What to See & Do in Paris
A guide geared towards those visiting Paris for their first or second time, focusing on the most famous landmarks and sites.
When thinking about what to see and do while in Paris, it can be extremely overwhelming. There are so many museums and sights worth your time, but it’s just as important to explore the various neighbourhoods and parks to really appreciate the city’s charm and beauty. A day spent walking around the city, just exploring with no specific destination, is never a waste. So when planning your trip, it can be hard to decide what is really worth your limited and precious time.
Let me preface this list of suggestions by saying that no matter what recommendations are given, it’s always going to be dependant on your own personal interests and tastes. Further, the suggestions one might offer for someone visiting Paris for their first time vs. their second, third, or even tenth, can drastically differ.
Below is a list of some of recommendations that I personally would suggest, especially if this is your first time in Paris. While some may not be my favourite – such as the Arc de Triomph or Eiffel Tower – I recognize that for someone who has never been to Paris before, these sights will really drive home the fact that you finally made it there and are something you’ll want to cross off your city bucket list.
If this isn’t your first time to Paris, or you’re looking for something a little different, check out THIS LIST.
***Please note: hours and prices may vary than those listed below due to COVID-19 – this list reflects the hours and prices during standard operation.
What to See & Do in Paris - For Beginners
Eiffel Tower
The most famous symbol of Paris, need one say more? Of course you’ll want to see it, but unless you have a strong desire to go up it - in which case be prepared for both the cost and long lines – consider having a picnic at the base instead. While it does provide a spectacular view of the city, it is both plagued by other tourists blocking your view and the absence of the tower itself in your pictures. Try finding rooftop restaurant and bars to provide an equal, if not better, view of the city and spend your time there in the park snacking on baguette and some pastries.
Erin’s Personal Tip: If you are thinking of having a picnic, or at least have a little bite to eat, by the Eiffel Tower, try picking up some food on your way over instead of waiting until you’re close to the tower itself. There’s no need to be having mediocre food in Paris, even when dining on a budget, so you’d be better off picking up some baguette and cheese from a proper boulangerie or store, rather than the ones who over charge and under deliver because of proximity.
How to Get There: It’s wonderful to walk there, exploring the various neighbourhoods – as you make your way to the city’s most infamous landmark. However, if you want to subway there, take the métro to one of these station: Bir-Hakeim (line M6), Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel (line RER C), or Pont de l’Alma (line RER C). You can also take the métro to station Passy (M6) which is just across the Seine.
Alternatively, take the métro to station Trocadéro, where you can walk through the Jardins du Trocadéro and see the Palais de Chaillot – where Adolf Hitler notoriously posed for a picture during the war, with the Eiffel Tower in the background - before crossing the bridge Pont d’léna. From there you can walk to the Eiffel Tower, but not before posing in front of the famous Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel
Arc de Triomphe & the Champs-Élysées
A famous arch and shopping street, plagued by tourists and recent protests. While definitely worth checking out – especially if its your first trip to Paris - by no means is it as magical as one might think. The Arc de Triomphe is impressive but it doesn’t take much time to see it. The Champs-Élysées is full of mainstream, high street, and touristy stores. It still nice to walk down at least once, but its by no means where you want to do your shopping.
What is worth noting on this street is that there is a series of movie theatres, one after another. As Paris is one of the film epicentres, with Parisians having a true appreciation for cinema, it is always nice to spend some time lost in a dark theatre, especially if its raining in the city or you’re looking for a nighttime activity. While there are far more historical, grander, or just better located cinemas in the city, the theatres along the Champs-Élysées almost always screen movies in English (with French subtitles). When purchasing a ticket, if the films says VO, it means Version Original – English with French subtitles.
How to Get There: Aside from walking up the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe (ideally starting at the Place de la Concorde), you can take the métro to any of the following stations: George V (M1), Kléber (M6), Ternes (M2) or Argentine (M1). To subway to the C Champs-Élysées, you can start at the Arc de Triomphe and any of the above stations, or subway to station Champs-Élysées -Clemenceau (M1 or M13), station Franklin D. Roosevelt (M1 or M9), or station Concorde (M1, M8, or M12)
The Louvre
One of the most recognized art museums in the world – both for the famed Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci and for the glass pyramid outside the palace-turned-museum. Naturally one feels inclined to see one of the most famous and talked about attractions in Paris, and it’s definitely worth a visit, cliché as it may be. That said, to properly enjoy the full museum, you’d want to budget a good chunk of the day, and in the end you may be disappointed – especially when you realize the Mona Lisa is a rather small painting in the middle of a wall with over a hundred people standing in front of it. She’s underwhelmingly small, to be honest. But alas, one must see her anyway.
