Things to Do in Paris

Iconic Gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité. Interior closed after 2019 fire, but gardens and river-level ruins are open and fascinating.

🕐 Exterior accessible 24h; square open 8:00-22:00

💡 Walk the Parvis square at dawn for photos with no crowds. The archaeological crypt underneath costs €9 but skip it – free street-level views tell the story.

13th-century Gothic chapel with floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes. Free for under-26s from EU, otherwise €11.50.

🕐 Daily 09:00-17:00 (until 19:00 in summer)

💡 Visit on a sunny day between 11am and 2pm when the light hits the glass best. Combine with Conciergerie on the same ticket—same price.

Vast, historic square with the 3,000-year-old Luxor Obelisk and fountains. Panoramic views down the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe in one direction, and the Tuileries Garden to the Louvre in the other.

🕐 Open 24/7

💡 Arrive around sunset – the golden light hits the obelisk and the fountains catch the light. Best photo spot: stand on the steps of the Hôtel de la Marine at the north side of the square.

The exterior of the Gothic cathedral is fully visible and free. Walk around the forecourt to see the restored spire and the famous flying buttresses.

🕐 Exterior accessible 24/7; interior closed for restoration until 2024

💡 Cross the river to Rue du Cloître Notre-Dame for the best photo angle. The crypt underneath the square costs €12 but is worth it for the Roman ruins.

The oldest planned square in Paris, dating from 1605, with symmetrical red-brick houses and arcaded walkways. Victor Hugo lived at number 6 (his apartment is a free museum on odd-numbered months).

🕐 Square open 24/7; Victor Hugo Museum Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00

💡 The square's grass is perfect for a sit-down but it's often full. Instead, sit on the bench under the archways at the east end for shade and people-watching. The free Victor Hugo museum is small but worth 30 minutes.

The exterior of the Gothic cathedral remains free to view from Place Jean-Paul II. The interior is closed due to fire restoration until 2024, but the towers and crypt are still accessible.

🕐 Exterior accessible 24/7

💡 Visit early morning for quiet photos. The archaeological crypt under the square costs €9, but the square itself is free and has a bronze 'point zero' marker from which all French road distances are measured.

The square in front of Notre-Dame has the 'point zéro' marker from which all French road distances are measured. The cathedral itself is closed for restoration, but the exterior and square are free.

🕐 Open 24 hours (square); crypt closed Mon

💡 Look down for the bronze compass star marking point zéro. Go early in the morning to avoid crowds. The Crypte archéologique below costs €9, but the square is free.

Iconic 12th-century gothic cathedral on the Île de la Cité. Free entry to the main nave, with restored spire visible. Expect queues but moving fast.

🕐 Mon-Fri 07:45-18:45, Sat-Sun 07:45-19:15

💡 Beat the queue by arriving at 7:45am, 15 mins before doors open. Head directly to the rear chapels behind the choir for serene stained glass without the crowd.

The world's largest museum, free on the first Friday of each month from 6pm to 9.45pm. You can see the Mona Lisa without paying full price, but queues form early.

🕐 Mon, Thu, Sat, Sun 9am-6pm; Wed, Fri 9am-9.45pm; Tue closed

💡 Arrive by 5.30pm on free evenings. Use the Porte des Lions entrance to skip the main pyramid queue. Only the permanent collections are free.

The world's largest museum opens its doors for free on the first Friday of each month from 6pm to 9.45pm (except July and August). Book a timed slot online in advance.

🕐 First Friday each month, 6pm–9.45pm (free entry only during these hours)

💡 Arrive by 5.30pm to queue before the main doors open. Head straight to the Denon Wing for the Mona Lisa with shorter queues.

City history museum with over 600,000 objects tracing Paris from Roman times to the 20th century. Free permanent collection in two grand mansions, including Marcel Proust's cork-lined bedroom.

🕐 Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed Mon

💡 Head to the 17th-century room recreating the shop of a Parisian apothecary—it's easy to miss but genuinely fascinating. Entry free, but you need to book a timed slot online.

Covers Paris history from prehistoric times to the present day. Housed in two linked mansions in the Marais. The courtyard garden is worth a look.

🕐 Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed Mondays

💡 Go on a weekday morning to avoid queue buildup; the permanent collection is always free and there’s a good café in the garden.

Housed in a former railway station, this museum holds the world's largest collection of Impressionist art. Free on the first Sunday of each month and for under-26s from EU countries on Fridays after 6pm.

🕐 Tue-Sun 9:30-18:00, Thu until 21:45; closed Mon

💡 Queue by the side entrance on Rue de Bellechasse on free Sundays; arrive 30 minutes before opening to avoid the long main queue.

The history of Paris museum, set in two linked mansions in the Marais. Permanent collections cover the city from prehistory to 20th century, with restored period rooms and revolutionary artifacts.

🕐 Tue–Sun 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, closed Mon

💡 Entry is free to permanent exhibitions but you need a timed ticket—book online a day ahead to skip queues. The garden courtyard is a quiet spot for a rest.

A Beaux-Arts building housing the City of Paris Museum of Fine Arts, with a permanent collection spanning antiquity to 1914. The courtyard garden and tea room are lovely.

🕐 Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed Mon

💡 The permanent collection is always free, no time restrictions. Go straight to the second floor for lesser-crowded rooms with Fragonard and Boucher works. The temporary exhibitions cost extra but the permanent is solid.

Housed in a former railway station, this museum holds the world's largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces. Free on the first Sunday of each month.

🕐 Tue-Sun 9:30-18:00, Thu until 21:45

💡 Go right at opening time on free Sunday to avoid the worst queues. Otherwise, entry is €16.

Housed in a former railway station, this museum holds the world's largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art. Free entry applies on the first Sunday of each month for all visitors, though queues can be long.

🕐 Tue-Sun 9:30-18:00, Thu until 21:45, closed Mon

💡 Arrive before 9am on free Sunday to avoid the 45-minute wait. Alternatively, visit after 4pm on regular days when tickets drop to €10 (under-26 EU residents are always free).

The city's history museum, housed in two Renaissance mansions. Permanent collections cover Paris from prehistoric times through the Revolution to today, with period rooms and art. Free entry always.

🕐 Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00

💡 Don't miss the 20th-century rooms on the top floor, with original signs from old Parisian shops. Allow 2 hours minimum.

A legendary English-language bookshop across from Notre-Dame. It's packed with books and history; you can browse for hours without buying. The upstairs reading room has a piano and writers' beds.

🕐 10am-8pm daily

💡 Go on a weekday morning to avoid queues. They host free readings weekly. Buy a book if you can—the shop relies on sales. No photos inside.

Elegant square in the Marais with red-brick houses, arcades, and a central garden. Oldest planned square in Paris.

🕐 Open 24 hours (garden closes at dusk)

💡 Sit on a bench under the arcades, not the grass—locals avoid the grass. Free art galleries line the arcades; peek in but don't feel pressured to buy.