Museums & attractions in Paris

From the wealth and grandeur of the Champs-Elysées and the UNESCO-protected banks of the Seine to the louche grime of Pigalle and the artistic charms of Montmartre, Paris is studded with cultural gems.

The list of sights worth seeing is almost endless – from defining monuments such as the Eiffel Tower to lesser-known gems like the Musée Gustave Moreau. All this, and more than we can mention, in a city that’s a manageable size and boasts one of the best transport networks anywhere in the world.

Renewal & growth

Modern Paris has its Presidents’ fingerprints all over it. Mitterrand’s celebrated grands projets include the pyramid at the Louvre and the Opéra Bastille, while more recently, Chirac sponsored the Musée du Quai Branly, a museum of non-Western art that opened in 2006.

Under Nicolas Sarkozy, the summer of 2008 saw the opening of 104, a multi-media arts centre built in premises previously occupied by the city’s undertakers, and the Cité de la Mode et du Design, part of the renewal of a strip of run-down warehouses by the Seine in the 13th. And a few months before that, the Palais de la Porte Dorée opened its doors to the Cité Nationale de l’Histoire de l’Immigration, charting the history of immigration in France.

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Paris tours

Boat tours

Cruising along the Seine is a delightful way to see Paris. Most boat tours depart from the quays in the 7th and 8th, and proceed to go on a circuit around the islands. Three available companies are: Bateaux-Mouches Pont de l'Alma, 8th (www.bateaux-mouches.fr; tickets €10; €5 reductions; free under-4s) Bateaux Parisiens Port de la Boudonnais, 7th (www.bateauxparisiens.com, tickets €11; €5 reductions; free under-3s) and Batobus Tour Eiffel, which leaves from various stops (www.batobus.com; tickets €12; €6 reductions).

Bus tours

Hop-on hop-off bus tours with commentary are offered by Les Cars Rouges (www.carsrouges.com, tickets €24; €12 4-11s). Other tours are available from Cityrama (www.pariscityrama.com, tickets €29;€15 4-11s); Paris l'OpenTour (http://paris-opentour.com, tickets €29; €15 4-11s). Also, Paris Vision (http://fr.parisvision.com, tickets €22).

Bike tours

Bike tours from Fat Tire Bike Tours run from the south leg of the Eiffel Tower and start daily at 11am (http://fattirebiketours.com/paris, tickets €24).

Walking tours

Walking tours run by English-speaking expats are available from Paris Walking Tours (01.48.09.21.40 www.paris-walks.com; tickets €10; €5-€8 reductions).

Tickets & information

Information on museum cards, tickets and much more can be found in the Office de Tourisme et des Congrès de Paris Carrousel du Louvre, 99 rue de Rivoli, 1st (08.92.68.30.00 recorded information in English & French/www.parisinfo.com). Metro Palais Royal Musée du Louvre or Pyramides. Open 9am-7pm daily.

Multilingual staff can also explain the benefits of the all-in Paris Museum Pass. Remember anyone under 26 gets cheap tickets.

Check museum opening hours which can be erratic, the Louvre for example is closed on Tuesdays.

Festivals & events

La Nuit des Musées: for one night, museums open their doors late for special events and entertainment, free admission (mid May).

Le Quatorze Juillet (Bastille Day): France’s national holiday commemorates the events of 1789. The evening before, Parisians dance at place de la Bastille. At 10am on the 14th, crowds line up along the Champs-Elysées as the President reviews a full military parade. By night, the Champ de Mars fills for the fireworks display (14 July).

Le Tour de France: the ultimate cycling endurance test climaxes after some 3,500km (2,175 miles). Blink and you’ll miss the winner flying past the finishing line on the Champs-Elysées (July).

Paris-Plage: palm trees, huts, hammocks and around 2,000 tonnes of fine sand on both banks of the Seine bring a seaside vibe to the city. Not only this, there’s a floating pool and a lending library too (mid July-mid Aug).

Nuit Blanche: culture by moonlight: galleries and museums host special after-dark installations, and swimming pools, bars and clubs stay open late into the night (early Oct).

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Top tips

Posh presents: if you’re looking for a classy souvenir, high-end contemporary design shop 107Rivoli (01.42.60.64.94, open 10am-7pm daily) at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs is a world away from tacky caps and keyrings.

Secret garden: perhaps the hardest of all the gardens in Paris to find, the Jardin Atlantique (av de Vaugirard and av du Maine) is an engineering feat: a modest oasis of granite paths, trees and bamboo spread over a roof, 18 metres (59 feet) above the tracks of Montparnasse train station.

Triomphe traffic: manic drivers race around the place Charles-de-Gaulle below the Arc de Triomphe. To avoid them, cross the road via the pedestrian underpass at the top of the Champs-Elysées (on the right side, facing the arch).

Our listings

While every effort and care has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this guide, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors it may contain. Before you go out of your way, we strongly advise you to phone ahead and check the particulars.

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