What is Paris famous for- The Good & the bad

What is Paris famous for- The Good & the bad

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Paris is one of the most attractive and popular tourist destinations in the world because to its gorgeous architecture, its abundance of art and culture and its delicious food that will leave you feeling euphoric (if not a few pounds heavier!).

No matter what time of year you come, Paris will be sure to enamour and fascinate with its picture-perfect scenery and world-class museums. Whether you visit Paris for a day or a week, you’ll be left wishing to return to explore this magnificent city even further.

🌐 This post forms part of Planning a trip to Paris guide that helps you to explore hotels, ITINERARIES, Restaurants, and Top attractions and Make reservations in advance & Save Money also 🧳Pack wisely. Bon voyage!

Making plans to travel to Paris? Check out these eight things that make Paris the city it is, and discover why it’s one of the most visited cities in the world! 

From the Eiffel Tower to the Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris’ major landmarks will not disappoint. But there are some other unique things about Paris that make it an even more desirable destination, from its rich culture and history to its food and wine. 

So, if you’re travelling to Paris soon or have always dreamed of visiting this beautiful city, read on for 10 things that make Paris the city it is.

Read on to learn why Paris is such a fascinating city, why it’s so famous, and what sites and settings are must-sees while visiting the City of Light and Love.

10 Things That Make Paris the City It Is – What Paris Is Famous For

 1) Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is a steel framework tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. 

The tower is the tallest structure in Paris and tallest iron structure ever built. In 1889, however, it was greeted with hostility by both critics and engineers. 

Many thought it would be ugly or would block lines of sight between important buildings like Notre Dame or Sacre Coeur Basilica. Others felt that its construction would cost too much money to complete.

2) Arc de Triomphe

The Arc de Triomphe is an 18th-century monument in Paris commemorating those who fought and died for France. The arch was built to celebrate Napoleon’s military victories, though today it stands as a symbol of France. 

The Arc de Triomphe has attracted over 100 million visitors since its completion and is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Europe. 

Another popular destination in central Paris is Notre Dame Cathedral, which took almost 200 years to complete. 

The cathedral still operates as a place of worship today, attracting millions each year who are interested in its history and architecture.

3) Louvre Museum

The Louvre is one of France’s most famous museums. The Musée du Louvre was designated a national museum in 1793, but many of its collections had been previously seized from other institutions during revolutionary times and added to it. 

The Louvre houses over 380,000 works (around 800,000 objects) that range from prehistory to today. 

Among its best-known treasures are Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Jacques-Louis David’s The Coronation of Napoleon.

4) Notre Dame

This Notre Dame cathedral is famous as a place of worship and architectural ingenuity. 

The artwork found within (such as Michelangelo’s Pietà) makes it one of France’s most treasured landmarks, but also stands in stark contrast to what has become known as bad Paris—or, as locals say, places like Les Halles market or Châtelet–Les Halles RER station. 

Even in these areas there are pockets of good: you might get fresh-baked bread at a Parisian boulangerie from bakery students from nearby schools, who come by to work on their hands-on skills while they’re still in school.

5) Galeries Lafayette Department Store

Be it art or fashion, makeup or literature, food or furniture—the world’s top shops have always been located on a few posh streets in Paris. 

This holds true for Galeries Lafayette, which began as a stationery shop way back in 1907 and has since grown into one of France’s largest department stores. 

The flagship Galeries Lafayette is located at 40 Boulevard Haussmann and is spread across seven floors covering an area of more than 10,000 square meters (nearly 110,000 square feet).

 As Europe’s largest department store, it houses luxury brands like Bottega Veneta; Michael Kors; Gucci; Cartier; Giorgio Armani; Hermes; Balenciaga, and Dior among others.

6) River Seine

The Seine in Paris is a major tourist attraction and an important means of transportation. 

According to UNESCO, it is even more important than Notre Dame Cathedral. 

The Seine river runs right through downtown, giving it a unique atmosphere not found in many other cities. 

Despite being around for centuries, it’s constantly improving with bridges and islands added periodically to increase its beauty and functionality. 

If you are looking for an authentic experience on your next trip to Paris, look no further than some of these iconic structures. 

But be sure not to overdo it; there’s plenty more things that make Paris so famous that deserve your attention as well!

7) The Latin Quarter’s Sorbonne University

The Latin Quarter is a popular destination for college students, with more than twenty schools and universities operating in it. 

The area is home to some of France’s most prestigious higher education establishments, including Sorbonne University. 

Established as a college by Pope Gregory IX in 1252, Sorbonne was formally recognized as a university under Napoleon I in 1808. 

Also known as Panthéon-Sorbonne University (after its location on Rue Cujas), it is one of France’s largest and most prominent institutions of higher learning.

8) Moulin Rouge Cabaret Club

Tucked into a corner of Bois de Boulogne is one of Paris’s most famous attractions, Le Moulin Rouge. 

First opened in 1889, there are two things that make it stand out: its massive sign, first erected in 1900 and depicting a windmill with three Dutch girls riding it; and its cabaret shows. 

And while today’s shows are sanitized family-friendly spectacles with dancers far more talented than those of yesteryear, they still serve as an iconic part of French culture and remain among the best examples of how to see Paris by night.

