2 Days in Paris Itinerary: How to Plan an Amazing Trip to Paris

If you are planning your first visit to Paris, this Paris itinerary is perfect for you. With 2 days in Paris, you have just enough time to visit the highlights of this extraordinary city. Visit the Louvre, enjoy the views from the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, stroll along the Champs-Élysées, and explore the charming neighborhoods of Paris.

In this guide, learn how to plan a perfect two day visit to Paris. We cover the top sights to visit, how to get around Paris, where to stay, and of course, how to plan your time.

So far, we have visited Paris four times. Paris is one of our favorite cities in the world and we want to share with you everything we have learned during our visits.

Paris is one of Europe’s most visited cities and with that, lines can be long at the more popular attractions. However, with some advance planning, you can book your tickets in advance, to avoid these long waits. We let you know how to do this in this itinerary.

The times listed in the daily schedule are rough estimates, just to give you an idea about timing throughout the day. Your times may differ, based on queues and how much time you decide to spend at each place. I did my best to anticipate waiting times and visiting times, but on very busy days (or very quiet days) these times can differ.

I do my best to keep the hours of operation and pricing up to date for each attraction, however, these can change at any time. I recommend getting updated hours and pricing for your dates of travel. The link to the official website is provided for each site.

Overview of Paris

The city center of Paris is bisected by the Seine River. The main sites in Paris are clustered on either side of this river.

The Right Bank (Rive Droite) refers to the area of Paris that is north of the Seine River. This is where you will find the Champs-Élysées, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre, the Marais, and Palais Garnier, just to name a few.

The Left Bank (Rive Gauche) refers to the area of Paris that is south of the Seine River. This is where you will find the Eiffel Tower, Musée d’Orsay, the Rodin Museum, and the Latin Quarter.

Just to keep things interesting, there are also two islands that sit within the Seine River, Île de la Cité and Île Saint-Louis. This is where you will find Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle.

Spiraling out from the Seine River are the 20 arrondissements of Paris. An arrondissement is a district. They are numbered 1 to 20, starting with 1 at the tip of Île de la Cité and spiraling out clockwise from here. The lower numbered arrondissements are located near the Seine River and the higher numbered arrondissements are located farther from the city center.

Finally, there are many different neighborhoods in Paris. Some of these neighborhoods are located in more than one arrondissement. For example, the Marais is located in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. Other famous neighborhoods are Saint-Germain des Prés (6th arrondissement), Montmartre (18th arrondisement), and the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement).

View from Notre Dame | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

How Many Days Do You Need in Paris?

Paris is a large city that is filled with historical sites, museums, and some of the most famous landmarks in the world. Add in sidewalk cafes, rooftops bars, and charming neighborhoods to explore, and you could easily spend a week here and not run out of things to do.

Ideally, plan on spending at least three days in Paris. This gives you just enough time to visit the highlights, explore a few neighborhoods, and dine at a few restaurants. If you have three days, take a look at our Three Days in Paris itinerary.

With 2 days in Paris, you can see the main highlights in two very busy days. It will be a whirlwind of a visit and booking your entrance tickets in advance will be key in maximizing your time, but what an amazing 2 days it will be!

In this Paris itinerary, we want to help you experience the best of Paris in the most efficient and enjoyable way possible.

Best Things to Do with 2 Days in Paris

Below is a list of the places to visit if you have 2 days in Paris. All of these are included on this Paris itinerary.

• Eiffel Tower
• Arc de Triomphe
• The Louvre
• Tuileries Garden
• The Champs-Élysées
• Place de la Concorde
• Notre Dame Cathedral
• Île de la Cité
• Seine River
• Musée d’Orsay
• Montmartre
• Sacre-Coeur Basilica

Rue de l’Abreuvoir in Montmartre

Museum Closings in Paris

One more thing to cover before getting to the itinerary: museum closings.

Mondays and Tuesdays are the days when many museums in Paris close, so ideally, plan your visit for Wednesday through Sunday, when the museums are open. If you plan to visit Paris on a Monday or Tuesday, there is a good chance that you will have to modify this Paris itinerary.

