The best way to enjoy your time in Paris is to create an itinerary that helps you stay on schedule. Ideally, you should then share this planned itinerary with your airport transfer Paris chauffeur so they can help you get around the city as easily as possible.
That said, it’s important to note that curating such a planned itinerary can be challenging, especially considering the tens of things to do in Paris. So, to make creating a plan for your time in the city easier for you, let’s look at some of the top things to do in Paris.
Eiffel Tower
Probably the first place on any Parisian visitor’s itinerary, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited monuments in France. This monument is a wrought-iron lattice tower designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel and was built from 1887-1889. It consists of 18,000 sturdy iron sections held together by 2.5 million rivets.
The tower reaches 324 meters in height and is perhaps the best-known sight on the Paris skyline today. It was the tallest manmade structure of its day until the completion of the Chrysler Building in 1930. To reach the tower’s first level, you can either walk up the 360 steps or take the elevator. The level holds an outdoor terrace space from where you can take in the views of Paris.
If you’re not afraid of heights, you can either walk up another 344 stairs or take the elevator to the second level. From here, you can take an elevator to the third and top level of the tower (you can’t walk up to this level). The tower’s second level is home to a Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Jules Verne, while the third level offers stunning sights of the city.
Musée du Louvre
Located in the heart of Paris, the Musée du Louvre is the largest art museum in the world. An architectural masterpiece and a historic monuent, it is home to over 380,000 artworks. As your Paris airport transfer chauffeur will let you know, these include some of the most canonical works of Western art.
The Mona Lisa, painted by Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci between 1503 and 1505, is likely the most famous of all the artworks held in the Louvre. Other highlights and masterpieces in the Louvre include:
• The Venus de Milo (an ancient Greek sculpture of a Greek goddess, most likely Aphrodite, created during the Hellenistic period)
• The Victoire de Samothrace (a monument originally found on the island of Samothrace, dating to the Hellenistic era and showcasing the goddess Niké)
• The Wedding Feast at Cana (painted by Veronese in 1563)
• Young Lady with Venus and the Graces (a fresco painted by Botticelli)
• Liberty Leading the People (painted by Eugène Delacroix in 1831)
Musée d’Orsay
The best-known museum in Partis after the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay can be found in the converted Gare d’Orsay, a railway station built between 1898 and 1900. The Musée d’Orsay is home to numerous artistic masterpieces, including works by all the Impressionist masters. Highlighted artists include:
• Edgar Degas
• Edouard Manet
• Claude Monet
• Auguste Renoir
• Vincent van Gogh
• Paul Cézanne
Highlighted artworks in the museum include:
• Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night
• Claude Monet’s Poppy Field
• Renoir’s Dance at Moulin de la Galette
Palais Garnier
Commissioned in 1860, the Palais Garnier is an opera house that is home to the Opéra National de Paris (the Paris Opera). It was designed by Charles Garnier in the Baroque style.
The opera house has a sprawling 11,000-square-meter interior and features a Chagall ceiling painting in its auditorium. Aside from being home to the Opéra National de Paris, the Palais Garnier also plays host to other performances like ballet, classical music concerts, galas, and more. It is also home to the Library Museum of the Opera, which contains three centuries of archives and exhibits about the art of opera.
Jardin du Luxembourg
Located in the 6th arrondissement, Jardin du Luxembourg (also known as the Luxembourg Gardens) is a 25-hectare park that is one of the most visited in Paris. It was built for Queen Marie de Médicis by King Henri IV.
The park features many must-see areas, including:
• a rose garden
• an apiary
• an English-style garden
• an orangery
• orchid-filled greenhouses
• an orchard that features heirloom varieties of apples
• the Fontaine de Médicis, a 17th-century fountain basin
• the La Terrasse de Madame, a charming café-restaurant
Musée Rodin
If you’re looking to explore the hidden gems of Paris, Musée Rodin is a must-visit. This property is where the famed sculptor Auguste Rodin lived for many years, from about 1908 to 1916.
The Musée Rodin is home to a vast number of Rodin’s sculptures, as well as works by other artists like Camille Claudel. Some of Rodin’s masterpieces at the Musée Rodin include:
• Danaïd
• The Age of Bronze
• The Cathedral
• The Kiss
• The Thinker
• Monument to Balzac
• Adam
