Add dates

Paris Culture & history

Our most recommended Paris Culture & history

Versailles: Skip-the-Line Tour of Palace with Gardens Access

1. Versailles: Skip-the-Line Tour of Palace with Gardens Access

Discover the opulence, beauty, and history of Versailles Palace on an interactive guided tour. Access the palace through a separate entrance to begin your tour and then you head off to the famous gardens with a guide or on your own. During the 90-minute tour of the main palace, see the State Apartments, the King's Bedroom, and the emblematic Hall of Mirrors. Learn about the main figures of the French monarchy, from King Louis XIV to Marie Antoinette. Hear about the fascinating historical events that took place in many of the palace’s rooms, before stepping out to explore the vast gardens complex with your guide or on your own. Marvel at the gardens' grandeur, its bronze statues, and ornamental basins accompanied by rows of large trees. If visiting with a guide, gain fascinating insights about the garden on an optional 45-minute tour.

Paris: Louvre Reserved Access and Boat Cruise

2. Paris: Louvre Reserved Access and Boat Cruise

Get the keys to the city of Paris with a combined ticket for the Louvre Museum and a river cruise. Visit the iconic Louvre Museum with a reserved access ticket and join a cruise on the River Seine at any time of the day. Marvel at works of art, from Ancient Egypt to the Renaissance, walking at your own pace. Then, relax on a 1-hour river cruise, and see the city from a different angle. Watch the world go by from the comfort of a pleasure cruise boat, departing from the Eiffel Tower every day. The river cruise ticket is valid for any day during the next six months; it runs approximately every 30 minutes, 7 days a week, departing from the Eiffel Tower

Paris: Louvre Museum Timed-Entrance Ticket

3. Paris: Louvre Museum Timed-Entrance Ticket

Explore the Louvre at your own pace with a timed-entrance ticket, ensuring you get in within 30 minutes. See unmissable and iconic artwork such as the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Discover Renaissance masterpieces and ancient Egyptian relics, along with paintings from the 13th to 20th centuries. The museum first opened on August 10, 1793, exhibiting just 537 paintings. Despite closing in 1796 due to structural problems, it reopened in 1801 as the Musée Napoléon with a larger collection.  The collection has since gained 20,000 works. Now, there are 8 departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; and Prints and Drawings.

From Paris: Palace of Versailles & Gardens w/ Transportation

4. From Paris: Palace of Versailles & Gardens w/ Transportation

Explore the expansive royal gardens, see yourself in the 357 mirrors of the glittering Hall of Mirrors, and learn about France’s monarchical history on this visit to the Palace of Versailles. Skip the hassle of getting to the palace from Paris with pre-booked transportation and admission.  Imagine yourself a member of the French court as you peruse the ornate state apartments that housed the French monarchy from 1682 to 1789. Get the details on palace gossip and France’s revolutionary history with an included audio guide. Spend hours exploring the legendary gardens. Admire the pristine fountains, sculptures, and beautifully manicured lawns. Discover Marie Antoinette’s private estate and controversial hamlet by choosing the full-day option.

Paris: Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie Combined Tickets

5. Paris: Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie Combined Tickets

Make the most of your visit to the Palais de la Cité by visiting 2 remarkable monuments: Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie. During your visit to the Conciergerie, explore the ancient court of the French Revolution. At this picturesque site, see the cells of criminals and the tombs of the heroes of the French Revolution. Alongside the Conciergerie, enjoy Sainte-Chapelle, one of the most stunning examples of Gothic architecture in the world. Admire the ancient stained glass windows, with an impressive depth of color and beautiful design. With this ticket, spend as much time as you want at each of those iconic Parisian monuments. Choose to discover the Conciergerie's medieval and revolution-era rooms as well as the spaces that have disappeared with the HistoPad. This digital mediation tool allows you to go back in time thanks to its augmented reality, 3D reconstructions, and interactive functionalities.

Paris: Sainte Chapelle Entry Ticket

6. Paris: Sainte Chapelle Entry Ticket

Discover the remarkable Gothic style and stunning stained glass work of the Sainte Chapelle Cathedral in Paris with this entry ticket. Admire this jewel the French Gothic aesthetic at your own pace with a self-guided tour booklet. Spend an hour admiring the spectacular stained-glass windows that contribute to making Sainte Chapelle so famous. Arranged across 15 windows, each 15-meters high, the stained glass panes depict 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Learn more about these glass depictions using your tour booklet. Discover facts about sacred relics and items such as the Crown of Thorns or the Image of Edessa that were once held here. Gaze up at the star-painted ceiling.

Day Trip to Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris

7. Day Trip to Mont-Saint-Michel from Paris

Travel through Normandy on the way to the medieval Mont-St-Michel on a day trip from Paris aboard an air-conditioned bus. Choose to go alone, with a live guide, or with an audio guide. Discover the UNESCO-listed island and its Gothic abbey. Learn of its fascinating history and legendary stories. Depart Paris and travel through the French countryside by an air-conditioned bus to the amazing fortified city of Mont Saint-Michel off the Normandy coast. Sit back and relax and get stunning views of the countryside along the way. Stop for a break at a nearby village dating back to the days of the Normans, and stroll the winding streets and narrow pathways to find the best views of the bay. Continue to the mouth of the Couesnon River, where Mont-Saint-Michel was built on an islet just a few hundred meters from the mainland. Spend the afternoon exploring the remarkable monuments of the walled city, classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO since 1979. Take time to discover the rocky islet at your own pace. Climb along the ramparts to make your way up to the abbey at the top of the town. Visit the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel with an included entrance ticket. this Benedictine building has played a vital role in the history of the commune and the feudal society it represents. Marvel at this magnificent example of Gothic architecture from the early 13th century. Admire views of the surrounding bay before leaving Mont-Saint-Michel in the late afternoon. Be driven back to the French capital to get dropped off at the starting point.

