I've been to Montmartre a few times over the years and can't quite say whether I've been inside the…read moreSacré-Coeur. If I have, it was well over a decade ago, and I have seen many churches in the intervening years. What I do know is that I've stood outside it several times, to admire the church as well as the iconic view of Paris from its front steps. We had intended to go inside the basilica on our recent family visit, but we had a sick child and the line was long and exposed to the sun. There were a ton of people up there, as dense a crowd as we saw all trip, everyone trying to enjoy the same viewpoint. Luckily, there was plenty of that to go around. We spent some time admiring the city and taking pictures (my father-in-law's one souvenir was that we send him a family photo from Sacré-Coeur), then wound our way downhill through charming Montmartre. Maybe next time I'll venture into the church, but it's worth going just to walk around outside.

Sacre Couer on the hill of Monmartre provides the best 360 degree views of the city of Paris,…read moreparticularly if you venture to climb the 300 steps to the top dome (for 7 euros). Entrance to the basilica is free, and it's opened from 6am until 10:30pm. It was built with the "self cleaning" Chateau-Lando stone from France, and the rain and weathering keeps it white. Crowds linger on the steps and around the overlook areas. Vendors try to sell you cheap locks to put on the surrounding fencing (the locks covering the fences-even with signs saying "no locks permitted" are an eyesore and should be removed). Security line checks are long and in February 2026 we waited about 30 or 40 mins to enter. I can only imagine what chaos it is in the high season. The basicalla is beautful inside and well worth checking out, although quiet and repect are required as there are masses going on. For this visit the crypt was not available to enter, which was highly disappointing There is also a small train trolly like vehicle right outside that will take you on a 30 minute ride around Monmartre for 12 euros. We thought it was a bit cheesey and touristy at first, but it really was worth it! Sacre couer is majestically beautiful!

This monument was even more magnificent in person than I could have ever imagined…read more Napoleon had it commissioned in 1806 to honor French armies. It wasn't completed until 1836 (after his death). The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is under the arch. It's got a flame that's lit daily. Looking at Paris from the top of the arc is incredibly breathtaking. Definitely a must for a first-time visit to Paris.

Quality/Quantity - Another tourist attraction. Crazy busy. Still beautiful and has much history…read more One of many of France's monuments. I like the underground path to get here, to avoid the dangerous traffic. You can pay to go to the top which we did not. I believe you can buy tickets online in advance. Ambiance - See pictures. Service - Self service. Price - Free for us as we did not want to go to the top. 22 Euros, $26 USD to go to the top. Owner Comment - Congrats on all your success since 1810...? Final completion was in 1830.

I went up the Eiffel Tower a few weeks ago for the first time in years. I was with my husband and…read moreour two kids, plus my brothers, my sisters-in-law, and my niece, just for good measure. Getting the tickets was a genuine headache, but the on-the-ground experience was not just magical but surprisingly easy. The online ticketing system leaves much to be desired. I wanted to buy eleven elevator tickets, for eight adults and three children, but was only able to check out with nine. I tried to get the last two in a second transaction but got locked out. Apparently, you can't book that many tickets under a single account, something I wish I'd known before I spent all that money on the nine. I emailed the customer service address and while they responded, they were spectacularly unhelpful. I then tasked my husband, my mother, and my brother with buying the last two tickets from different devices, and I don't understand why, but none of them were able to get through. The site was also annoying in that we had to make all of our selections and input credit card information before getting frozen out without explanation. My parents decided they didn't need to go up the tower anyway, as they'd been pretty recently, and that's how the issue resolved. I guess we could've gotten them tickets day of, but no one had the will for it, so the rest of us just went up while they hung out in the park at the base of the tower. My branch of the family was running late for our 4:00 entry and had a fairly stressful time making that long jaunt from the Trocadero to the tower. There was some security to get into the park, but it went quickly, and once we were in, we found the entrance for ticket holders right away. To my amazement, there was no line, and we were riding a diagonal elevator up the tower about as soon as we arrived. I love the Eiffel Tower and loved visiting with my children, who were awed by both the iconic structure and the marvelous views. It's great to admire from afar, but well worth a dedicated excursion. I look forward to going back whenever I'm back in Paris.

