Sainte Chapelle

Tucked away on Île de la Cité in the Royal Palace, not far from Notre Dame, is a stunning gothic church.

Almost always packed with long queues, Sainte Chapelle is famous for its 12-century stained glass. It's best to check it out on a sunny day as the interior gets flooded with colored light.

It's also in the process of being restored. Ah, well.

Almost every surface is decorated- the floor, the ceiling, the pillars. So much work went into it. It was originally the private chapel of King Louis IX built to house his relics.

GO early in the day, or get a museum pass to skip the lines entirely. You will still have to wait in line to go through airport-style security as well.