Note: not all of these museums are included on this itinerary, but I am listing them, just in case you plan to alter the itinerary and visit one of these museums.

Paris Museums Closed on Monday

• Musée d’Orsay
• Musée Rodin
• Versailles

Paris Museums Closed on Tuesday

• Louvre
• Musée l’Orangerie
• Pompidou Centre

2 Days in Paris Itinerary

2 Days in Paris Itinerary: Day 1

Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triomphe

On your first day in Paris, you will visit several of the most popular attractions in the city.

This day is an exact copy of day #1 of our 3-day Paris itinerary. I think this is a great way to spend your first day in Paris, especially if it is your first time in the city. Not only do you get to see some of Paris’ most famous sites, but it’s a nice mix of walking, big views, and this first day doesn’t go crazy with museum visits.

9 am: Eiffel Tower

If it is your first time in Paris, climbing the Eiffel Tower for panoramic views of the city is a great way to start off your visit.

The Eiffel Tower

When you visit the Eiffel Tower, you have several options on how to do it. There are several levels to visit (the first level, the second level, and the top of the Eiffel Tower aka the summit) and two ways up the Eiffel Tower (by elevator or by stairs).

The line for the stairs is typically much shorter than the line for the elevator, so if you did not book your tickets in advance, consider climbing those stairs to avoid a long wait in line.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Book your tickets in advance. This can literally save you hours of time. I have heard of people waiting up to 3 hours to enter the Eiffel Tower. I also recommend that you book your tickets as soon as you know your dates of travel. During peak season, tickets can sell out almost as soon as they become available (which is 60 days in advance). If tickets are sold out, we recommend this tour, which is one of the cheapest tours of the Eiffel Tower (we took this tour and had a great experience).

Should you go to the second level or top level of the Eiffel Tower?

We have visited the Eiffel Tower multiple times. In our opinion, you get the best experience on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. The views of Paris are spectacular but you don’t have to spend more money (about €10 extra) or more time (adding on the summit adds 45 minutes to 2 hours to your visit, depending on how long the line is for the elevator to the third floor).

View from the second level of the Eiffel Tower

View of the Tocadero from the Eiffel Tower

View from Eiffel Tower Summit

11 am: Picnic in Champ de Mars

For an early lunch, go shopping on Rue Cler and have a picnic on Champ de Mars with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

From the Eiffel Tower, it is a short walk to Rue Cler. On this shopping street, you can visit the markets, boulangeries (bread shops), and fromageries (cheese shops) to put together your picnic lunch.

Fromagerie on Rue Cler

Places to visit on Rue Cler:

• Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse for gourmet chocolate
• La Fromagerie for cheese
• There are other small markets where you can purchase fruit, bread, crackers, meat and cheese
• Les Grandes Caves for a bottle of wine

Take your goodies back to Champ de Mars, find a picnic bench or a spot on the lawn with a view of the Eiffel Tower, and enjoy your picnic lunch.

Note: If you have no desire to put together a picnic lunch, there are many sidewalk cafes near the Eiffel Tower where you can have lunch.

Picnic in Champ de Mars

1 pm: The Louvre

The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum. This building was once the home to French Kings, including Louis XIV. During the French Revolution in the 18th century, the Louvre was converted to a museum.

View of the Louvre from Hotel Brighton

Want to find out where you can indulge at Angelina’s inside of the Louvre? Take a look at our How to Visit the Louvre guide for more information.

This place is enormous and you literally could spend days here. I find the Louvre to be crowded and overwhelming. My favorite part about visiting the Louvre is just taking in the grandeur of the building. The sheer size of this place is impressive. Several rooms, like the Apollo Gallery (where the crown jewels are kept), are gorgeous.

If you are an art lover, take several hours and enjoy this spectacular place. However, if you just want to visit the highlights, you can do so in about an hour.

The main sites to visit in the Louvre are the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory.

How to Skip the Line at the Louvre

There are several ways to avoid waiting in a long line to get into the Louvre.

