Paris – Things To See vs. Skip

President Thomas Jefferson once said, “A walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in the point of life.”

Paris is a must-see for any traveler, and it is a place we return to often. In this article we will discuss how to best enjoy some of the city’s most famous attractions. We will also highlight some alternative locations that may be less crowded and expensive than the well-known tourist traps.

The Eiffel Tower is the most iconic structure in Paris, and perhaps the world. You will certainly want to see and photograph it – but how?

One option is to go to the Champ de Mars and climb the tower itself. The city views are spectacular! However, tower entry involves expensive tickets, long lines, metal detectors, and bag searches. The base of the tower is also a hotspot for pickpockets and pushy vendors selling trinkets. If you are willing to brave the hordes of tourists, your best option is to pre-book a timed entry ticket on the official Eiffel Tower website.

Another option is to head to the Trocadero in the 16th Arrondissement to capture the Iron Lady from across the Seine. The views of the tower are stunning, but you have to arrive early in the morning in order to avoid crowds.

You may want to visit some other Paris landmarks that happen to have great views of the Eiffel Tower. For example, the Montparnasse Tower, the Pantheon Tower, and the Pompidou Center are interesting in their own right, but also overlook the Iron Lady.

You can get some beautiful photographs by simply walking along streets such as the Avenue de Camoens, Rue de l’Universitie, and the Pont de Bir-Hakeim. You could also visit the Ile aux Cygnes, which is a small pedestrian-only island with a Statue of Liberty and lovely Eiffel Tower views.

Visiting any of the locations mentioned above will help you take Instagram-worthy daytime photos. However, you have not fully experienced the Eiffel Tower until you have watched its nighttime light show. Every evening, from sundown until 11:45 pm, the tower sparkles for 5 minutes every hour on the hour.

The Louvre is the largest, most visited museum in the world. It has over 35,000 works of art, and can take weeks or even months to explore. If you are a true art lover, the gallery is a must-see. You will simply have to be patient with all the crowds, lines, and selfie-sticks.

If you decide to tackle The Louvre, you should consider buying tickets in advance. It is also a good idea to make a plan outlining what type of art, or specific pieces, you want to see. Some of the museum’s masterpieces include the Vénus de Milo, Vermeer’s The Lacemaker, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People.

We enjoyed viewing great works of art, but our personal favorite section of The Louvre was the Napoleon III Apartments. You get to immerse yourself in the furnishings and decorative objects associated with the Palace itself, before it was turned into a museum.

Of course, we cannot write about The Louvre without discussing its most famous painting – The Mona Lisa. Unfortunately, we (along with most visitors) found the painting quite disappointing. The piece is incredibly small, its colors have faded, and it is covered by thick glass. Moreover, it is nearly impossible to get close to it because of the throngs of people with cameras.

If you have limited time, or only a passing interest in art, The Louvre is a daunting prospect. You may want to skip it and explore some of the more accessible museums in Paris.

You can find museums dedicated to specific artists such as the Musée Rodin, Musée National Eugène Delacroix, or Musée National Picasso. Additionally, the city features small art collections housed in former palaces/mansions. We recommend the Musée Jacquemart-André or the Petit Palais. The museums showcase famous artists such as Rembrandt, Botticelli, Cézanne, Monet, but do not have crowds and high ticket prices like The Louvre.

The main reason to go to the Champs-Élysées is to see the magnificent Arc de Triomphe. The photogenic landmark is worth seeing. Additionally, if you go up to its viewing platform you can enjoy wonderful views of the city.

The other reason tourists walk along the Champs Élysées is to shop. In this respect, the street can be a bit of a disappointment. It is home to the flagship stores of well-known brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, and Cartier. However, the shops are packed (and often have lines to enter), and carry the exact same merchandise you could find online or at any other store location.

If you are looking for high-end fashion, but want a more enjoyable shopping experience, we suggest visiting a “grand magasin” (department store) such as Printemps or Galeries Lafayette. You can also find elegant boutiques in the Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Saint-Lazare, or Montparnasse districts.

If you want chic, but more affordable items, we recommend shopping in the historic Marais quarter, St-Germain-des-Prés, or in Le Forum des Halles.

As most travelers know, the cathedral is temporarily closed due to repairs following the 2019 fire. That being said, when it reopens in 2024, it will likely return to being a tourist hotspot.

We were fortunate enough to visit Notre-Dame pre-fire and appreciate its gothic architecture, religious statues, gargoyles, and stained-glass rose window. While it is a fascinating church, the slow-moving crowds make it difficult to photograph the facade, and can make touring the building a time-consuming endeavor.

If you are interested in religious structures, Paris has many beautiful (and less touristy) options. Gothic architecture lovers should visit La Sainte-Chapelle to see its gorgeous stained-glass walls, or view the impressive interior arches at L’Église Saint-Eustache. Other popular churches include The Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés (Paris’ oldest church), La Madeleine, Saint-Alexandre-Nevski Cathedral, and Église Saint-Sulpice.

The cabaret club was already famous as the birthplace of the can-can dance, and was made even more so by the 2001 film. Not surprisingly, thousands of tourists head to Montmartre to see a show at The Moulin Rouge – or at least photograph its eye-catching red windmill.

Some visitors are wowed by the colorful costumes and high-energy dances. Others like the idea of seeing a risqué, sensual show performed by topless women. If you are willing to purchase pricey tickets in advance, and come early to get a good seat, you are in for a fun night out. That being said, there are cheaper, less touristy cabaret shows such as the Crazy Horse, Paradis Latin, or Lido.

Paris is full of theatrical and musical venues, and you may want to forgo The Moulin Rouge in favor of a more culturally-enriching show. You could see an opera, concert, or ballet at the Opera Garnier, catch a traveling Broadway show at the Mogador theater, or see a play at the historic Comédie Française.

Paris is an incredible city with too many attractions to mention in one blog article. However, we hope these initial thoughts help you plan your next trip to Paris. If you want to learn more about our Parisian favorites, check out our related article “Delicious Places To Eat In Paris.”