Instead of pushing yourself to see it all, perhaps do a quick browse online before hand to see the different exhibits and some of the masterpieces there, helping you to decide how much of the museum you really want, or need, to see. You can also grab a guide or map when there, but if looking to be efficient, I suggest doing a quick scout ahead of time – there is reason to waste a day in Paris in this one museum. As mentioned, the Mona Lisa is very small and always has a crowd around it.
Erin’s Personal Tip: Either go early, get this out of the way for the day OR take advantage of the museum’s late openings on Wednesday night. If you’re not desperate to explore the WHOLE museum and are really looking just to see some of the masterpieces, go around 5:30pm when most tourists are done for the day and getting ready to go out for dinner – you’ll be pleased to have a quieter night at the museum and a perfect evening activity.
Practical Information: The museum is open everyday except for Tuesday and certain holidays, from 9am-6pm, with late openings on Wednesday and Friday, until 9:45pm. Admission is €15 when purchased at the museum, though expect to have long lines. To save time, for €17 you can purchase the tickets online and be guaranteed a quicker entry. when purchased online. Hours and admission are subject to change, please check HERE for the most up-to-date information.
How to Get There: Nearest métro stations include Palais Royal Musée du Louvre (métro line M1 or M7), Tuileries (M1), Louvre-Rivoli (M1).
Musée d’Orsay
Paris is by no means short on art museums and galleries, all with something unique to offer. However, in addition to the Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay is the other giant powerhouse museum that tourists and locals alike flock to; this museum focusing predominantly on the impressionists. A stunning building, inside and outside, it was a former train station built for the Universal Exhibition in 1900. It became a museum in the late 20th century and now offers a world renowned collection of 19th century art. Whether you start at the top or bottom, you will find one masterpiece after the other.
Though the Louvre has the famed Mona Lisa and is housed in a former palace, the d’Orsay features some of the most prominent artists of the Impressionist movement, from Monet, Degas, Renoir, Van Gogh, to Rodin, Manet, Gaugain, Seurat, etc. etc. etc. Every influential artist of this period, regardless of the medium, can be found here, with some of their most infamous works on display.
Whether interested in art or not, this is definitely worth the visit when in Paris. But like the Louvre, it gets very busy and might be worth visiting either first thing in the morning or for a late opening.
Practical Information: The museum is open everyday except Monday, from 9:30am-6pm, with a late opening on Thursday until 9:45pm. Admission is €14, but can be purchased online which will help you speed through entry (or at least speed through in comparison to those buying tickets at the door). If you happen to be in Paris the beginning of the month, admission is free the first Sunday. Admission is also included with the Museum Pass. Hours and admission are subject to change, please check HERE for the most up-to-date information.
How to Get There: Nearest métro stations include: Musée d’Orsay (RER C), Solférino, Assemblée Nationale, and Rue du Bac – all on métro line 12. Alternatively, if walking by foot from opposite side of the Seine, cross the famous Pont Royal bridge or Passerelle Léopod-Sédar-Senghor.
Pompidou Centre & The Marais
The Marais was once the famous Jewish quarter and now is a beloved neighbourhood full of great restaurants and shopping, particularly popular with locals despite how famous the area is. One could easily spend a chunk of the day walking around the neighbourhood shopping, eating, and dipping in and out of various stores, museums, and parks.
The Pompidou Centre is a famous modern art museum in the Marais - though arguably also beginning to border other neighbourhoods – that definitely stands out when surrounded by Haussmannian architecture. If you have a particular interest in modern art and the abstract, this is the museum for you. Personally, I am not a fan of modern art and therefore don’t much enjoy visiting. Still, it’s definitely worth walking by and checking out the architecture, especially if starting your day near there to then wander into the Marais.
