Cluny Museum
about 90 minThe medieval art museum in a turreted Gothic mansion and Roman baths, home to The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries.
The Cluny Museum, the national museum of the Middle Ages, is a museum of medieval art in the 5th arrondissement, in a turreted Gothic mansion. English Wikipedia names its six 15th-century Lady and the Unicorn tapestries, the Roman baths hall with a well-preserved frigidarium, and a medieval garden opened in 1971. The listing gives 9:30 am to 5:45 pm, Tuesday to Sunday.
What to do there- See The Lady and the Unicorn tapestries
- Walk through the Roman baths hall
- Stroll the medieval garden
Latin Quarter28 Rue du Sommerard, 75005 ParisBest: morning, late morning, afternoonWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Jardin des Plantes
about 120 minFrance's main botanical garden, with an alpine garden, greenhouses, the Gallery of Evolution and a small zoo.
The Jardin des Plantes is the main botanical garden in France, in the 5th arrondissement. Wikipedia lists tropical greenhouses, a rose garden, a winter garden and an Alpine garden, the Gallery of Evolution and a ménagerie. The listing gives 7:30 am to 6:30 pm daily. The greenhouses, gallery and ménagerie keep their own hours, which no source read states.
What to do there- Walk the rose garden and the Alpine garden
- Step into the tropical greenhouses
- Visit the Gallery of Evolution
- See the ménagerie zoo
Jardin des Plantes75005 ParisBest: morning, late morning, afternoonWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
about 60 minThe medieval cathedral on the Île de la Cité, reopened in December 2024, with its rose windows and three pipe organs.
Notre-Dame is a medieval Catholic cathedral and basilica on the Île de la Cité, in the 4th arrondissement. English Wikipedia says it reopened in December 2024, and describes its rose windows and its three pipe organs, one of them historic. The listing gives 7:50 am to 7 pm on weekdays, to 10 pm on Thursday, and 8:15 am to 7:30 pm at weekends.
What to do there- See the rose windows
- See the cathedral's three pipe organs
Île de la Cité6 Parvis Notre-Dame - Pl. Jean-Paul II, 75004 ParisBest: morning, late morning, afternoonWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Panthéon
about 60 minThe neoclassical monument in the Latin Quarter that serves as a national necropolis, with Foucault's pendulum and a crypt.
The Panthéon is a monument in the Latin Quarter, in the 5th arrondissement, that serves as a national necropolis for figures of French history. Wikipedia mentions a copy of Foucault's pendulum and, in the crypt, the remains of Victor Hugo placed there in 1885. The official page said on 18 October 2026 that the viewing platform is closed for renovation. The listing gives 10 am to 6 pm daily, last entry 5:45 pm.
What to do there- See Foucault's pendulum
- Find Victor Hugo's resting place in the crypt
Latin QuarterPl. du Panthéon, 75005 ParisBest: morning, late morning, afternoonWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Sainte-Chapelle
about 45 minA 13th-century Gothic chapel on the Île de la Cité, built for relics, whose upper chapel holds 13th-century stained glass.
The Sainte-Chapelle was built between 1238 and 1248 for King Louis IX to house his relics of the Passion. The Centre des monuments nationaux invites visitors to see its 1,113 stained glass windows, and Wikipedia says the upper chapel holds among the most extensive collections of original 13th-century glass anywhere. The listing gives 9 am to 5 pm daily; the official page says it closes on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
What to do there- See the 13th-century stained glass in the upper chapel
- Add the Conciergerie with the combined ticket
Île de la Cité10 Bd du Palais, 75001 ParisBest: morning, late morning, afternoonWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Shakespeare and Company
about 45 minThe English-language bookshop opened in 1951 on the Left Bank, with new and second-hand books and a free reading library.
Shakespeare and Company is an English-language bookstore opened in 1951 by George Whitman on Paris's Left Bank. English Wikipedia says it sells new and second-hand books, runs a free reading library and holds a Sunday tea party, writers' workshops and weekly events. The listing gives noon to 7 pm on Sunday and 10 am to 8 pm on other days. Reviews mention a queue, crowds and a no-photos rule.
What to do there- Browse new and second-hand English books
- Read in the free reading library
- Join a Sunday tea party or a writers' event
Latin Quarter37 Rue de la Bûcherie, 75005 ParisBest: morning, late morning, afternoonWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Arènes de Lutèce
about 30 minThe partly destroyed Roman amphitheatre in the 5th arrondissement, now a garden where locals play pétanque.
The Arènes de Lutèce are among the most important ancient Roman remains in Paris, says Wikipedia: the theatre could once seat 15,000 people and was also used as an amphitheatre. The listing describes a partially destroyed Roman amphitheatre surrounded by leafy gardens and gives 8 am to 7 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 7 pm at weekends. Reviews mention pétanque.
