Paris has more to see than most visitors can fit into one trip, so it helps to choose a few anchors and build around them. The list below covers twelve of the most popular things to do in Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the big museums, the cathedral and chapel on the Île de la Cité, Montmartre, the river and the gardens, followed by a few ideas for evenings and a day trip to Versailles. Opening hours and prices come from each sight’s official website and were checked in early November 2026. They change, so confirm them before you book.
Know before you go
- Louvre: closed Tuesday; 9 am to 6 pm, until 9 pm on Wednesday and Friday; EUR 32 for visitors from outside the EEA.
- Musée d’Orsay: closed Monday; 9:30 am to 6 pm, until 9:45 pm on Thursday.
- Free entry: Notre-Dame and Sacré-Cœur.
- Eiffel Tower: tickets from EUR 14.80 to EUR 36.70, with new fares from 11 January 2027.
- Versailles: closed Monday; 9 am to 5:30 pm from November to March.
- Visa: Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa for France.
- Last checked: 3 November 2026.
In this Article
Landmarks and museums
1. Eiffel Tower
The tower is the obvious first stop, and the view from the top takes in the whole city. Official prices start at EUR 14.80 for an adult taking the stairs to the second floor and go up to EUR 36.70 for the lift to the summit, and new fares start on 11 January 2027. Allow two to three hours including the security check. Our Eiffel Tower tickets guide explains the ticket types and how to book on the official site. For a classic photo, walk over from the Trocadéro on the other side of the river.
2. Louvre
The Louvre is one of the largest art museums in the world, and its glass pyramid is a sight even if you don’t go in. It opens at 9 am and closes at 6 pm, stays open until 9 pm on Wednesday and Friday, and is closed every Tuesday as well as on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Visitors from outside the European Economic Area pay EUR 32 and under-18s enter free. The museum recommends booking a time slot for everyone, including people who get in free, and warns against mirror sites and street sellers. Pick the galleries you want in advance, since three or four hours is a full visit.
3. Musée d’Orsay
The Orsay sits on the Left Bank in a former railway station and is best known for Impressionist painting. The museum lists its hours as 9:30 am to 6 pm from Tuesday to Sunday, with a late opening until 9:45 pm on Thursday, and it is closed on Mondays. Look at the big station clocks while you are inside. Check current prices on the museum’s own site before you go.
4. Notre-Dame de Paris
The cathedral on the Île de la Cité reopened after restoration and entry is free. It opens at 7:50 am from Monday to Friday and 8:15 am at weekends, and closes at 7 pm on weekdays, 10 pm on Thursday and 7:30 pm at weekends, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. A free reservation on the official website gives easier access. The cathedral says no guide or agency may sell tickets for it, so ignore anyone offering one outside.
5. Sainte-Chapelle
A few minutes’ walk from Notre-Dame, this royal chapel is known for its tall walls of stained glass. Full price entry is EUR 22, and EU residents under 26 go free. Book a slot online and try for a sunny hour, when the light comes through the windows. Around an hour is enough.
6. Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées
The arch stands at the top of the Champs-Élysées, and the roof gives a view straight down the avenue. Entry costs EUR 16 at full price. The monument’s site says the lift has been out of service since late July 2026, so the way up is 284 steps, and the lift is due back in 2027. The walk up the avenue from Place de la Concorde takes around 30 to 40 minutes at an easy pace.
Neighbourhoods and the river
7. Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur
The basilica sits on top of the Montmartre hill and is free to enter, open every day from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm. A dome tour is a separate paid visit. Around the basilica, the lanes of Montmartre are good for a slow afternoon, and the steps in front of Sacré-Cœur are a popular place to watch the sunset over the city.
8. Walk along the Seine
The banks of the Seine between the Eiffel Tower and the Île de la Cité tie many of the main sights together, and walking a stretch of the river costs nothing. Pont Neuf, despite its name, is the oldest standing bridge in Paris and a good starting point. Boat cruises leave from several piers in the centre. Compare operators and times on their own sites, since routes and prices vary.
9. Latin Quarter and the Left Bank
Across the river from Notre-Dame, the Latin Quarter has narrow streets, bookshops, cafés and the university buildings that gave the area its name. It works well after a morning on the Île de la Cité, and it leads naturally on to the Luxembourg Garden.
Gardens and parks
10. Tuileries Garden
The Tuileries runs from the Louvre to Place de la Concorde and is free to enter. From November to March it opens from 7:30 am to 7:30 pm, and it stays open later in summer. Its chairs around the ponds make it a good place to rest between the Louvre and the Champs-Élysées.
