DK Travel : Paris

From Notre-Dame to the Eiffel Tower, Paris holds some of the world's most famous sights and these highlights should be top of the list for any first-time visitor. With the exception of the overtly modern Pompidou Centre, they have been landmarks of this elegant and romantic capital for centuries and remain awe-inspiring sights, no matter how often you visit the city.

More on guided tours in Paris

Edith Piaf

Discovered as a street singer in Paris, the diminutive Piaf (1915–63) became known as the “Little Sparrow”.
Edith Piaf, Père Lachaise Cemetery

The “little sparrow” was born in poverty in the Belleville district of Paris in 1915, less than 1,500 m (5,000 ft) from where she was buried in 1963 in a simple black tomb (see Edith Piaf).
Edmund White

Prolific novelist White (b.1940) is the author of The Flaneur , a Stroll Through the Paradoxes of Paris .
Edouard Manet

Manet (1832–83) spent a lot of time in Montmartre and scandalized the art world with his paintings of nudes, including the famous Olympia (see Olympia).
Edouard Manet

Born in Paris in 1832, Manet became the most notorious artist in the city when works such as Olympia and Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe (see Olympia, Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe) were first exhibited. He died in Paris in 1883.
Eglise du Dôme

The final resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte is the beautiful Dôme Church in the Hôtel des Invalides complex – an elaborate monument to French Classical style. Built as the chapel for the resident soldiers of the Invalides, its ornate high altar is in stark contrast to the solemn marble chapels surrounding the crypt, which hold the tombs of French military leaders. Its golden dome can be seen for miles around (see Hôtel des Invalides).
Eglise St-Merry

Formerly the parish church of the Lombard moneylenders, St-Merry was built between 1520 and 1612, and reflects the Flamboyant Gothic style. Its name is a corruption of St-Médéric, who was buried on this site in the early 8th century. The bell in the church’s northwest turret, thought to be the oldest in Paris, dates from 1331 and hung in a chapel which once stood on the site. Other highlights include the decorative west front, the 17th-century organ loft, beautiful stained glass and carved wood panelling.
Eiffel Tower

Although the top of the Eiffel Tower can be seen above rooftops across the city, one of the best views of this Paris landmark is from the Seine. The Pont d’Iéna lies at the foot of the tower, bridging the river to link it to the Trocadéro Gardens. The tower, illuminated at night, is a highlight of a dinner cruise on the Seine.
Eiffel Tower

A trip to the top is one of the most memorable activities for children in Paris.
Eiffel Tower