Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Begin on Île de la Cité with Notre-Dame Cathedral, arriving around opening time to allow for the security line and the possibility that interior access is controlled by a free or timed reservation. Give yourself about 1½ hours for the cathedral and the square outside; the restored Gothic façade is best appreciated before the riverfront becomes busy. From there, walk a few minutes to Sainte-Chapelle. Its upper chapel is small but extraordinary, so book a timed entry in advance and allow roughly an hour, including security. Check official opening hours before setting out, as both sites can have altered access for services or special events.
Cross toward Le Marais via the Hôtel de Ville area, then spend about 1½ hours wandering rather than following a rigid route. The lanes around Rue des Rosiers, Rue des Francs-Bourgeois, and the northern 3rd arrondissement mix grand hôtels particuliers with independent boutiques, galleries, and cafés. For your planned lunch, continue to Le Procope in Saint-Germain-des-Prés; it is a straightforward 15–20-minute walk from the southern Marais, or a short Métro ride from Hôtel de Ville. Allow 1½ hours and budget approximately €25–45 per person; reserving is sensible, especially at weekends.
After lunch, make your way to the cruise departure at Port de la Bourdonnais or another confirmed central Seine pier. From Saint-Germain-des-Prés, expect roughly 25–35 minutes by Métro or taxi, plus time to locate the correct boarding point. A late-afternoon or early-evening Seine River Cruise is ideal for the changing light over the major monuments; plan 1–1½ hours and reserve ahead if you want a particular departure. Bring a light layer—even calm river weather can feel cool—and arrive 20–30 minutes early, since boarding procedures and queues vary by operator.
Start in Montmartre around 9:30, taking Metro Line 12 to Abbesses or Jules Joffrin, or Line 2 to Anvers; allow roughly 20–35 minutes from central Paris and expect about €2.15 for a single journey. Explore uphill through the village-like lanes around Rue des Abbesses, Rue Lepic, and Place du Tertre, taking the stairways slowly and allowing about two hours. The neighborhood is at its most pleasant before the busiest visitor groups arrive; wear comfortable shoes, since the cobbles and slopes are more demanding than they look.
Continue to Sacré-Cœur Basilica late in the morning, approaching via Rue du Chevalier de la Barre or the gardens and steps below the dome. Entry to the basilica is generally free, but security queues can be substantial; keep shoulders and knees covered and avoid bringing large luggage. Allow about an hour for the interior and the broad Paris view from the steps. The dome climb is a separate, ticketed experience and is best treated as optional rather than squeezed into the schedule.
Walk down toward Le Consulat for lunch or a coffee break, allowing around 1½ hours and roughly €20–40 per person for a meal. It is a photogenic, historic-looking stop, so expect a lively atmosphere and possible waiting time; for a calmer table, arrive slightly before the main lunch rush. Afterward, take the quieter lanes toward the Musée de Montmartre, near Rue Cortot, a short walk from the restaurant. Spend about 1½ hours among its studios, paintings, and exhibits on the area’s artistic past, with a little time for the gardens if open. Check the museum’s current opening days and last-admission time before setting out, as schedules can vary.
Finish in Pigalle at the Moulin Rouge, reached from the museum in roughly 15–20 minutes on foot, mostly downhill, or by a short Metro journey from Lamarck–Caulaincourt or Abbesses toward Pigalle. The surrounding boulevard is best enjoyed as an evening stroll and photo stop; the cabaret show itself requires an advance ticket, with performances commonly lasting about 1½–2 hours and later sittings running longer. If you have booked a show, arrive early for check-in and dress neatly; otherwise, see the illuminated frontage and continue into the nearby streets for a casual drink, keeping an eye on belongings in the busiest parts of Pigalle.
Allow about 30–45 minutes from Montmartre to the Louvre Museum. Take Metro Line 12 from Abbesses or Jules Joffrin, change at Concorde for Line 1, then at Châtelet for Line 4 toward Saint-Germain-des-Prés—though for the Louvre, get off at Châtelet or Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre and walk the remaining few minutes. Aim to arrive 15–20 minutes before your timed entry; the Louvre is vast, so keep this to a focused three-hour route through highlights such as the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, and Venus de Milo. Timed admission is strongly recommended, and opening days and hours vary, so check the official booking calendar rather than relying on walk-up access.
For a restorative break, stop at Angelina near the Tuileries for its famously rich hot chocolate and a pastry—budget roughly €15–25 per person, and expect a queue at peak times. Then spend about an hour in the Jardin des Tuileries, following the grand central avenues toward the Seine; the chairs around the fountains are ideal for a pause, and the garden is free to enter. This is a good point to leave a little flexibility rather than adding another sight: the Louvre morning is more tiring than it looks.
Continue across the river to the Musée d’Orsay, about a 15–20-minute walk from the Tuileries entrance or a short taxi ride if your museum slot is close. Allow around 2½ hours for the former railway station’s Impressionist rooms, including works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Cézanne; reserve timed entry and arrive with a buffer for security. Afterwards, walk through Saint-Germain-des-Prés to Café de Flore for coffee, a light meal, or an apéritif—roughly €15–35 per person. It is polished and expensive by neighborhood-café standards, but the terrace and people-watching make it worthwhile; for a quieter table, go after the main dinner rush.
No packing list attached yet.