Paris.
a little closer.
A few substantial sights, thoughtful pairings and official planning links. Leave room between the grand entrances.
The Eiffel Tower—and another perspective
Choose the level and access you want before booking the Eiffel Tower. For a different view that includes the tower itself, consider the Arc de Triomphe’s terrace.
Louvre or Orsay: choose a conversation
Orsay brings together nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century collections in a former railway station. Begin with a few works or a theme, and use the institutions’ own visitor information for bookings.
Notre-Dame and the Left Bank
Check Notre-Dame’s official system for current visiting arrangements. Cathedral admission is free. Shakespeare and Company, opposite the cathedral on the Left Bank, adds a smaller-scale stop; its current visiting guidance is worth reading before you go.
Montmartre: the basilica and the streets
Give Sacré-Cœur time as a working basilica, then explore the surrounding neighborhood. The dome visit has its own arrangements. Our photographs include the view from above, artists’ displays and the streets between.
Palais Garnier: the building is the event
The public areas are a substantial architectural visit in their own right. Check the Opera’s access notices: an entry ticket does not guarantee that the auditorium or every space is accessible.
Versailles: give the estate a day
Versailles is outside Paris. Decide whether your visit is palace-focused or includes Trianon and the Queen’s Hamlet. Tickets, distances and seasonal openings matter.