Ah, Paris, the incomparable! It’s romantic for us. Whether you’ve found yourself with travel brochures in your hand or prefer to travel from the comfort of your own armchair, Paris is one of those cities that welcomes you with open arms. Your mind swirls with images of Eugène Atget’s nearly forgotten photographs, stories you’ve read about Place Pigalle and Montparnasse, the seductive nuttiness of Ninotchka, or the many other great movies (Rififi, Blue, Funny Face—name your own favorites) set in Paris the beautiful. Add to that baguettes (traditional-style for us, please), croissants, Nutella crepes, champignons, everything there and just so. Where should you begin your visit? We have a few ideas. Take that mind full of Paris—your Paris or our Paris—and go out when the sun comes up. You won’t be sorry! (No, I don’t regret anything.)
Here are the top 10 Places to visit in Paris:
10. Versailles
![](https://jaybesttrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/images-22-1.jpg)
Is it all about me, or all about you? From (relatively) humble beginnings as a hunting lodge and grounds under Louis XIII, the buildings and grounds at the Palace of Versailles were transformed into an extravaganza of exclamation points and excess: it is extraordinary! A place that combines the best and worst of Baz Luhrmann, Liberace, and, well, Louis XIV. One look at the Hall of Mirrors says it all. (And don’t even get us started on the formal gardens.)
9. Père-Lachaise
![](https://jaybesttrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/images-23-3.jpg)
If you’re drawn to cemeteries (and let’s face it, almost all of us are), don’t miss this one. Its walks are well-kept and tree-lined. Oscar Wilde, Edith Piaf, Gertrude Stein (and Alice B. Toklas), Colette, Simone Signoret (and Yves Montand), Balzac, Delacroix, Proust, Ingres… Should we continue? Almost everyone who was anybody is buried there. A ramble here not only allows you to catch your breath, but it also allows you to reflect on a variety of topics, including the role these individuals played in your life, changes in mortuary architectural styles, and—if you want to go that far—mortality.
8. Louvre
![](https://jaybesttrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/images-24.jpg)
Many people’s eyes glaze over when you mention museums, but you had a feeling we were going somewhere, didn’t you? This is one of the top ten. Wear sensible shoes, stay hydrated, and know what you want to see. First, pause in front of I.M. Pei’s entrance pyramid. If that doesn’t float your boat, it might not be seaworthy. The Mona Lisa may not be your cup of tea, but we recommend at the very least The Raft of the Medusa, Cy Twombly’s ceiling painting, Liberty Leading the People, and the magnificent Winged Victory of Samothrace.
7. Tuileries Gardens
![](https://jaybesttrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/images-25-2.jpg)
Nothing beats a stroll through the Tuileries after a few hours at the Louvre. Take a seat if you see any open chairs. Maybe it’s time to crack open a nice St.-Joseph wine and sample some cheese from the nearby market—and a fresh baguette? You can watch children push their sailboats around a large pool if you so desire. Extend your muscles. Are you feeling better? As if you can keep going? You only have to walk to the next bench.
6. The Tour Eiffel
![](https://jaybesttrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/images-26-1.jpg)
The only thing that could prevent you from visiting this symbol of Parisian modernism up close is a fear of heights. We’ll grant that it’s spectacular even from the ground, but we recommend that you take a step up and wait in line for the aerial view. The view from any of the tower’s restaurants is worth the trip, especially at sunset or at night. If necessary, Dutch bravery is readily available.
5. Plantée’s Promenade
![](https://jaybesttrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/images-27-1.jpg)
Exercise, as well as shopping! The Promenade Plantée was built on a viaduct and was the world’s first elevated park. The former rail line was built in 1859 to connect the Place de Bastille with the Varenne-Saint-Maur suburbs to the city’s southeast. The line’s train service was terminated in 1969, and the viaduct was decommissioned. The Promenade Plantée, a forerunner of New York’s High Line, offers a variety of plantings and vistas along its three miles. High-end shopping is also available at street level in a number of artisanal stores built within the graceful arches.
4. The Orsay Museum
![](https://jaybesttrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/images-28-1.jpg)
The new interior of the Great Orsay was designed by Gaetana Aulenti with minimalist grace and grandeur. Musée d’Orsay, Historic Preservation
Photo credit: Selfiy/Shutterstock.com
If you can live without art, which we doubt, we recommend a visit to this museum. The light on the inside is worth your time. The Musée d’Orsay was repurposed from a train station (the Gare d’Orsay) and is now a pleasing, skylit wonder with Postimpressionist paintings and more to suit most tastes.
3. The River Seine
![](https://jaybesttrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/images-29-3.jpg)
All you have to do is choose between the left and right banks. Each has its own unique set of pleasures. Those who are interested in culture may prefer the Left Bank, which is densely packed with cultural references and the ghosts of artists, writers, and revolutionaries. (To create your own walking tour, we recommend Women of the Left Bank.) All of the cafés you’ve read about are on the Left Bank, and they’re still a good place to rub elbows with other pilgrims while fantasizing about meeting your hero or heroine. Consider the Right Bank, particularly the Marais, which is an excellent place to meander. It, too, hides many treasures, such as the Picasso Museum.
2. Musée Rodin
![](https://jaybesttrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/images-30-1.jpg)
You might not be a fan of museums. However, consider Rodin and his legacy. Do you think Dobie Gillis could exist without Rodin? Could you imagine a romantic relationship without The Kiss? This museum is especially appealing to “fair sex” because it includes a room dedicated to Camille Claudel, the sister of poet Paul Claudel and also a sculptor who allowed Rodin to ruin her life. And there is no better place to study the shadows and highlights of the Master’s large sculptures than the museum grounds.
1. Giverny
![](https://jaybesttrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/images-31-2.jpg)
This village, located about 45 miles (75 kilometers) from Paris, is home to one of France’s most beautiful sights: the late artist Claude Monet’s home. It’s as if you’ve stepped into one of his paintings, with the Japanese bridge painted in a perfect blue-green and water lilies in bloom. Flowers in the ground that are perfectly positioned and color-coordinated. A warm peach-pink brick house with a green trim. The entire scene is intended to be visually appealing. Even the vibrant interior reflects the artist’s eye. Each window provides a breathtaking view. Don’t pass this place up.
Comments 1