Citytrip to Paris? Start your trip here

Many people who choose to get acquainted with the French capital Paris choose to book a weekend. A weekend in Paris may seem short at first glance, during these two or three days you can discover a large part of the city. For example, some of the world's most famous sights can be found, you can enjoy yourself in one of the beautiful and atmospheric restaurants and of course, it should not be forgotten that Paris is the city of romance! After the sun has set, the French capital takes on a completely new look and that has an impact on its visitors. It should be clear, are you looking for a nice destination to spend a weekend with your partner or with the children? In that case, Paris will undoubtedly live up to expectations!

Places to see when in Paris

The Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris and one of the most famous landmarks in the world. If you go to Paris, the Eiffel Tower is a must-see that you should not miss. Climb the Eiffel Tower by stairs or take the elevator up and enjoy the fantastic view over Paris! Also, take the time to view the Eiffel Tower from below. The Eiffel Tower is surrounded by a beautiful park with lawns where people sometimes spend part of the day relaxing and enjoying their holiday. The atmosphere around the tower is pleasant, especially on a beautiful sunny day when the lawn below the tower is full of people. Bring a blanket, baguette, wine and you have the perfect picnic with an impressive view!

Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is a triumphal arch in Paris. It cannot be missed in the streets of Paris. The showpiece is at the end of the famous Champs-Elysées, where the Tour de France makes its final round. It can be found in the 8th arrondissement of Paris in the Place Charles de Gaulle. A special phenomenon, because it is a large roundabout with cars where no fewer than twelve streets come together! This is a beautiful sight from the air. It is one of the busiest intersections in Paris. Fortunately, there is a tunnel under the intersection so visitors to the Arc de Triomphe can get a closer look at the monument without endangering their lives.

Sacré-Coeur

The Sacré-Coeur is a beautiful white basilica in Paris. The basilica is located at the top of Montmartre hill and can be seen from afar. The view from Sacré-Coeur is spectacular, after the Eiffel Tower this is the highest vantage point in Paris.

At the foot of the hill, you will find a staircase to Sacré-Coeur, this is a considerable climb of more than 200 steps. If you don't feel like making the climb to the top, you can also use the 'cable tram' (Funicularie de Montmartre). If you have bought a metro ticket, you have free access to the funicular.

The basilica is one of the most visited churches in Paris. Entrance to the basilica is free, but you need a ticket to access the dome. Before visiting Sacré-Coeur, pay attention to your clothes, short skirts or shorts are not allowed in the basilica.

Montmartre

Montmartre was originally a village outside Paris, but with the expansion of Paris in 1860, Montmartre was added to the city as a district. The nice thing about the neighborhood is that it has managed to retain its village character. If you walk through Montmartre, you will come across all kinds of nice narrow streets, small squares, whitewashed houses, and old-fashioned street lighting.

Montmartre is known as the artists' quarter of Paris. This is because big names such as Dali, Picasso, and Van Gogh have lived in the district. Many artists still live in the district. You can see some of them at work on the Place du Terre (the square in front of the Sacré-Coeur). In this square, the artists sell their work and offer you the opportunity to have a portrait made of yourself or your family.

Louvre

The best-known and largest art museum in Paris is the Louvre. In the Louvre you will find well-known masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, as well as works by well-known Dutch masters such as Rembrandt and Vermeer.

Also, keep in mind that the Louvre is big! It covers an area of ​​160,106 m2 (just over 23 football fields) and offers space for 35,000 works of art. It is virtually impossible to view all the works of art in one day. Therefore, determine in advance which works of art you would like to visit. 

The art museum is not only the most famous but also the most visited museum worldwide, with a visitor number of 9 million per year. The high number of visitors means long queues at the entrance of the museum. It is therefore wise to purchase a skip-the-line ticket in advance to save some precious time. 

Notre Dame

The most famous cathedral worldwide is Notre Dame. In the Cathedral of Paris, you will find three important relics of Christ: the crown of thorns, a piece of the cross, and one of the nails of the crucifixion. You can visit these sacred objects in the treasury of Notre Dame. The treasury is open to the public, but an admission ticket is required.

Notre Dame has an impressive size. The cathedral is 130 meters long, 69 meters wide and the vault is 35 meters high. The cathedral can accommodate 9,000 visitors. The tallest tower of Notre-Dame is 90 meters high. The two towers at the front of the cathedral are both 69 meters high and have more than 400 steps. 

Père Lachaise 

Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris is the most visited cemetery in the world! Why? Because it is the final resting place of celebrities such as Édith Piaf, Frédéric Chopin, Victor Noir, and Molière. It is a cemetery with status, eccentric graves and tombs, and romantic rendezvous spots for couples in love. Located in the 20th arrondissement of Paris, Père Lachaise is definitely worth a visit, Halloween or not.

How to get to Paris?

Paris has its own airport, Charles de Gaulle. From here, the center of the city can be reached in 50 minutes with the RER B train. Tourists arriving by train can get out at Gare du Nord and continue their journey by the extensive metro network. 

Fun facts about Paris

Paris is the capital of France and is also the largest city in Europe. It is even the most visited city in the world because every year no fewer than twenty-five million tourists visit the city. In 2024, the Olympic Games will take place in this city.

The city was founded in the 3rd century BC and was previously called Lutetia. The inhabitants of Lutetia called themselves “Parisii” and that is why the city eventually got its current name Paris.