Paris's 1st arrondissement is probably one of the capital's most iconic locations. Here, you'll find yourself in the heart of the capital, as the eras intertwine, testifying to the City of Light's rich history. Paris's 1st arrondissement is home to some of the capital's most emblematic monuments: between the Louvre Museum, the Tuileries Gardens, the Rue de Rivoli and theÎle de la Cité, you can step back in time and cross the centuries as you stroll around.
Unsurprisingly, Paris's 1st arrondissement is home to a rich heritage that takes you back in time to the events and historical figures that have left their mark on the capital. Today, curious visitors who enjoy a cultural outing can admire the various monuments that tell the story of French history, and enjoy a wide range of exhibitions to suit all tastes.
To help you prepare for your trip to the heart of Paris' heritage, we've put together a selection of places to visit and exhibitions to discover in Paris' 1st arrondissement. As an added bonus, this guide is updated regularly to reflect our latest announcements and discoveries, so keep checking back for more and more things to do in the capital's 1st arrondissement!
And for more ideas on what to do in the 1st arrondissement, click here!
Heritage Days 2026: Explore the Paris Court of Appeal on Île de la Cité
Take advantage of Heritage Days to visit the Court of Appeal of Paris, housed in the Palais de Justice. Meet on September 19, 2026 for a stroll to the heart of the French judicial system. [Read more]
Heritage Days 2026 at the Domaine du Palais-Royal in Paris, visit the Ministry of Culture.
The Palais-Royal opens its doors for Heritage Days on September 19 and 20, 2026, offering a special program for the occasion. This year, we’re set to explore this jewel of Paris’s 1st arrondissement to discover the Ministry of Culture. [Read more]
Jeu de Paume: the art center dedicated to photography and images in Paris
On the border between the Tuileries Gardens and the Place de la Concorde, the Jeu de Paume art center celebrates images from the 19th century to the present day, with a rich and diverse program. [Read more]
Musée du Louvre: discover the artistic and tourist heart of the capital
The Musée du Louvre, one of the capital's must-see museums, promotes French and European culture through its many masterpieces on display, as evidenced by the 8 million visitors a year who come to contemplate the smile of the Mona Lisa or the fervor of Liberty Guiding the People. A place steeped in history, where art has been flourishing for two centuries already, to discover if you're staying in Paris! [Read more]
The Cartier Foundation: a showcase for contemporary art right in the heart of Paris
Located on Place du Palais-Royal, facing the Louvre Museum, the Cartier Foundation celebrates contemporary art in all its diversity through a dynamic and varied program of exhibitions and events. [Read more]
Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris: programming, opening hours, history... All you need to know
The Musée de l'Orangerie is famous for Monet's Water Lilies. But the museum holds many other treasures... Here's everything you need to know to visit. [Read more]
Bourse de Commerce in Paris: discover this contemporary art center and the Pinault collection
Located in the heart of the capital, in the Halles district, the Bourse de Commerce and the Pinault Collection offer a wonderful stroll through contemporary works of art. Here's everything you need to know before visiting this art center. [Read more]
The Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the must-see Parisian museum dedicated to design and fashion
Just a stone's throw from the Jardin des Tuileries and the Louvre Pyramid, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs occupies the Rohan and Marsan wings of the Palais du Louvre, with permanent collections and temporary exhibitions that are a must-see for all Paris design enthusiasts. [Read more]
The Conciergerie in Paris: a monument symbolic of the French Revolution
The Conciergerie is a historic building on the Ile de la Cité in Paris. Since its construction in the 10th century, this monument has been the seat of the Palais de Justice and a prison in turn. It was here that Marie-Antoinette was imprisoned. [Read more]
The Sainte-Chapelle and its 1113 stained-glass windows, a true Gothic jewel in Paris
The Sainte-Chapelle is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris, with its 1113 colorful stained-glass windows depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. This 800-year-old Gothic gem becomes a magical place under the sun. [Read more]
Place Dauphine, a haven of peace in the heart of Paris's Île de la Cité
In the heart of Paris, on the Île de la Cité, the Place Dauphine is a peaceful place to relax. On sunny days, pétanque enthusiasts play their games under the watchful eyes of local residents and tourists seated on the terraces of the various nearby cafés. Discover the history of this royal square! [Read more]
Did you know? Why is it called the Fountain of the Innocents?
