Before You Arrive: What to Book in Advance
Paris rewards preparation. The Eiffel Tower summit tickets sell out weeks ahead in peak season; book as soon as your dates are confirmed at the official Toureiffel.paris site. The Louvre requires timed entry tickets; same-day queues can be two hours long. Versailles is worth a morning and requires advance booking. For popular restaurants, especially in the Marais and Saint-Germain, reservations made a few days ahead save disappointment. The Paris Metro system is easy to navigate; a carnet of 10 tickets or a weekly Navigo pass covers all your transport within the city.
Day 1: The Iconic Paris
Start at the Eiffel Tower before 9am to beat the queues. Walk through the Champ de Mars and across the Seine to the Trocadero for the best view of the tower from the outside. Lunch at a brasserie near the river. Spend the afternoon at the Musee d'Orsay (Impressionist paintings including Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh, housed in a stunning converted railway station). In the evening, walk across the Pont des Arts to the Ile de la Cite and visit Notre-Dame, the reconstruction is now complete and the exterior is more beautiful than it was before the 2019 fire. End the day at a wine bar in Saint-Germain-des-Pres.
Day 2: Art and the Marais
Spend the morning at the Louvre. You cannot see everything in one visit; prioritise the Denon Wing for the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory, and Venus de Milo, and plan for two to three hours. Lunch in the courtyard cafe or a nearby restaurant on the Rue de Rivoli. Spend the afternoon in the Marais, Paris's most vibrant neighbourhood: the Place des Vosges (Paris's oldest square, extraordinarily beautiful), the Picasso Museum, and the best falafel in the city on Rue des Rosiers. The Marais is also the centre of Paris's fashion boutique scene, with independent designers lining the Rue Bretagne and surrounding streets.
Day 3: Montmartre and the North
Take the Metro to Abbesses and walk up through the streets of Montmartre to Sacre-Coeur Basilica at the summit. The views over Paris from the steps are among the best in the city, particularly in the morning before the crowds arrive. Explore the artist studios and village squares of Montmartre, this is the Paris of Toulouse-Lautrec and the Belle Epoque. Afternoon: head to the Canal Saint-Martin area for lunch at one of the neighbourhood bistros and a walk along the canal locks. In the evening, go to Pigalle for dinner and cocktails at one of the neighbourhood's atmospheric wine bars.
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Day 4: Day Trip to Versailles or Giverny
Versailles is 40 minutes from Paris by RER train and worth a full day. The Palace of Versailles is the most elaborate royal residence in Europe, the Hall of Mirrors alone is extraordinary, but the gardens are vast and worth as much time as the palace itself. Arrive by 9am to get ahead of the tour groups. Alternatively, Giverny (Monet's home and the inspiration for the Water Lilies paintings) is a magnificent half-day from Paris by organised coach or hire car. The garden is exactly as Monet painted it and in full bloom from April to October. Book tickets for both in advance.
Day 5: Left Bank, Luxembourg, and Last Moments
Spend your final morning at the Jardin du Luxembourg, one of the most beautiful parks in Europe, particularly in spring when the chestnuts are in bloom. Walk through Saint-Germain-des-Pres and stop at Cafe de Flore or Les Deux Magots for a final Parisian breakfast. Browse the antiquarian bookshops of the Rue de Buci and the covered passages of the Palais-Royal. If you have not yet done a Seine river cruise (Bateaux-Mouches or Vedettes du Pont-Neuf), the late afternoon light on the bridges and facades is the most beautiful it gets. End with dinner somewhere you have been meaning to try since Day 1.
Where to Eat in Paris
Paris is one of the greatest food cities in the world, but the tourist traps are numerous. Avoid any restaurant on the main tourist corridors near the Eiffel Tower or Champs-Elysees. Instead: Septime and Clamato in the 11th for modern French; Le Comptoir du Relais in Saint-Germain for traditional bistro cooking; Du Pain et des Idees for the best croissant in Paris (near Canal Saint-Martin); Breizh Cafe in the Marais for buckwheat galettes. Picnic culture is deeply embedded in Parisian life; buy cheese, charcuterie, and a baguette from a local market and eat in the Luxembourg Gardens or on the banks of the Seine.
Paris Practical Tips
The Paris Metro is the fastest way to get around; avoid taxis in rush hour. Carry cash, many smaller cafes and bistros still do not accept cards. Most major museums are free for visitors under 26 from EU countries. Museum passes (Paris Museum Pass) cover entry to over 50 sites and are worth buying if you plan to visit more than three or four paid attractions. English is more widely spoken than Parisians' reputation suggests; a simple "Bonjour, parlez-vous anglais?" goes a long way. FigFinder AI builds your complete Paris itinerary in seconds, tailored to your travel dates, interests, and budget, with hotel picks and booking links included.