• Purchase the Museum Pass. This allows you to skip the ticket line but you may still have to wait in a much shorter security line. With the Museum Pass, you must book a time slot in order to guarantee access into the museum. You must provide the serial number of your Museum Pass, so you cannot do this until you are in possession of the Museum Pass. Learn more here.
• Book your tickets online in advance.On the official Louvre website, you can purchase your tickets in advance. These cost €22 and the website advertises less than a 30-minute wait if you purchase your tickets in advance. You can also get a timed entry ticket here.
• Take a Tour.There are numerous skip-the-line tours and guided tours that you can take. Click here to learn more.
• Go first thing in the morning or Friday evenings when the Louvre is open until 9:45 pm.

Getting here: From Champ de Mars, walk to the Ecole-Militaire metro station. Take Line 8, direction Creteil, transferring at Concorde to line 1, direction Chateau de Vincennes, to Palais Royal Musee du Louvre.
Hours: daily 9 am to 6 pm; CLOSED TUESDAYS; on Fridays, it is open from 9 am to 9:45 pm, get updated hours on the official website.
Cost: €22 under 18 years are free; included in the Museum Pass
All visitors must reserve a time-slot, even if you have a free pass.

In our Guide to the Louvre, we cover the essential paintings, sculptures, and historical artifacts to see. The walking tour that quickly and efficiently gets you to the highlights and then goes deeper into the Louvre, if you have more time. You can also download an eBook version of the guide to take with you. Learn more here ↓

The Louvre

Best Way to Visit the Louvre: Walking Tour to the Top Sights Plus Printable eBook

Everything you need to know to see the best of the Louvre and have a great experience.

3:30 pm: Indulge at Angelina

Hopefully you worked up a bit of an appetite because now it’s time for a little indulgence. From the Louvre, walk through the Tuileries Garden and cross Rue de Rivoli to Angelina. Angelina is an elegant tea room that serves decadent hot chocolate and delicious French pastries. This is the main location, although there is a smaller restaurant in the Louvre. Enjoy!

Angelina

4:30 pm: Place de la Concorde

From Angelina, stroll through Tuileries Garden or along the Rue de Rivoli to Place de la Concorde. This famous square is full of French history. This was the spot during the French Revolution where King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and Robespierre were executed by guillotine.

From mid-November to early May a giant Ferris wheel sits in Place de la Concorde. If the line is short and you want a nice view of Paris, consider taking a ride.

5 pm: Champs-Élysées

The Champs-Élysées is one of the most recognizable streets in the world. It is famous as being the finish of the Tour de France and the location of the Bastille Day military parade. Restaurants, shops, the theaters line the Champs-Élysées. It has a touristy feel but it’s still worth the stroll.

The Champs-Élysées | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

Along the way, if you want another French treat, consider stopping into Laduree for macarons.

From Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, it is a 2.3 km (1.4 mile) walk. You can walk the entire length of the Champs-Élysées or shorten the walk by taking line 1 on the metro from Concorde to Franklin D. Roosevelt or George V.

6:00 pm: Arc de Triomphe

It’s time to take in the view from the mighty Arc de Triomphe. This is my favorite view of Paris. There’s just something about looking down the Champs-Élysées to the Louvre, out to La Defense, and of course, having a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower.

Arc de Triomphe

View from the Arc de Triomphe 

While on top of the Arc, look straight down. You are standing at one of the world’s largest round-abouts, where twelve avenues come together. Watching the cars navigate this circle is very entertaining.

Hours: April 1 to September 30: 10 am to 11 pm; October 1 to March 31: 10 am to 10:30 pm; get updated hours here.
Cost: Adults €16; 17 and under are free; included on the Museum Pass. Click here to purchase a skip the line ticket.
Closest metro station: Charles de Gaulle Etoile lines 1, 2 and 6

Evening: Dinner and Drinks

End the day with dinner and drinks.

For dinner, your options are endless. Paris is filled with rooftop bars and restaurants with a view of the city, quaint sidewalk cafes, and fine dining restaurants.

For recommendations on where to eat and drink, check out our guides to the Rooftop Restaurants and Bars in Paris and 10 Foods to Eat in Paris (and where to get them).

Some of our favorite places to eat are Les Ombres (an upscale French restaurant with an incredible view of the Eiffel Tower), Langosteria (an upscale Italian restaurant with a view of Pont Neuf and the Seine River), and if you want the experience of dining on the Eiffel Tower, Madame Brasserie or Le Jules Verne.

