Blog Details

Tourist Attractions in Paris

Paris is a major holiday destination in the world, offering you endless choice of tourist attractions. One of the four global cities of the world, Paris is world-renowned for its unique cosmopolitan culture and rich architectural heritage. Major tourist attractions in Paris are its world-famous museums, art galleries, theaters and operas, shopping avenues and amazing architectural and recreational attractions.

Paris has a wide variety of tourist attractions offering something for every one. You just need an experience tour guide to show you the best tourist attractions in Paris. Travour has carefully selected the most popular tourist attractions in Paris for your quick reference.

Below is a short account of major tourist attractions in Paris.

Eiffel Tower Paris

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, is one of the greatest engineering masterpieces, ever built in the world. It was constructed for the World’s Exhibition of 1889 to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. Designed and built by a famous French engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower has become the most important symbol and historical landmark of France. The Eiffel Tower is one of the world’s most visited and photographed tourist attractions, attracting thousands of visitors every day.

The Eiffel Tower Paris rises to 300 m /984 ft (320/1, 052 ft. including the FM and TV antenna), and at the time of its construction it was the tallest structure in the world. The tower has three platforms: the first at a height of 57 meters, the second at 115 meters, and the third at 276 meters, all providing stunning views of Paris and surrounding Ile-de- France region.

The pre-sunset view of Paris from the top platform of the Eiffel Tower is truly an unforgettable experience. The Eiffel Tower also has two restaurants – Altitude 95 and the expensive Jules Verne on the first and second floors of the tower respectively.
On its top platform there is a snack bar, a souvenir shop and a replica of the office of Gustave Eiffel complete with wax figures of the man himself.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris weighs over 7, 300 tonnes and approx. 50 tons of paint are used every 5 years to repaint the structure. At the time of its construction in 1889, it had 1, 710 steps to the summit platform, 1, 920 steps after renovation in the early 1980s, and 1, 665 steps at present. Tourists can only climb as far as the second level via the stairways, and elevators are required to reach the summit. In the year 2000, flashing lights and four high-power searchlights were installed on the tower, and since then spectacular light shows during the evening and night have become a major attraction in Paris.

Louvre Museum

The Louvre Museum in Paris is the largest and undoubtedly the most famous museum in the world. Located in the heart of Paris, between the Seine River and the Rue de Rivoli, the 800 years old building was once a royal fortress decorated with beautiful artifacts.

The Louvre is considered the world’s greatest art museum, with an unparalleled collection of items covering the full spectrum of art through the ages.

The Louvre Museum is divided into 7 departments with collections incorporating works dating from the birth of the great antique civilizations right up to the first half of the 19th century, thereby confirming its encyclopedic vocation.

It displays the art from Egyptian, Greek and Roman antiquities, and the western art from the Middle Ages to 1848, consisting of some of the finest paintings, drawings and sculptures in the world, including the world-famous painting of Mona Lisa by renowned painter Leonardo da Vinci. Its collection of Egyptian antiquities is one of the finest in the world. The museum was first opened to the public on November 08, 1793, during the French Revolution.

Notre Dame Cathedral

The 12th century Notre Dam Cathedral in Paris is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Its construction was started in 1163 during the reign of Louis VII and was completed roughly 200 years later in about 1345. The Notre Dam Cathedral is about 110 ft high with sexpartite vaulting, flying buttresses and large windows. It was the first cathedral in France to be built on a truly monumental scale, and became a prototype for future French cathedrals.

Avenue des Champs-Élysées

Champs-Elysees is perhaps the most stunning and glamorous avenue in the world. This 2 km long and 70 meters (235ft) wide tree-lined avenue is home to cinemas, cafes, car showrooms, and luxury specialty shops.

Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a dream place for walking tours, especially during the evening and night when it’s fully illuminated.

Musée d’Orsay

Musée d’Orsay or Orsay Museum is another wonderful museum in Paris, displaying a rich collection of art from second half of 19th century to early 20th century. The museum showcases highly regarded Impressionist and Post-impressionist works.

Sacre Coeur:

The 19th century Basilique Sacre Coeur remains one of the most visited tourist attractions in Paris. Also known as Basilica of Sacred Heart, Sacre Coeur is situated at the highest point in Paris. The beautiful basilica features a large medieval dome, which offers breathtaking views of the city.

Other major tourist attractions in Paris include the Arc de Triomphe, Centre Georges Pompidou, Rodin Museum, Place des Vosges, Saint Chappell and Picasso Museum to name a few.