Les Invalides: Napoleon's Tomb & Army Museum Entry

8. Les Invalides: Napoleon's Tomb & Army Museum Entry

Discover the Hotel National des Invalides, now home of the musee de l'Armee. Walk through the collections of the museum, at your own pace, and immerse into over 500, 000 pieces from the Middle Ages to present day. Witness the temporary exhibition of Special Forces L'exposition, dedicated to the French special forces. Step into the heart of Paris and integrate into the History of France at the Hotel National des Invalides. Created by Louis, XIV to house veterans and wounded soldiers, the hotel national is now also the home of the musee de l'Armee. Admire the world-renowned gilded Dome, which has been, since 1861, the resting place of Napoleon. Explore the collections and wander through the armor and weapons of the kings of France. Gaze around at swords, cannons, uniforms, paintings, photographs, and personal belongings of France's major figures. Look beyond the artifacts, and participate in an interactive digital experiences with devices that allow visitors to get a better understanding of some of the battles that forged the country's history. Make sure to examining the Special Forces l'exposition temporary exhibit, that celebrates the 30th anniversary of the creation of the Special Ops Command.

Fondation Louis Vuitton - Basquiat and Warhol Exhibit Ticket

9. Fondation Louis Vuitton - Basquiat and Warhol Exhibit Ticket

Designed by architect Frank Gehry, the Fondation Louis Vuitton building is a work of art in itself. Marvel at the structure from the outside before entering the museum with your ticket. Explore the venue’s 11 galleries, taking in both the permanent and temporary exhibitions. Spend as much time as you like admiring the different exhibitions or venture a little further to learn about the many services offered by the Fondation. With a documentation center containing thousands of printable articles, a bookshop, and a Michelin-starred restaurant, you’re sure to find something that catches your eye. In 2018, the Fondation Louis Vuitton featured the “Jean-Michel Basquiat” exhibition, a huge success that drew an estimated 700,000 visitors. In 2023, from April 5 to August 28, the Fondation will continue its exploration of the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, revealing, this time, his collaboration with Andy Warhol. Between 1984 and 1985, Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) and Andy Warhol (1928-1987) created around 160 paintings together in tandem, “à quatre mains”, including some of the largest works produced during their respective careers. Keith Haring (1958-1990), who witnessed their friendship and collaboration production, would go on to speak of a “conversation occurring through painting, instead of words,” and of two minds merging to create a “third distinctive and unique mind.” In the spring of 2023 at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, “Basquiat x Warhol. Painting 4 Hands” will be the most important exhibition ever dedicated to this extraordinary body of work. Curated by Dieter Buchhart and Anna Karina Hofbauer, in partnership with Olivier Michelon, curator at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, the exhibition will bring together more than 300 works and documents including 80 canvases jointly signed by the two artists. Also featured will be individual works by each, as well as a set of works by other major artists (Keith Haring, Jenny Holzer, Kenny Scharf, Michael Halsband, and more), in order to evoke the energy of the New York downtown art scene of the 1980s. The exhibition will be further enriched and interspersed with photos, including the famous “Boxing Gloves” series of photographs by Michael Halsband produced for the poster of the Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol exhibition in 1985.

From Paris: Mont Saint Michel Guided Day Trip

10. From Paris: Mont Saint Michel Guided Day Trip

Visit Mont Saint-Michel on a guided day trip from Paris. Discover the highlights with your guide before taking an audio-guided tour of Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey. Enjoy some free time after to explore on your own. From Paris, board a private coach to the island of Mont Saint Michel. On the journey, listen as your guide provides interesting stories from the history of the abbey. Follow your guide on an orientation tour to ensure you see the most important attractions, including the hilltop Abbey of Mont Saint Michel. Enjoy a few hours at your leisure to explore the abbey and soak up the splendor of its interior with an audio guide tour, or stroll in the picturesque streets. Choose from a variety of lunch options ranging from dining rooms with rustic meat to sophisticated restaurants with bay view terraces specializing in seafood. Or, stop by one of the Mont Saint Michel's creperies to feast on galettes (buckwheat pancakes) with Normandy cider. In the late afternoon, board the coach for a return journey to Paris.

256 activities found
Sort by:
Page 1 of 16

Frequently asked questions about Paris

What top attractions are a must-see in Paris?

What are the best day trips and excursions from Paris?

The best day trips and excursions from Paris are:

Palace of Versailles

Other Sightseeing Options in Paris

Want to discover all there is to do in Paris? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Paris

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 26,807 reviews

Perfect pace (fast) for kids. See the highlights and learn a few things you might not have otherwise. Very engaging. Time after to explore on your own too.

There was a 40-minute wait to enter the museum, even though I had tickets, but otherwise everything went very well.

The place was beautiful and the guide was really helpful and cheerful, overall the experience was great

A beautiful small museum with a great garden full of Rodin's masterpieces.

It was fine. The line was long. Had to wait for 20 min before getting int