Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
After settling in, make Île de la Cité your gentle first introduction to Paris. Allow around 1½ hours to wander without a strict route: follow the quays, pause at Square du Vert-Galant at the island’s western tip, and take in the bridges and views along the Seine. This is deliberately easy-going after travel—cobblestones, river steps, and busy pedestrian areas make comfortable shoes worthwhile. If arriving by Metro, Cité station is the most direct stop; from central hotels, walking is often just as pleasant.
Continue to Sainte-Chapelle, where the upper chapel’s stained glass is best appreciated when daylight is bright. Entry is normally timed and commonly costs roughly €13–15, with security screening adding queue time; book an official slot ahead if available rather than relying on walk-up admission. Plan about an hour, and remember that opening schedules can vary by season, religious services, and events. Afterwards, walk a few minutes to Notre-Dame de Paris. Visit the restored interior only if access is available on the day—entry arrangements and queues can change—then spend time appreciating the west façade and the surrounding riverfront. Keep the afternoon flexible: arrival-day energy tends to be less predictable than it seems.
Head across the Pont Saint-Michel and continue toward Saint-Germain-des-Prés; it is roughly a 15–20-minute walk from Notre-Dame, or a short Metro ride from Saint-Michel toward the left bank. Have dinner at Bouillon Saint-Germain, a lively, unfussy choice for traditional French cooking at about €20–35 per person. Expect a bustling dining room rather than a leisurely, polished restaurant—ideal for a first night. Popular service can mean a queue, especially at dinner, so arrive a little before peak hours; afterward, take an easy walk along Rue de Buci and the nearby streets rather than adding another major sight.
Start at Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris, tucked into two elegant hôtels particuliers in Le Marais. Allow about two hours for the rooms on Parisian life, the Revolution, and the city’s changing streets; it is a particularly good museum for understanding the places you’ll be seeing over the rest of the trip. Entry to the permanent collection is free, though temporary exhibitions may charge around €11–€15; check the museum’s current opening days and reserve a timed ticket if required. From central Paris, use Métro line 1 to Saint-Paul or line 8 to Chemin Vert. Afterwards, walk roughly 10 minutes through the quieter residential lanes to Place des Vosges, where the arcades and garden make an ideal pause—grab a coffee to take away rather than committing to a long café stop.
Continue north through Le Marais to Marché des Enfants Rouges, Paris’s oldest covered market. Go hungry but keep expectations flexible: stalls can be busy at lunchtime, and the Moroccan, Lebanese, Italian, and classic French counters each have their own queues. Budget about €15–€25 per person, and allow an hour. After lunch, walk west for approximately 15 minutes to Centre Pompidou in Beaubourg. Spend around two hours with the modern-art collection, then look back at Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers’s famous exterior from the piazza. The museum’s opening schedule and last admission vary, so check ahead—especially as it may close on a recurring weekly day or during installation periods. Admission is generally around €15–€17, with timed entry advisable for popular exhibitions.
Finish with an unhurried walk along Rue Montorgueil in Sentier, about 15 minutes on foot from Centre Pompidou. The street is best treated as a grazing route rather than a formal dinner reservation: browse the specialist food shops, watch the neighborhood crowd, and stop at a café terrace or choose something simple from a boulangerie. Many businesses begin winding down in the evening, so arrive before about 19:00 if you want to shop; for dinner, nearby side streets offer more choice than the busiest stretch itself. Expect roughly €5–€10 for a pastry or snack, or €20–€35 per person for a casual sit-down meal.
Book a timed morning entry for the Musée du Louvre—ideally around 9:00 or 9:30—and allow roughly 3½ hours including security and the walk to the galleries. Enter through the Pyramid if that is what your ticket specifies, and arrive 20–30 minutes early; the museum is vast, so keep this visit focused rather than trying to cover everything. Choose a few priorities such as the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, and one sculpture or painting wing that interests you. Admission is generally around €22, with special rates and free-entry conditions varying; advance booking is the important part, especially on busy days. Take a short break before leaving—the scale and crowds can be tiring.
Walk a few minutes toward Café de la Régence for lunch, budgeting approximately €20–35 per person. It is a convenient place to slow down after the museum, though service can be unhurried at peak lunchtime. Afterwards, cross into the Jardin du Palais Royal, where the arcades and clipped gardens make a pleasantly quiet contrast to the Louvre. Wander beneath the covered galleries, browse the small boutiques, and pause around the central garden; allow about an hour without rushing. The garden is free and usually accessible during daylight hours, while individual shops and cafés keep their own schedules.
Continue north through the 2nd arrondissement to Galerie Vivienne, one of Paris’s most elegant covered passages, with mosaic floors, glass roofing, bookshops, and small specialty stores. It is only about a 10-minute walk from the Palais-Royal and needs roughly 45 minutes; visit before the shops close, as the passage is most atmospheric in the late afternoon. For dinner, return toward Le Grand Colbert, a traditional brasserie near the Palais-Royal, and reserve ahead if possible. Expect approximately €35–60 per person and allow 1½ hours. It is a polished, classic choice rather than a hidden local bargain, but the setting and old-fashioned brasserie rhythm suit the day well.
