Most Popular Sights & Places
Especially on a first trip to the city, most visitors will want to beeline to some of Paris’s top sights, attractions and monuments, from the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame to the winding, poetic streets of the Latin Quarter and Montmartre. And why not end the day with a scenic cruise on the Seine River? Keep reading for our full guides to the capital’s most iconic tourist sights and places, sorted by theme below based on your interests, budget & available time.
The 10 Best Things to Do in Paris (Especially on a First Trip)
Here at Paris Unlocked, we tend to focus our coverage on lesser-known corners of the French capital, and encourage readers to look well beyond the obvious, tried-and-true […]
The Best Modern Art Museums in Paris (& How to Enjoy Them)
The birthplace of countless artistic movements, Paris is also– unsurprisingly– home to some of the world’s finest modern art collections. From key works in Impressionism and Expressionism […]
10 of the Best Day Trips From Paris by Train: Fantastic Getaways
Some might ask why it would be necessary to plot short excursions away from a city as diverse and interesting as Paris. After all, doesn’t it offer […]
8 Most Beautiful Paris Parks & Gardens (and a Bit of History)
Compared to London, Madrid, and other European capitals, Paris isn’t an especially “green” city. Only 9.5% of the capital is currently consecrated to parks and other green […]
Best Small Museums in Paris: 10 Quiet Gems You Shouldn’t Overlook
The first time I set foot inside the Louvre Museum, I had already been living in Paris for three or four years. The guests I accompanied were […]
The Best Places for Picnics in Paris, From Parks to Riverbanks
Like they do with pretty much everything else, Parisians make a true art of the spring or summer picnic. It’s not just a quick meal on the […]
Beautiful Bridges in Paris: Famous Appearances & A Bit of History
Think back to the films you may have seen– whether recently or not– that are partly or wholly set in Paris. What sorts of backdrops (aside from […]
Rainy Day in Paris? These Are Relaxing & Cozy Things to Do
While most people prefer sightseeing against the backdrop of sunny skies and a cool breeze, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make the best of the city when […]
The Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris: 8 Reasons to Love It
More than a museum, it’s a cultural touchstone Few places in Paris carry the sort of sentimental weight that the Centre Georges Pompidou does for me. When […]
Best Things to Do For History Lovers
Medieval Paris: A Self-Guided Tour of 6 Intriguing Places
During the 19th century, the Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann gutted much of what had been medieval Paris– forging the iconic skyline and enormous, grandiose boulevards we now (wrongly) […]
The Catacombs of Paris: History & How to Visit
Few places in the French capital inspire the morbid curiosity that the Catacombs of Paris do– and for good reason. The section that’s open to the public […]
These 5 Places in Paris Aren’t Usually Associated With African-American History. They Should Be.
“It’s a great city, Paris, a beautiful city––and––it was very good for me.”– James Baldwin, Another Country (1962) One of the most singular and important American authors […]
Looking for Roman Paris: Ancient Ruins From Lutetia
Heading to Paris to see Roman ruins? Probably not. Unlike Pompeii, Lyon (the former capital of Roman Gaul, once called Lugdunum), and Rome itself, Paris isn’t especially […]
The Musée Carnavalet, Dedicated to Paris City History, Finally Re-Opens
Anyone aiming to better understand the long and complex history of the French capital would do well to pay a visit to the Musée Carnavalet in Paris. […]
The Tour Saint-Jacques: An Enigmatic Treasure in Central Paris
During my early years living in Paris, I passed a nondescript construction site in the city center on a semi-daily basis. Clad with scaffolding and dark plastic […]
Seeking Josephine Baker in Paris: A Bit of History & Places to Visit
When most people think of Josephine Baker, they imagine her dancing in some glamorous Paris venue at the height of the jazz age. While this image certainly […]
Inside the Wine Museum in Paris (Musée du Vin)
Aside from the humble baguette, there is perhaps no other staple more common in French homes than the bottle of wine. Parisians have the luxury of choosing […]
Looking for a Good Virtual Tour of Paris? Start With These.
