Paris has always had an irresistible allure and the City of Light is as scenic as it gets. Legendary for landmarks, culture, style, and cuisine, Paris inspires visitors like no other city. If your vacation time in Paris is going to be limited or you just want to make the most of your time while there, here is a brief guide to the most popular sights and how to see them.
Get an entirely unique introduction to Paris with a Seine River cruise tour (bateaux mouches). Sailing under beautiful and historical bridges through the heart of Paris, the island of Ile de la Cite and the Ile St-Louis, and seeing Paris' most famous landmarks from the Seine River will be a highlight of any trip to Paris. A sunset tour is highly recommended because nothing compares to the beauty and romance of seeing Paris at night when it really lives up to its name as the City of Light.
If you want to truly experience Paris you must do it by foot. Fortunately Paris is fairly compact and very walkable because most attractions are within easy distance to one another. When you need to travel any distance, getting around is easy thanks to the Metro network. Connections are fast, frequent and convenient and one-day, two-day, three-day or five-day passes are available to match your length of stay.
Plan ahead and selectively map out your route. The River Seine divides Paris into a northern Right Bank (Rive Droite) and a southern Left Bank (Rive Gauche) with two islands (Ile de la Cite and Ile St-Louis) in the middle. The city has 20 districts (arrondissements) spiraling clockwise, beginning in the middle of the city on the right bank (north bank) of the Seine River. Each district is further divided into quarters, each with its own unique character and attractions.

Left Bank Attractions:

The Pantheon, modeled after the Roman Pantheon, was originally built to be a church but now serves as mausoleum for the remains of great men and women of France including Emile Zola, Victor Hugo, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, and Pierre and Marie Curie. Excellent views of Paris.
Luxembourg Palace & Jardin du Luxembourg is a former palace built in the 17th century and now home to the French Senate. A tour of the 60 acre formal gardens behind Luxembourg Palace should not be missed for its manicured lawns, fountains, statues and great natural beauty.
Your cannot say you had a Parisian vacation without a trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower, possibly one of the most recognized monuments in the world. Climb the stairs or take the elevators to the top but get there early if you want to avoid crowds and long lines.
Hotel des Invalides - created under Louis XIV as a hospital for retired and wounded war veterans, it now houses four museums all relating to the military history of France. Napoleon's tomb is here.
Musee d'Orsay was a 19th century railway station and now a museum best known for its extensive collection of impressionist masterpieces.
Latin Quarter (The Quartier Latin) is characterized by narrow, cobbled streets, sidewalk cafes, bookshops, historical buildings, cafes, bistros and restaurants. The area has a lot of character and is a great place to wander and tour every corner of this delightful quarter.
Pont des Arts is a romantic footbridge that links the left banks of the Seine river to the Louvre. It offers a beautiful view of the Ile de la Cite and much of Paris.
Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in Paris built in the year 1604 and connects the Left Bank with the Right Bank. Take a walking tour along the banks of the Seine and get some tremendous views of the Louvre and Notre Dame. What would Paris be without it's bridges?

Right Bank Attractions:

The Louvre with its glass pyramid was once a royal palace and is now perhaps the most famous museum in the world. If its artwork you are looking for, see two of the most famous women in Paris - the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo statue at the Louvre.
Notre Dame Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture complete with gargoyles, located on the Ile de la Cite. Work began in 1163 and took 180 years to complete. Climb the 387 steps to the top of this masterpiece for a spectacular view. A definite must on any tour of Paris!
Basilique du Sacre-Coeur is an imposing white domed stonework basilica with bell tower overlooking Montmartre and is visible from most of Paris. You can climb the 234 steps to the top of the dome for beautiful views of Paris.
Jardin de Tuileries is a 2,500 acre park with public gardens located not far from the Louvre and is a favorite place for locals and tourists alike. A greast place to relax and people watch before continuing your tour of Paris.
Saint Chapelle is another Gothic masterpiece on Ile de le Cite (not far from the Notre Dame Cathedral) that is amazingly beautiful and should not be missed.
The Place de la Concorde is one of Paris' largest squares and is dominated by a 73 ft high and 3,200 year old Egyptian obelisk from Luxor. Don't miss the bronze fountain La fontaine des Mers.
The Arc de Triomphe is one of Paris' most famous landmarks, commissioned by Napoleon in 1806. This giant arch stands at the end of the Champs Elysees and you can climb 284 steps to the top of the monument for a wonderful view of the Champs-Elysees.
Avenue des Champs-Elysees is Paris' most famous avenue and a major shopping street. Stroll along the tree-lined sidewalks full of cafes, restaurant, and shops and soak up this authentic Parisian experience.
Montmartre is one of Paris's most picturesque districts with cobbled streets, small cafes and shops, prominent landmarks, and street artists and musicians.