Start early at Sacré-Cœur Basilica, ideally around opening time, before the steps and forecourt fill with tour groups. The basilica is free to enter; the dome has a separate fee of roughly €8–10 if you want the full panorama, but the view from the steps is already excellent. Keep phones and wallets secure around the approaches, and ignore anyone offering bracelets or asking you to sign something. From the basilica, walk a few minutes through the old lanes to Place du Tertre. Give yourself about 45 minutes to look at the artists’ stalls and cafés before the square becomes crowded; it is more enjoyable as a quick atmospheric stop than as a place to eat.
Continue to Musée de Montmartre, allowing about 1½ hours for the collection, historic rooms, and Renoir gardens. Check the current opening hours before going, as they vary by season and the museum may close on a recurring weekday; a ticket is usually around €15. The short walk between the square and museum is downhill and much calmer than the basilica area. For lunch, settle at Chez Eugène near the basilica for classic French dishes and a convenient location. Expect roughly €25–40 per person, and allow 1¼ hours; service can be leisurely, so avoid over-ordering if you want to keep the afternoon relaxed.
After lunch, make your way to Cimetière de Montmartre, about 15–20 minutes on foot downhill, or take Métro line 12 from Abbesses toward Place de Clichy and walk from there. Spend around an hour among the shaded avenues, sculptures, and notable graves; check the cemetery’s seasonal closing time because the gates shut earlier in winter. From nearby Place de Clichy, take Métro line 13 north toward Porte de Saint-Ouen, then walk a few minutes to Le Hasard Ludique, a former railway station turned arts venue. Allow roughly 30–40 minutes for the journey, depending on connections. Finish with drinks or a casual meal in the old station setting—budget about €20–35 per person—and check its event calendar and kitchen hours before heading over, since programming can affect the atmosphere and opening times.
Begin at Trocadéro Gardens, allowing about 45 minutes for the broad classic view of the Eiffel Tower from the fountains and terraces. Go early for clearer photographs and fewer tour groups; the area is open-air and free, though keep phones and wallets secure around the busiest viewpoints. From there, walk roughly 15–20 minutes across the Pont d’Iéna to the tower. Your ascent depends on an advance timed ticket—especially for the summit—and you should arrive at least 30 minutes before the slot for security and lift queues. Allow around 2½ hours inside, including waiting, the elevators, viewing platforms, and the descent; summit access can be affected by weather or operational restrictions.
Walk or take a short bus ride toward Rue Cler, a pleasant market street where you can browse cheese shops, bakeries, produce stalls, and delicatessens before lunch. Allow about 1½ hours and budget €20–35 per person. Café du Marché is a dependable choice for a relaxed brasserie meal, while L’Éclair de Génie is good for a quick pastry stop rather than a full lunch. Shops often keep varying hours and some close between lunch and late afternoon, so treat the street more as a food-focused stroll than a guaranteed continuous market.
Continue to Musée Rodin, about 15 minutes by taxi or roughly 25 minutes on foot, depending on your pace. Spend around two hours between the mansion galleries and the garden, where The Thinker and The Gates of Hell are best appreciated with time to wander rather than a checklist. Tickets are generally around €15, but verify the current schedule because museum closure days and garden access can vary; advance booking is sensible in busy periods. Leave yourself an unhurried break here—the garden café is useful for coffee if you do not want another formal stop.
Make your way to Pont de l’Alma by taxi or Metro, allowing 15–25 minutes from the museum depending on traffic. Board a Bateaux-Mouches evening cruise for about 1¼ hours; the illuminated bridges and riverside monuments are the payoff, so an open-deck seat is worth waiting for when weather permits. Cruises usually run into the evening, but frequencies and last departures vary seasonally, and boarding queues can be substantial—arrive 20–30 minutes early. Bring a light layer: the Seine is noticeably cooler at night, even after a warm day.
Begin at Place de la Bastille, where the former fortress stood and the modern Opéra Bastille now anchors the square. Give yourself about 45 minutes to look around, read the historical markers, and notice how this busy traffic junction connects the Bastille, Faubourg Saint-Antoine, and Rue de la Roquette districts. From here, walk to the nearby entrance of the Promenade Plantée—also known as the Coulée verte René-Dumont—and follow the elevated garden path toward Reuilly for roughly 1¼ hours. It is one of Paris’s best quieter walks, with planted terraces, old railway architecture, and glimpses into the surrounding streets. The walkway is free; wear comfortable shoes and note that access points can be less obvious than the main streets.
Continue on foot toward Marché d’Aligre, allowing around 20 minutes depending on where you leave the promenade. Browse the covered market and the outdoor stalls for fruit, cheese, spices, flowers, and inexpensive prepared food, then eat nearby in Aligre—plan on about €15–25 per person. Opening days vary, and the market is generally liveliest earlier in the day, so check the current schedule before setting out; if it is closed, do not assume the surrounding stalls will offer the same experience. Keep some cash handy, although many vendors now accept cards, and take a relaxed break here rather than trying to rush straight into the afternoon.