Erin’s Personal Tip: While I don’t particularly enjoy the Pompidou, there is a fairly pricey restaurant called Georges on the top floor, accessed through a different elevator/escalator outside the building – this I would highly recommend. Advance warning, this restaurant is not cheap, but dining at Georges, in my opinion, is worth the price. The food is good – not the best but still very enjoyable, full of flavour – but the view is superior. If nice weather when you’re visiting, try and dine outside where you can see the whole city perfectly. Skip going up the Eiffel tower and spend your money on a nice meal here instead, where you’ll have similar views but this time it will include the Eiffel Tower in the backdrop. Tip: Try and make reservations in advance, easily achieved through OpenTable (this way you don’t have to worry about language barrier).
Practical Information: The Pompidou Museum is open daily from 11am-10pm. Admission is €14, or free with the Paris Museum Pass. Hours and admission are subject to change, please check HERE for the most up-to-date information.
How to Get There: Nearest métro stations for the Pompidou are Rambuteau (M11), Hôtel de Ville (M1 or M11), or just a few minutes further away are Etienne Marcel (M4) and Châtelet-Les Halles (RER A, RER B and RER E) and station Les Halles (M4). If you want to start in the Marais, consider one of these métro stations: Chemin Vert (M8), Bréguet-Sabin (M5), Saint-Paul (M1), Saint-Sébastian Froissart (M8), Filles du Calvaire (M8), Temple (M3) or station Arts et Métiers (M3 and M11). Personally, I recommend starting at Forum-Les Halles, where you can explore the newer Westfield Centre full of fun shops, see St. Eustache, and then slowly flaneur into the Marais, while passing the Pompidou.
***For more recommendations for this neighbourhood, click HERE.
L’Orangerie
Yet another famous impressionist art museum in Paris, though much smaller than the d’Orsay, and situated by the Tuileries gardens. This is the museum with the famous Monet water lilies -the ones that curve around the wall. While a joint museum with the Musee d’Orsay, the L’Orangerie has its own unique collection worth seeing. Further, if you’ve seen Midnight in Paris, you’ll recognize this museum as there was two scenes filmed here. One includes Monet’s water lilies, another is a scene with Owen Wilson talking about Picasso’s intentions for a painting, discussing how it was a bourgeoisie statement (please note, that particular painting is not housed in the L’Orangerie, but the scene is filmed there).
While a smaller museum, it’s a lovely and manageable way to take in some impressionist art and masterpieces before exploring the lovely neighbourhoods surrounding it, including the Tuileries Gardens (Jardin des Tuileries).
Practical Information: Open daily, except Tuesday, from 9am-6pm. Admission is generally €9, reduced rates when museum is not fully accessible. Hours and admission are subject to change, please check HERE for the most up-to-date information.
How to Get There: The easiest way to get here by subway is to get off at the station Concorde (M1) at the Place de la Concorde, where the museum is only a short walk away. Alternatively, take the subway to station Tuileries (M1), and walk through the gardens to the museum. As the Musée de l’Orangerie is so centrally located, it’s lovely to walk to-and-from the museum.
Sacré-Coeur and Montmartre
Montmarte is a – if not the – famous artist quarter in Paris that is situated on top of a large hill, becoming famous to foreigners through pop culture and movies, such as Amelie. Yes, you will be taking lots of stairs to get there if truly want to experience the spirit of the neighbourhood. You can also roam up through a back entrance route via métro station Abbesses. Skip any escalators or funiculars to get there as a) they are riddled with tourists, and b) they are riddled with pickpockets. Walk up the main stairs, exploring cafés and shops as you get to the heart of this famed bohemian neighbourhood. The imposing Sacré-Coeur will be there to greet you when you make it to the top – a large white marbled cathedral that is stunning inside and out.
While in Montmarte, the heart of the 19th arr., visit the aforementioned Basilica Sacré-Coeur, or perhaps visit the Musée de la Vie Romantique, the Musée de Montmartre & Jardins Renoir or the Eglise Saint Pierre – this church being one of the oldest in the city, built in the mid-12th century with ancient Roman columns built into the structure. Make sure to stop by À la Mère de Famille for some sweets and possibly some souvenirs (if you don’t eat them all before you get home), this shop dating back to the 18th century. In the Place du Tertre, find artists painting and selling their works.
