A complete itinerary with an interactive map — museums, walks, restaurants and insider tips for every day.
Day 1 · Left Bank
Day 2 · Great Museums
Day 3 · Right Bank
Day 4a · Montmartre
Day 4b · Vincennes
Day 5 · Versailles
Legend:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4a
Day 4b
Day 5
1
Left Bank & Eiffel Tower
12 places · 7th, 8th, 16th arrondissements
1
Place du Trocadéro
Esplanade · Vue sur la Tour Eiffel
Start here for the most spectacular morning view of the Eiffel Tower
2
Palais de Tokyo
Contemporary art museum
The largest contemporary art centre in Europe, open until midnight
3
Musée Guimet
Arts asiatiques
The finest collection of Asian art outside Asia — a little-known gem
4
Cité de l'Architecture
Museum · Heritage
Life-size casts of the finest French cathedral portals
5
Tour Eiffel
Monument · Incontournable
Book online — the 2nd floor offers the best view-to-crowd ratio
6
Champ de Mars
Parc · Pique-nique
Perfect for a picnic facing the Eiffel Tower — buy at the Marché Grenelle
7
Musée du Quai Branly
Arts premiers
Jean Nouvel architecture, Patrick Blanc's vertical garden — superb
8
Hôtel des Invalides
Monument · Napoleon's Tomb
The golden dome holds Napoleon's tomb — impressive
9
Musée Rodin
Sculpture · Garden
The garden alone is worth the entry — The Thinker and The Burghers of Calais outdoors
10
Petit Palais
Museum · Free entry
Free permanent collections, Art Nouveau, café in the inner garden
11
Palais de la Découverte
Science · Planetarium
Interactive science in the renovated Grand Palais, planetarium sessions to book
12
Arc de Triomphe
Monument · Panorama
Go up to the roof for the view of the 12 radiating avenues at sunset
🍽️ Recommended dinner · Les Catacombes (14e) ou rue du Commerce (15e)
+
Les Catacombes de Paris
Underground site · Evening option
6 million skulls 20m below Paris — definitely book ahead, huge queue otherwise
+
Maison de Balzac
Writer's house · Free entry
2
Great Museums & Left Bank
10 places · 1st, 6th, 9th arrondissements
1
Louvre Museum
The largest museum in the world
Arrive at opening (9 am) via the Richelieu entrance — avoid the pyramid in the morning
2
Jardin du Palais Royal
Jardins · Colonnes Buren
A break after the Louvre — Daniel Buren's columns in the main courtyard
3
La Samaritaine
Architecture Art Nouveau · Shopping
The return of La Samaritaine — listed Art Nouveau façade, rooftop restaurant
4
Musée de l'Orangerie
Monet's Water Lilies
The two oval Water Lilies rooms are a unique experience — take your time
5
Place de la Concorde
Historic square · Obelisk
The Luxor Obelisk, 3,200 years of history — clear views over the Tuileries and the Champs
6
Musée d'Orsay
Impressionnisme · Incontournable
Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Degas — book the late-afternoon slot
7
Jardin du Luxembourg
Park · Medici Fountain
The Medici Fountain in the north-east corner — romantic and little-known
8
Musée Eugène Delacroix
Maison d'artiste · Saint-Germain
Delacroix's intimate studio in Saint-Germain — quiet and tucked away
9
Musée Grévin
Wax museum · Entertainment
The most lifelike wax figures in the world — fun for the family
10
Palais Garnier
Opera · Baroque architecture
Self-guided visit in the morning (no show) — the Grand Foyer is breathtaking
+
Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Excursion · RER A · 25 min
Half-day option — national archaeology museum, terrace with views over Paris
🍽️ Lunch · Rue de Buci (6th) · Dinner · Bouillon Racine
3
Marais, Île de la Cité & Right Bank
9 places · 3rd, 4th, 5th arrondissements
1
Musée des Arts et Métiers
Science & Technology · Hidden gem
Blériot's plane, Foucault's pendulum — one of the most fascinating museums in Paris
2
Centre Pompidou
Art moderne & contemporain
The 6th-floor terrace offers a free panoramic view with a museum ticket
3
Musée National Picasso-Paris
Hôtel Salé · Marais
In a splendid 17th-century mansion — the largest public Picasso collection
4
Maison de Victor Hugo
Place des Vosges · Free entry
Victor Hugo's apartment on Place des Vosges — free, intimate, moving
