The City of Lights. The City of Love. Paris, France. Not only will you find an abundance of romance and light, but you can also discover a vast trove of history, culture, genealogy, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. To get you started on your journey, let’s explore what to do in Paris.
Quick Links
- Free Local Sights
- Museums
- Historical Sites
- Connect with Your Heritage
- Finding Your Ancestors Buried in Paris
- World War Memorials
- Tips and Tricks
Sights to See in Paris
Don’t spend all your time at the Eiffel Tower! Paris has so many things to see and do that it may feel overwhelming. Let’s take a look at some local sights you can explore when you’re wondering what to do in Paris.
Free Local Sights
For travelers on a budget, Paris has many free sights to offer! Enjoy these local gems off the beaten path.
- National Library of France: Calling all readers! Visit the National Library of France to immerse yourself in history and culture through books, exhibitions, and archives.
- House of Nicolas Flamel: Yes, Nicolas Flamel is an actual person, not just a character from Harry Potter! Nicolas Flamel was a famous alchemist and philanthropist who people believed had discovered how to turn metal into gold, along with unlocking the secrets of the philosopher’s stone. His house is considered one of the oldest in Paris, and you can also grab a bite to eat at the restaurant inside!
- “I Love You” Wall: If you’re looking for a way to express your love, check out this work of art made of 612 tiles featuring the phrase “I love you” in 311 languages. Two artists gathered the phrase in different languages to create this art of love.
- Five Statues of Liberty: Lady Liberty isn’t just in New York City. Did you know that the Statue of Liberty was actually built in Paris before she found her home in New York Harbor? You can find replicas and early models of the Statue of Liberty in 5 places around Paris: Musée des Arts and Métiers, Allée des Cygnes, Musée d’Orsay, Jardin du Luxembourg, and Pont de l’Alma.
- Petit Palais: Paris is famous for its art galleries. If you love art but don’t want to pay for one of the larger art museums, then the Petit Palais is for you! The building was constructed for the 1900 Paris Exposition, and it is now home to French art and objects from the 19th and 20th centuries. You’ll see works by familiar artists such as Rembrandt, Monet, and Cézanne.
Museums
Many first-time visitors explore the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay, or the Musée de l’Orangerie, all of which are worth the hype. But we want to offer you some lesser-known museums to explore!
- Musée Carnavalet: Originally built in the 16th century, the Musée Carnavalet officially opened in 1880 as the first museum in Paris. This museum boasts a rich tour of the history of Paris and over 600,000 items on display.
- Musée des Arts Forains: In this museum, you will not only be transported back to the 19th century but also to an age of childlike wonder and excitement! This interactive museum has everything you might find at a fairground, including merry-go-rounds, swings, attractions, amusement rides, and more!
- La Galerie Dior: If you love fashion, you have to visit the Dior Gallery. You can find clothing dating back to when the fashion house opened in the 1940s, along with all the history behind it.
- Musée de Cluny: As an example of medieval architecture, the setting is already laid for a historical site featuring art from the Middle Ages. Thousands of items are on display, along with six 15th-century tapestries.
- Musée de la Libération de Paris: This museum honors Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque and Jean Moulin, two prominent figures in France during World War II. Through their remarkable stories, the museum illustrates the course of the war, the plight of occupied France, and the pivotal role of the Resistance.
- Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération: The Order of Liberation Museum offers an exploration of General de Gaulle’s Order of Liberation from World War II, a reward for citizens who helped liberate France. It also features inspiring stories of the French Resistance.
Historical Sites
From castles to gardens, mansions to prisons, your sightseeing itinerary can really fill up! Here are a few unique historical sites you can visit to really get the most out of your visit to Paris.
- La Conciergerie: This prison was most heavily used during the French Revolution, specifically between 1793 and 1795, otherwise known as La Terreur (or The Reign of Terror). You can visit this prison today to enjoy the medieval architecture and take the opportunity to visit the cell of one of the prison’s most famous prisoners—Marie Antoinette. And if you want to get more into family history, you can find an interactive family history room that allows you to search court records from the French Revolution to see if any defendants shared your last name.
- Panthéon: Originally built as a church, the Panthéon stands as a magnificent neoclassical monument. Today, it honors important figures such as Rosseau, Victor Hugo, and Marie Curie. You can also find Foucault’s pendulum. The pendulum is named after physicist Léon Foucault, who created a pendulum with a fixed plane to demonstrate that the earth did, in fact, rotate.