The Fontaine des Innocents, the jewel in the crown of Paris's Les Halles district, is back in full view and freshly restored, just ahead of the Olympic Games. Do you know the history of this emblematic monument, witness to Parisian history since the 16th century, and why it bears its name? We tell you. [Read more]
La Conciergerie, the former royal residence and revolutionary prison on the Île de la Cité
Right in the heart of Paris, not far from Notre-Dame Cathedral or the Sainte-Chapelle with its magnificent stained glass windows, the Conciergerie is an imposing building with a rich history: this palace, which was also a prison, is one of our national monuments and a must-see if you want to find out more about the history of Paris. [Read more]
The Musée en Herbe, a child-sized cultural venue in the Marais district of Paris
In the Marais district of Paris, the Musée en Herbe offers the youngest visitors a chance to discover art, through fun, interactive exhibitions for young and old alike, aged 3 to 103. [Read more]
The Musée de l'Illusion in Paris: a multi-sensory journey that will make you lose your head!
The Musée de l'Illusion awaits you in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, in the Châtelet les Halles district. Come with friends or family for a unique and exciting experience! Immerse yourself in a fascinating world, where all your senses will be turned upside down... A multi-sensory visit that's a must. [Read more]
The Paris Museum of Illusions, this summer's must-see outing!
Sponsored - The Museum of Illusions, located in Paris’s 1st arrondissement in the Châtelet–Les Halles district, will welcome you with family or friends. Get ready for a unique, thrilling experience as you dive into the captivating world of illusion, where all your senses will be turned upside down... Take advantage of the summer and the holidays to discover all these mind-bending illusions. [Read more]
Lydie Arickx unveils a monumental work in the nave of Saint-Eustache Church — our photos
This summer, French painter and sculptor Lydie Arickx takes over Paris’s Saint-Eustache Church with a monumental work titled "Le Souffle." Mark your calendar from July 10 to September 29, 2026, to see this suspended installation rising seven meters above the nave’s central bay. [Read more]
Free evening opening at the Bourse de Commerce: reserve now for Saturday, August 1, 2026.
Want to visit the collections at the Bourse de Commerce? Take advantage of the free after-hours opening, held on the first Saturday of every month, to discover this must-see art venue in Paris. Next date to mark in your calendar: Saturday, August 1, 2026. [Read more]
Fragile Beauty: Elton John's Photo Collection on Display at the Jeu de Paume — Our Photos
The Jeu de Paume unveils a curated selection of photographs from Elton John and David Furnish’s collections. The exhibition is open from June 12 to September 27, 2026. [Read more]
Madeleine de Sinéty, A Life: The Retrospective Exhibition at the Jeu de Paume — Our Photos
The Jeu de Paume is presenting a retrospective of Madeleine de Sinéty's work, a photographer who captured rural daily life. The exhibition "Une vie" is on view from June 12 to September 27, 2026. [Read more]
Fujiko Nakaya unveils an unusual and contemplative fog sculpture at the Bourse de Commerce
This summer, the Rotonde of the Bourse de Commerce in Paris hosts one of the renowned fog sculptures by Japanese artist Fujiko Nakaya. Visit until September 14, 2026 to experience this unusual, contemplative installation that makes visitors appear and vanish within a thick white cloud of water vapor! [Read more]
Roma, City of Light: the free photo exhibition to see this summer outdoors in Paris
The Roma, City of Light exhibition offers a portrait of the Italian capital through cinema’s seventh art, and examines its role as a backdrop in film. The free exhibit runs from July 2 to 6, 2026 at the Arènes de Lutèce, then continues until August 30 along the banks of the Seine. [Read more]
Primordial Water: the Louvre’s exhibition exploring Mesopotamian myths — our photos
The Louvre Museum in Paris presents The Primordial Water, an exhibition on water in ancient Mesopotamia, running from May 20, 2026 to March 15, 2027. Archaeological artifacts, myths, and irrigation show how this resource shaped the region’s earliest societies. [Read more]
