Duration5 Days4 nights, central Paris
Est. Budget€80–180per day (mid-range)
Best SeasonApr–Jun, Sep–OctMild weather, lower crowds
AirportCDG / ORYRER B: 35 min to centre
Pre-booking is essential for Paris: The Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Palace of Versailles all require timed entry tickets booked online in advance — walk-up queues at these sites can be 2–3 hours long even in low season, and timed slots sell out days or weeks ahead. Book all three before your trip starts. The Musée d’Orsay and Sainte-Chapelle are also strongly recommended to pre-book. Links: eiffel-tower.com (official), ticketlouvre.fr, chateauversailles.fr.
Paris Visite Pass vs. Navigo Easy
For a 5-day stay: the Navigo Easy contactless card (available at any Metro station, €2 card fee) is the most flexible option — load it with individual t+ tickets (€1.73 each from January 2025) or a carnet (pack of 10 €16.90). For airport transfers, load the CDG or Orly flat-rate ticket separately (€11.80 for CDG via RER B). The Paris Visite pass (1/2/3/5-day unlimited, from €13.20/day) is only worthwhile if making 8+ Metro journeys per day — most visitors on this itinerary do not. Navigo Easy works on Metro, RER (within Zones 1–2), bus and tram.
Day1
Eiffel Tower + Trocadéro + Left Bank Evening
7th & 16th arrondissements · Métro Line 6 · Seine-side walk at dusk
✈
Arrival
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) → Paris Centre
RER B from CDG Terminal 2 or Terminal 1 (free shuttle between terminals) to Gare du Nord then Châtelet–Les Halles: 35–45 minutes, €11.80 flat fare (buy the CDG-specific ticket at the station, not a standard t+ ticket). Trains run every 10–15 minutes, 05:00–24:00. Alternatively: Paris Le Bourget Bus (Bus 350 to Gare du Nord, €2) or taxi (€52–56 flat rate to Right Bank, €62–67 to Left Bank — fixed by prefecture decree). Orly Airport: RER B via Orlyval (automated shuttle, €14.50 total) or OrlyBus to Denfert-Rochereau (€9.10).
The RER B is the fastest and cheapest CDG option but requires luggage to be managed on stairs at some stations. The fixed-rate taxi is worth considering for groups of 3+ or heavy luggage. Avoid unlicensed “taxi” drivers approaching in the arrivals hall — only use the official taxi rank outside the terminal exit.
🚌
Transit
Métro Line 6 (direction Nation) to Bir-Hakeim or Trocadéro — 4 min walk to Eiffel Tower base. Or Line 8 to École Militaire and walk 12 min north through Champ de Mars.
€1.73
🏞
14:00 – 17:30
Eiffel Tower & Trocadéro Viewpoint
The Eiffel Tower (rated 4.7/5 from 220,000+ Google Maps reviews) requires timed entry tickets booked at eiffel-tower.com. Three visitor levels: Level 1 (57m, stairs or lift, €13.60), Level 2 (115m, stairs or lift, €19.40), Summit (276m, lift only, €28.30). The summit gives views up to 70km on clear days. Allow 2 hours including queuing at lift banks between levels. Before or after: the Trocadéro esplanade on the opposite bank of the Seine is the classic full-tower photograph location — best light is 09:00–11:00 and from 17:30 onward.
Book summit tickets 3–4 weeks ahead for peak months (June–August). If summit tickets are sold out, Level 2 tickets remain available closer to the date and the view is only marginally lower. The tower illuminates with a 5-minute sparkling light show every hour on the hour from dusk until 01:00.
The Champ de Mars park directly south of the tower has free lawn space and food vendors — a picnic from a nearby boulangerie on the grass is a Parisian ritual and costs a fraction of the tower’s overpriced restaurants (€8–12 for bread, cheese and wine vs €25–60 for a tower restaurant meal).
🚶
18:00 – 21:00
Left Bank Seine Walk: Invalides → Pont de l’Alma → Dinner
The 1.5 km walk east along the Left Bank from the Eiffel Tower to Les Invalides (Napoleon’s tomb, rated 4.6/5 from 50,000+ reviews, €15 entry) passes the Pont de l’Alma and gives continuous river views at golden hour. The 7th arrondissement contains Paris’s highest concentration of traditional bistros — Rue Cler (a pedestrianised market street, rated 4.5/5 from 14,000+ reviews) is the best dinner option: market stalls for cheese, charcuterie and wine, and a dozen bistros with fixed-price menus (€19–32 for entrée + plat + dessert).
Fixed-price bistro menus (formule or menu du jour) are always better value than ordering à la carte in Paris — the same kitchen produces the same food at 20–40% lower cost. Look for chalkboard menus by the entrance rather than laminated picture menus, which indicate tourist pricing.
