To see and experience, to travel to and around, and above all to orientate you within the city …
Hot tip: If you’re keen to delve more deeply into Paris architecture, Paris Promeneurs is your go-to.
Paris boasts 37 bridges and footbridges that connect the right and left banks. The Paris Je t’Aime website provides a useful rundown of each one.
The Carrousel Arch is an elaborate 19m-high monument to Napoleonic victory, in the Place du Carrousel, between the Louvre and the Jardin Tuileries, in the 1st.
One of Paris’, and France’s, national symbols, the Arc de Triomphe sits on the Champs-Élysées, on the Place de l’Étoile, at the centre of several of the city’s major thoroughfares. Hosting tours and events, in the 8th.
The ‘Arena of Lutetia’ is a Gallo-Roman period amphitheatre, one of the only remaining Roman ruins – still being used as a park and event space – in Paris. In the 5th.
The entire canal is around 4.5km (with two underground), and links Port de l’Arsenal to the La Villette canal basin. The landmark referred to here is the wide, cafe-lined section in the 10th.
Classified as a museum by the City, this monument is at once a historical record and underground landmark. The Catacombs are also the largest underground ossuary in the world. In the 14th.
A historic monument built in 1826 in the late neoclassical style, on the site of the old Madeleine Cemetery where King Louis and Marie Antoinette were buried. In the Square Louis XVI in the 8th.
Built in the 1680s, the Saint-Louis Chapel sits at the centre of the hospital precinct, holding mass every day and hosting events throughout the year. In the 13th.
Large medieval castle with its own Sainte-Chapelle, and offering public events, exhibitions and tours. Within the Bois de Vincennes, in the 12th.
On the side of the Butte Montmartre, Paris’ third cemetery offers a view of the city and the graves of Berlioz, Degas, Dumas and Zola, among others. In the 19th.
75,000m2 green space holding the tombs of Arnoux, Coluche, de Staël, Doisneau and France’s first stuntwoman Odile Astié. In the 14th.
‘Small but well-frequented’, Passy holds 2600 monuments and tombs including those of Debussy, Guerlain, Givenchy and Manet, as well as views of the city. In the 16th.
The Montparnasse Cemetery is one of the largest green spaces in the city and home to over 1200 trees, plus the graves of Beckett, Gainsbourg, Ionesco, Man Ray and many more. In the 14th.
Still a working cemetery that hosts thousands of funerals a year, the Père-Lachaise is the largest green space in the capital, and the resting place of Balzac, Piaf and many more. In the 20th.
Paris’ International University is a large campus featuring ‘an explosion’ of architectural styles. It regularly holds public events and activities, and offers tours. In the 14th.
The medieval royal residence, which became a prison during the revolution, is now a monument and museum open for public tours. On the Île de la Cité in the 1st.
This former railway line, also known as the Promenade Plantée, is a 4.5km walkway that runs from the Bastille opera house through to the Bois de Vincennes. Across the 12th.
Not technically in Paris proper, but a Paris landmark nevertheless, the Grand Arch is a modern reflection of the Arc de Triomphe, in the La Defense district.
The ‘Defender of Time’ is a 4m-high automated brass sculpture by Jacques Monestier that marks the Quartier de l’Horloge area. On the Rue Bernard-de-Clairvaux in the 3rd.
Roman Catholic church built in the 17th century in the Baroque style and containing many curiosities including Victor Hugo’s autograph. In the 4th.
This retro-futuristic complex designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer is listed as a historical monument and contains private and exhibition spaces, as well as the white dome of the French Communist Party.
In the 19th.
This small automatic railway car links the bottom of the Montmartre hill with the Sacré-Cœur at the top, in 1.5 minutes at the same price as the metro. In the 18th.
The Flame of Liberty is a life-sized replica of the New York Statue of Liberty flame, now also known as a tribute to Princess Diana. Next to the Alma bridge in the Place d’Alma in the 8th.
The Austerlitz train station is a historical monument servicing the Orleans region and including metro platforms, close to the Seine and Jardin des Plantes, on the Quai d’Austerlitz, on the tip of the 13th.
The city’s East train station is its oldest, and continues to service France’s eastern region. Its rooftop terrace offers a different view of Paris and its basement houses a miniature railway. In the 10th.
The Lyon train station serves southern France as well as metro platforms, and features a large clocktower designed by Garnier. Close to the river in the 12th.
The North train station is the largest in Paris and the third-largest in the world. Its facade features 23 sculptures depicting European cities, and the forecourt is home to the Angel Bear. In the 10th.
The Montparnasse train station is on the nexus of the 6th, 7th, 14th and 15th arrondisements, and boasts the fastest moving walkway in the world. Officially in the 15th.
Part of the metro system, the Saint-Lazare train station services the city’s business district and passengers from Normandy, and is known for its large rotunda designed by Lucien Bechmann. In the 8th.
The Grand Mosque delivers regular religious services and, as the Muslim Institute, hosts cultural exhibitions and events. Next to the Jardin des Plantes, in the 5th.
A tribute to French astronomer Arago, designed by Jan Dibbets, 135 medallions mark the Paris Meridian Line, from the International University to Port du Clingancourt. Chris Molloy’s list is very comprehensive.