Les Ombres

For an amazing culinary experience with a view of Paris, take a look at L’Oiseau Blanc, a 2-star Michelin restaurant with a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower.

You also have the option to take a Seine River cruise. There are sunset cruises, dinner cruises, and nighttime cruises along the Seine River. These typically last 1 to 2 hours and some cruises include drinks and/or a meal. This evening dinner cruise gets rave reviews and starts at 8:30 pm, so you have plenty of time to visit the Arc de Triomphe and get to the meeting point for the cruise.

2 Days in Paris Itinerary: Day 2

Historic Center of Paris, Musée d’Orsay & Montmartre

8 am: Île de la Cité

This morning, you will spend your time on Île de la Cité, the historic center of Paris. This is the location of Notre Dame Cathedral.

In 2019, a fire burned much of the cathedral, and since this time it has been undergoing a major restoration project. Currently, you can only view Notre Dame from the outside. There is a goal of reopening it in time for the 2024 Summer Olympics.

How to Get to Île de la Cité

For a scenic walk to Île de la Cité, I recommend taking the metro to Louvre-Rivoli, walking towards the Seine, and then walking along the river to Pont Neuf. Pont Neuf is the stone bridge that crosses the Seine on the western edge of the island. From Pont Neuf, enjoy the view along the Seine, to the next bridge, Pont des Arts, and to the Eiffel Tower off in the distance.

Pont Neuf

This walk, of course, is optional. It takes 20 minutes and is 1.4 km (1 mile) long from Palais Royal Musée de Louvre to Sainte-Chapelle.

Alternatively, you can take the metro to Cité, which is located on Île de la Cité and just a few steps from Sainte-Chapelle.

Sainte-Chapelle

Sainte-Chapelle is home to one of the world’s best displays of stained glass.

Sainte-Chapelle

This is another location that is notorious for having long lines so, for the best experience, purchase your ticket in advance (on the official website, you will book a time slot for your visit). 

Hours: April 1 to September 30: 9 am to 7 pm; October 1 to March 31: 9 am to 5 pm; closed January 1, May 1, December 25
Cost: €13; included with the Museum Pass
Combo Ticket with Conciergerie: €20
Metro Station: Line 4, Cite
Website: Sainte-Chapelle can close on other days during the year. Check their website to confirm hours before your visit and to purchase your ticket with a time slot in advance.
Skip-the-Line Tickets: You can get a skip-the-line-ticket combination ticket for both Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie.

The Conciergerie

This is optional, but for those with an interest in French history, you can visit the Conciergerie. This is where people were imprisoned before taken to Place de la Concorde to be executed. Marie Antoinette is the most famous prisoner.

The Conciergerie is located next to Sainte-Chapelle.

Hours: Open every day 9:30 am to 6 pm
Cost: €13; Combination ticket with Sainte-Chapelle €20; included with the Museum Pass

Notre Dame Cathedral

From Sainte-Chapelle it’s a very short walk to Notre Dame Cathedral.

In front of Notre Dame Cathedral a small plaque marks Point Zero (Point Zero des Routes de France), the historic center of Paris.

In 2019, Notre Dame closed after a devastating fire destroyed parts of the cathedral. The cathedral underwent a massive restoration project, partially reopening in December 2024.

Notre Dame Cathedral is now open to visitors. To do this, you can either book a time slot in advance (this is free to do on the official website) or get in line at the entrance to the cathedral. Making a reservation in advance can save a lot of time, as there is generally a queue to enter Notre Dame Cathedral.

The towers are still closed indefinitely, although you can get updates about their reopening on the official website.

Notre Dame in March 2023

Walk through Île de la Cité and from Notre Dame, it is a quick walk to one of the prettiest storefronts in Paris, Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole. This is a small cafe so you can eat an early lunch here.

Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

11:30 am: Views of Île de la Cité and Notre Dame

From Au Vieux d’Arcole, walk along Rue Chanoinesse to the back side of Notre Dame. This small park is a great spot to take a break, if you need to sit down for a few minutes, and admire this view of the cathedral.

