Paris and French Cities Two-Day Itinerary
Paris highlights
- Sacré-Cœur Basilica — Montmartre; begin with panoramic Paris views and the basilica, morning, ~1 hour.
- Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen — Saint-Ouen; browse one of the city’s largest antique and flea markets, late morning, ~1.5 hours.
- Le Marais — 3rd–4th arrondissements; stroll historic streets, courtyards, and boutiques, afternoon, ~2 hours.
- L’As du Fallafel — Le Marais; enjoy a casual, well-known falafel lunch, early afternoon, ~45 minutes, approximately €10–20 per person.
- Place des Vosges — Le Marais; relax beneath the elegant arcades in Paris’s oldest planned square, late afternoon, ~45 minutes.
- Seine river cruise with Bateaux Mouches — Pont de l’Alma; see major landmarks from the water, evening, ~1 hour, approximately €15–25 per person.
Morning
Start at Sacré-Cœur Basilica in Montmartre, ideally around 8:30–9:00 AM, before the steps and Place du Tertre become crowded. The basilica is free to enter and generally opens from 6:30 AM; dress modestly and keep bags secure around the surrounding viewpoints. Take the funicular from Anvers or Abbesses if you would rather avoid the climb, then allow about an hour for the interior and the broad view over Paris. From there, take Metro line 4 from Barbès–Rochechouart toward Porte de Clignancourt, continuing to Garibaldi or Porte de Saint-Ouen for Marché aux Puces de Saint-Ouen. Allow roughly 25–35 minutes door to door. The market is spread across several sections, with the main stalls usually operating Friday through Monday; arrive around 10:30 AM and spend about 1½ hours browsing, while keeping valuables close and checking opening days for the specific market area.
Afternoon
Head back toward central Paris by Metro line 13 or line 4, allowing around 30–40 minutes to reach Le Marais. Wander through the historic streets around Rue des Rosiers, Rue Vieille-du-Temple, and Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, dipping into courtyards, small galleries, and independent boutiques rather than trying to cover every street. For lunch, stop at L’As du Fallafel on Rue des Rosiers, where a filling falafel sandwich usually costs about €10–20 per person. It is casual and popular, so expect a queue at peak lunchtime; takeaway is often quicker, and the shop may have its own weekly closing day. After lunch, continue strolling through Le Marais toward Place des Vosges, Paris’s oldest planned square. Sit beneath the arcades or on the lawns for 30–45 minutes; the square is free and open throughout the day, and it makes a good pause before the evening.
Evening
Make your way to Pont de l’Alma for a Bateaux Mouches cruise on the Seine. From Place des Vosges, the simplest route is usually Metro line 8 from Chemin Vert toward Invalides, then a walk of about 10 minutes, taking roughly 25–30 minutes overall. Try to arrive 20–30 minutes before departure, especially on a September weekend; cruises generally last about an hour and cost approximately €15–25 per person, with schedules varying by season. Choose an open-deck seat for the best views of the illuminated riverfront, but bring a light layer—the breeze on the Seine is noticeably cooler after sunset.
French city exploration
- TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon Part-Dieu — Paris–Lyon; depart early, ideally around 7:00–7:30 AM, for a journey of roughly 2 hours; reserve seats and allow time for station access.
- Vieux Lyon — Lyon 5th arrondissement; explore Renaissance lanes, courtyards, and traboules, late morning, ~2 hours.
- Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière — Fourvière; take in Lyon’s landmark basilica and sweeping city views, early afternoon, ~1 hour.
- Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse — Part-Dieu; sample regional cheeses, charcuterie, pastries, or a sit-down lunch, afternoon, ~1.5 hours, approximately €20–45 per person.
- Parc de la Tête d’Or — 6th arrondissement; unwind among gardens, lake paths, and greenhouse displays, late afternoon, ~1.5 hours.
- TGV from Lyon Part-Dieu to Paris Gare de Lyon — Lyon–Paris; return in the evening, ideally around 6:30–7:30 PM, allowing roughly 2 hours and local transfer time after arrival.
Morning
After arriving at Lyon Part-Dieu, take Metro B toward Gare d’Oullins, change at Saxe–Gambetta for Metro D, and get off at Vieux Lyon–Cathédrale Saint-Jean—allow roughly 25 minutes. Spend the late morning wandering Vieux Lyon, where Rue Saint-Jean and Rue du Bœuf are lined with honey-colored Renaissance buildings, small courtyards, and discreet traboules (passageways through buildings). Many traboules are open during the day but are working residential entrances, so enter quietly and never force a locked door. Allow about two hours; the cathedral area is free, while a few private museums charge around €8–€12.
Afternoon
From Vieux Lyon, walk to the nearby Fourvière funicular and ride up to Fourvière—the easiest option, included in the TCL network fare, with a single journey costing roughly €2. Take an hour at the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, whose ornate interior is free to visit, then step onto the terrace for one of Lyon’s finest views over the Rhône, Saône, and Presqu’île. Return by funicular and use Metro D to Part-Dieu for lunch at Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse. This covered food market is ideal for grazing: look for regional cheeses, oysters, charcuterie, praline pastries, and Lyon specialties such as quenelles. Individual tastings are inexpensive, while a generous lunch with wine usually comes to €20–€45 per person; check Sunday and late-afternoon closing times, as many stalls finish service around 3–4 PM.
Late Afternoon and Evening
After lunch, take Metro B from Part-Dieu toward Charpennes, then change for Metro A to Masséna or Foch, followed by a short walk to Parc de la Tête d’Or. Spend the final 90 minutes beside the lake, through the rose gardens, and around the botanical greenhouses; the park is free and generally open from early morning until evening, with seasonal hours posted at the entrances. Return to Lyon Part-Dieu by tram or Metro B with plenty of margin for your evening TGV—aim to be at the station 20–30 minutes before departure. A train around 6:30–7:30 PM gives you roughly two hours back to Paris Gare de Lyon, plus time for your onward Metro, taxi, or hotel transfer.
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