Disney Land Paris

While Paris can be a bit pricey, there are plenty of ways to save money while visiting. Grabbing a baguette sandwich at a street cafe is one way; stopping into an independent bakery is another. 

There are plenty of affordable restaurants that offer lots of food for your money, including local favorites such as Moules frites and Steak-frites. 

If you’re craving something sweet, don’t forget about macarons (go for pistachio!), pain au chocolat or quiche Lorraine—and who doesn’t love a fresh baguette?! 

You can find many bakeries inside grocery stores or go straight to specialty shops like Fauchon in Champs-Elysees or Poilane in St.

Also Read: Ultimate Disneyland Paris Tips and Tricks for a PERFECT trip

Street cafes and Micheline restaurants

France is home to some of the most celebrated restaurants in Europe, so it’s not hard to find Michelin-starred dining when you travel to Paris. 

But if you are on a budget or just prefer street food, don’t worry—you won’t have trouble finding good and cheap eats in France. 

Cafes line every sidewalk around town and serve up cups of strong coffee for less than a dollar. 

At lunch time, many places offer hearty soup or sandwich meals for less than 10 dollars (€10). 

The best part? If your meal isn’t up to par with your expectations, they will be happy to replace it with something else!

5 Things to avoid in Paris

It’s no secret that Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but it can also be expensive, especially if you’re not careful about where you go and what you eat or drink. 

In order to make sure your money goes as far as possible on your trip to the City of Lights, follow these 5 tips on what to avoid in Paris. 

They’ll help you save money without compromising your experience of this amazing city!

1. Avoid Street Noise

Paris is a city, and so it can get busy and noisy. But if you’re staying outside of city centre,  there’s little to no street noise. 

That being said, Paris hotels tend not to come with air conditioning. 

Bring your earplugs! If you’re visiting Paris in summer, also be wary of unshaded windows that let through hot sunlight all day. 

Aim for places with shady or indoor-outdoor rooms that block out sun during peak heat hours. 

If you need help picking an Airbnb apartment—especially if you don’t speak French—use a site like HomeToGo to translate your needs into French before getting a recommendation from a friend who speaks both languages well.

2. Food Shops Before You Leave

French people love food, and their relationship with it is evident all over Paris. 

Before you arrive, make sure you’ve researched where you’ll be eating during your stay. Research online: 

It’s easy to find sites that list restaurant recommendations for almost every neighborhood in Paris. 

While these sites may not always have photos of each establishment, they’ll tell you about menus and prices so that you can decide ahead of time if a place is right for your budget and tastes. 

Don’t Book Restaurants Too Early: 

Most restaurants in Paris are small, family-owned businesses that depend on repeat customers. 

If your party doesn’t show up on time or at all, they lose money—and worse yet, future business.

3. Souvenir Shops on Every Corner

The city of lights is a beautiful place to visit, but stay away from its many shops that peddle overpriced trinkets. 

Paris has more souvenir shops than any other city in Europe and chances are you will find one on every corner. 

These stores have been accused of ripping off tourists with very high prices; it’s best to avoid them entirely unless you are desperate for a t-shirt or refrigerator magnet.

Tourist Spots Like Champs Elysees

Paris is one of those cities that has so much going on, you could spend your entire vacation exploring it without ever getting bored. 

But there are a few things that tourists shouldn’t do in Paris, which you may not realize at first glance. 

One of these? The Champs Elysees, a street full of shops and restaurants that runs from Place de la Concorde in Paris to Place Charles de Gaulle and is known for its nightlife and shopping (think Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc.). 

While these stores may be tempting to visit while visiting Paris, it’s generally smart to avoid them if you want to look local. Just walk by!

Fast food joints near Notre Dame

Visiting Paris is a big deal for most people, which makes sense given that it’s one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. 

It’s also just as exciting. From visiting iconic landmarks like Notre Dame de Paris and Champs-Élysées to taking an afternoon shopping on Avenue Montaigne, there are lots of things to do and places to visit while visiting Paris. 

However, as wonderful as they are, you should also be aware of five bad things you must avoid when you visit Paris

Expensive Shops on Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré

On Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, one of Paris’ most famous shopping streets, you’ll find a few shops that are worth a visit. 

However, just past Galeries Lafayette and on either side of Rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré is where you’ll encounter swarms of fake designer handbag salesmen who, upon spotting tourists like you, will all but shove their bags into your face as they attempt to get you to purchase a bag for at least double its worth. 

To avoid being scammed by these bad things and others like them, steer clear of tourist-traps and stick with smaller stores when looking for souvenirs during your trip.

PickPocketing in Paris City

Paris is one of those must see places that everybody dreams about visiting at least once in their life. 

The city of love, art and culture, Paris has got it all with its luxury hotels, best restaurants, romantic walks on bridges and a lot more. 

It is hard to believe that Paris can be dangerous as well. This has been said by police who are concerned about pickpockets from Russia who are a threat to visitors from every corner of Europe. 

But apart from pickpocketing which is on a rise these days you should also know some other facts that may spoil your overall experience and even create problems for you while being there. Below here are 5 bad things to avoid while being in Paris city