Fashion in all its majesty: the Haute Couture exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs unfolds — our photos
The Decorative Arts Museum hosts Fashion in Majesty: Haute Couture and Tradition at the Thai court from May 13 to November 1, 2026. Through more than a hundred outfits, accessories, and textile pieces drawn from the royal family's collections, the exhibition shows how Queen Sirikit modernized Thai ceremonial dress while preserving its traditional codes, notably through her collaboration with Pierre Balmain and Maison Lesage. [Read more]
Open-air exhibition of Theodoulos Gregoriou's sculptures in the Faubourg Saint-Honoré district
Faubourg Saint-Honoré is rewritten as an open-air gallery with a free, outdoor exhibition in Paris, where time is carved in layered strata. From April 28 to July 27, 2026, the sculptures by Cypriot artist Theodoulos Gregoriou for "Cyprus on Faubourg Saint-Honoré" invite memory and contemporary creation to converse in the heart of the 1st arrondissement, between reinvented ruins and today’s sculptural language. [Read more]
Admire them all: Pokémon take center stage in a playful and nostalgic exhibition at the Musée en Herbe
The Musée en Herbe marks Pokémon’s 30th anniversary with an exhibition that is as artistic as it is playful, on view from April 16 to September 6, 2026. [Read more]
Chiaroscuro: the Exhibition Exploring Shadow and Light at the Bourse de Commerce - Our Photos
On the occasion of its latest exhibition titled "Chiaroscuro," the Bourse de Commerce transforms into a landscape that is both luminous and dusk-like. Until August 24, 2026, visitors can explore around a hundred works from the Pinault Collection, featuring pieces by Pierre Huyghe, Victor Man, Bill Viola, Laura Lamiel, Jean Dubuffet, Alberto Giacometti, Germaine Richier, as well as Yves Tanguy and Wolfgang Tillmans. [Read more]
Gallery of the Five Continents: opening of a new exhibition space at the Louvre Museum
From December 3, 2025, the Gallery of the Five Continents will be open to visitors at the Louvre Museum, offering an opportunity to admire works from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, in a journey that reveals the diversity and dialogue of human creativity across the globe. [Read more]
General Exhibition: the Fondation Cartier recounts 40 years of exhibitions for its reopening
The Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain is reopening its doors in a new location in the heart of Paris with a new exhibition: from October 25, 2025, to August 23, 2026, discover the General Exhibition. [Read more]
The Bourse de Commerce by night: an evening of contemporary art every Friday night
Every Friday evening, until 9pm, the Bourse de Commerce, temple of contemporary art, welcomes you for a nocturne through the exhibitions and installations of the moment. [Read more]
Acne Paper Palais Royal: the permanent (art) gallery for the Acne Studios brand opens in Paris
Paris mixes fashion and culture in style! On June 26, 2025, Acne Studios opened its first independent art gallery, Acne Paper Palais Royal, under the arcades of the Palais Royal. An arty new spot in the heart of the 1st arrondissement. [Read more]
59 Rivoli, the free artists' squat on rue de Rivoli in Paris
As you walk up the Rue de Rivoli, one building stands out for its colorful decorations, which stand out among the ashlar buildings. Welcome to 59 Rivoli, an artistic squat with free exhibitions. [Read more]
The Louvre by night: two evenings of art every Wednesday and Friday!
In your busy week, treat yourself to a moment of magic: the Musée du Louvre opens at night every Wednesday and Friday evening. The permanent collections and temporary exhibitions of the world's most beautiful museum await you! [Read more]
LV Dream by Louis Vuitton: free exhibition, boutique, café and chocolate shop
The famous Maison Louis Vuitton opens LV DREAM, a free exhibition and gift store that also features a café and a chocolate shop in collaboration with Chef Pâtissier Maxime Frédéric of Cheval Blanc Paris. While the exhibition is by reservation only, the boutique and café are open to the public. [Read more]
Louvre Museum: Must-see masterpieces
The Louvre Museum is one of the most visited museums in the world, and houses some of the most famous works. Here are the must-sees on your next visit. [Read more]
