last edited Dec 11, 2019
Things to Do in Paris-Île de France
Location Map of Paris-Île de France
Paris-Île de France
Open the interactive map
Travel Themes
- Interests (out of ): Nature ; Adventure / ; Culture ; Relaxation-Holidays
Nature-Adventure
Culture
Relaxation-Holidays
By Department
Interest level for each department:
| Nature | Culture | Relaxation-Holidays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paris | / | ||
| Seine-et-Marne | |||
| Yvelines | |||
| Essonne | / | ||
| Hauts-de-Seine | |||
| Seine-Saint-Denis | |||
| Val-de-Marne | |||
| Val-d'Oise | / | / |
By Department
Paris
Both a city and a department, Paris is the most visited city in the world thanks to its countless monuments—starting, of course, with the Eiffel Tower, known to all—its dozens of museums, parks and gardens, plus all kinds of activities the capital offers its visitors.
Seine-et-Marne
This is the second most touristy department in the Paris region, with over 30 million visitors per year. Beyond its beautiful forests, you can discover several châteaux (including Fontainebleau and Vaux-le-Vicomte), museums, and charming villages or towns (Barbizon, Provins...) that reflect its rich history. This is also where Disneyland Paris is located.
Yvelines
This large department in the Paris region is primarily known for Versailles and its famous château. But beyond this globally recognized gem, the "78" is also home to other châteaux worth visiting (Rambouillet, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Maison-Laffitte...), as well as several natural spaces popular with Parisians (Rambouillet Forest, Chevreuse Valley).
Essonne
Essonne is not really a tourist department. However, you can visit a few châteaux (Dourdan and especially Chamarande) or enjoy several forests.
Hauts-de-Seine
Though the Hauts-de-Seine is home to Meudon Forest and a few other green spaces, the department is primarily seen as urban. It is not necessarily very touristy, even if Meudon and other towns have some interesting built heritage. In a different vein, the business district of La Défense may also appeal to some visitors.
Seine-Saint-Denis
Not at all touristy, this inner-ring department is home to a few sites like the Basilica of Saint-Denis, the Stade de France, and the Historical Conservatory of the Drancy Camp, created in memory of the thousands of Jews interned there by the French state.
Val-de-Marne
As its name suggests, the department is "associated" with the Marne, the river and its famous *guinguettes*, which are actually its main attraction. Vincennes, with its château and zoo, as well as L'Haÿ-les-Roses, where the world’s first rose garden was created in 1894, are also in Val-de-Marne.
Val-d'Oise
With abbeys (Maubuisson, Royaumont), a few châteaux (including the one in Ecouen), recognized towns (La Roche-Guyon, Auvers-sur-Oise, Enghien), plus nature in the Vexin and the Montmorency Forest, this department north of Paris is a pleasant place to visit.