Day2
The Louvre + Tuileries + Palais Royal + Le Marais
1st & 4th arrondissements · Métro Lines 1 & 7 · Museum morning, neighbourhood afternoon
🏭
09:00 – 13:00
Musée du Louvre
The world’s most visited museum — rated 4.7/5 from 130,000+ Google Maps reviews. Entry: €22 (timed entry tickets at ticketlouvre.fr). Open Wednesday–Monday 09:00–18:00, until 21:45 on Friday. The permanent collection spans 35,000 works across three wings (Denon, Sully, Richelieu) covering Egyptian antiquity through 19th-century painting. Four essential works for a first visit: Venus de Milo (Sully, ground floor), Nike of Samothrace (Denon, first floor landing), The Wedding at Cana (Denon, first floor) and the Mona Lisa (Denon, room 711). The Mona Lisa room is the most crowded — visit at 09:30 or after 17:00 on Friday evenings.
A focused 3-hour visit covers the highlights without exhaustion. The Nintendo Audio Guide (€5) or the official Louvre app (free) both provide room-by-room navigation. Under-18s from EU countries and under-26s from EU/EEA countries enter free — bring ID.
The Louvre cafeteria in the Richelieu wing has reasonable €12–16 lunch formulas. The nearby Café Marly (rated 4.2/5 from 12,000+ reviews) on the Richelieu arcade has terrace tables overlooking the pyramid — €25–35 mains, atmosphere-heavy.
🚶
Transit
Walk 15 min east through Jardins des Tuileries and Palais Royal gardens — both free to enter and each worth 20–30 minutes of exploration en route to the Marais.
Walk · Free
🏕
14:30 – 19:00
Le Marais: Place des Vosges + Picasso Museum + Rue de Bretagne
The Marais (4th arrondissement) is Paris’s best-preserved pre-Haussmann neighbourhood — medieval street grid, 17th-century mansions converted to museums, the oldest planned square in Paris, and the city’s Jewish and LGBTQ+ quarters. Place des Vosges (rated 4.7/5 from 70,000+ reviews — a perfectly symmetrical 1612 royal square with covered arcades, entry free) anchors the south. Musée Picasso Paris (rated 4.4/5 from 22,000+ reviews, €14, closed Monday) is 10 minutes north. The covered market Marché des Enfants Rouges on Rue de Bretagne (rated 4.3/5 from 10,000+ reviews, open Tue–Sun, from €12 for a full plate) is one of Paris’s oldest and best-value markets.
Rue des Rosiers — the heart of the Jewish quarter in the Marais — has Paris’s best falafel: L’As du Fallafel (4.4/5 from 14,000+ reviews, €7 falafel wrap, queue expected) is the most reviewed. The surrounding streets have independent concept stores, vintage clothing and gallery spaces — the Marais is the best neighbourhood for non-chain shopping in the city.
Day3
Musée d’Orsay + Saint-Germain + Notre-Dame & Sainte-Chapelle
5th, 6th & 7th arrondissements · Left Bank · Impressionism morning, Île de la Cité afternoon
🎨
09:30 – 12:30
Musée d’Orsay — World’s Greatest Impressionist Collection
Housed in a Beaux-Arts railway station on the Left Bank, the Musée d’Orsay holds the world’s largest collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterworks — Monet, Renoir, Degas, Seurat, Gauguin and Van Gogh all represented at scale. Rated 4.8/5 from 72,000+ Google Maps reviews. Entry: €16 (pre-book at musee-orsay.fr). Open Tuesday–Sunday 09:30–18:00, until 21:45 Thursday. The fifth-floor Impressionist galleries looking across the Seine through the original station clock face are among the most photographed museum interiors in Europe.
Thursday evening (18:00–21:45) is the least crowded time to visit — regular day tickets are valid. The rooftop terrace café (€8–14 for a coffee or light meal) has views across the Seine to the Louvre and Tuileries directly opposite — not to be skipped on clear days.
🚶
Transit
Walk 15 min east along Quai Voltaire through Saint-Germain-des-Prés (Café de Flore, Brasserie Lipp, Café des Deux Magots — all on Boulevard Saint-Germain). Continue to Pont Neuf and cross to Île de la Cité.
Walk · Free
⛩
14:00 – 17:30
Sainte-Chapelle + Notre-Dame de Paris
Sainte-Chapelle (rated 4.7/5 from 55,000+ reviews, €13, pre-book at sainte-chapelle.fr) is a 13th-century royal chapel with 15 floor-to-ceiling stained glass windows — 1,113 individual scenes across 600 sq m of glass, the finest medieval stained glass in the world. Allow 45 minutes. Notre-Dame de Paris reopened December 2024 after the 2019 fire — the restoration has been described by architectural reviewers as one of the most accomplished heritage restorations in French history. Entry is free to the cathedral interior; timed entry tickets for the towers (€10, panoramic views) available at notredame.paris. Rated 4.7/5 from 200,000+ Google Maps reviews.
