Paris sightseeing: must-see places near Hôtel R de Paris

Completed in 1867 by architect Ballu, the Trinite church presides over the Place d'Estienne d'Orves, just above the Saint-Lazare district. Its grand Cavaille-Coll organ (1868) was Olivier Messiaen's creative playground for 62 years (1930-1992) — this is where he composed some of his most important works. Organ concerts are still held here on a regular basis.

Why go: A calm stop while exploring the 9th arrondissement.

Good to know: A great area for a walking loop (Opera, Saint-Lazare, SoPi).

Housed in the studio home of painter Ary Scheffer since 1830, this museum is quite literally the hotel's neighbourhood museum — just 8 minutes on foot along rue Chaptal. What makes it special is the atmosphere: a preserved bourgeois townhouse with two pavilions, a cobbled lane lined with rose bushes, and a tea garden that opens at the first sign of sun. The permanent collection is devoted to the Romantic spirit of the 19th century — watercolours, portraits, mementos of George Sand (jewellery, a lock of hair, casts of her hand), period furniture. Renoir, Delacroix and Liszt were all regular visitors to this salon.

Why go: The permanent collection is free, the setting is peaceful, and it's one of the closest cultural addresses to the hotel — ideal for an hour of culture with no advance planning required.

Good to know: Closed Mondays. Open Tuesday–Sunday 10 AM–6 PM. The tea garden (independently managed, with its own entrance) is a lovely spot in summer.

The Musée Gustave Moreau is the first artist's house-studio turned museum in France, inaugurated in 1903 in the 9th arrondissement. What strikes you from the entrance is the majestic metal spiral staircase linking the two studio levels — an arresting architectural feature. Upstairs, the large Symbolist canvases envelop you: the work that always impresses me is Jupiter and Semele, with a staggering richness of detail and colour, alongside The Apparition and the celebrated Unicorns. A dreamlike universe preserved exactly as Moreau intended it.

Why go: Unique, intimate museum and a great hidden gem in Paris.

Good to know: Allow time for the upper floors and the studio spaces.

Perched on the roof of the Haussmann building, the Galeries Lafayette terrace offers one of the most accessible free panoramic views in Paris — a 12-minute walk from the hotel. Laid out before you: the dome of the Opéra Garnier, Sacré-Cœur to the north, the Eiffel Tower to the west, and a 360° sea of Haussmann rooftops. What makes it special is the combination of free entry and ease of access: no booking, no ticket, no queue — just ride the escalators to the top floor of the main building (40 boulevard Haussmann, entrance from rue Mogador). A few tables and sunloungers on the terrace, and a bar.

Why go: For a rooftop view of Paris without spending a penny or waiting in line, at its best in the late afternoon when the golden light falls on the Opéra.

Good to know: Open Monday–Saturday 10 AM–8:30 PM, Sunday 11 AM–8 PM. On overcast days the view is still impressive, though the Eiffel Tower may disappear into the haze. Access directly through the store — no dedicated queue.

Built between 1816 and 1826 on the site of the Madeleine cemetery where Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette were buried after their execution in 1793, the Chapelle Expiatoire is one of the most overlooked monuments in central Paris — a 13-minute walk from the hotel, in square Louis XVI (8th arrondissement). The neoclassical chapel, designed by Fontaine, houses two sculptural groups by Bosio: Louis XVI leaning on an angel, and Marie-Antoinette supported by a figure representing religion. The sovereigns' remains rested here until their transfer to Saint-Denis in 1815.

Why go: A fragment of French royal history entirely off the usual tourist circuit, just a stone's throw from the Opéra.

Good to know: Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10 AM–12:30 PM and 1:30–6:30 PM. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Tickets at the door; reduced rates available.

