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. There are also restaurants and a bar on the Eiffel Tower, where you can have a glass of champagne with a stunning view of the city.
Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum is the most popular and largest art museum, occupying an area of 160 106 sq. m. Every year Louvre is visited by more than 9 million people. Of course, all visitors seek to see the famous "Gioconda" and the sculpture of Venus de Milo. In addition to these iconic works, the museum holds a huge number of other valuable works of art. There are more than 300,000 units in the museums collection. The one individual ticket costs 17,00 €. However, the visit is free for visitors under the age of 18 and 18-25-year-old residents of the EU.
Moulin Rouge
The legendary cabaret "Moulin Rouge" is the place where the modern form of cancan dance was born. The building, located on Clichy Boulevard, is easily identifiable by a red mill on the roof. Like the Eiffel Tower, the cabaret was built in 1889 for the World Exhibition. Having survived after 2 wars and fire, after which the building was completely reconstructed, today the Moulin Rouge remains one of the most recognizable places in Paris and a symbol of the French capital. Such famous personalities as Yves Montand, Edith Piaf, Oscar Wilde, and Frank Sinatra liked to spend evenings here.
Seine River Cruise
The Seine is the second largest river in France (it has a length of 776 kilometers). It begins in Burgundy, passes through the Paris region and flows into the English Channel. In Paris, the river divides the city into two banks flowing along the center of the capital. Parisians even joke that the Seine is the 21st district of the Paris. Today, one of the most popular entertainments among tourists in Paris is a Seine Cruise. At any time of the year, such a trip is the perfect way to discover the City of Light. During the cruise, you will see the best Paris attractions from the water: the Eiffel Tower, Musee d’Orsay, Notre Dame de Paris, Louvre, Hotel de Ville, Champs Elysees, Saint Germain and the Garden of Plants.
Versailles
The Versailles Palace and Garden is the former residence of the French kings situated in the city of Versailles. Versailles is located about 20 kilometers from Paris. Today it is a center of tourism and one of the most beautiful castles in the world. Versailles was built under the leadership of Louis XIV since 1661 and became a symbol of the "Sun King" rule. Almost 26 million livres were spent to the creation of the palace, which corresponded to 10,521,867 kg of silver, and today it is 259.56 billion euros. The Palace of Versailles, a treasure of world heritage, is visited by about 15 million people a year. It is at the same time historical museum and state building, where sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate are held. Each room in the castle is a work of art and you will need a whole day to visit them all. Also, take your time to visit the beautiful Versailles garden.
Orsay Museum
From 1900 to 1939, Orce was the main station in the south-western direction of the French railways. And in 1977 it was decided to turn the station into a museum of the 19th century. Today, the Orsay Museum contains sculptures and paintings created between 1848 and 1914, including works of Manet, Degas, Monet, and Renoir, as well as an exhibition of sculptures by Rodin.