A medieval-built mansion that is now home to the Forney Library, the Hotel marks the village of Saint Paul and boasts a unique garden. In the 4th.
Part of the Musée de l’Armée and known for its large gilded dome, the ‘Invalids Hotel’ holds the tomb of Napoleon I, among a vast military collection. On the Rue de Grenelle in the 7th.
Paris’ Town Hall includes a public library, and the building and forecourt – the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville – hosts many municipal events and exhibitions. Between the Rue de Rivoli and the Seine in the 4th.
A 17th Century ‘hôtel particulier’, built between 1656 and 1660, the Lauzun retains much of its rich interior decoration. Currently home to the Paris Institute for Advanced Study, on the Île Saint-Louis in the 4th.
This private apartment building boasts a prime example of art nouveau, decorated with sculpture and tiles, at 29 Avenue Rapp in the 7th. [Note the link lists a number of other buildings to explore.]
Classified historical monument that was initially part of the royal residences of the 17th century and dedicated to the king’s furniture and other belongings. On the Place de la Concorde in the 8th.
The Ministry of Economy, Finance and Recovery occupies a dramatic building with high arches acting as city doors. Open to the public during the annual European Heritage Days, in the 12th.
A medieval place of worship that became a military fortress during the 19th century, Mont Valerien is outside the city walls (in Suresne) but can be seen from the Bois de Boulogne.
I Love You: The Wall is the work of artists Frédéric Baron and Claire Kito, dedicated to love and erected in the Square Jehan Rictus. It has become a local meeting place in the 19th.
A working Catholic cathedral built in the 12th century, the Notre Dame is famed for its French gothic architecture and ornate facades and windows. On Place Jean-Paul II, on the Île de la Cité in the 4th.
The fifth-largest and still working church in Paris references Gothic and Romanesque styles, and is a feature of the Ménilmontant village skyline. In the 20th.
This church was built as a symbol of social Catholicism and reflects the then factory workers’ reliance on metal manufacturing in its structure and interior. In the 14th.
An Italian-style 19th century performance hall featuring a grand foyer, rotunda, a library-museum and ceiling painted by Marc Chagall in 1964. Open for tours and performances, on the Place de l’Opéra in the 9th.
A landmark, museum and gallery (permanently
exhibiting Monet’s Water Lilies), the Musée de l’Orangerie sits within the Jardin Tuileries on the side of the Place de la Concorde in the 1st.
Now a convention and events centre, the Brongniart Palace opened in 1826 to house the French stock exchange. Open to the general public only during the Heritage Days, in the Place de la Bourse in the 2nd.
Two pavilions housing four cultural institutions, and decorated with quotations by Paul Valéry, the Chaillot sits within the Trocadero precinct, across the Seine from the Tour Eiffel, in the 16th.
The head office of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (France’s third constitutional assembly), is a Perret masterpiece and landmark in its own right, and open to tours. In the 16th.
Official residence of the President of the French Republic, the Élysée Palace and gardens are private, but you can learn about them at the Maison Élysée across the road. On the Rue du Faubourg St-Honore in the 16th.
Luxembourg Palace is now the seat of the French Senate, and a marked feature of the Luxembourg gardens. Open to the public during the European Heritage Days. In the 6th.
Former French Royal Palace whose arcades now house shops and eateries that line the public garden – the Jardin du Palais Royal. Also home to the Colonnes de Buren artwork. Opposite the Louvre in the 1st.
Home of the original Foucault Pendulum (now replaced by a copy) and the crypt containing the tombs of Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo and Zola, among others. In the Place du Panthéon in the 5th.
Constructed in 1798 and Paris’ oldest covered passage, the Cairo Passage, is named for the Egyptian goddess Hathor sculptures on its facade. Between the Rue St Denis and the Place du Claire in the 2nd.
Constructed in 1785 and the oldest passage in Paris, this corner covered walkway runs between the Boulevard Saint-Denis and the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis in the 10th.
The Little Belt railway once ran around the city’s periphery, and is slowly being converted to pedestrian pathways and community venues. With access points in different parts of the city.
A unique triangular square bordered by rows of private houses with identical facades, the Place Dauphine sits on the western end of Île de la Cité, leading into the Square du Vert Galant, in the 1st.
On the former site of the Bastille prison, the Colonne de Juliet and its Génie de la Liberté mark the site of revolutions. The square also marks the beginning (or end) of the Boulevard Richard Lenoir and the Rue du Faubourg Saint-Antoine. In the 4th.
Home of the Luxor Obelisk, the Fontaine des Mers and the Fontaine des Fleuves. The Place de la Concorde marks the spot between the Jardin des Tuileries and the Jardin des Champs Elysées. In the 8th.
Containing the Triomphe de la République sculpture, lawns, flowerbeds and access to the Nations metro station, Place de la Nations is also the meeting point of several major eastern arteries. In the 11th.
A large paved pedestrian square popular for skating, meeting and events, and home of the Monument to the Republic as well as a child-friendly water feature. On the edge of the 3rd, 10th and 11th.