Other places worth visiting in this neighbourhood include: Dali Paris, Montmarte Cemetery, Bateau Lavoire to see Picasso’s studio, Les Deux Moulins (where Amelie worked in the film), Lapin Agile – a historical cabaret - and Musée d’Art Naïf Max Fourney.
Erin’s Personal Tip: This is definitely a neighbourhood worth visiting and eating in, but as you should be always, be wary of pickpockets. If someone approaches you to make a bracelet around your wrist, insist that they stop and rip your hand away. They will tie the bracelet up and then try and charge you. Watch your pockets/purse more carefully here - though again, always be careful in Paris.
How to Get There: There are a few ways to get up to this artist quarter. The closest métro station is Abbesses (M12), which will deliver you almost directly in the heart of the neighbourhood. The most charming route is to get off at stations Pigalle (M2 or M12) near the Moulin Rouge, Blanche (M2) or Anvers (M2) and walk your way up to Montmartre – this might start a little gritty at the base stations but will quickly turn charming as your trek upwards. As noted above, you can also take the funicular up to the top but this comes with a fee.
Practical Information: The Basilica de Sacré-Coeur is open daily from 6am-10:30pm, free entry. The crypts are not always open to visitors, check HERE to see if they are open when you’re interested in visiting. The Musée de la Vie Romantique is open from Tuesday to Sunday – closed on Mondays and certain holidays – from 10am-6pm, also with free admission. The Musée de Montmartre & Jardins Renoir are open daily from 10am-7pm with a general admission of €12.
***For more recommendations for this neighbourhood, including where to eat and shop, click HERE.
Le Conciergerie
A former Gothic palace in Paris, forgotten as a royal residence with the creation of the Louvre, it later became a prison housing Marie Antoinette. Originally built as a residence for Clovis, it became the seat of the French monarchy in the beginning of the 13th century. When no longer housing the royal family, it transitioned into political building, predominantly used as a court house. During the French Revolution, Marie Antoinette – Queen of France and member of the Hapsburg dynasty – was imprisoned here. A visit to this museum will prove both educational and enjoyable as it’s full of rich history housed in Gothic architecture.
Practical Information: Open daily from 9am-6:30pm. General admission is €9. Free entry on the first Sunday of th e month. Hours and admission are subject to change, please check HERE for the most up-to-date information.
How to Get There: Located on the Ile de la Cité, beside Sainte-Chapelle cathedral and near the Notre Dame, the closest métro station is Cité (M4). Very close are stations Chatelet (M1, M4, M7, M11 and M14) Hôtel de Ville (M1 or M11), or Saint-Michel Notre Dame (M4 or RER B and RER C).
Sainte-Chapelle
A gothic cathedral neighbouring Le Concergerie, Sainte-Chapelle is famous for its large stained glass windows, which features scenes from the old and new testament, and the religious relics housed inside. It’s breathtaking inside this cathedral, yet often forgotten for it’s famous neighbour – the Notre Dame. With such a rich history and stunning interior, its undoubtedly worth the visit. In addition to touring inside the cathedral, consider getting tickets for one of the many concerts performed here, making your experience a little more unqiue and unforgettable.
Practical Information: Open daily from 9am-7pm during the summer high season and 9am-5pm during winter, with a brief hour closing mid-day between 1pm and 2pm on weekdays. General admission is €9, but a combination ticket including Sainte-Chapelle costs €11.50. Hours and admission are subject to change, please check HERE for the most up-to-date information.
How to Get There: Located on the Ile de la Cité, beside Le Conergerie and near the Notre Dame, the closest métro station is Cité (M4). Very close are stations Chatelet (M1, M4, M7, M11 and M14) Hôtel de Ville (M1 or M11), or Saint-Michel Notre Dame (M4 or RER B and RER C).
Rodin Museum
This museum is dedicated to the works of Rodin, one of the world’s most famous sculpture artists. It’s a lovely museum and not nearly as busy as others in the city given how famous it is. It is a very manageable and relaxing experience, perfect for a nice sunny day as you’ll want to wander the statue garden and pose with the famed statue ‘The Thinker’.
Practical Information: Open daily – except Monday – from 10am-6:30pm. General admission is €12. A combination ticket to the Musée d’Orsay costs €21. Hours and admission are subject to change, please check HERE for the most up-to-date information.
How to Get There: The closest métro stations are Varenne (M13) or Invalides (M13, M8, or RER C).
