Getting to know Paris
What you can do for free in Paris
- Visit the Trocadéro Square
The Trocadero Square is the place with the best view towards the Eiffel Tower, but the area is also home to a lot of other attractions, museum, exhibits and so on. Enjoy a walk around the place, take some pictures and decide on your next move, maybe you want to visit one of the nearby museums too. - Basilique du Sacré-Coeur
This stunning Roman-Catholic church is one of the most popular landmarks of Paris.You can go inside of the church for free. You can visit the official website of the church for the opening hours and more details, and to download an audio guide if you are interested.
A small fee will need to be paid if you want to climb the 300 steps to the top of the dome. - Walk the banks of the Seine
Walk on the banks of the Seine, all the way from the EIffel Tower, to the Notre Dame, enjoy the most elegant side of Paris, observe the fascinating architecture of the many wonderful buildings on your way, and relax watching the river traffic.
Top spots to visit
If you’re in Paris, you’re definitely going to visit the Eiffel Tower, so we’re not really going to talk about that. Let’s take a look at a few other fantastic spots to visit in Paris:
- The Louvre
The world’s largest art museum and a central landmark of Paris, the Louvre is located on the right banks of the Seine. The 72 735 square meters the museum occupies are the home of approximately 38,000 objects, dating from prehistory to the 21st century. - Arc de Triomphe
Standing at the western end of the Champs-Élysées, at the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle, the Arc de Triomphe is one of the most mesmerizing sights you can enjoy in Paris. The monument honors those who fought and died for France in the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, and it is one of the most popular attractions in Paris. - Château de Versailles
Find your way to the are and visit the Palace, the estate of Trianon, the gardens and the Royal Stables to catch a glimpse of the life of former French royalty life. You can find opening hours and more details on the official website of Versailles.
Hidden spots to visit
- The Montmartre Vineyards
The Clos Montmartre vineyard can be found in the 18th district of Paris, and it has been there since the 1930’s. The vineyard stretches over more than 1,500 square meters, and it produces 1000 to 1500 bottles of wine yearly. These bottles are auctioned, and the money earned goes to charity. - 59 Rivoli
One of the centers of contemporary art of Paris, the building found at 59 Rivoli is home to many exhibits and a platform for all sorts of artists to exhibit their work. There are 6 floors and the exhibits are free and open to the public. - Le Passe-muraille
The passer-through-walls is a delightful wall monument, picturing a man that appears to be stuck in the wall, having about half of his body out for people to see. It is based on a short story published by Marcel Aymé in 1941.
Restaurants
Paris has numerous Michelin-starred restaurants, and not all of them are insanely expensive. Try Les Fables de la Fontaine, Septime, La Truffière, La Table d’Eugène or do some research and find the best restaurant that will fit in your holiday itinerary.
You can try some less fancy alternatives too, such as Chez Cleopatre, Les Crepes de Louis-Marie, La Becane A Gaston and Restaurant Argana.
Recommended time for visiting
The periods between April to June and October to early November are perfect for a visit in Paris, as the temperatures are situated in the mild interval, and the crowds are smaller than in your usual holiday period. Prices fluctuate too, and the cheapest alternative for visiting Paris is during the winter, in early December (prices rise again around Christmas and New Year celebrations), January and February.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Avg. temp. (°C) | 5 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
I’ve got a crush on the world // Veni, vidi, amavi
