Paris is everything you have seen in the movies and more. It is difficult to talk about the City of the Lights without being cliché. There is indeed a magical atmosphere—something romantic and timeless.
On the other hand, it can be very annoying due to the number of tourists and crowded places. I try to avoid these situations by choosing an alternative timetable for these areas.
There will always be interesting things to do and charming corners to discover. You can have a nice time just drinking coffee and watching people walk on the streets.
It's definitely a place to always come back to, with endless places to visit. Here is a selection of my favorites.
PALAIS DE TOKYO
One of the coolest contemporary art centers, for sure. I can’t go to Paris and not visit the Palais de Tokyo. Founded in 1937, the building was originally designed to house THE MUSÉE D’ART MODERNE DE LA VILLE DE PARIS and THE MUSÉE NATIONAL D’ART MODERNE. The west wing where it was the Musée d’art Moderne became Palais de Tokyo in 1999, having as its first director NICOLAS BOURRIAUD.
Great exhibitions, a cool atmosphere, and an enjoyable outside area to chill and have something to drink. I love this place.
POMPIDOU CENTRE
One of Europe's most famous museums, this center of modern and contemporary art is worth visiting, even if just to see its architecture, designed by RENZO PIANO and RICHARD ROGERS. The outside of the building shows all the systems (ventilation, electricity, and water) that are usually hidden in traditional architecture, along with a color system: yellow for electricity, green for water circuits, and blue for air flows (air-conditioning) and red for pedestrian flow (escalators and lifts).
Opened in 1977, it houses a large collection with names such as PICASSO, KANDINSKY, MATISSE, YVES KLEIN, ANDY WARHOL, NAM JUNE PAIK, a large library, and the IRCAM, an avant-garde music institute.
MUSÉE DU LOUVRE, JARDIN DES TUILERIES AND PLACE DE LA CONCORDE
There are plenty of things to see here, or just wander around.
To visit the Louvre, buy your ticket online in advance; it will probably be sold out if you try to buy it on the day you want to visit it. It is the most visited museum in the world. The museum is huge; the best thing to do is check the collection in advance and select the areas you intend to visit.
Between the museum and PLACE DE LA CONCORDE is JARDIN DES TUILERIES, the garden of the TUILERIES PALACE. Originally, a royal space, it became public after the revolution.
It has sculptures by GIACOMETTI, RODIN, MAILLOL and the MUSÉE DE L’ORANGERIE.
Walking a bit more, you reach PLACE DE LA CONCORDE near the CHAMPS-ELYSÉE. It is also known as REVOLUTION SQUARE. LOUIS XVI and MARIE ANTONIETTE were executed there.
MUSÉE DE L’ORANGERIE
Paris has so many great museums that it is difficult to have time for all of them if you don't live there. Especially because, at least for me, traveling is more about walking on the streets and feeling the air of the city than being indoors. So the best thing to do is make a selection of what you want to see most in each museum, so you save time and don't get too tired. Maybe you don't have time to check out all the collections of the Musée De L’Orangerie, but take some time to see the gigantic paintings of the WATER LILIES by MONET. They are stunning.
MUSÉE D'ORSAY
On the left bank of the River Seine, in a BEAUX-ARTS RAILWAY STATION, is the Musée D'Orsay with its acclaimed Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artworks. It was opened in 1900 for the Universal Exhibition.
An iconic collection with names like VAN GOGH, CÉZANNE, MANET, and RENOIR.
PALACE OF VERSAILLES
Prepare your legs; you are going to walk a lot. To visit the Palace of Versailles, you will need at least one day.
The palace was built in the 17th century and covers more than 800 hectares. Everything is baroque, huge, impressive, and megalomaniac.
Apart from the main palace, there are THE GARDENS, THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, GRAND AND PETIT TRIANON, GRAND CANALAND, NEPTUNE BASIN and my favorite, Marie Antoinette’s idyllic village, THE HAMEAU DE LA REINE.
FONDATION LOUIS VUITTON
Opened in 2014, this building designed by FRANK GEHRY is a contemporary art and cultural center.
The project of the building represents the constant changes of the world, which are connected to the changes of light and time.
A new space in Paris for modern/contemporary exhibitions and dialogues about art and culture.
CAFÉ DE FLORE
Opened in the 1880s, Café de Flore is very famed for its intellectual regulars, including philosophers, artists, and writers.
GIACOMETTI, DALÍ, ALBER CAMUS, ERNEST HEMINGWAY, TRUMAN CAPOTE, ANDRÉ BRETON, BRIGITTE BARDOT, YVES SAINT LAURENT used to go there, just to name a few.
EIFFEL TOWER, NOTRE DAME, ARC DE TRIOMPHE, AND SO ON
There are so many emblematic monuments in Paris. There isn't much to say here that hasn't already been said.
Keep an eye out if they are near you while you are visiting some places of interest.