Things to see and do in Paris

The Eiffel Tower, settled on the bank of the Seine River in the heart of Paris, is a wrought iron edifice designed and built from 1887 to 1889 by famed engineer Gustave Eiffel. With a height of 324 meters, it's one of the tallest man-made structures in France.

The Eiffel Tower has 3 levels open to visitors. The top level is one of the highest observatory decks in Europe, and also features a classy Champagne bar. Lifts are available for you to get to each of the 3 levels, but you can also reach the first 2 floors on foot.

The Louvre Museum should be on the bucket list of every person visiting Paris. This 12th-century fortress in the heart of the city has become one of the world's largest and most popular museums, with a collection of over 350,000 objects and over 30,000 works of art in 8 departments.

From antique sculptures such as The Nike of Samothrace to famous 16th-century paintings like the Mona Lisa, a visit to the Musée du Louvre gives you a journey through the history of arts from all around the world. You can comfortably spend a full day or more at Le Louvre, as it features no less than 15 bars and restaurants.

Notre Dame Cathedral, designed in an ornate Gothic style and completed in 1345, has long been one of the largest churches in the world, and certainly one of the most famous. From its architecture to the finely carved sculptures and colorful stained glass, it's an outstanding combination of religion and art. Its name translates to "Our Lady of Paris".

Notre Dame Cathedral has been immortalized in Victor Hugo's novel, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, and you can actually climb up to the famous belfry from the novel to a 200 ft terrace, which offers 360-degree views over Paris.

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris is one of the most famous landmarks in the capital. Taking almost 40 years to build, the chalky white church with 3 main domes proudly stands at the top of the highest point in the city, Montmartre Hill.

Commonly called Sacré-Coeur, the basilica's long been known for its political and cultural importance. Montmartre is one of the quaintest neighborhoods of Paris, and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a popular place for locals to meet and enjoy a sweeping view of Paris.

The Arc de Triomphe was built to honor those who died defending their country. Commissioned by Emperor Napoleon I to celebrate the Austerlitz victory, the monument is at the northwestern end of the famous Champs-Elysées Avenue, on the Star Place - formerly Charles de Gaulle Place.

At a height of 50 meters, the Arc de Triomphe is an imposing structure, designed in a neoclassical version of ancient Roman architecture. Right under the arch, you'll find the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated to the unidentified soldiers who died during WWI.

The Champs-Elysees Avenue is the commercial heart of downtown Paris. Running between the Place de la Concorde and the Place of the Star - on which stands the Arc de Triomphe - Champs-Elysees is the trendiest street in the capital, and one of the most famous streets in the world.

The entire 1.9-km street in the 8th arrondissement of Paris is packed with fashionable bars, gastronomic restaurants, and luxury boutiques. It's also famous for the annual Bastille Day military parade on July 14th, and for being the finish line of the Tour de France bicycle race.

The Sainte-Chapelle is a popular chapel, regarded as one of the world's most impressive examples of Gothic architecture. Built by Louis IX in 1248, on the medieval Ile de la Cité - or Island of the City - in the heart of Paris, it was commissioned to house the King's collection of Passion relics.

The Sainte-Chapelle, as well as the palace it's built in, has been through a tumultuous history, especially during the French Revolution, but was completely renovated in the 19th century. Today, it's a remarkable witness of the French Middle Ages.

Paris Zoological Park covers 36 acres, in which you can see animals from 5 major natural environments or "biozones". They recreate Patagonia, Sahel-Sudan, Europe, Amazon-Guyana, and Madagascar. It opened in 1934, and is commonly called Vincennes Zoo because of its location on the east side of Paris, about 4 miles from the city center.

A complete renovation of Paris Zoological Park in 2014 means this zoo prioritizes environmental protection and the well-being of the animals it houses. A great choice of services are available, like guided tours and disabled visitors' assistance, as well as 2 restaurants.

The Centre Pompidou is an impressive place in the Beaubourg area, which opened in 1977, and was named after the former French president who ordered its construction in a modern, high-tech architectural style. Often referred to as Centre Beaubourg, it hosts a vast public library, a center for music and acoustic research, and the Musée National d'Art Moderne - the largest modern art museum in Europe.

This multicultural complex attracts curious visitors and modern art lovers alike, due to its very original design that exposes its mechanical structure. The immediate neighborhood of Centre Pompidou features a good choice of quaint cafés and restaurants.

The Pantheon was originally a church dedicated to St Genevieve, the patron saint of Paris, and was remodeled at the end of the 18th century by King Louis XV. It then became a mausoleum, housing the remains of eminent French citizens, thanked by an inscription above the entrance that reads: "To great men, the grateful homeland".

The Pantheon's necropolis hosts the remains of many noted writers, scientists, philosophers, and national heroes. This impressive building and its crypt, blending neoclassical and gothic styles, gives you the opportunity to pay your respects to some of the most influential people in the country's history.

The Grand Palais des Champs-Elysées is found just off the famous Paris avenue it shares a name with. Commonly known as the Grand Palais, it was built at the end of the 19th century for the Universal Exposition of 1900. The extensive exhibition hall is covered by a glass vault framed with light steel in a classic architectural design.

The Grand Palais continues to be used as an exhibition center, at which you can see classic and modern art expositions. A wing of the building houses a science museum, while 3 bars and restaurants offer you the chance for a refreshing break.

Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise - or Pere Lachaise Cemetery - is the largest graveyard in Paris. It may sound weird to promote a cemetery as an attractive place to visit, but the Pere Lachaise, to the east of downtown Paris, is world-famous for being the final resting place of iconic artists like Oscar Wilde and Jim Morrison.

Covering 45 hectares, the cemetery offers a very pleasant and serene place to stroll around in search of famous people. From Edith Piaf to Frederic Chopin, and from Maria Callas to Marcel Proust, you can pay your respects to extremely talented and famous people here.

The Paris Catacombs are considered the world's largest grave. Established at the end of the 18th century in the ancient mines of Paris around Place Denfert-Rochereau, 2 miles south of the city center, they're the final resting place for the remains of over 6 million people.

Skulls and bones have been tidily arranged on shelves or on top of each other in the galleries and halls of the former quarries, which were opened to the public in the early 19th century. Gruesome at first sight, the Paris Catacombs have become a spooky must-see in the capital city of France.

The Tour Montparnasse is a 209-meter skyscraper just next to the train station of the same name. This office building was completed in 1973, featuring an observatory deck on the top floor, and a restaurant named "Le Ciel de Paris" - "The Sky of Paris" - on the 56th. The Tour Montparnasse remained the tallest building in France until 2010.

The rooftop observatory deck offers a 360-degree panoramic view of up to 40 km, and is considered one of the most beautiful in Paris. It's open daily from 9:30 am to 10:30 pm (11:30 pm in summer).

La Grande Arche de la Défense is a 111-meter-tall cubic monument and office building, which you'll be able to see from many kilometers away. Opened in 1989, this modern architectural marvel looks like a cube that's been carved out from the inside. It houses government offices, as well as a museum and a rooftop terrace offering stunning views over Paris.

La Défense is a bit like Paris's Central Business District; many big companies are headquartered in the immediate surroundings of the Grande Arche. You'll also find plenty of trendy fashion boutiques and shopping malls nearby.