Overview: a classic, must-see landmark in Paris…read more ---- Very beautiful landmark and prettier if you see it light up at night. The tower only sparkles when it's dark enough outside to see it. When it's the spring/summer the sun sets very late at night so when I was there, the Eiffel Tower first sparkled at 10pm! We didn't know that, so we arrived around 8pm and waited 2 hours. It then started to rain and we shared one umbrella between 4 people. There are lots of people walking around trying to sell you stuff can be very annoying especially if you came there early and they keep asking you. They walk around with small trinkets, some with drinks like wine, blankets, and even umbrellas when it started to rain. There are lots of people on the grassy field in front of the tower having picnics and waiting for the tower to light up as well. The walk from the metro wasn't too long, but also wasn't that short, but it's Paris so be prepared to walk for everything! It beautiful and was worth the walking, waiting, and being rained on. ---- Overall: beautifully lit up at the beginning of the hour after the sun goes down, for us it was at 10pm! Be prepared to walk and wait, enjoy the views and atmosphere with others waiting to see the pretty lights

We did the after hours guided tour. I just have to say that this was an amazing experience and a…read moremust do when going to Paris. There were multiple tours going on in different languages at the same time but each group went to different sections. So your group might pass another group but you were not together. Our group was about 20 people. When you are facing the opera you go to the left and security about half way down the opera lets you in. Then you check in and wait in a rotunda area. After waiting for probably 15-20 our tour started. They take you to most of the areas and it's semi private. One of the highlights of our trip!

Wow what a beauty of a building!!…read more I cannot emphasize enough how much you should go visit this place Specifically you should book the mystery tour held at 5pm which boasts a behind the scenes look at the Paris Opera House and its beautiful Grand Foyer(note- you may recognize the famous steps from Emily in Paris ) It's a group tour - but it's after hours so it's definitely limited people and less tourists then during the day and I loved it- The guides were great , you get an ear piece to listen to in multiple languages I would love to come back and see an actual show someday

The Pantheon is a marvelous neoclassical structure that was originally planned to be a church,…read morehowever the circumstances of history changed its course, and instead pays homage to the heroes of France and those who helped shaped its culture and history in the world. We visited on a rainy day in Feb 2026 and there was quite a line. We waited about 30 mins and paid 13 euros each, plus an extra 4 euros for an audio guide. I would recommend purchasing tickets ahead and the extra 4 euros for the audio guide is well worth it. Give yourself at least 1 hour, but you could be in here all day. The crypt houses many including philosophers and authors: Voltaire,Rousseau Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas, as well as scientists like Marie Curie, and activists. Right next door is a beautiful church Eglise St Etienne du Mont which should not be missed!

A church turned mausoleum for greats like Victor Hugo (interestingly enough, when we were in…read moreBrussels we actually stayed next door to a home he had there). Neoclassical architecture that's stood the test of time for centuries. Deeply rooted in French history it's a must-see for any architecture and/or history buffs. The tour is educational and informative.

Our six-year-old was tired and grouchy on our last full day in Paris, recovering from a stomach bug…read morethat had taken him out for a good chunk of our trip. We'd had grand plans to go see Notre-Dame and the Louvre and spend time at the Tuileries, but we threw that all out and settled on one easy outing: a quick trip on the Metro to see the Palais-Royal. The Palais-Royal isn't a royal palace in the same way as, say, Versailles. It's much smaller, built for Cardinal Richelieu in the 1630s, and you can't go in and gawk at all the bedrooms, as the buildings are currently in use by the French government. Instead, you can hang out in the courtyard, which serves as a park. (There are some shops and restaurants and I'm sure you can go in the buildings, but the courtyard seems to be the most salient public-facing part.) The Palais is in the middle of Paris, right next to the Louvre. We took Line 1 for one stop to get there, and that ended up being a highlight of the trip for our two boys (the 1 is fully electric, so it has no driver and you can look right out the front while you ride). Just a tip for any other parents trying to entertain young children. I was hoping our kids would run around the courtyard, but our poor ailing son didn't have the energy. It was still a great place to visit. The courtyard was striking, the 17th-century architecture enhanced by one of the coolest public artworks I've ever seen. This was a Daniel Buren installation consisting of dozens of column of varying heights, painted in black and white stripes, a modern sculptural project sponsored by the Ministry of Culture (housed at the Palais-Royal) in the 1980s. I am sure this is famous on Instagram, as it's very distinct and photogenic, as well as interactive. My three-year-old ran around playing among the columns, which also served as seats for the rest of us. There was a cool pair of fountains on another side of the courtyard, by sculptor Pol Bury, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture at the same time as the columns. I didn't know about Palais-Royal before this trip to Paris, and I would've checked it out years ago if I had. It's an easy stop if you're going to the Louvre, and well worth seeing all on its own.