5
Notre-Dame de Paris
Cathedral · Reopened in 2024
Reopened after restoration — the fully renovated interior is strikingly white
6
Jardin des Plantes
Botanical garden · 5th
Tropical greenhouses, century-old paths, the Jardin des Plantes menagerie
7
Grande Galerie de l'Évolution
Natural History Museum
A spectacular nave with a life-size parade of taxidermied animals
8
National Museum of Natural History
Sciences naturelles
9
Panthéon
Mausoleum · View from the dome
Voltaire, Rousseau, Curie, Hugo, Zola… climb the dome for the view over the rooftops
🍽️ Lunch · L'As du Fallafel (Marais) · Dinner · Rue Mouffetard
4a
Montmartre & La Villette
3 places · 18th, 19th arrondissements
1
Sacré-Cœur Basilica
Basilique · Butte Montmartre
Arrive early — the lanes are silent and magical before 9 am
2
Musée de Montmartre
Neighbourhood history · Renoir
Renoir's studio overlooking the vineyards — the loveliest garden in Montmartre
3
Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
La Villette · Sciences
The Géode, the planetarium, the interactive exhibits — allow at least half a day
🍽️ Lunch · Rue Lepic · Dinner · Oberkampf or Pigalle
4b
Bois de Vincennes
4 places · 12th arrondissement
1
Château de Vincennes
Medieval castle · Keep
The largest medieval castle in the Paris region — the keep is 52m tall
2
Parc Floral de Paris
Gardens · Summer concerts
250 dahlia varieties, jazz concerts in summer — very affordable entry
3
Zoo de Paris (Parc Zoologique)
Zoo · Renovated in 2014
15 themed biozones, 1,000 animals — one of the finest zoos in Europe
4
Bois de Vincennes
Forest · Lakes · Pedal boats
Pedal boats on Lake Daumesnil, cycle path, picnics — the green lung of eastern Paris
🍽️ Picnic recommended · Supplies from the Marché d'Aligre (12th)
5
Versailles & Bois de Boulogne
6 places · Day trip outside Paris
1
Palace of Versailles
Patrimoine mondial UNESCO
Definitely book online — arrive at opening (9 am) to avoid the queues
2
Jardins & Domaine de Versailles
French formal gardens · Fountains
Les Grandes Eaux Musicales le week-end — les fontaines jouent sur de la musique baroque
3
Versailles starting point
RER C · 35–40 min from Paris
RER C from Invalides or Musée d'Orsay — ticket included in the Paris Visite zones 1-5
4
Discoveries & Pedal boats — Bois de Boulogne
Activity · Back in Paris
At the end of the day, pedal boats on the Bois de Boulogne lake — perfect for unwinding
5
Jardin Shakespeare
Bois de Boulogne · Open-air theatre
A garden devoted to the plants mentioned in Shakespeare's works — poetic
6
Cascade du Bois de Boulogne
Cascade artificielle · Promenade
7
Service des Bateaux du Bois de Boulogne
Rowing-boat & pedal-boat hire
Rowing-boat hire on the Lac Inférieur — romantic in the late afternoon
🍽️ Lunch · In the gardens of Versailles · Dinner · Back in Paris
Full details
Your 5 days in Paris
Day 1 — Left Bank & Eiffel Tower
7th · 8th · 16th arrondissements · ~8 km on foot
1
Place du Trocadéro
Esplanade · 16e
The best head-on view of the Eiffel Tower. Arrive at opening for crowd-free photos. The esplanade is ideal early in the morning.
2
Palais de Tokyo + Musée Guimet
Museums · Avenue du Président Wilson
Two outstanding museums side by side — contemporary art and Asian art. Guimet is one of the finest museums in Paris, too often overlooked.
3
Tour Eiffel
Monument · Online booking required
Book at least 2 weeks ahead on toureiffel.paris. The 2nd floor offers the best view-to-wait ratio. Allow 2h on site.
4
Champ de Mars → Invalides → Rodin
Walk · 1.5 km on foot
Cross the Champ de Mars, pass the Invalides (Napoleon's tomb), and finish at the Musée Rodin and its sculpture garden.
5
Petit Palais + Grand Palais
Museums · 8th · Free collections
The Petit Palais is free and magnificent. The Palais de la Découverte in the renovated Grand Palais offers science exhibits and a planetarium.
6
Arc de Triomphe
Sunset · Rooftop recommended
Go up to the roof to watch the sun set over the Champs-Élysées and La Défense. A 360° view of the 12 radiating avenues.
