Things to do in Orsay

Alongside the river Seine and in the Champ de Mars park, the 1,062-foot-tall (323-meter) Eiffel Tower attracts more than 7 million visitors annually. It has two restaurants, including the legendary Le Jules Verne on the second floor, and three viewing levels.

With miles of corridors and 15 acres (six hectares) of exhibition space, Paris’ largest museum is one of the biggest in the world. Its official title is Musée du Louvre, but is known to locals simply as “the Louvre.”

Walk along the Avenue des Champs-Élysées and gaze up at the imposing Arc de Triomphe. Discover the history behind the intricate carvings decorating it. Enjoy the walk along the boulevard and shop in the designer stores lining the road.

While the vista from 164 feet (50 meters) above Paris will lure you to the top of the Arc de Triomphe, there’s much to see at the base of this landmark. It stands in the Place Charles de Gaulle where 12 straight avenues, including the Champs-Élysées, intersect and form “the star” of the city.

Until recently, a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral offered opportunities to step inside to attend a service, view centuries-old artworks, appreciate light streaming in through beautiful stained-glass windows, delve into a crypt or even tour the tall bell towers. Today view parts of the exterior draped in tarps and scaffolding while reconstruction is underway after a massive fire in April 2019.

Treat yourself to an evening of classical entertainment at the Paris Opera (Opéra National de Paris). Admire the handsome architecture and luxurious interiors of Palais Garnier, the home of this historic French opera company. Learn about the 300-year-old past of the Paris Opera via art collections, multimedia displays and museum exhibits.

La Défense is a bustling urban development that’s home to tens of thousands of Parisians and, with its many hotels, is popular with business travellers. It’s outside the city’s 20 arrondissements, about 30 minutes on the Metro from the city center.