20 ultimate things to do in Paris

With so much to see and do in Paris, it’s hard to narrow it down to the essentials while still experiencing a bit of everything it has to offer. We’ve selected the crème de la crème of the city, mixing in the classics with some off-the-beaten-path gems to help you plan a weekend, a longer trip or even your next few visits. Most of all, the sites listed here make uple vraiParis and are sure to provide a memorable — and authentic — experience.

Musée d’Orsay

Housed under the soaring roof of one of Paris’s grand old Beaux-Arts railway stations, the recently renovated galleries of theMusée d’Orsaycontain the world’s largest collection of Impressionist masterpieces by the likes of Cézanne, Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, Degas, Gaugin, and many others. With two excellent cafés and a magnificent restaurant original to the train station, dining is a breeze and guided tours of the museum highlights in English are available every day (see the museum website for times and scheduling). There’s also a fabulous bookstore for stocking up on gifts.

Musée Rodin

Once the great sculptor’s studio, this stately 18th-century mansion is one of Paris’s most beautiful museums and contains more than 6,000 of Rodin’s sculptures, including his great masterpiecesThe Thinker,The Kiss,The Burghers of Calais, andThe Gates of Hell, along with 8,000 drawings and gouaches. The lovely grounds of theMusée Rodin, complete with a fountain, rose gardens, and a pleasant outdoor café make for a delightful afternoon outdoors. The museum also hosts special exhibitions and a cycle of exhibits on contemporary works. Following three years of renovations, the museum fully re-opened in November 2015.

Palais-Royal Gardens

Far from the noise and bustle, these serene formal gardens and elegant shops tucked behind the walls of a 17th-century palace are a delightful haven and one of Paris’s best-kept secrets. Once a royal residence, the hushed arcades and manicured gardens of thePalais-Royalare now home to world-class perfumers,antiquairesand designer boutiques—including Marc Jacobs, Rick Owens, Stella McCartney, and Pierre Hardy-and two of France’s most important glove makers (Maison Fabre and Lavabre Cadet). Enjoy lunch or teatime outdoors or splurge like Zola, Proust, and Colette did at the gorgeous Grand Véfour restaurant. Afterward, explore the lovelyJardin des Tuilieries.

Fondation Louis Vuitton

Rising up out of the Bois de Boulogne like a magnificent ship sporting billowing crystal sails,Frank Gehry’scontemporary-art museumand cultural center is the most captivating addition to the Parisian skyline since the unveiling of the Centre Pompidou in 1977. Commissioned by Bernard Arnault (chairman and CEO of luxury-goods conglomerate LVMH), it houses Arnault’s substantial private collection, including pieces by Pierre Huyghe, Gerhard Richter, Thomas Schütte, Ellsworth Kelly, Bertrand Lavier, Taryn Simon, Sarah Morris, and Christian Boltanski, among others. La Fondation Louis Vuitton also hosts extensive temporary exhibitions, like the mesmerizing light installations of Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson.

Luxembourg Gardens

Nothing says Paris like theLuxembourg Gardens. Bordered by Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, these lovely gardens are beloved by Parisians longing to bask on a lawn chair in the sunshine or enjoy an impromptu picnic. Children of all ages race their sailboats in the basin behind the Sénat, romp in the enclosed children’s’ playground, take in a puppet show, or ride the city’s oldest merry-go-round. A favorite circuit for joggers and amblers, the many paths are also perfect for an afternoon stroll past espaliered orchards and the old apiary, where beekeeping is taught and the honey is sold in the fall. Don’t miss the excellent art exhibits at the renowned Musée de Luxembourg.

Ile Saint-Louis

Just behind the Notre-Dame gardens, the Pont Saint-Louis pedestrian bridge leads to the atmospheric streets and lively shopping of theIle Saint-Louis. A perfect walk forflaneursjust taking in the majestic facades and quiet courtyards of beautiful 17th-century mansions, this peaceful island is truly an oasis. Enjoy traditional Parisian fare at the Brasserie de l’Isle Saint-Louis or sample one of the 90 scrumptious flavors of handmade, all-natural ice creams and sorbets—in flavors like wild strawberry,noisette, rum raisin, and white chocolate—at Bertillon, Paris’s most famous ice-cream maker.

Bateau Mouche

There’s nothing quite like seeing Paris from a boat on the Seine—and there’s no lack of boats to choose from. See Paris’s graceful bridges up close along with the city’s most famous landmarks on a relaxing 2 to 4 hour boat ride. The bateaux mouches offer everything from a gourmet meal, a flute of champagne or just sightseeing with commentary. Another option: the Bateau Bus operates continuously from 10am until 9:30pm every 20 minutes from eight stops around Paris. For 15€ you can hop on or off wherever and whenever you like all day long. Stops include the Musée d’Orsay, Louvre, Eiffel Tour, Champs Elysées, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés.

Musée Picasso

Thisimmensely popular museumrose phoenix-like in late 2014, when it finally reopened after an ambitious (and often controversial) five-year makeover that cost an estimated €52 million. Home to the world’s largest public collection of Picasso’s inimitable oeuvre, it now covers almost 54,000 square feet in two buildings: the regal 17th-century Hôtel Salé and a sprawling new structure in the back garden that’s dedicated to temporary exhibitions. Diego Giacometti’s exclusively designed furnishings in the former are an added bonus.

The Louvre

The most recognized symbol of Paris is the Tour Eiffel, but the ultimate traveler’s prize isthe Louvre. This is the world’s greatest art museum—and the largest, with 675,000 square feet of works from almost every civilization on earth. The three most popular pieces here are, of course, theMona Lisa, theVenus de Milo, andWinged Victory. Beyond these must-sees, your best bet is to focus on whatever interests you the most—and don’t despair about getting lost, for you’re bound to stumble on something memorable.

Notre-Dame

Looming above Place du Parvis on the Ile de la Cité, theCathédrale de Notre-Dameis the symobolic heart of Paris and, for many, of France itself. Napoléon was crowned here, and kings and queens exchanged marriage vows before is altar. There are a few things worth seeing inside the Gothic cathedral, but the real highlights are the exterior architectural details and the unforgettable view of Paris, framed by stone gargoyles, from the top of the south tower. Begun in 1163, completed in 1345, badly damaged during the Revolution, and restored by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century, Notre-Dame may not be France’s oldest or largest cathedral, but in beauty and architectural harmony it has few peers—as you can see by studying the facade from the square in front.

For the rest of your best Paris bets, including the foodie stretch Rue des Martyrs and the world’s largest and oldest flea market, visit Fodor’s.