In 2022, France reaped record revenues from international tourism, approaching 58 billion euros. These figures confirm a massive revival of visitors to emblematic places, particularly in Paris and its suburbs. After several years marked by the health crisis of Covid-19, France has recovered its pre-pandemic level in the tourism sector. Tourism Review presents the ranking of the most visited tourist sites in France in 2022.
With 5.4 million visitors last year, the Centre Pompidou is the only tourist spot among the 5 most visited ones to have exceeded its 2019 level. This art and culture museum offers new exhibitions every year, and therefore attracts tourists and locals alike. As a reminder, the center will close its doors in September 2024 for a period of three years, due to reconstruction works.
Emblem of France, the Iron Lady counted 5.9 million visitors in 2022. However, this figure should be taken with a grain of salt. Indeed, only the visitors who paid a ticket to go up and look at Paris from above are included in the count. Thus, the number of entries does not take into account the tourists who preferred to stay in the vicinity of the monument.
Four centuries after its construction, the Palace of Versailles remains a prime destination for tourists with its gilded ornaments, sumptuous palace, and grand gardens. In 2022, this magnificent building recorded 7 million visits, making it the third most popular tourist destination in France.
Like the Louvre, the majority of tourists come from Europe and the United States. This is due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which is still ongoing on the Asian continent. Tourists from Asia are therefore less numerous than usual.
The Louvre takes second place in the ranking of the most visited tourist sites. In 2022, the museum welcomed 7.8 million visitors, an increase of 170% over the previous year, although the figures are below those of 2018, when the Parisian institution welcomed more than 10 million visitors. Note that the Mona Lisa attracts 70% of foreign tourists, mainly from Europe or the United States.
Unsurprisingly, Disneyland Paris, in Seine-et-Marne, is the most visited place in France and Europe. During the year 2022, the Disney Company's theme park welcomed about 15 million tourists, a record number of visits on the entire continent. Every year, millions of French and foreign visitors come to Marne-la-Vallée to enjoy not only the attractions but also the stores, restaurants and hotels located next to the park.