- Sainte-Chapelle: Step into a Gothic-style royal chapel with stunning stained glass and incredible history. In the 13th century, King Louis IX commissioned it to house Christian relics such as the crown of thorns.
- Palais Garnier: The Palais Garnier isn’t just a famous piece of architecture! Throughout the year, you can visit this famous Paris opera house for opera shows, concerts, ballet performances, and more. If you don’t have time to see a show, you can still go inside during the day to gawk at its gilded beauty. The Palais Garnier is also the setting for the book The Phantom of the Opera.
- Maison de Balzac: This cottage was the former home of Honoré de Balzac, a famous realist writer in the 19th century. The home-turned-museum displays original manuscript pages, wood and copper print blocks, and some of the author’s own possessions.
- Manufacture des Gobelins: In the 15th century, the Gobelin family owned a fabric-dyeing workshop that later caught the attention of King Henri IV, who then turned the workshop into a factory making textiles for royals. A guided tour today allows you to learn more about the factory’s history and see elite artists in action as they create new textiles.
Again, this list just scratches the surface of what you can do in Paris. You can experience so many places and events while in the heart of France. If you want to get more tips on unique, local things to do in Paris, check out this list.
Connect with Your Heritage
To truly personalize your experience, try identifying any ancestors or ties you might have in Paris or in France in general. In this way, you can find unique connections with what you see and do while in Paris. Your search can be easy with a free FamilySearch account!
You might find that the Where Am I From? FamilySearch activity is particularly useful. This tool allows you to search through generations of your family line and heritage to discover where your ancestors came from.
FamilySearch Centers in Paris
Doing genealogical research in the home country of your ancestors can uncover valuable information about your ancestors that you can’t find at home. You can maximize your time and decrease your stress by doing some research before your trip.
FamilySearch has several thousand centers around the world, including two centers in Paris and six in surrounding areas. These centers provide opportunities to access exclusive records found only in FamilySearch centers and receive personalized support from volunteers.
Note: Not all volunteers at FamilySearch centers outside the United States speak English. You may consider visiting a FamilySearch center near you before your trip to get help researching your ancestors. Volunteers at your local center can help you make a research plan for your trip—what information you need to find, where in France you may be able to find it, and what you need to prepare before you travel. Check out this article about using what you know to discover what you don’t know in genealogy research.
The National Archives of France
It’s time to further explore your family ties to Paris. Luckily, the National Archives of France—otherwise known as the largest archives center in Europe—is located right in the City of Lights.
The National Archives includes records and archival information from the 19th to 21st centuries, including records and information about the French Revolution and World Wars I and II. You can learn about military careers, court cases, elections, territories, marital statuses, and so much more! You can find research centers, virtual reading rooms, audiovisual and electronic archives, and cartography materials—and that’s just the start. The contents of the National Archives are kept at two sites: Hôtel de Soubise and Pierrefitte-sur-Seine.
Hôtel de Soubise
Napoleon designated the Hôtel de Soubise (in the heart of the Le Marais neighborhood in central Paris) as the site for France's national archives in 1808. Since 1867, this compound of buildings has also housed the Musée des Archives Nationales, which displays famous and historically important documents from French history. Today, this location in central Paris holds all pre-French Revolution records and documents.
Visit the Hôtel de Soubise location for access to the Caran Reading Rooms (where you can study pre-19th-century French records), the Musée des Archives Nationales, and the beautiful gardens. All three of these sites are free to the public. See their website for more information about touring the historical building, seeing the museum, and exploring the gardens.
Pierrefitte-sur-Seine
The National Archives building in Pierrefitte-sur-Seine (in the northern suburbs of Paris) is newer, built in 2013. This site houses all post-French Revolution records—records from the 19th and 20th centuries to modern times. The building filled with records much faster than expected, so even now, an expansion is being constructed and is estimated to open in 2026.
Research at the National Archives
Entrance to both archives locations is free, but you do need to register in advance and must be 18 years of age or older. If you have specific documents in mind that you would like to see, you can reserve the document online in advance and make an appointment to go and see it in person. You can visit the archives website for more practical information about how to make an appointment for the reading rooms at either site and how to reserve documents. You can also see the types of documents that members of the public are allowed to view.
If you aren’t interested in research but would still like to see the archives, free tours are available at both sites.
Visit the National Archives with your family or friends, or take a trip by yourself!