Built between 1860 and 1871 by Victor Baltard (the architect behind the former Les Halles market halls), Saint-Augustin was the first church of this scale to use iron and cast iron as its structural framework — 100 metres long, with a dome reaching 80 metres. From outside, the stone facade conceals this engineering feat; inside, gilded and painted cast-iron columns reveal the full audacity of the design, enhanced by Bouguereau's paintings in the apses.

Why go: Perfect if you're around Haussmann / Madeleine and love Paris architecture.

Good to know: A short but worthwhile visit—ideal between shopping stops or before dinner.

Big Bus Stop 10 (Red line) sits near the Opéra Garnier, just minutes from the hotel — an ideal starting point for a hop-on hop-off tour linking 11 stops past the Eiffel Tower, Champs-Élysées, Notre-Dame, the Louvre and Les Invalides. The open-top double-decker runs every 10 minutes (15 in winter), with commentary in 11 languages via supplied earphones and free wifi.

Why go: Practical for a first overview of Paris, especially with limited time.

Good to know: Choose a route and timing that match your priorities (museums vs. monuments).

The Palais Garnier is a pure 19th-century jewel, and what never fails to impress me is the Grand Staircase soaring 30 metres high — Charles Garnier considered it the true heart of his theatre. In the auditorium, look up: the ceiling painted by Marc Chagall in 1964 pays tribute to the great opera composers in an explosion of colour, where you can make out the Arc de Triomphe and musical instruments. Before you leave, admire the gold-ground mosaics of the avant-foyer and Paul Baudry's ceiling devoted to the history of music.

Why go: Must-see architecture in Paris, even without a performance.

Good to know: Book a tour or tickets early depending on dates.

The Musée Nissim de Camondo is an aristocratic residence built between 1911 and 1914 on the edge of Parc Monceau, frozen in time as if the family had just stepped out. Moïse de Camondo assembled here an exceptional collection of 18th-century French furniture and decorative arts: pieces signed Riesener, Oeben, Jacob, porcelain, tapestries and silverwork of museum quality. What makes this place deeply moving is the tragic history of the family: the museum bears the name of the son killed in 1917, and daughter Béatrice with her children were deported to Auschwitz.

Why go: A refined "hidden gem" museum in Paris for design and history lovers.

Good to know: Quiet visit—ideal between bigger sights.

The Musée Cernuschi is one of Europe's oldest Asian art museums, housed in an elegant private mansion on the edge of Parc Monceau. The work that always impresses me is the great Japanese Amida Buddha, 4 metres tall, greeting you at the entrance — Henri Cernuschi brought it back from Japan in 1871, cut into nine pieces for transport and reassembled in Paris by the Barbedienne workshops. The collection spans China, Japan, Korea and Vietnam, with superb bronzes and paintings. And the permanent collections are free.

Why go: A peaceful Paris museum break away from the biggest crowds.

Good to know: Easy to pair with a stroll in Parc Monceau or nearby galleries.

Spread across nearly 24,000 m² at the foot of the Sacré-Coeur, this terraced square offers one of the finest panoramas in Paris. Two horseshoe ramps, monumental staircases and 222 steps lead up to the basilica, punctuated by Paul Gasq's neoclassical fountain (1932). The sloping lawns are Parisians' favourite spot for sunset picnics — and for the street artists who liven up the forecourt.

Why go: Perfect for a break in Montmartre and great photo spots.

Good to know: Sunset can be crowded; go earlier for a quieter moment.

The Musée de la Franc-Maçonnerie, officially labelled a "Musée de France," is housed at the Grand Orient de France headquarters on Rue Cadet in the 9th arrondissement. What fascinates here is discovering the embroidered aprons of Voltaire, Jérôme Bonaparte and President Paul Doumer, alongside the finest collection of 18th-century Masonic faience in France. The museum occupies the building's former ballroom, a remarkable space that adds to the solemn character of the visit. A confidential and fascinating place, perfect for the curious-minded.

Why go: Ideal if you like unusual topics and "hidden gem" museums in Paris.

Good to know: The visit is short—perfect to combine with a neighbourhood walk.