Note: Currently, the back of Notre Dame is covered with elaborate scaffolding. It’s still a sight to see, the amazing amount of work that is going into restoring this landmark.

Paris in April

When you are ready, cross Pont de l’Archeveche to the Left Bank. From here, you get another beautiful view of Notre Dame Cathedral.

View of Notre Dame from Pont de l’Archeveche (photo taken before the Notre Dame fire)

Walk west along the Seine River. As you continue your walk along the river you will notice stands set up selling books. These booksellers, or “bouquinistes” sell used books, magazines, and posters.

You will also pass Shakespeare & Company. This bookstore opened in 1919 and was a gathering place for Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and Ezra Pound.

12:00 Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prés

Have lunch at a café in the Latin Quarter or St.-Germain-des-Prés. There are many cafes to choose from as you walk through these neighborhoods but here a few of our recommendations:

Le Petit Bouclerie. This small café serves crepes and is a good option if you don’t want to spend a lot for lunch. It is located on 33 Rue de la Harpe in the Latin Quarter.

Le Procope: Some say that this is the oldest café in Paris. It is located in Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Rousseau, Diderot, Benjamin Franklin, Napolean, and Marie Antoinette all dined here.

Les Deux Magots: Also located in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, this is one of the most famous cafes in Paris. Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Julia Child, James Joyce, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir all dined here.

Les Deux Magots

2:00 pm: Musée d’Orsay

Musée d’Orsay houses the largest collection of Impressionist art in the world. It is here that you can see Monet, Manet, Degas, Cezanne, Renoir, Van Gogh, Gaugin and more. It’s literally a collection of the who’s who in the Impressionist art world.

But this museum is more than just Impressionist art. The building is also a work of art. Musée d’Orsay was once Gare d’Orsay, an old train station, that was renovated and became this art museum. It is beautiful inside.

Musée d’Orsay

On the top floor, look for the giant clock windows that give you a very unique view of Paris and make a creative photographic spot.

Musée d-Orsay is one of our favorite art museums in the world. Most people spend about 2 hours here, but your visit could last longer, if you are a fan of Impressionist art.

Hours: Daily 9:30 am to 6 pm; open until 9:45 on Thursday; closed Mondays, May 1, and December 25
Cost: €16, included with the Museum Pass.
Website: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website.

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4:00 pm: Sacre-Coeur and Montmartre

Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening exploring Montmartre. This maze of hilly streets is one of Paris’ prettiest neighborhoods to visit.

To get here from Musee d’Orsay, ride metro line 12 from Concorde to Lamarck-Caulaincourt, direction Aubervilliers Front Populaire.

From the Lamarck Cualaincourt station, walk towards the Sacre-Coeur Basilica. This is a very nice walk that takes you past photogenic spots such as La Maison Rose and Le Consulat Restaurant (the walking route is on our map above).

View from the steps near the Lamarck-Caulaincourt metro station

La Maison Rose

Le Consulat

Before arriving at Sacre-Coeur Basilica, you will walk through Place du Tertre. This small square is filled with artists. Go shopping, grab a drink at a café, or have your portrait drawn.

Place du Tertre | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

The Sacre-Coeur Basilica sits atop the highest hill in Paris. The steps in front of the Basilica are a popular spot to watch the sunset. You also have the option to climb the 300 steps to the top of the Dome for an even better view.

Sacre-Coeur

Hours: 6:30 am to 10:30 pm; the dome is open from 10 am to 5 pm
For more information, visit the official website.

7:00 pm: Dinner

Here are a few dinner ideas for tonight.

On our most recent trip to Paris, we dined at Maggie Restaurant, which is located inside of Hotel Rochechouart, within walking distance of the Sacre Coeur basilica. We had a wonderful dinner, dining on roasted turbot and seared scallops and the largest artichoke I’ve ever seen. On top of the hotel is a rooftop bar and terrace with a view of Sacre Coeur and the city skyline.

Le Relais Gascon. We had a wonderful dinner here. This restaurant serves French food and is located in Montmartre.

La Maison Rose. The photogenic café also makes a great spot for dinner. It is located in Montmartre.