Finding Your Ancestors Buried in Paris
Take a moment to enjoy the beautiful scenery while connecting with those who have gone before. Finding your ancestors’ graves can help you visualize and personally connect with the reality of your ancestors as real people from your own family history. You can also take this opportunity to learn about famous historical figures!
With a free FamilySearch account, you can use the Relatives in Cemeteries experience to see if you have any relatives buried in Paris.
It’s also worth checking out the famous Paris Catacombs. Deep in the underground of Paris, the catacombs stretch through the tunnels of former quarries. These catacombs are the resting place of more than six million Parisians from the Middle Ages. The catacombs were constructed in the 18th century when the cemeteries around Paris were overflowing and causing public health issues and concerns.
Paris has many cemeteries, each with its own unique look and vast history on display. Let’s take a look a closer look at a few of its most famous cemeteries.
World War II Memorials
While World War II is a hard piece of history, visiting memorials dedicated to both soldiers and civilians who died is a good way to learn more about the great sacrifices that people have made.
- Memorial of the Martyred of the Deportation: This memorial, inaugurated in 1962, was dedicated by General Charles de Gaulle to remember those who were deported from France.
- Vél’ d’hiv’ Children’s Memorial Garden: In 1942, an estimated 4,115 children were separated from their parents and deported to the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. The memorial was inaugurated in 2017 to remember these children.
- Paris Shoah Memorial: At this exhibition, you’ll find history and remembrance of Jews in France. Documents have been gathered to memorialize 76,000 men, women, and children. This part-museum-part-memorial is free to visit.
Père-Lachaise Cemetery
When it comes to Parisian cemeteries, this one is the most visited. This beautiful cemetery sits on 110 acres and boasts over 5,000 trees. You can enjoy the beautiful landscaping and Gothic tombstones and mausoleums as you stroll along the paved walkways.
Père Lachaise is the burial place for these famous historical figures:
- Jim Morrison (American singer-songwriter)
- Frédéric Chopin (Polish composer)
- Oscar Wilde (Irish poet and playwright)
- Victor Noir (French journalist)
- Honoré de Balzac (French novelist)
- Edith Piaf (French singer)
- Isadora Duncan (American dancer)
Montparnasse Cemetery
Not only is it the second-largest cemetery in Paris and the resting place of historical figures, but this cemetery is also a scenic beauty full of art, trees, and the tower of an old flour mill.
Famous people buried here include the following:
- Charles Baudelaire (19th-century French poet)
- Susan Sontag (American poet)
- Samuel Beckett (Irish novelist)
- Juliette Greco (French singer and actress)
- Guy de Maupassant (French writer)
- Charles Garnier (French architect)
- Constantin Brâncuși (Romanian sculptor)
- Marguerite Duras (French writer and filmmaker)
Passy Cemetery
This cemetery evokes an artistic feel, with a view of the Eiffel Tower, statues on the grounds, and the resting places of several artists. Famous figures buried here include these artists:
- Berthe Morisot (French artist)
- Edouard Manet (French artist)
- Claude Debussy (French composer)
- Marie Bashkirtseff (Ukrainian artist)
Tips and Tricks
A little bit of research can go a long way when planning a trip to a new city. Here are some tips to help your travels go smoothly!
French Words
If you are not fluent in French, these words and phrases might be useful on your trip. Maybe you’ll even pick up more French along the way.
English Word or Phrase | French Word or Phrase |
| Hello | Bonjour |
| Thank you | Merci |
| Goodbye | Au revoir |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes? |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais? |
| I don’t speak French. | Je ne parle pas français. |
| I apologize. | Pardon |
| Excuse me. | Excusez-moi. |
| Could you take our photo? | Pourriez-vous prendre notre photo? |
| Please | S'il vous plaît |
| I’m lost. | Je suis perdu. |
| Where is the train station? | Où est la gare? |
Foods to Try
When in France, you can’t miss out on authentic French food. Here are some foods France is famous for that you can find on the menu at many restaurants in Paris. You’ll find some recommendations of traditional foods to try for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert!
- Viennoiseries: Viennoiserie describes a category of pastry inspired by pastries from Vienna, Austria. These pastries are typically eaten for breakfast, and they are made with white flour or enriched puff pastry to achieve peak flakiness.
- Croissant: This flaky pastry comes in a few variations. Croissant aux amandes is filled with almond cream and topped with sliced almonds and powdered sugar, and pain aux raisins has cinnamon and raisins.