Large public square and intersection surrounded by shops and with the colossal Lion of Belfort monument at its centre. In the 14th.
An almost-perfect circle with a triumphant statue of Louis XIV at its centre, and classic buildings around its perimeter. Bordering the 1st and 2nd.
The oldest planned square in Paris, the Place des Vosges is a popular public square with lawns and walking paths, and lined by various cultural institutions. In the Marais, between the 3rd and the 4th.
The ‘artist’s square’ at the top of Montmartre hill is renowned for its old-Paris style, portraitists and painters, café terraces and the Saint-Pierre de Montmartre church. In the 18th.
At the rear of the Chaillot Palace and facing the Eiffel Tower, this open paved plaza is a sight-seeing haven with wide city views. In the 16th.
A celebrated octagonal square built in the 1700s containing the Vendôme Column and marking the beginning of the Rue de la Paix. Now known for luxury goods and high-end jewellers, in the 1st.
The point from which all roads leaving the city in France are measured is on the forecourt of the Notre-Dame, facing the main entrance, on the Île de la Cité in the 1st.
The Saint-Denis Gate is a 25m-high triumphal arch built in 1672 and marking the entrance to Rue du Faubourg Saint-Denis, as well as the original medieval city wall, in the 10th.
The Saint-Martin Gate is a 18m-high triumphal arch built in 1674 and marking the previous city walls. On the Boulevard Saint-Martin in the 10th.
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre is a working church with a forecourt offering wide city views, and a dome open to paying visitors, who can climb the 280 steps for a unique view. In the 18th.
A gothic monument built in the 13th century, Saint-Chapelle is famed for its monumental stained glass windows, 75m-high spire and ornate decorations. Accessible via a ticket, on the Île de la Cité in the 1st.
A working Catholic church, Saint-Etienne houses the tombs of Pascal and Racine, with Jean-Paul Marat buried in the cemetery. Open to public visits, in the heart of the Latin Quarter in the 5th.
A working Catholic church, Saint-Eustace was built in the 13th century and is home to the largest organ in France. The square also houses the huge Herman Miller Listener sculpture, and Montorgueil is around the corner. In the 1st.
Working Catholic church built in the 1600s in the flamboyant Gothic style the Saint Gervais sits on the historic Rue des Barres. Also note the Garden of 13 November in the Place Saint-Gervais at front. In the 4th.
The oldest church in Paris is built on the site of a chapel dedicated to Saint Julien prior to the 6th century. On the Square René Viviani in the 5th.
A ‘roman temple, a Merovingian church, a Royal Benedictine Abbey, a parish church’, the Saint-Pierre is one of the oldest in Paris and is open to the public. Just below the Sacré-Coeur, in the 18th.
One of Paris’ oldest churches, built in the Flamboyant Gothic style, Saint-Severin is also known for its twisted pillar, the oldest bell in Paris, and sacred music program. Open to the public, in the Latin Quarter in the 5th.
A working Catholic church, and the third-largest in Paris, Saint-Sulpice is home to art by Pigalle and Delacroix, and the fronting square holds the Saint-Sulpice fountain. In the St-Germain-des-Prés region in the 6th.
The Église Sainte-Anne, in the Butte-aux-Cailles ‘village’ is a working church built in the Roman-Byzantine style in the early 1900s. Known for its stained glass windows, mosaics and sculpted vaults. In the Chinatown area of the 13th.
While the university itself has several different campuses, the Sorbonne referred to here is home to the Faculties of Letters, Health and Science, in the original building that is open to the public during the European Heritage Days. In the 6th.
Containing the monumental Foundation Louvois, this public square also contains lawns, benches and a playground. Also where Blair pushed Serena into the fountain. In the 2nd.
Small public square noted for being enclosed by art nouveau buildings, and its view of the Eiffel Tower. In the 7th.
Small square featuring trees, walkways, benches and, notably, a replica of the Roman Capitoline Hill she-wolf that marks the ‘twinning’ of the two cities. Opposite the Cluny Museum in the 5th.
A medieval tower comprised of five levels and known for its ‘plant vault’ artwork and ceremonial staircase. Open to the public via a ticket, in the 2nd.
You can visit the tower by lift or by stair, and note that each of the three floors house shops, eateries and exhibitions (it’s worth checking the website for details), and we suggest booking ahead to avoid the queues! In the 7th.
The observation deck (on the 56th floor) and rooftop of the Montparnasse Tower are accessible (via ticketing) for wide views of the city, and by using the world’s fastest elevator. In the 15th.
Originally a church bell tower and completed in the 1500s in the Flamboyant Gothic style, the Saint-Jacques tower stands at 54m high, and is open to guided tours and events. In the Châtelet district in the 4th.
The UNESCO precinct comprises four buildings a garden area and art collection, and offers guided tours plus a wide variety of free, public events year-round. In the 7th.
The headquarters of the Université Paris Cité is located in a building listed as a historic monument and housing the publicly accessible Museum of the History of Medicine. In the 6th.
The Val-de-Grace complex was built in the mid-17th century and houses a publicly accessible church, military hospital and the Army Health Service Museum. In the 5th.