Le Moulin Rouge. End the day with a show at the Moulin Rouge. Dinner shows start at 7 pm and includes a 3-course dinner along with the show. The later shows (at 9 pm and 11 pm) do not include dinner. Tickets for the Moulin Rouge book up months in advance and if tickets are sold out for your visit, you can also check GetYourGuide.

After dinner, Le Chat Noir is a great spot for drinks, if you aren’t quite ready to end the day. It’s just a short walk from the Moulin Rouge.

From the Sacre-Coeur, you can walk to the Moulin Rouge or ride the metro to Pigalle.

Should You Get the Museum Pass?

The Museum Pass covers your entrance fee into almost every site in this itinerary and it allows you to skip the ticket lines. Just be aware that it does not guarantee getting into every attraction without a line. During busy times, you still may have to queue for security.

If you plan to visit the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, and the Musée d’Orsay (all sites included on the Museum Pass), you will spend €74. The 48-hour Museum Pass costs €70, so the savings are minimal, but it gives you the ability to skip the ticket lines at these attractions. Just remember to book your Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, and Conciergerie time slots in advance.

The Museum Pass does not include the Eiffel Tower.

What about the Paris Pass?

You may also hear about something called the Paris Pass. It includes attractions and tours, most of which are not listed on our itinerary.

The cost is €179 for 2 days, although when I did the most recent price update (February 2025), there is a “warning” that prices will increase soon.

Unless you also plan on taking the hop-on hop-off bus tour, a walking tour, a Seine River cruise, and visiting places like the Paris Aquarium, you will not get your money’s worth so we do not recommend purchasing the Paris Pass.

Our Recommendation

Purchase the 2-day Museum Pass for €70 and a weekly Navigo Pass for €31.60 for a grand total of €101.60. The Navigo Pass is good for one week, starting on Monday and ending on Sunday. If your trip takes place during the time frame when one week ends and the second one begins, you will have to purchase two weekly passes. In this case, you will save money by purchasing a Paris Visite Pass for €44.45, giving you a grand total of €114.45.

You can purchase your Navigo Pass or Paris Visite Pass at the ticket booths in the metro stations (do this the first time you ride the metro). This will pay for your transportation on the metro, RER, bus, and the Montmartre funicular and it includes the Paris airports and Versailles.

Paris metro sign | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

Make Your Reservations in Advance

Here are the attractions where we highly recommend making a reservation in advance, plus the link to the official website and GetYourGuide, just to make things a bit easier for you.

GetYourGuide offers some advantages over the official websites. For some attractions, GetYourGuide tickets and tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance and you get a full refund (but it’s good to double check this, because there are exceptions). Any GYG tours and tickets you purchase are stored on their app, making it easier to organize your tickets in one spot. Finally, if you use GetYourGuide for multiple tickets and tours, you will load your credit card information into one website, rather than the long list below. We use GetYourGuide when we travel and have had nothing but positive experiences.

• Eiffel Tower: Official website – GetYourGuide
• The Louvre: Official website – GetYourGuide
• Arc de Triomphe: Official website – GetYourGuide
• Seine River Cruise: GetYourGuide
• Sainte-Chapelle & the Conciergerie: Official website – GetYourGuide
• Notre Dame Cathedral: Official website
• Musée d’Orsay: Official website – GetYourGuide

And of course, don’t forget to make your dinner reservations. Check out our Paris Restaurants and Rooftop Bars for recommendations.

Note: If you have the Museum Pass, you do not need to purchase tickets for the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, or Musée d’Orsay. However, you will need to reserve a time slot for the Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Conciergerie.

Planning Your Trip

In our Paris Travel guide, we cover everything you need to know to plan a trip to Paris. This includes must-see sights, more sample itineraries, where to stay, where to eat, rooftop bars with panoramic views of Paris, plus the logistics that come with planning your trip.

Paris Travel Guide

How to Plan a Trip to Paris: Tips & Itineraries for Your First Visit

Everything you need to know to plan your dream trip to Paris.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Paris?

April and October are two wonderful months to visit Paris. During both of these months, the weather is pleasant and visitation is not at peak levels. In April, flowers are blooming, making this one of the most beautiful and romantic months to visit Paris. In October, you can see a hint of fall colors and the weather is great for sightseeing. 