From Marché d’Aligre, take Metro line 8 from Ledru-Rollin toward Bastille, change for line 5 toward Oberkampf, and continue on foot to Atelier des Lumières; allow roughly 20–30 minutes door to door. The former foundry’s immersive projections are atmospheric and easy to enjoy in about 1½ hours, but the exhibition program changes and entry is ticketed, so reserve a timed slot in advance rather than relying on walk-in admission. Afterwards, take Metro line 9 from Voltaire toward Mairie de Montreuil to Père-Lachaise, with about 25 minutes for the ride and the walk to a convenient entrance. Spend up to two hours on the cemetery’s sloping, tree-lined paths; download or photograph a map at the entrance, as distances between graves are greater than they look. Check the seasonal closing time—visits are generally curtailed before dusk—and avoid arriving too late to find the gates closing.
Finish in Charonne at Le Chardenoux, a historic bistro suited to a proper French dinner after the cemetery. From Père-Lachaise, take Metro line 9 one stop to Rue des Boulets or continue toward Nation, then walk; allow about 15–20 minutes in total. Budget approximately €40–65 per person, and reserve ahead, particularly for dinner service. The restaurant is close enough to make the evening feel unhurried, so book a table around 7:30 or 8:00 p.m. rather than planning another major sight afterwards.
Begin in Saint-Germain at Jardin du Luxembourg, ideally around 9:00, when the gravel paths and tree-lined promenades are pleasantly quiet. Allow about 1¼ hours to circle the formal parterres, see the Medici Fountain, and pause by the central pond—especially atmospheric in the morning light. The gardens open from morning until evening, with seasonal closing times, and entry is free. From the garden’s eastern side, walk roughly 15 minutes through the Latin Quarter to the Panthéon; allow another 1½ hours there, including security and the crypt. Check the official schedule before setting out, since religious services or occasional closures can affect access; admission is generally around €13, with any dome access and special exhibitions handled separately.
Continue downhill for about 10 minutes to Rue Mouffetard, one of the most enjoyable streets for an unhurried Latin Quarter lunch. Browse the food shops and market stalls, then choose a small bistro or crêperie rather than eating at the first terrace with touts outside. Set aside around €20–35 per person for lunch. The street is liveliest during market hours, but individual shops and restaurants vary, so do not rely on every stall being open on the same day.
After lunch, walk approximately 15 minutes north to Musée de Cluny – Musée National du Moyen Âge. Give yourself about two hours for the Roman baths, medieval sculpture, stained glass, and the celebrated Lady and the Unicorn tapestries. It is usually closed on Mondays and requires a ticket—roughly €12, with reduced rates and temporary exhibitions varying—so check the current opening schedule and reserve if a timed entry is offered. From Musée de Cluny, stroll for 10–15 minutes toward the river and finish at Shakespeare and Company near Notre-Dame. Allow 45 minutes to browse the tightly packed English-language shelves; the shop can be crowded, and photography may be restricted. Continue across to Saint-Germain-des-Prés by Metro from Saint-Michel or Odéon, or walk in about 20 minutes, then settle at Les Deux Magots for a historic café stop or light dinner. Budget approximately €25–50 per person, and expect to pay for the location as much as the food; a coffee, aperitif, or simple plate is the best fit if you want to keep the evening relaxed.
Begin with a relaxed final walk along Canal Saint-Martin, ideally around 9:00, while the towpaths are still calm. Follow the water between the plane trees and cast-iron footbridges for about an hour, taking in the neighborhood’s mix of old apartment buildings, small design shops, and everyday Parisian life. If you are carrying luggage, avoid dragging it along the cobbles and arrange hotel storage or use a nearby luggage facility before setting out. Metro stations such as Gare de l’Est, Jacques Bonsergent, and République serve the canal, though the exact route depends on where you are staying.
Head south toward Bastille for lunch at Café de l’Industrie, allowing roughly 1 hour and around €20–35 per person. The restaurant is split across lively, traditionally styled rooms and is a practical final meal rather than a long destination lunch; expect a classic brasserie menu and busy service at peak times, so arriving before 12:30 or booking ahead is sensible. From the canal, allow about 20–30 minutes by Metro or taxi depending on your starting point and traffic.
After lunch, make your final central stroll beneath the Place des Vosges arcades, one of the most graceful squares in Le Marais. Allow about 45 minutes to circle the red-brick façades, browse the small galleries and shops, and pick up any last compact souvenirs. The square is open-air and free, but allow extra time if you need to return for luggage. From here, budget roughly 15–25 minutes to a central hotel or station by Metro or taxi; for airports, allow about 1–1½ hours for the transfer itself, then add the check-in, baggage-drop, and security buffer required by your confirmed ticket. For major railway stations, allow about 30–60 minutes from the square, arriving early enough to find the correct platform and manage luggage without rushing.
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