After checking in at WS Opéra, begin with Palais Garnier, just a few minutes’ walk from your hotel. Allow 60–90 minutes to admire the grand staircase, painted ceilings and ornate foyers; the public self-guided visit is usually around €15–€20, but check the official calendar because rehearsals can affect access. Then walk through the elegant department-store quarter to Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. Spend about an hour beneath its famous glass dome, and go up to the rooftop before sunset if weather permits—the panorama toward Opéra Garnier, Montmartre and the Eiffel Tower is free, although opening hours can change.
Take Metro line 8 from Opéra or Grands Boulevards toward Bouillon Chartier, allowing roughly 10–15 minutes plus walking. This is the inexpensive, old-Paris dinner you wanted: expect approximately €15–€25 per person for a classic meal, but arrive early—ideally around 18:00—because queues build quickly and reservations are generally not accepted. It is a lively, informal dining room rather than an intimate romantic restaurant, so treat it as a fun first-night experience. Keep some flexibility afterward for Montmartre: from Grands Boulevards, Metro line 8 to Madeleine, then line 12 to Abbesses, takes about 25 minutes.
Walk slowly through the lanes around Place des Abbesses, Rue des Abbesses and Place du Tertre, then climb to Sacré-Cœur Basilica for the illuminated view over Paris. The basilica is free; the dome has a separate fee and may close earlier, so don’t rely on it tonight. The steps can be crowded and slippery, so wear comfortable shoes, and use the funicular if you would rather avoid the climb. Afterward, return to WS Opéra by Metro line 12 from Abbesses to Saint-Lazare, followed by a short walk—roughly 25–30 minutes. Keep the evening unhurried: Montmartre is best enjoyed by wandering together rather than trying to cover every corner.
Leave WS Opéra around 10:15–10:30 and take Metro line 8 from Opéra to Strasbourg–Saint-Denis, changing to line 9 for Saint-Paul. Allow 25–35 minutes door to door, including the walk through the stations. Arriving at Marché des Enfants Rouges close to 11:00 is important: the popular food stalls become crowded around lunchtime, and some operate on changing schedules. Have your cheap, generous meal here—roughly €10–20 per person—and leave time to browse the covered market rather than rushing straight back out.
From the market, walk about 8 minutes to Musée Carnavalet – Histoire de Paris. This is an excellent choice for your first proper look at the city’s story, from medieval Paris through the Revolution and beyond, and the permanent collection is free; allow 1½–2 hours. You may need a free timed reservation or a short security queue, so check the official website before leaving the hotel. The museum is closed on Mondays, but opening hours and temporary exhibitions can change.
Walk 5 minutes from Musée Carnavalet to Place des Vosges, one of the most beautiful squares in Paris. Take a relaxed circuit beneath the arcades and sit in the garden for 30–45 minutes; it is a lovely pause after the museum and gives you space to enjoy the day together. Continue for roughly 10 minutes to Rue des Rosiers, the historic heart of the Jewish quarter. Browse the small boutiques, bakeries and falafel counters, and share a casual snack if you are hungry—€5–12 per person is enough. Keep this part unhurried; the surrounding streets around Rue des Rosiers, Rue des Francs-Bourgeois and Rue Vieille-du-Temple are best enjoyed by wandering rather than ticking off sights.
Aim to leave Le Marais around 18:15–18:30 for your 19:15 reservation at Biche. The simplest option is Metro line 1 from Saint-Paul toward Château de Vincennes, changing at Bastille for line 8 toward Balard and getting off at Opéra; allow about 30–40 minutes including walking and possible platform waits. A taxi or Bolt should take roughly 20–30 minutes in evening traffic, usually around €12–20. Arrive a little early to settle in before your booked dinner at Biche, budgeting approximately €35–60 per person. Afterward, take a gentle walk around the illuminated Opéra streets rather than adding another major attraction—the day’s best romantic ending is simply an unhurried stroll back toward the hotel.
