Like Big Ben in London and the Statue of Liberty in New York, the Eiffel Tower is Paris\u2019s most identifiable landmark, and has the numbers to prove it: 7 million visitors per year. Named for the engineer who built it (Gustave Eiffel), the Tower was constructed to welcome guests to the 1889 World\u2019s Fair. At the time of its construction, it was the tallest man-made structure in the world! Many Parisians initially considered the monument to be an eyesore. In fact, the Tower was almost dismantled in 1909, but was saved because of its value to transmit radio signals. Today, the Eiffel Tower is regarded as an architectural marvel and is the most-frequented paid monument in the world.<\/p>\n There are three levels open to the public, the highest of which stands at a height of 276 meters (905 feet). Each level can be accessed by an elevator or stairs (the latter is not for the faint of heart). On the first floor, you\u2019ll find a cinema devoted to the Tower\u2019s history, a souvenir shop, and the 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant. The second level is home to the Jules Verne restaurant, where you can sample French cuisine with a spectacular view of the city. At the top level, walk through a recreation of Eiffel\u2019s office before making a toast at the champagne bar. No matter how high you travel, the Tower will provide stunning views of Paris laid out before you. The monument stands on the lawn of the Champ de Mars<\/strong>, which is located in Paris\u2019s 7th Arrondissement<\/strong>. Check out our guide to the 7th Arrondissement of Paris<\/a> for more details.<\/p>\n The site is easily accessed via the M\u00e9tro and RER. As of July 2019, ticket prices to the top floor range from \u20ac25.50 for adults to \u20ac6.40 for children and disabled individuals (tickets that access the first and second floors are cheaper). If you want to dine at one of the two restaurants, you\u2019ll need to make a reservation. The Tower is open 365 days a year from 9:00 a.m. until 12:45 a.m. in the summer months and 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. during the rest of the year. More information can be found in our Eiffel Tower visitor’s guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n 2. The Cath\u00e9drale Notre Dame de Paris<\/strong><\/p>\n Notre Dame de Paris is one of the most famous churches in the world. Bishop Maurice de Sully of Paris began the process of constructing the cathedral in 1160, though the first stone was not laid until 1163. The entire project took nearly 200 years to complete, and has survived the French Revolution and multiple restorations. Notre Dame is in the 4th Arrondissement <\/strong>in the center of the city, overlooking the Seine from the eastern end of the \u00cele de la Cit\u00e9, with M\u00e9tro and RER stations not far from the site.<\/p>\n The church is free to visit, though admission is charged for cathedral tower tours and visits to the Treasury. Tours are available in multiple languages and if you miss a tour, audio guides are also available. The cathedral is a working church, so feel free to attend the daily Catholic Mass if you wish. Notre Dame\u2019s bell towers and gargoyles have inspired artists throughout the centuries. Experience the history yourself with a visit!<\/p>\n Note from July 2019: Following the fire of April 2019, Notre Dame de Paris is closed to all visits for restoration. Check online for the latest about tour availability and hours.<\/em><\/p>\n 3. Arc de Triomphe<\/strong><\/p>\n The Arc de Triomphe stands where the Avenue <\/strong>Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es<\/strong> meets the center of the Place Charles de Gaulle<\/strong> traffic circle. The Arc is a memorial in honor of the French soldiers lost in the Napoleonic and French Revolutionary Wars, and its intricate neoclassical structure is perhaps the most recognized in Paris aside from the Eiffel Tower.<\/p>\n Between April and September, visiting hours are from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. The Arc slightly limits its hours from October through March, (10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.). The monument is open every day except New Year\u2019s Day, May 1, Christmas Day, and the morning hours of May 8, July 14, and November 11. Line A of the RER and lines 1, 2, and 6 of the M\u00e9tro will take you close to the 16th Arrondissement<\/strong> site, and you can explore it as a pedestrian or drive by as a passenger in the traffic junction!<\/p>\n 4. Sacr\u00e9-Coeur Basilica<\/strong><\/p>\n You might feel inspired to say a prayer when you witness the most underrated view of Paris. The Sacr\u00e9-Coeur Basilica sits at the peak of the highest non-manmade point in the city, the hill Montmartre<\/strong>. This Catholic church is a popular destination for its stunning panoramas of Paris, its religious services, and its striking architecture. Construction began in 1875 as a message of French spiritual repentance following defeat by the Prussians. It was completed in 1914, though the church\u2019s consecration was postponed until the end of World War I. The Sacr\u00e9-Coeur stands out from other Parisian churches due to its Romano-Byzantine architecture and its white stone fa\u00e7ade. Be sure to make the 300-step climb to the basilica\u2019s dome for a view of the city that’s unlike any other.<\/p>\n The Sacr\u00e9 Coeur is open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and is free to enter. Take the 2 or 12 M\u00e9tro lines to arrive at the church in the 18th Arrondissement. While you\u2019re here, take advantage of the surrounding Montmartre neighborhood, known for its nightlife and the Moulin Rouge<\/strong> cabaret. Here\u2019s some extra information about the legendary neighborhood of Montmartre<\/a>.<\/p>\n 5. Mus\u00e9e du Louvre (Louvre Museum)<\/strong><\/p>\n Arguably the most famous art museum in the world, the Louvre houses thousands of works of art, including Leonardo Da Vinci\u2019s Mona Lisa<\/em><\/strong>. The building underwent centuries of transformation, from a 12th-century fortress, to a royal palace, to a Napoleonic conquest. In 1793, it opened as a museum to display art from around the world, and has been a gallery ever since (though it has gotten a few aesthetic facelifts!). Browse exhibits of Egyptian, Near Eastern, Greek-Etruscan-Roman, and Islamic art, as well as sculpture halls, paintings, and decorative pieces like tapestries, jewelry, and ceramics. And while the Mona Lisa<\/em> may be your main motivation for visiting, don\u2019t neglect the other masterpieces the museum houses.