Day 2 — Great Museums & Saint-Germain
1st · 6th · 9th arrondissements · Paris Museum Pass recommended
1
Louvre Museum
9 am–6 pm · Closed Tuesdays
The largest museum in the world — use the Richelieu entrance in the morning to avoid the crowds at the Pyramid. Allow at least 3h. Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Winged Victory of Samothrace.
2
Musée de l'Orangerie
Monet's Water Lilies · Place de la Concorde
The two oval rooms created specially by Monet for his Water Lilies. One of the most spellbinding experiences in Paris — allow 1h.
3
Musée d'Orsay
9:30 am–6 pm · Closed Mondays
The finest Impressionist collection in the world, in a converted former railway station. Monet, Renoir, Degas, Van Gogh — go for the late-afternoon slot (fewer people).
4
Jardin du Luxembourg
Park · 6th · Medici Fountain
A well-earned break in this French formal garden. The Medici Fountain in the north-east corner is a romantic masterpiece often missed by tourists.
5
Palais Garnier
Self-guided visit in the morning · 10 am–4:30 pm
The Grand Foyer rivals the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. The auditorium ceiling was painted by Chagall. A show-free visit is possible every morning.
Day 3 — Marais, Île de la Cité & Latin Quarter
3e · 4e · 5e arrondissements · Quartiers historiques
1
Marais — Morning
Arts et Métiers → Pompidou → Picasso
Start with the fascinating Musée des Arts et Métiers, then the Centre Pompidou for the rooftop view. The Musée Picasso in its grand mansion is a must.
2
Place des Vosges & Victor Hugo
The oldest square in Paris (1612)
Have lunch under the arcades of the Place des Vosges. Victor Hugo's apartment on the 2nd floor is free and moving. L'As du Fallafel is 5 min away.
3
Notre-Dame de Paris
Reopened in December 2024
The fully restored interior is strikingly white — the limestone rediscovered, the stained glass cleaned. Book a time slot to avoid the wait.
4
Jardin des Plantes & Grande Galerie
5e arrondissement · Afternoon
The Grande Galerie de l'Évolution is spectacular — the nave with its life-size parade of taxidermied animals is unique. The tropical greenhouses are worth the trip.
5
Panthéon
Sunset from the dome
France's great figures — Voltaire, Rousseau, Marie Curie, Victor Hugo, Zola. Climb the dome for one of the finest views over the rooftops of Paris.
Day 4a — Montmartre & La Villette
18th · 19th arrondissements · Bohemia and Science
1
Montmartre — Morning
The Butte · Sacré-Cœur · Museum
Arrive at 8 am via Abbesses station. The lanes are silent and beautiful before the tourists arrive. Sacré-Cœur, Place du Tertre, vineyards, the Musée de Montmartre with its garden.
2
Cité des Sciences — Afternoon
La Villette · 19th · Metro line 5
The Géode (36m sphere), the planetarium and the permanent and temporary science exhibitions. Allow 3–4h. The surrounding Parc de la Villette is huge and lively.
Day 4b — Bois de Vincennes
12th · 94 · Nature & Medieval castle
1
Château de Vincennes
Morning · Metro line 1
The largest medieval castle in the Paris region, with its 52m keep. Well preserved and less well known than Versailles — a guided tour is recommended to understand its history.
2
Zoo de Paris
Zoological Park · Renovated 2014
15 biozones recreating natural habitats from around the world. 1,000 animals including giraffes, lions and rhinos. Allow 3–4h. One of the most modern in Europe.
3
Parc Floral & Bois de Vincennes
Afternoon · Pedal boats on the lake
Stroll through the Parc Floral (free concerts at weekends), then take a pedal boat on Lake Daumesnil. The Bois de Vincennes is twice the size of the Bois de Boulogne.
Day 5 — Versailles & Bois de Boulogne
Day trip · RER C · 35 min from Paris
1
Palace of Versailles
Morning · Opens 9 am · Booking required
Hall of Mirrors, royal apartments, French formal gardens. Take the RER C from Musée d'Orsay or Invalides. Arrive at opening for empty rooms. The Paris Museum Pass is valid here.
2
Jardins & Grandes Eaux
Afternoon · Fontaines musicales le week-end
The Grandes Eaux Musicales (Sat & Sun, April–Oct) are worth it — 55 fountains playing to baroque music. Bike hire in the gardens to cover the 800 hectares.
3
Bois de Boulogne — Late afternoon
Back in Paris · Rowing & pedal boats
Back in Paris, end on a high in the Bois de Boulogne. Rowing-boat hire on the Lac Inférieur, the Shakespeare Garden, an artificial waterfall — nature 10 min from the Champs-Élysées.