Leave your hotel area by 08:15–08:25 and take Metro line 1 from Saint-Paul to Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre; allow 20–30 minutes door to door, including the walk and security queue. Be at the entrance before your booked 09:00 slot—entry is dependent on the reservation and timed-access procedure. Inside Musée du Louvre, keep the visit focused rather than trying to see everything: follow the signs for the Mona Lisa, then choose a few nearby galleries of Italian painting, French sculpture and the Galerie d’Apollon. With queues and pauses, three and a half to four hours is plenty; wear comfortable shoes and download the museum map in advance.
Walk about 15 minutes through the central courtyards to Le Comptoir de la Gastronomie near Les Halles for a generous French lunch, usually around €25–40 per person. It is a good moment to sit down properly after the Louvre, but book ahead if possible—the restaurant is popular and service can take time. Afterwards, walk back toward Jardin des Tuileries and continue west through the gravel avenues, chairs and fountains. Allow 45 minutes to wander rather than treating it as a quick crossing; in late October the autumn colors make this one of the prettiest relaxed walks in central Paris.
Enter Musée de l’Orangerie at the Tuileries end of the garden for the oval rooms containing Monet’s Water Lilies. The museum is compact, and 45–60 minutes is enough for an unhurried visit. Check the official schedule and any timed-entry requirement before going, as opening hours and reservations can vary. Afterward, take a proper break—perhaps coffee around Place de la Concorde or along the Seine—before heading toward the evening’s main view. This pause is worthwhile: the Eiffel Tower and cruise are much more enjoyable without trying to fill every minute beforehand.
Allow roughly 25–35 minutes by taxi or public transport from the Tuileries area to Eiffel Tower and aim to arrive around sunset or shortly afterward. Explore Champ de Mars and the riverside around Trocadéro for different perspectives, then watch the tower sparkle after dark; the illumination traditionally flashes for five minutes at the start of each hour after nightfall. If you want to go up, treat it as a separate timed booking rather than relying on same-day availability. Finish with your reserved Seine sightseeing cruise from the Eiffel Tower departure area: arrive 20–30 minutes before boarding, keep the tower on your side of the boat when possible, and bring a warm layer—the river feels noticeably colder at night. Expect around €15–25 per person for a standard one-hour cruise, depending on the operator and ticket type.
Leave the hotel area around 08:50–09:00 for your booked 10:00 entry at Fondation Louis Vuitton. Take Metro line 1 west to Les Sablons, then walk through Bois de Boulogne; allow roughly 45 minutes door to door. A taxi or Bolt is simpler with bags, but Sunday traffic can be unpredictable. Plan about two hours for the galleries, the Frank Gehry building and its terraces—your admission reservation is essential, so keep the confirmation handy and arrive early for security.
Afterward, spend an easy hour at Jardin d’Acclimatation, immediately beside the foundation. Follow the paths through the greenery rather than trying to cover the whole park; it is a pleasant reset after the museum and a good place for coffee or a small snack. Check the park’s Sunday opening and attraction schedule before leaving, as individual rides and facilities may operate separately; park admission is generally modest, with rides charged extra.
From the park, walk back toward Les Sablons and take Metro line 1 to Charles de Gaulle–Étoile—around 15–20 minutes, plus the short walk to Arc de Triomphe. Allow 60–90 minutes, including the security queue and the climb of roughly 280 steps. The rooftop view is one of Paris’s best: the twelve avenues radiate below you, with the Eiffel Tower framed across the city. Check the official opening hours before setting out, since monument access can change and the final admission is usually well before closing.
Continue by foot down Avenue Kléber toward Carette at Trocadéro, roughly 20 minutes. Settle in for pastries, hot chocolate or a light meal—budget approximately €20–35 per person, and expect a premium for the famous view. Finish in Trocadéro Gardens, where you can take your final romantic photographs with the Eiffel Tower and walk down toward the Seine. This is best kept unhurried: linger for the changing light, then return to the hotel by Metro line 6 from Trocadéro or use a taxi if you are carrying luggage.
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