Jardin du Luxembourg
One of Paris’ most beautiful parks with lavish gardens to explore and relax in. Perhaps you’ll do as the Parisian do and sit yourself down in the afternoon with a good book before eventually drifting off for a nap. An absolute pleasure to walk through, these gardens are a must as you explore the Latin Quarter. On the grounds, marking one of the entrances, is the Luxembourg Palace, which now belongs to the French Senate.
The gardens are Italian style, created to honour the gardens of Florence and reflect the Pitti Palace, which was home to the widow Marie de’ Medici who commissioned the Jardin du Luxembourg. As you stroll through the park and enjoy the central fountain, take note of the many busts and statues, many including famous queens and women of royalty. Others include famed musicians, philosophers, scientists, and politicians. Just some of the many statues include Mary Queen of Scots, Anne of Austria, Margaret of Anjou, Beethoven, and a statue of the mythological Narcissus.
Interestingly, these famed gardens have been used as both a prison during the French Revolution and as a German barracks and bunker after the Nazis took Paris – the barracks in the palace and the bunker dug into the garden.
How to Get There: Métro stations surround the gardens, albeit a few block away. To subway there, go to one of these stations: Luxembourg (RER B), Notre-Dame-des-Champs (M12), Renne (M12), Saint-Placide (M4) and Odéon (M4 or M10).
Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris
While currently closed to the public due to the fire in 2019, you can still enjoy passing by this gothic cathedral and marvel at the front, which remains intact. As there is no indication to when this will reopen to the public, don’t anticipate going inside in the near future – make the most of passing by, especially since it’s slightly less crowded by tourists now.
Panthéon
A stunning neo-classical temple in the Latin Quarter, renowned for their crypt of literary giants and persons of interest. It may sound morbid, but if looking to pay respect to some of France’s most prolific and influential citizens, or just see their final resting places, this is definitely worth the visit.
While this visit doesn’t require a long time, the interior of the Panthéon is remarkable, featuring Foucault’s swinging pendulum from the mid-19th century and the infamous crypts. Famous people buried here include Emile Zola, Marie Curie, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Voltaire, and Victor Hugo, to name a few.
Interestingly, Alexandre Dumas, author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, was only recently buried here, as he was originally left out for being bi-racial. As part of a public apology, his remains were moved and given the treatment and tomb that he deserved, equal to that of his counterparts already buried there.
Practical Information: Open daily from 10am-6:30pm. General admission is €9. Hours and admission are subject to change, please check HERE for the most up-to-date information.
How to Get There: Tucked into the Latin Quarter, you can get here by taking the subway to one of the few stations encircling the neighbourhood, including Cluny-La Sorbonne (M10), Maubert-Mutualité (M10), Place Monge (M7), or Luxembourg (RER B). Slightly farther away, you can also get off at station Jussieu (M7 or M10) or Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame (RER B, RER C or M4).
Explore the famed Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighbourhood
The Saint-Germain-des-Prés is one of Paris’ many unique and historical quarters, now more known for the posh galleries and antique shops nestled in these streets, buried between designer stores and cafés. But once it was home to the great thinkers and artists, musicians and writers, of the city. While the neighbourhood has been continuously modernized and gentrified over the decades, visitors can still find the historical charm that made this one of the city’s most distinct neighbourhoods.
Give in to being the clichéd tourist for a couple hours and enjoy a coffee at Café de Flore or Les Deux Magots – two cafes that has been in use since 1887 and 1873 respectively. While these two famous spots, which have housed some of the greatest intellectuals, do scream tourist trap, they are still worth the visit and makes for a perfect opportunity to relax while people-watching.
Erin’s Personal Tip: I love sitting at one of the outside tables at Café de Flore during the day, either with an omelette if early in the day, some small plates in early afternoon, or just a dessert and a cappuccino when stopping for a mid-afternoon break. The food is good though not the best in the city, but still more than hits the spot. The service I have often heard critiqued by other travellers but I have found that by being polite, respecting French culture (the French enjoy dining and relaxing, not rushing to grab their bill and leave), and at least attempting a few French words, the staff is great.
Highlights of this neighbourhood include: Musée Delaxcroix, the church of Saint-Sulpice (which many will recognize from The da Vinci Code), l’Eglise de St-Germain-des-Prés, the Luxembourg Gardens, and Musée Zadkine.