<\/p>\n The Louvre is open every day except Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays have extended hours until 9:45 p.m. The museum closes its doors on January 1st, May 1st, and Christmas Day. As of July 2019, tickets to the museum cost \u20ac17, though free admission is sometimes available for special events.<\/p>\n 6. Centre Georges Pompidou<\/strong><\/p>\n If you’re in the market for a more contemporary cultural experience, look no further than the Centre Georges Pompidou in the 4th Arrondissement<\/strong>. The complex opened in 1977 and is comparable to Lincoln Center in New York; the home of a public library, the Muse\u00e9 National d\u2019Art Moderne<\/strong>, and what the Pompidou calls a \u201ccenter for musical creation.\u201d Admire the innovative architecture, a blend of glass and pipe-like structures that give the appearance of a building turned inside out, before exploring the interior attractions.<\/p>\n Tickets for adults range from \u20ac11 to \u20ac14, and like at the Louvre, some guests are eligible for free or discounted rates. The complex is open from 11:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., but is closed on Tuesdays and May 1st. Take the M\u00e9tro or RER to Les Halles to visit.<\/p>\n Prices accurate as of July 2019.<\/em><\/p>\n 7. Mus\u00e9e d\u2019Orsay<\/strong><\/p>\n This 7th Arrondissement<\/strong> museum might have the most unusual history of any in Paris. The building was originally the central train station for the railroad network, was later a mailing facility for World War II prisoners of war and the location for a number of film shoots, and then became the Muse\u00e9 d\u2019Orsay in 1986. Most of the museum\u2019s displays are mid-19th to early-20th-century French art, with works by some of history\u2019s most illustrious painters like Degas, Manet, Monet, and Van Gogh.<\/p>\n Hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with closings on Mondays and certain holidays. As of July 2019, adult tickets cost \u20ac14, with reduced rates for certain visitors. Line 12 on the M\u00e9tro and line C on the RER will bring you to the museum, though if you had been a Parisian fl\u00e2neur in 1900, you could have taken a train directly into the museum!<\/p>\n 8. Op\u00e9ra National de Paris (Palais Garnier)<\/strong><\/p>\n The Palais Garnier<\/strong> will take your breath away with its old-world glamour and Beaux-Arts opulence. Alongside the modern Op\u00e9ra Bastille<\/strong>, the Op\u00e9ra Garnier is part of the Op\u00e9ra National de Paris<\/strong> and was completed in 1875 after 14 years of construction. Before the Bastille\u2019s opened, it was Paris’s main opera house. Nowadays, it hosts a majority of the Op\u00e9ra National\u2019s ballet productions. The Op\u00e9ra Garnier also displays exhibitions at the Biblioth\u00e8que-Mus\u00e9e de l\u2019Op\u00e9ra de Paris<\/strong>. Marvel at the intricate interiors, the symmetrical staircases, and the ornate chandelier that inspired The Phantom of the Opera<\/em>.<\/p>\n Tickets for live performances vary in price. Tours of the Op\u00e9ra Garnier\u2019s beautiful interior are \u20ac17 (as of July 2019) and are available between 11:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The Op\u00e9ra Garnier closes on January 1st and May 1st. The opera house is located in the 9th Arrondissement<\/strong>.<\/p>\n 9. Avenue Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es<\/strong><\/p>\n The Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es is the most famous avenue in Paris, stretching all the way to the Arc de Triomphe<\/strong> in the 8th Arrondissement<\/strong>. Lined by trees and a number of shops, designer boutiques, and eateries, the avenue is a popular walkway for Parisians and tourists alike. Be aware that the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es\u2019s prime location drives up the prices of shops and restaurants along the avenue. Considering that the avenue originated as an extension of the Tuileries Garden<\/strong>, you should pay the park (a hub for people-watching and leisure for centuries) a visit as well. Read our complete guide to the Champs-\u00c9lys\u00e9es<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n 10. Ch\u00e2teau de Versailles (Palace of Versailles)<\/strong><\/p>\n Although it’s technically outside city limits, the Ch\u00e2teau de Versailles is too spectacular to miss. French kings lived here from the 1670s to 1789, the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. Versailles is now part of the affluent Parisian suburbs and serves as a museum that preserves the lavish style of the monarchy and is a testament to French history.<\/p>\n Wander through the world-famous Hall of Mirrors<\/strong>, where sparkling chandeliers hang from elaborately painted ceilings and reflect around the hall. Take a walk through the immaculately landscaped gardens or the quiet grandeur of Marie Antoinette\u2019s estate<\/strong>.<\/p>\n To see all of Versailles, purchase a passport ticket for \u20ac20 (price as of July 2019). Outdoor areas are open daily, while the palace’s interior is closed on Mondays. The Versailles Express bus transports guests from the Eiffel Tower to the estate, or you can take the RER Line C. To find out more, read our Palace of Versailles visitor’s guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you’re looking to rent in Paris, let us be your guide with a stay in one of our vacation rentals in the City of Lights<\/a>. If you’d like to stay for one month or more, check out our furnished rentals located throughout Paris<\/a>.<\/p>\n Have you ever visited Paris? Which of these spots appeals to you the most?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When reflecting upon his travels to the French capital, Thomas Jefferson once said, \u201cA walk about Paris will provide lessons in history, beauty, and in…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[28],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14429"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14429"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14429\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20261,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14429\/revisions\/20261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14429"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14429"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Image](\"https:\/\/www.nyhabitat.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/top-ten-paris-landmarks-eiffel-tower.jpg\")
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