- Pain au chocolat: This pastry is similar to a croissant but is filled with chocolate.
- Brioche: This traditional bread is light, fluffy, and sweet.
- Palmier: Coated in caramelized sugar, this flaky, heart-shaped pastry is messy to eat but very delicious.
- Madeleines: Distinctive shell shapes make this spongy cake extra fun to eat!
- Tartine: A slice of baguette, generously smothered in butter and jam, is a quintessential French staple.
- Croque monsieur: It’s ham and cheese, but on a whole different level, thanks to the tasty cheeses and bread.
- Jambon-beurre: It may sound simple, but this sandwich of ham, butter, and pickles on a baguette is deceptively delicious.
- Crêpes: No trip to Paris is complete without a crêpe! This sweet dish can have a variety of toppings—fruit, chocolate, butter, powdered sugar, and more.
- Galette: The classic version of this savory crêpe typically has ham, cheese, and an egg on a buckwheat crêpe, but you may see variations with other fillings.
- Charcuterie: Served as an appetizer at many restaurants, a charcuterie board includes cured meats, fluffy bread, and other tasty offerings.
- Cheese: France is known the world over for their artisan cheeses. At many restaurants, cheese is its own course! Cheeses you’ll especially have to try are goat cheese, raclette, and Brie.
- Ratatouille: A simple dish of stewed vegetables.
- French onion soup: As a classic French dish, this combination of beef broth and caramelized onions is a must-try.
- Boeuf bourguignon: On a cold day, this beef stew is the perfect meal to help you warm up.
- Steak frites: You can’t go wrong with steak and french fries!
- Duck confit: Slow-cooked in duck fat, the meat falls right off the bone.
- Macaron: This classic little cookie sandwich comes in so many flavors and can be found everywhere, from atop the Eiffel Tower to shops on the Champs-Élysées.
- Crème brûlée: Custard, caramelized sugar, and maybe some fruit—you can’t say no to this delicious treat.
- Mille-feuille: This simple dessert has cream filling sandwiched between many tiny layers of puff pastry.
- Tarte-tatin: Similar to apple pie, tarte-tatin is a tarte filled with caramelized fruit, usually apples.
- Soufflé: When sweetened, soufflé makes a delicious dessert! And like crêpes, it can also be served as a savory dish.
How to Get Around
For many big cities such as London, New York, Chicago, and Amsterdam, you don’t need a car. The same goes for Paris. You might enjoy driving around the City of Lights, but you can explore Paris in many ways without renting a car.
Metro
Paris has an extensive metro system that can likely take you anywhere you want to go in the city! Plus, if you buy 10 tickets or more at a time, you can have reduced rates, and these tickets are good for one-way journeys all around Paris.
Bus
Buses and the metro system are similar in that lots of lines are available to easily get you to your destination. While taking a bus is slower than the metro, you get to experience beautiful views of Paris while you travel!
Bike
Speaking of experiencing beautiful Parisian views, another option for getting around the city is by riding a bike. Biking is obviously faster than walking, and on a bike, you can soak in the city’s atmosphere. A convenient way to get a bike in Paris is by renting one through apps such as Vélib’.
Walking
Got some time for a stroll? If you’re in the heart of Paris, then walking can be the perfect option for you. Some attractions and top sightseeing places are close together. For example, the Louvre and the Notre-Dame cathedral are just 1.3 kilometers apart, or about 18 minutes of walking. While you walk to your destination, you’re likely to pass by the Seine River or a street-side crêpe stand and can view the everyday life of local Parisians.
Bon Voyage!
Visiting Paris will be an incredible experience. With the classic sights, historical museums, and family history, you will have the opportunity to learn, love, and grow all at once. Don’t forget to take pictures and write in your journal—whatever you need to do to properly document this experience.
Again, a great way to prepare for your journey is by getting to know your heritage and ancestors. If you don’t know where to begin, that’s OK! FamilySearch is the perfect place to start. You can even get one-on-one help from an expert at a FamilySearch center or by asking your questions online. Don’t hesitate to dig into everything available to you. Enjoy the City of Lights!
Discover French Culture
At FamilySearch, we care about connecting you with your family, and we provide fun discovery experiences and family history services for free. Why? Because we cherish families and believe that connecting generations can improve our lives now and forever. We are a nonprofit organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To learn more about our beliefs, click here.