While roaming the neighbourhood, stop at Debauve & Gallais for some chocolate – it is one of the oldest – if not the oldest – chocolate shop in the city, or go modern and try the artisanal chocolates at Patrick Roger who was voted a “Best Worker of France”. Take yourself to Le Bon Marché, where on one side of the street you’ll find a glorious high-end department store with some exclusive or artisan brands, mixed with haute couture and French contemporary. On the other side, you’ll find a glorious grocery store – Le Grand Epicerie – that will not only leave you wanting to grab something to eat in the moment, but will also provide for excellent souvenirs.
How to Get There: Depending where in the neighbourhood you want to start, there are a number of métro stations accessible. To go straight to the heart of the neighbourhood, get off at the station called St-Germain-des-Prés (M4). Other stations in this neighbourhood, include Rue du Bac (M12), Saint-Sulpice (M4) or Mabillon (M10). To start at Le Bon Marche, take the subway to Sevres-Babylone (M10 or M12).
***For more recommendations for this neighbourhood, including where to eat and shop, click HERE.
Feel Studious and Enjoy the Latin Quarter
Neighbouring the artistic Saint-Germain-des-Prés neighbourhood, take a walk through time in the Latin Quarter, which is home to the Sorbonne and the Panthéon – the burial place of scholars, great thinkers, and prolific writers – as well as some of Paris’ most historical sights.
Start with the St. Michel statue as your cross the Seine, joining the crowds to take a photo of the beloved statue and fountain, before diving into the heart of this neighbourhood.
Abandon the impressionists and switch to medieval art and architecture with the Musée de Cluny; it is here you’ll find one of the most famous of the Unicorn tapestries, in addition to medieval relics and treasures along with an old thermal bath structure dating back to the Gallo-Roman era. Perhaps you’ll feel more medieval as you stroll through the old campus of the university, with the Sorbonne dating back to the mid-13th century.
Go further back in time as you take in the Arènes de Lutèce, the ruins of an old Roman arena dating back to the 1st century. Visit the church of Saint Severin, whose construction started in the 13th century but has roots dating back to the 6th century. For something a little different and less frequented, visit the Museum of Natural History.
Pick up some treasures Maubert Market or Shakespeare & Co. before dining at Café Procope, one of the oldest cafés and restaurants in the city – a place leaders of the Enlightenment movement, like Diderot and Voltaire, once dined. Find more markets and restaurants along Rue Mouffetard – another highlight of the neighbourhood’s charm.
If looking to get just a touch more modern, visit one of the many art houses in this neighbourhood, still in use since the early 20th century. Le Champo – perhaps the most famous – has been in operation since 1938. Practically ancient in comparison to Cinéma du Panthéon, which was opened in 1907.
This is a great neighbourhood to start or end the day, with wonderful cafés, restaurants and shops to explore, paired with countless sights and museums to keep you entertained.
How to Get There: Depending where in the neighbourhood you want to start, there are a number of stations accessible. To start at the fountain of St. Michel, take the métro to Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame (RER B, RER C or M4). Nearby, is station Cluny-La Sorbonne (M10). To start near the theatres, get off at station Odéon (M4 or M10). Other stations in this neighbourhood include Maubert-Mutualité (M10), Place Monge (M7), Jussieu (M7 or M10), or Luxembourg (RER B).
***For more recommendations for this neighbourhood, including where to eat and shop, click HERE.
Take a River Cruise along the Seine
(or even just a stroll)
The Seine is the lifeblood that divides Paris, the division that spawned cultural differences such as left bank vs. right bank mentalities. It is impossible to escape noticing, let alone crossing, the Seine when visiting the city. But while many take the opportunity to walk along side it briefly, usually as they are heading to their next destination, many forget the simple pleasure that comes from actually going along it.
There are countless river cruises that offer you a ride along the Seine, some just quick and simple, others offering history and a lively French guide, and some even making a whole experience of it with dinner and drinks. While I wouldn’t suggest wasting a meal on one of these river cruises, it’s a great way to see the city, get a little history and context, and give your feet a momentary break. It also makes for a lovely evening activity. It may be touristy, but its touristy for a reason – because it’s worth doing!