Paris & Île-de-France
Other Adventures · Île-de-France · Landmarks & palaces

Paris & Île-de-France

What to visit in Paris: landmarks, museums and palaces in Île-de-France.

Plan a day or weekend in Paris around eight landmarks, museums and palaces in the capital and Île-de-France. In the 7th arrondissement, combine the Eiffel Tower with the Champ-de-Mars and Trocadéro; in the 1st, explore the Louvre and Tuileries. On Île de la Cité, walk between Notre-Dame and Sainte-Chapelle, then discover the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Élysées. For a day trip from Paris, visit Versailles in Yvelines, or Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte at Maincy in Seine-et-Marne. Four itineraries separate city walks from palace excursions; check visiting slots and transport on official websites.

Themed Itineraries

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Paris in 2 days: landmarks and the Seine

From the Arc de Triomphe to the Eiffel Tower, then Île de la Cité.

2 days · ≈ 8 km

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Paris in 1 day: Louvre and Île de la Cité

Royal collections, stained glass and Seine quays.

1 day · ≈ 3 km

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Versailles in 1 day from Paris

An estate to enjoy without rushing.

1 day · ≈ 6 km à pied dans le domaine

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Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte in 2 days

Two palaces, two days in Seine-et-Marne.

2 days · ≈ 25 km entre les domaines

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Map of the sites

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Paris & Île-de-France events

8 event(s)

  • Paris Games Week 2026

    Paris · Museums & exhibitions

    Video game festival from 22 to 25 October 2026 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles: 15th “Playground Edition”.

    Event website ↗
View full calendar

Highlights

Eiffel Tower
1Paris · 7e arrondissement · 2–3 hrs

Eiffel Tower

Built for the 1889 World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower overlooks the Seine, Les Invalides and the rooftops of Paris. Add a walk through the Champ-de-Mars or a view from the Trocadéro.

Explore the place: history & tips →
Must see
  • Paris panorama
  • Champ-de-Mars
  • Trocadéro
Book a timed ticket on the official website. Summit access depends on your ticket, weather and operating conditions.
Open in Maps →Official visits & tickets ↗
Louvre Museum & Tuileries
2Paris · 1er arrondissement · 3–4 hrs

Louvre Museum & Tuileries

The former palace of the French kings houses collections from antiquity to the 19th century. Choose a few departments rather than trying to see everything, then pause among the sculptures and ponds of the Tuileries Garden.

Explore the place: history & tips →
Must see
  • Louvre Pyramid
  • Art collections
  • Tuileries Garden
Check closing days and book a time slot. The garden can be visited independently of the museum.
Open in Maps →Official visits & tickets ↗
Notre-Dame de Paris
3Paris · Île de la Cité · 1.5 hrs

Notre-Dame de Paris

At the historic heart of Paris, Notre-Dame embodies Gothic architecture and eight centuries of history. Discover its sculpted façades, restored interior and views from the Seine quays.

Explore the place: history & tips →
Must see
  • Gothic façade
  • Rose windows
  • Seine quays
Check official access arrangements and respect services. Tower visits have separate admission conditions.
Open in Maps →Official visits & tickets ↗
Sainte-Chapelle
4Paris · Île de la Cité · 1 hr

Sainte-Chapelle

Built in the 13th century for Louis IX, Sainte-Chapelle is celebrated for the soaring stained glass of its upper chapel. Nearby Notre-Dame makes it possible to visit two major landmarks of Île de la Cité on foot.

Explore the place: history & tips →
Must see
  • 13th-century stained glass
  • Upper chapel
  • Gothic architecture
Check tickets and time slots on the official website. Allow time for entrance security checks.
Open in Maps →Official visits & tickets ↗
Arc de Triomphe
5Paris · Place Charles-de-Gaulle · 1.5 hrs

Arc de Triomphe

At the end of the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe shelters the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Its terrace reveals twelve radiating avenues and the historic axis of Paris.

Explore the place: history & tips →
Must see
  • Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
  • Panoramic terrace
  • Champs-Élysées
Use the underground passage, never cross the roundabout. Check terrace access and visitor conditions.
Open in Maps →Official visits & tickets ↗
Palace of Versailles
6Versailles · Yvelines · 1 day

Palace of Versailles

Louis XIV’s residence and a symbol of the French monarchy, Versailles combines royal apartments, the Hall of Mirrors and gardens designed by Le Nôtre. Allow a full day if you also wish to visit Trianon.

Explore the place: history & tips →
Must see
  • Hall of Mirrors
  • Le Nôtre gardens
  • Trianon estate
Reachable by train from Paris, including RER C depending on service. Book the palace and check garden tickets against the events calendar.
Open in Maps →Official visits & tickets ↗
Palace of Fontainebleau
7Fontainebleau · Seine-et-Marne · 4 hrs

Palace of Fontainebleau

Fontainebleau brings together Renaissance interiors, sovereign apartments and memories of Napoleon I. Extend your visit through the courtyards, gardens and park, with the nearby forest offering another escape.

Explore the place: history & tips →
Must see
  • François I Gallery
  • Horseshoe staircase
  • Gardens and park
Train from Paris-Gare-de-Lyon to Fontainebleau-Avon, then a bus to the palace. Check opening times and access to individual areas.
Open in Maps →Official visits & tickets ↗
Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte
8Maincy · Seine-et-Marne · 4 hrs

Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

Designed in the 17th century by Le Vau, Le Brun and Le Nôtre, Vaux-le-Vicomte unites architecture, interiors and gardens in an ensemble that inspired Versailles. Explore the park’s perspectives and the château’s salons.

Explore the place: history & tips →
Must see
  • Formal French gardens
  • Grand salon
  • Estate perspectives
Check the seasonal calendar and official transport options. Candlelit evenings require the appropriate reservation.
Open in Maps →Official visits & tickets ↗