What to do there- Sit on the Roman tiered seating
- See the ancient stage and its niches
- Watch a game of pétanque
Jardin des Plantes49 Rue Monge, 75005 ParisBest: morning, afternoon, late morningWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Berthillon
about 30 minThe Île Saint-Louis ice-cream and sorbet maker, with a tea room serving ices, sorbets and pastries.
Berthillon is a French maker of ice cream and sorbet, with its main shop on the Île Saint-Louis. Its listing calls it a tea room serving ice creams, sorbets and pastries in wood-paneled surroundings. Reviews mention the wild strawberry and pistachio flavours. Hours given are the listing's: open on Sunday, 10 am to 8 pm, and shown as closed on the other six days.
What to do there- Taste Berthillon ice cream and sorbet
- Try the wild strawberry or pistachio ice cream
Île Saint-Louis29/ 31 Rue Saint-Louis en l'Île, 75004 ParisBest: afternoon, golden hour, late morningWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Bouillon Racine
about 75 minA restaurant in a restored Art Nouveau interior on the rue Racine, open since 1906 and listed as a historic monument in 1995.
Bouillon Racine is a restaurant at 3 rue Racine, founded in 1906 and listed as a historic monument in 1995, says French Wikipedia. Its listing describes a seasonal menu of classics and a large wine cellar in a restored Art Nouveau room. The listing gives noon to 11 pm every day. Reviews mention the Art Nouveau decor, escargot and onion tart.
What to do there- Dine in a restored Art Nouveau room
- Try the escargot or the onion tart
Latin Quarter3 Rue Racine, 75006 ParisBest: lunch, dinnerWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Conciergerie
about 60 minThe former royal palace and prison on the Île de la Cité, with two medieval halls and the story of Marie Antoinette.
The Conciergerie is a former courthouse and prison on the west of the Île de la Cité. Wikipedia says two large medieval halls remain from the royal palace and that 2,781 prisoners, Marie Antoinette among them, were imprisoned, tried and sentenced there. The official page gives 9:30 am to 6 pm with last access at 5:30 pm, offers Histopad tablets as a guide, and sells a combined ticket with the Sainte-Chapelle.
What to do there- Walk the two surviving medieval halls
- Follow the visit with a Histopad tablet guide
- Learn where Marie Antoinette was held
Île de la Cité2 Bd du Palais, 75001 ParisBest: morning, late morning, afternoonWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Grand Mosque of Paris
about 60 minOne of the largest mosques in France, with a marble minaret, an emerald-tiled courtyard, guided tours and a tea room.
The Grand Mosque of Paris, in the 5th arrondissement, is one of the largest mosques in France. Its listing describes a marble mosque with an ornate square minaret, an emerald-tiled courtyard and gardens, with guided tours. The listing gives 9 am to 6 pm, closed on Friday; Wikipedia says it is open to tourists every day except Friday. The tea room and restaurant keep their own hours.
What to do there- Take a guided tour of the mosque
- Drink mint tea with pastries in the tea room
- Eat tagine or couscous at the restaurant
Jardin des Plantes2bis Pl. du Puits de l'Ermite, 75005 ParisBest: morning, late morning, afternoonWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Polidor
about 75 minA bistro on the rue Monsieur-le-Prince serving duck confit and beef bourguignon, in a room founded in 1845.
Polidor is a bistro at 41 rue Monsieur le Prince, in business since 1845 according to Wikivoyage. Its listing describes bistro cuisine such as duck confit and beef bourguignon in a venue founded in 1845, and gives noon to midnight every day. Reviews mention the beef bourguignon, shared tables and the tarte tatin.
What to do there- Order the beef bourguignon or the duck confit
- Sit at a shared table
Latin Quarter41 Rue Monsieur le Prince, 75006 ParisBest: lunch, dinnerWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.
Square du Vert-Galant
about 30 minA small riverside garden on the Île de la Cité beside the Pont Neuf, with a statue of Henri IV and views of the Seine.
The Square du Vert-Galant is a small garden in the 1st arrondissement, next to the Pont Neuf, which Wikipedia calls the oldest standing bridge across the Seine in Paris. Its listing describes a small garden with a statue tribute to King Henri IV and shows it open 24 hours. Reviews mention the sunset view, a weeping willow and the Seine.
What to do there- Cross the Pont Neuf, the oldest standing bridge over the Seine
- Spot the 381 carved stone masks on the bridge
- Watch the sunset from the garden
Île de la Cité15 Pl. du Pont-Neuf-Christo et Jeanne-Claude, 75001 ParisBest: golden hour, afternoon, morningWebsite ›On the map ›Something wrong?
Hours unverified: they come from its listing and may have changed.