A gargoyle's view from Notre Dame Cathedral. (Chris Atchison/ITD)

10 First Time Experiences

The Louvre: Paris’ most famous museum is a work of art unto itself, but takes time and patience to view in its entirety. Tackle sections over several days, paying close attention to masterpieces such as the Winged Victory of Samothrace, Michelangelo’s Dying Slaves and, of course, Da Vinci’s famed Mona Lisa.
www.louvre.fr
Metro: Palais-Royal-Musée du Louvre station

The Eiffel Tower: The most visited monument in the world, named after its designer Gustav Eiffel, was scheduled for dismantling following the Exposition Universelle of 1889. Now the city’s most recognizable landmark draws in excess of 6 million visitors each year. Budget about two hours to make the trip to the very top, longer in July and August when heavy tourist numbers increase elevator wait times.
www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/
Metro: Bir-Hakeim, Trocadéro, Ecole Militaire

Sainte-Chappelle: While Notre Dame is widely recognized as the most spectacular cathedral in Paris, Sainte-Chappelle’s upper chapel houses arguably some of the most impressive stained glass windows in the world, soaring 15 metres to the star-studded vaulted ceiling. Buy a Paris museum card (see below) to avoid long lines in summer.
Metro: Cité

Arc de Triomphe: The monument to France’s military victories of day’s gone by is also a perfect vantage point for skyline shots of Paris. Access to the Arc de Triomphe is via underpasses that run beneath the chaotic roundabout where the city’s grand boulevards meet at the arch. Visitors can walk the 284 steps to the top or use the elevator and walk the remaining 46 steps.
Metro: Charles de Gaulle-Etoile

Musée d’Orsay: The former grand train station houses the greatest collection of Impressionist art in the world, featuring some of the most important works of Monet, Van Gogh, Manet, Degas, and their contemporaries. Entry lines are long in summer, but a Paris museum card will offer VIP access to the treasures inside.
www.musee-orsay.fr/en/home.html?S=0
Metro: Assemblée Nationale

L’Orangerie: The Musée d’Orsay’s smaller cousin across the Seine houses Monet’s iconic Water Lily cycle, as well as other Impressionist works from France and around the world.
www.musee-orangerie.fr
Metro: Concorde

Notre Dame Cathedral. (Chris Atchison/ITD)

Champs-Elysées: The most famous of Paris’ grand boulevards offers some pleasant dining and shopping opportunities, the only drawback being the throngs of tourists posing for photos and occupying prime strolling real estate. Regardless, a walk down the Champs-Elysées is always a pleasant experience in the warm sunshine.
Metro: Charles de Gaulle-Etoile, George V, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Champs-Elysées Clemenceau

Sacré Coeur: The basilica was completed in 1914 and quickly became one of the city’s most notable landmarks. While the interior is a must-see, at night the steps leading up to the towering structure are typically lined with buskers, students and a handful of tourists singing, drinking and enjoying views of the twinkling Eiffel Tower in the distance. 
www.sacre-coeur-montmartre.com
Metro: Abbesses, Anvers, Château-Rouge, Lamarck-Caulaincourt