Best Paris Attractions with a City Pass 2026

One of the finest examples of Rayonnant Gothic architecture in the world. Built in the 13th century to house a collection of Christ’s Crown of Thorns, the upper chapel is almost entirely made of glass — 15 floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows depicting 1,113 biblical scenes flood the space with extraordinary coloured light. Visit on a sunny morning for the full effect. Compact and quick — it pairs easily with the nearby Conciergerie or a walk along the Île de la Cité.

The Centre Pompidou’s radical inside-out architecture — structural pipes, escalators, and ventilation systems all on the exterior, colour-coded by function — was deeply controversial when it opened in 1977 and remains one of the most distinctive buildings in Europe. Inside, the National Museum of Modern Art holds Europe’s largest collection of modern and contemporary art, with works by Kandinsky, Matisse, Dalí, and Duchamp. The rooftop offers one of the best views in central Paris. Closed Tuesdays.

The Arc de Triomphe stands at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle where twelve boulevards — including the Champs-Élysées — converge. Commissioned by Napoleon following the Battle of Austerlitz, the rooftop terrace gives a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the 12 radiating avenues and — on a clear day — straight down the Champs-Élysées to the Louvre. Visit at dusk for the most photogenic light. Always access via the underpass — never cross the roundabout on foot.

A network of underground limestone tunnels running beneath the city, containing the remains of approximately six million Parisians transferred here from overflowing cemeteries in the late 18th century. The ossuary section — where skulls and bones are arranged in striking patterns along the tunnel walls — is both eerie and unexpectedly moving. The tour descends 20 metres below street level and covers around two kilometres of tunnel. It’s cool underground year-round (~14°C), so bring a light layer. Not suitable for very young children.

The Musée Rodin occupies the Hôtel Biron, an 18th-century mansion where Auguste Rodin lived and worked in his final years. The museum holds the world’s finest collection of Rodin’s work — The Thinker, The Kiss, The Gates of Hell — displayed both inside the elegant rooms and throughout a beautiful sculpture garden. On a sunny day, the garden alone makes the visit worthwhile. Closed Mondays. Pairs naturally with the Musée d’Orsay on a Left Bank day.

The Orangerie is home to Monet’s monumental Water Lilies — eight enormous curved canvases installed in two oval rooms specifically designed by the artist to display them. The experience of standing in those rooms, surrounded by 360 degrees of painted water, light, and reflection, is genuinely unlike anything else in Paris. The lower gallery also holds an exceptional private collection including Cézanne, Renoir, Matisse, and Picasso. A small museum, but an extraordinary one.

A guided bike tour is one of the most enjoyable ways to experience central Paris — covering more ground than walking while staying connected to street-level life in a way a bus tour never can. Typical routes cover the Marais, the Seine riverbanks, Notre-Dame island, the Luxembourg Gardens, and the Eiffel Tower area. Ideal for mornings when traffic is lighter and the city feels most alive. A great choice for a day when you want a break from indoor museums.

The hop-on hop-off bus is best used as an orientation tool on your first day in Paris rather than as a standalone attraction. Routes loop past all the major landmarks, giving you a sense of the city’s layout and distances before you start using your deeper attraction credits. For experienced travelers or those already familiar with Paris’s geography, it’s lower priority than the attractions above.