When the world was turned upside-down by a minuscule, spike-covered virus, in 2020, many of us who take joy in travel had to find creative ways to […]
Montparnasse Cemetery in Paris: Walking Paths & Famous Graves
Opened in 1824, Montparnasse Cemetery sits on a site that was once occupied by three farms, in what was then a rural, sleepy corner of southern Paris. […]
Seeking Belle-Epoque Paris in the Grands Boulevards District: My Full Guide
Technically, the tangled arrangement of wide, grandiose streets known as the Grands Boulevards in Paris stretch all the way from the Eglise Madeleine church in the 8th […]
The American Revolution in France: Key Sites to Visit in Paris
Especially since I became a dual Franco-American citizen, I’ve been fascinated by the “dialogic” nature of the American and French Revolutions. By that, I mean the way […]
The Oldest House in Paris Was Built by Famous “Alchemist” Nicolas Flamel
The modest medieval house located at 51, Rue de Montmorency in Paris is off-radar for most tourists. Yet for a niche set of visitors with interests in […]
Seeking Edith Piaf in Paris? Visit These 4 Places
Affectionately dubbed “the little sparrow” and “la môme” (the kid) in France, Edith Piaf is a musical legend who has (rather surprisingly?) resonated with successive generations of listeners. […]
Voices from Drancy, one of France’s Most Important Holocaust Memorial Sites
In March of 2020, I made a short trip from Paris that was a long time coming. I boarded a train, then a bus, to the quiet […]
Best Things to Do For Food Lovers
Some of the Most Beautiful Restaurants in Paris: 5 Stunning Settings
Recent trends in food have tended to de-emphasize the importance of the dining room from an aesthetic point of view– or at least pretend to. Cramped, tiny […]
Where to Taste Delicious French Pastries in Paris: A Few Picks
The history of French pastry-making is, like almost everything else in the Gallic world, passionately debated. Some claim it starts with the 13th-century baker Régnaut-Barbon, who rolled […]
The Best Street Food in Paris: My Favorite Spots For a Cheap Bite
Growing up in a Los Angeles suburb well before the era of hipster food trucks, street food wasn’t much of a thing, especially since you rarely left […]
5 Of The Best Italian Restaurants in Paris: My Picks
When I moved to Paris in the early 2000s, Italian cuisine was certainly not a notable feature or strong point in the local food landscape. I knew […]
Some of the Best Places for Coffee in Paris: Roasters & More
It’s starting to feel like a routine to note that Paris has been getting significantly better at producing things it was once mediocre at. Craft beer, cocktail […]
Summery Indulgence: 4 Places I Recommend for Ice Cream & Gelato in Paris
A small confession: I’m not someone you can really trust with a pint of ice cream left in the freezer. If it’s there, it’s pretty certain I’ll […]
Some of the Best Crepes in Paris: A Few Favorites
Looking for some decent crepes in Paris? You’re not alone. Crepes are one of the world’s great democratic foods. They’re inexpensive, often portable, and remarkably adaptable, ranging from hearty and simple to lofty and gourmet. They’re also just as easily enjoyed by meat eaters as by vegetarians. In short, they make a meal that few would claim to genuinely dislike (including picky kids). […]
Japanese Paris: The Best Restaurants & Grocers Around Rue Sainte-Anne
While most tourists with a taste for gourmet experiences come to Paris to try French food, a few know that the city harbors its fair share of […]
5 Idyllic Places for Afternoon Tea in Paris: My Picks
While I’m more of a coffee lover than a tea person, the winter season in the capital demands a little extra jolt of coziness. Once or twice […]
5 Classic French Desserts & Sweets for Christmas
As this goes to press, December has snuck up on us– and I find myself craving a few classic French desserts and sweet nibbles typically enjoyed around […]
A Short History of French Macarons, From Saint-Emilion to Paris
On a recent trip to the fortified medieval town of Saint-Emilion, my partner and I stayed in a lovely B&B plunged in the middle of the vineyards, […]
Le Potager de Charlotte: Simple, Flavorful Vegan Cuisine in Paris
For anyone following the Parisian food scene, it’s no secret that there’s something of a vegetarian and vegan revolution underway in the city. As little as three […]
La Maison d’Isabelle: For Some of The Best Croissants in Paris
One of the great annual rituals of Parisian culture is the awarding of top prizes to local bakers and pastry chefs, who work hard year-round to snag […]