I've seen the iconic black & white (looks like a mint) art work...on IG for years... and had this…read morebookmarked for quite some time. Finally... made it here. I think someone told me, this used to be a parking lot (car park)... and someone creative turned it into an iconic "IG" spot! Crowded, yes. Seems to be the trend in Paris... lol even in off peak season, so be patient and wait your turn to take your spot... my sister and I waited for the school kids to leave and grabbed a row that was semi empty, so we can take a less crowded photo. What a fun pit stop after the Louvre. Enjoy!

This is a nice place to slow down and relax and enjoy the fresh air in Central Paris. It's free…read moreand it's also apparently the oldest park in Paris. The elegant palace is also adjacent to a large green expanse called the Gardens of Luxembourg.

The Location: Metro #4 & 10, Exit : Odeon. About 10 minutes walk to the garden…read more The Palais is under-construction. There are many securities around the building. Very beautiful building! In the mean time, can check out the museum and hanging out at the park which is the largest park in Paris!

The pyramids are just as fascinating as the museum itself!…read more They're on the top of the museum and give you something to enjoy while waiting in the long lines. The museum itself is huge and beautiful! It was an amazing experience, and everyone visiting should behold!

Paris, France From…read moreWiki: The Louvre Pyramid (Pyramide du Louvre) is a glass-and-metal structure located in the Cour Napoléon courtyard of the Louvre Palace in Paris. It functions as the main entrance to the museum and allows natural light into the underground lobby. Visited this landmark during our trip to France. We went at night, so we didn't really appreciate the full beauty of the glass structure, and there was some construction going on. Still, it was nice to see it and take a few photos. I would recommend coming during the day for clearer views and better pictures.

Entry into the Grand Palais is free of charge and when you see the building's exterior you'll…read moreimmediately decide that you must go inside. It's stunning, though you'll soon realize that the part you most wanted to see - the glass enclosed space - might not be open to you. Visiting in May, the glass-domed space was locked tight, opened only for special shows and events. I've looked at the calendar now, in June, and see that they open it for many summer activities and were I there now I'd certainly try to get tickets for one of those events. Otherwise? This is still a worthy investment of time, not just to look around and peer into the glass-domed space, but to view the exhibits (individually priced, tickets available at the door). I noticed 3 special exhibits during my visit and paid for entry to 2 (Matisse and Nan Golden). Based on this experience, I'd recommend paying for entry to the exhibits of artists you're least familiar with under the assumption that they'll be less crowded. The Matissse exhibit was crowded enough to render the experience almost unpleasant. The Nan Golden show? Perfect. Though I'd recommend paying to see some exhibits, even if all you do is enter to walk around and explore the space you'll be nicely rewarded. The Grand Palais has some pleasant, quiet seating areas inside and the space is lovely.

What a cool venue! I hear that the Grand Palais just recently reopened and Chanel chose this…read morelocation to debut their fall/Winter collection for 2025. Such a massive event with hundreds of guest and press. Chanel were the ultimate host arranging different special events throughout Paris and hosting several meals and providing chauffeured driver services for us. All culminating to the main event. The pigeon tried stealing the show.

Absolutely one of the best experiences ever. It is a must to get the Audio Guide Tour - so…read moreinformative on th History of Paris and The Catacombes. We unfortunately had 105 degree weather in Paris and literally this tour was a "cool" experience for the history and the temperature - literally. Also the little gift shop after is a must - I smile every morning using my spoon and have a pair of gloves that I will be wearing as well. This and Jim Morrison's Grave was my two favorite things.

The major thing we wanted to do in Paris was visit the catacombs, an underground ossuary containing…read morethe bones of more than six million people. The catacombs are part of Paris' abandoned mine and quarry network, and bones were moved to the catacombs because the cemeteries were running out of space. The first bones were transferred from the Cimetière des Saints-Innocents after the cemetery was closed in 1780 due to overuse. The catacombs are an extremely popular attraction, and purchasing tickets in advance is highly recommended as a limited number of people are admitted each hour, and with good reason -- the experience would be extremely unpleasant if overly crowded. However, you can only purchase tickets one week in advance, and the catacombs are not open on Mondays. The two full days we were in Paris were Sunday and Monday, so I had to ensure that we were able to get tickets for Sunday April 7. Fortunately I was successful! Tickets were €29 each, although per the website, they are now €31. Unfortunately, the catacombs are not accessible for people in wheelchairs or who have mobility issues -- the 1.5km long route has 243 stairs -- 131 to descend and 112 to ascend. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit, and if you want to see bones and skulls (no full skeletons, though), the Paris catacombs won't disappoint! [Yelp collections: Europe 2024; Paris, France; Beware of stairs!]