What is the best way to get around Paris?

The Paris metro is cheap, fast, and very efficient. While in the city center, you are never more than a 5-minute walk from a metro station. It costs roughly €18 per day for unlimited rides on the metro, so you can travel around Paris without spending a lot of money. I recommend the Paris Metro Map and Routes app (available for free in the Apple App Store) or something similar, which gives you real-time schedules and helps plan your metro routes through the city.

Is Paris expensive to visit?

Yes, Paris can be expensive to visit, if you stay in 5-star hotels and dine at Michelin starred restaurants. But you can also have a great experience and visit Paris’ top sights with some money saving tricks.

There are plenty of highly rated hostels and budget hotels to help keep accommodation costs low. Rather than dining at restaurants, put together picnic lunches and dinners at the market. Purchase the Museum Pass to visit the attractions with a discount and skip the ticket line. Riding the metro is very budget friendly. Without splurging on meals or accommodations, it is possible to tour Paris for €100 per person per day.

Where to Eat in Paris

In our article 10 Foods to Eat in Paris, we cover ten dishes to try in Paris, with recommended restaurants. In our Guide to the Rooftop Bars and Restaurants in Paris, we list the best places to eat and drink with a view of the city.

Paris and the Seine River

If you have any questions about this 2 days in Paris itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.

More Information for Your Trip to France

Read all of our articles about France in our France Travel Guide.

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What should you eat while in Paris? Since French culture is deeply intertwined with food, the answer to this question is just as important as what you should see and do while visiting Paris. Dining on escargot and freshly baked bread, planning a picnic lunch in front of the Eiffel Tower, and dining at a […]

How to Plan an Amazing Day Trip to Versailles from Paris

The Palace of Versailles is one of the most popular day trips from Paris. This opulent palace and its surrounding gardens are one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. With that, crowds can be enormous. In this guide, we uncover the best way to visit Versailles, with tips on how to avoid […]

3 Days in Paris: The Perfect Itinerary for Your First Visit

So, you’re planning a trip to Paris? Welcome to one of our favorite cities. With 3 days in Paris, you have enough time to take in the view from the Eiffel Tower, say hi to Mona Lisa in the Louvre, eat street food crepes, climb the Arc de Triomphe, explore several Parisian neighborhoods, and visit […]

Easter in Paris: How to Have the Best Experience

Easter in Paris…sounds nice, doesn’t it? Spring flowers, warm temperatures, enjoying the view from the Eiffel Tower. Sure, that sounds nice, but it’s not always the reality. You could get cold weather, rain showers, and long queues to get into the most popular tourist destinations. I would love to tell you that Easter in Paris […]

One Day in Colmar: Best Things to Do, Where to Eat & Where to Stay

Colmar is a picture-perfect town located in the Alsace region of France. This small town, with its colorful, half-timbered houses, overflowing flower pots, and bustling street cafes, looks like it has been plucked right out of a fairy tale. With one day in Colmar, you have just enough time to explore the scenic streets, dine […]

The Perfect 10 Day Amsterdam Brussels Paris Itinerary

On this Amsterdam Brussels Paris itinerary, visit three of Europe’s best cities. Start in Amsterdam, where you get to stroll along the canals and visit the world class Van Gogh Museum and Rijksmuseum. Travel by train to Belgium where you will spend two days dining on chocolate, waffles, and beer and exploring the fairytale towns […]

5 Days in London: The Ultimate London Itinerary

There’s just something about London. With its iconic skyline, trendy neighborhoods, world-class museums, and long list of popular attractions, London is a city that every traveler should visit. We put together this 5-day London itinerary to help you have the best experience here. In general, we grouped sites together based on their location in order […]

Amsterdam Bucket List: Top 10 Things to Do in Amsterdam

With its maze of canals, world-class museums, boutique shops and hotels, cozy cafes, cultural centers, and, of course, coffeeshops, Amsterdam is a delight to visit. In this post, we share with you 10 of the best things to do in Amsterdam, perfect if it is your first visit to this wonderful city. Best Things to […]

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