11. Jardin du Luxembourg
The Luxembourg Garden on the Left Bank surrounds the palace that houses the French Senate. It has lawns, tree lined paths, a large pond and plenty of benches, and it is a popular stop for families with children. Entry is free.
Day trip
12. Palace of Versailles
The palace and gardens of Versailles lie just outside Paris and fill most of a day. From 1 November to 31 March the palace opens from 9 am to 5:30 pm, with last admission at 4:45 pm, and it is closed on Mondays, 25 December and 1 January. The Passport ticket covers the whole estate and is the only ticket that includes a timed tour of the palace. In the 2026 low season it costs EUR 25, and EEA nationals and residents get a EUR 3 discount. The gardens are free in the low season, while from 1 April to 31 October there is a charge for them. The Hall of Mirrors is the room most people come to see, so go early to beat the groups.
Things to do in Paris at night
Several sights stay open late, which helps on a short trip:
- The Louvre is open until 9 pm on Wednesday and Friday.
- The Musée d’Orsay is open until 9:45 pm on Thursday.
- Notre-Dame stays open until 10 pm on Thursday.
- Sacré-Cœur is open until 10:30 pm every day.
An evening walk or boat ride along the Seine is another easy option after dark.
Paris with kids
Under-18s enter the Louvre free, and Notre-Dame and Sacré-Cœur are free for everyone. The Luxembourg Garden and the Tuileries give children space to run around between museum visits. Keep each museum stop short, and add a river cruise for a break from walking.
Planning your days
| Area | Sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Île de la Cité and Left Bank | Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, Latin Quarter, Luxembourg Garden, Orsay | One full day |
| Louvre and the Champs-Élysées | Louvre, Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, Arc de Triomphe | One full day |
| Eiffel Tower and Montmartre | Trocadéro, Eiffel Tower, Seine, Sacré-Cœur | One full day |
| Versailles | Palace, gardens and Trianon | Most of a day |
With one day, pick a single area, usually the Eiffel Tower and the river, and add one museum. With two days, cover the first two rows. For a ready plan, our 3 day Paris itinerary puts these areas into a day by day order and keeps the Louvre off Tuesday.
Where to stay and getting there
For a first visit, staying in central areas near the river keeps travel time short, and the metro links the main sights. Book early for spring, summer and the Christmas season.
Most Indian travellers fly into Paris Charles de Gaulle. France is in the Schengen area, so Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa; our Schengen visa guide for Indians covers documents and timing. Paris also pairs well with Switzerland or Italy on a longer Europe trip.
FAQ
What are the top things to do in Paris?
The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, Montmartre and a walk along the Seine are the most popular, with Versailles as a day trip.
What can I do in Paris in one day?
Pick one area. A common choice is the Eiffel Tower, a walk along the Seine and either the Louvre or the Musée d’Orsay, keeping in mind the Louvre is closed on Tuesday and the Orsay on Monday.
Which day is the Louvre closed?
The Louvre is closed every Tuesday, and also on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
What are free things to do in Paris?
Notre-Dame and Sacré-Cœur are free to enter, and the Tuileries, the Luxembourg Garden and the Seine banks cost nothing. The Versailles gardens are also free from November to March.
What can you do in Paris at night?
The Louvre opens late on Wednesday and Friday, the Orsay on Thursday, and Sacré-Cœur is open until 10:30 pm every day. A river walk or cruise after dark is also popular.
Official resources: Louvre; Musée d’Orsay; Notre-Dame de Paris; Sainte-Chapelle; Arc de Triomphe; Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre; Eiffel Tower; Palace of Versailles
Photo credits
Featured image: Benh LIEU SONG (Flickr) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; 3. Musée d’Orsay: Gingiberi Magnus / Wikimedia Commons, CC0; 4. Notre-Dame de Paris: Wyslijp16 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0; 5. Sainte-Chapelle: Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; 7. Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur: Terragio67 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; 8. Walk along the Seine: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author and send me a message. This image is not in the public domain. Please respect the copyright protection. It may only be used according to the rules mentioned here. This specifically excludes use in social media, if applicable terms of the licenses listed here are not appropriate. Please do not upload an updated image here without consultation with the Author. The author would like to make corrections only at his own source. This ensures that the changes are preserved.Please if you think that any changes should be required, please inform the author.Otherwise you can upload a new image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract. / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; 10. Tuileries Garden: DiscoA340 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; 11. Jardin du Luxembourg: Rdevany at English Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0; 12. Palace of Versailles: Myrabella / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
