Rated Tourist Attractions in Paris

Opposite the Louvre Museum is a welcome retreat for tourists amid the bustle of Paris' 1st arrondissement. Visiting this secluded spot feels like a secret getaway, even though it's right in the center of the city.

Louis XIV founded the Hôtel Royal des Invalides in the late 17th century as a home for disabled soldiers. Before the time of Louis XIV, disabled soldiers received medical care, if at all, in hospitals or monasteries, but were usually reduced to begging. With the Hôtel des Invalides, Louis XIV created the first home for disabled veterans.

Between Les Halles and Le Marais is the Centre Pompidou, a cultural center devoted to modern art. In contrast to the historic buildings of the quarter, the Centre Pompidou features shocking modern architecture, sometimes described as an "inside out" design because the architectural details of staircases and elevators appear on the exterior.

This graceful 17th-century square was designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, one of the leading architects of the Grand Siècle (during the reign of Louis XIV). Originally, the square was called Place Louis le Grand and was intended to house royal establishments. However, financial difficulties forced the king to sell the buildings to nobles and wealthy citizens. The new owners built gorgeous mansions with courtyards and gardens.

A hidden gem in the posh 7th arrondissement, the Musée Rodin invites visitors to step into a peaceful haven of refinement, where France's renowned sculptor lived and worked for many years. The property includes the 18th-century Rococo mansion, the Hôtel Biron, and a seven-acre Sculpture Garden that blooms with flowers throughout the year.

In the charming Marais district, the Place des Vosges is Paris' oldest public square, spaciously laid out in harmoniously uniform style. This elegant square provided a model for other squares such as Place Vendôme and Place de la Concorde.

Built as a church to rival Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome and Saint Paul's Cathedral in London, the Panthéon is the national mausoleum of France's greatest citizens. In 1756, King Louis XV commissioned the architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot (1713-80) to build a new church on the site of the ruined abbey of Sainte-Geneviève, and the church was completed in 1790.

Sitting at the highest point in Paris like an ornamental decoration, the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur has a special aura. Its alabaster facade blends Romanesque and Byzantine styles, and from far away, it looks like a wedding cake (which is its nickname).

A must-see destination in the 6th arrondissement, the Jardin du Luxembourg is the best known park in Paris after the Tuileries. The Luxembourg Gardens were created in the 17th century, when the Palais du Luxembourg was built for Queen Marie de Médicis by King Henri IV, and they were designed in the style of the Boboli Gardens in Florence. In the 19th century, the architect Jean-François Chalgrin updated the layout of the Jardin du Luxembourg.

A visit to the City of Light is not complete without spending time on the sidewalk terrace or bustling interior of a famous café. It's the ultimate Parisian people-watching scene and a chance to imagine the historic rendezvous that occurred here.