*9th Arr. by Jessica Holland, Revenge Travel Company*

I do not know about you but I have spent much of this summer watching the Olympics and while I am fairly certain I am far too old to tackle the uneven bars, I absolutely do think I could spend endless days wandering around the streets of Paris.

Paris is one of my favorite cities. When people ask me where to go in Europe, I immediately ask, “Have you been to Paris?” I love to devour every nook and cranny of this city fully immersing myself in all things Parisian. From the cafes to the bookstores to the immense museums, Paris has something for everyone.

Now like most large cities, there is far too much to do to in a single trip. You could pack every moment full and still leave with a to do list for your next trip and I think that is what makes Paris an amazing city. It will always leave you wanting more.

But how do you visit the city and not spend the whole time darting from one sight to the next? How do you stop and enjoy the beauty if you are always racing to the next sight?

SET PRIORITIES

My number one piece of advice for any city to to pick a few things that are your absolute must sees and make those a top priority. For Paris, this could be a museum, Notre Dame, or a famous bookstore that rests along the Seine. Do some research and decide what matter the most to you and add those to your itinerary with a giant asterisk next to it. Book your tickets and make sure you get there.

After that leave margin for yourself to enjoy the city. To wander a bit and to fall in love with Paris.

*Metro. Photo by Jessica Holland, Revenge Travel Company*

MUST SEES

If you ask anyone who has been to Paris for what you must do, you will get completely different answers. Some say you must eat Berthillion ice cream and others may say you have to visit the Rodin museum (we highly recommend both) while others will say you must see the Louvre or climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower. All of these are great answers and worthy of your time.

While we think everyone should visit Paris early and often, for your first trip, we highly recommend a certain few sites to put on your list and make sure you save time to see in Paris. These are our must sees and we hope you find them as amazing as we did.

SAINTE -CHAPELLE

Build in the thirteenth century, Sainte-Chapelle is a royal chapel holding rumored to hold holy artifacts. The cathedral was built in 1238 to 1248 with detailed stained glass depicting Biblical scripture. Built in the gothic style, the interior of the cathedral is nothing short of breathtaking. Twisted staircases lead you between the floors and towering doors are covered in sculptures. Immensely beautiful and an absolutely can’t miss in your book. Sainte-Chapelle is best visited first thing in the morning when crowds are at their lowest. This is included in the Museum Pass which you can pick up at any participating museum and also at retailers including at CDG.

NOTRE DAME

Reopening in late 2024, Notre Dame Cathedral is the epitome of gothic architecture and one of the most historic and recognizable structures in Paris. Just a block or so away from Sainte-Chapelle, Notre Dame is centrally located and easily paired with Sainte-Chapelle. Due to extensive fire damage, Notre Dame has been closed for years but set to reopen in December 2024 and crowd level are expected to be high. Book tickets in advance.

JARDIN DU LUXEMBOURG

Luxembourg gardens is a beautiful park located in central Paris in the 6th arrondissement. A beautiful location recognized for the beautiful fruit trees and green landscape, Jardin Du Luxembourg is a must see in our book. A perfect spot to sit and unwind located near many popular spots make sure to set aside time for this gorgeous place.

*Abbey Bookshop, Paris. Photo by Jessica Holland, Revenge Travel Company*

LEFT BANK

The portion of Paris located south of the Seine River that divides Paris, the Left Bank or Rive Gauche is the more laid back section of the city consisting of the 5th, 6th, and 7th arrondissements. Many of the most iconic sights are located here including Shakespeare and Co. bookstore, Luxembourg gardens and more. The quaint city streets give way to beautiful cathedrals, iconic cafes, and scenes you see in photographs. This is a great spot to get lost. Stroll along the Seine and enjoy.

ILE-SAINT LOUIS

A tiny sliver of land in the center of the Seine across from the rear of Notre Dame Cathedral, this speck of Paris lands on our list because there is no place that will seem more like a fairytale version of Paris than this spot. The streets are small short and the bridges overlook Paris’ most scenic spots. Cafes line the streets with picturesque views in every direction.

A MUSEUM OR THREE: RODIN, MUSEE D’ORSAY, or THE LOUVRE

Outside of the Eiffel tower, Paris might be best known for the museums. The location of some of the world’s greatest artwork, Paris is rife with museums of all kinds. The Louvre is immense and far too much to see in a single day but houses artwork you’ve seen in history books your entire life. If you chose the Louvre, research which pieces are most important to you and be sure you know in which wing they are located.

Our favorites are the Rodin Museum and the Musee d’Orsay. Filled with the artwork and sculptures of Rodin, the Rodin Museum is a small incredibly beautiful museum that can be explored in an hour or several depending on your schedule. The gardens in the front and back house some of his most iconic work and cannot be missed.

Housing a collection more contemporary, the Musee d’Orsay picks up where the Louvre left off featuring my favorite artists from Van Gogh, Whistler, Cezanne, and more. The Musee is large and houses a collection filled with iconic pieces. Get lost in the halls of this museum for hours.

*Rodin Museum. Photo by Jessica Holland, Revenge Travel Company*

TUILERIES GARDEN

Located just outside the grounds of Louvre, Tuileries Garden is another iconic Paris spot with zig zagging pathways that lead you away from the Louvre and towards the Place de la Concorde, where the infamous guillotine was located. The gardens are gorgeous, lush and filled with seating for a break after a long tour of the museums. This path will lead you to another museum we think you need to see L’Orangerie.

L’ORANGERIE

The home of a 20th century art collection and most famously Monet’s Water Lillies. The large scale murals wrap around several rooms giving you an opportunity to view the murals up close. This museum is explored within an hour or less so that is why Musee de l’Orangerie lands on our must see list.

FRENCH CAFE

French cafe culture is just that, a culture. Serving iconic French dishes that we all know spending time in a French cafe is a must do on any trip. Take your time, sip wine, and enjoy some classic French food. Our favorites are located street side on a quiet Parisian street where you can watch the sunset. If you have children, do not fear. Every cafe went above and beyond to make your little ones feel welcome. They enjoyed delicious food and learned how to drink out of real glasses.

EIFFEL TOWER

Yes the Eiffel made our list! No one can forget Paris’ more recognizable landmark. The Eiffel Tower is a bit out of the way if you are seeing the rest of the sights on this list as the Eiffel is not located around much else. Taking the elevator all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower is something everyone should do at least once, although arguably this is not the best view of Paris because you are on the Eiffel Tower. Now there is a caveat to this recommendation, if you are pushed for time in Paris, we do not recommend the Eiffel Tower necessarily. Lines here are really long and if you are pressed for time, we recommend getting close enough to view the Eiffel Tower but not not necessarily dedicating hours to climbing the tower itself. Pont du Alexandre is a great place to view the tower and do not forget how it lights up at night. But if you have a few days, make your way over to the Eiffel Tower and check this one off your bucket list.

EXTRA CREDIT: PALACE OF VERSAILLES

Now some people will 100% disagree with us but if you find yourself with an extra day, we love Versailles. Located a train ride away from Paris, Versailles is easy to get to and unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. The property is immense, sprawling, and will give you the opportunity to see the home of some of France’s royalty. Book in advance and get there early to see this amazing place. Be sure to visit the Petit Trianon, the home of Marie Antoinette, and the surrounding grounds built to mimic a pastoral countryside and quaint village. Spend the day. Even the door knobs are breathtaking.

Must Sees of Paris: What to Do in Paris

MUST SEES