Visit Sainte-Chapelle on a sunny afternoon — the stained glass transforms entirely in direct sunlight and is significantly less impressive on overcast days. The chapel sits inside the Palais de Justice compound; bring ID for security. Queue for tower tickets separately from the main cathedral entrance.
☕
18:30 – 21:00
Saint-Germain Evening: Cafes & Dinner
Café de Flore (4.3/5 from 18,000+ reviews) and Les Deux Magots (4.2/5 from 19,000+ reviews) on Boulevard Saint-Germain are Paris’s most historically significant literary cafes — patronised by Sartre, de Beauvoir and Hemingway. Coffee €5–7, the price of a city landmark. Dinner: Rue Saint-André-des-Arts and Rue de Bu ci have the densest concentration of traditional French restaurants in the 6th (€18–35 for a two-course formule).
Day4
Versailles Day Trip — Palace, Gardens & Trianon
RER C from Paris · 40 min · Full day required · Book palace tickets in advance
🚌
08:30 – Transit
Paris → Versailles: RER C
RER Line C (direction Versailles-Château-Rive Gauche) from any central Paris RER C station (Saint-Michel, Invalides, Pont de l’Alma): 40 minutes, €4.40 each way — buy a separate Versailles ticket, not a standard Paris t+ ticket. Trains run every 15–30 minutes. Exit at Versailles–Château–Rive Gauche — the palace is a 10-minute walk north of the station. Depart Paris by 09:00 to reach the palace before the tour groups arrive at 10:30.
Alternatively: the Paris Visite pass (Zone 1–4 version, €17.35/day) covers the Versailles RER fare, making it worthwhile for this day alone. Check current pricing at ratp.fr before purchasing.
🏛
09:30 – 14:00
Palace of Versailles — Hall of Mirrors & State Apartments
The principal royal residence of France from 1682 to 1789 — rated 4.6/5 from 110,000+ Google Maps reviews. Entry: €21.50 for the palace (book timed entry at chateauversailles.fr). The Grand Appartement du Roi and Grand Appartement de la Reine (State Apartments) and the Galerie des Glaces (Hall of Mirrors — 73 metres long, 357 mirrors, 20,000 candles in the original chandeliers) are the three essential circuits. The Hall of Mirrors is best visited at 09:30–10:00 before the tour groups enter at scale.
The Passport ticket (€32) adds the Grand Trianon, Petit Trianon and Marie Antoinette’s Estate (Hameau de la Reine) — the latter is the most atmospheric part of the estate and significantly less crowded than the main palace. Strongly recommended for a full-day visit.
🌿
14:30 – 17:30
Gardens of Versailles + Grand Canal + Trianon
The formal gardens (rated 4.7/5 from 65,000+ reviews) cover 800 hectares — free on non-fountain days, €10 on Musical Fountain Show days (Saturdays, Sundays and some Tuesdays April–October). Highlights: the Grande Perspective axis stretching 3 km from the palace to the horizon, the Bassin de Neptune (the largest ornamental pool), and the 1.6 km Grand Canal where boats can be rented (€17/hour). The Grand Trianon (pink marble palace, Louis XIV’s retreat from court protocol) and Petit Trianon (Marie Antoinette’s private residence) require 45–60 minutes each and are 20 minutes walk from the main palace.
The gardens are best explored by bicycle (rental €8.50/hour near the Grand Canal) — the estate is too large to walk comfortably end-to-end. Electric golf carts are also available (€36–42/hour for up to 4 people).
Day5
Montmartre + Sacré-Cœur + Pigalle + Departure
18th arrondissement · Métro Line 2 or 12 · Hilltop village morning, Moulin Rouge evening
🌈
09:00 – 12:30
Montmartre Village & Sacré-Cœur
Montmartre — the hill district that was home to Picasso, Modigliani, Toulouse-Lautrec and Renoir — retains more of a village character than any other Paris neighbourhood. The Sacré-Cœur Basilica (rated 4.7/5 from 130,000+ Google Maps reviews, free entry, dome ascent €7) crowns the Butte Montmartre at 130m — the view from the basilica steps over the entire Paris basin is the best free panorama in the city. The surrounding streets — Rue Lepic (the market street from Amélie), Place du Tertre (artist square, free to observe), and Rue des Abbesses — are best explored before 11:00 when day-tripper crowds arrive.
The funicular from Rue Tardieu to the basilica base (€1.73, one t+ ticket) saves the 220-step climb. Alternatively, the Rue du Chevalier de la Barre stairway approach from the east is less crowded and passes the best vineyard view. Avoid portrait artists who offer to sketch tourists — the “gift” is followed by an aggressive price demand.
Breakfast on Rue Lepic: Des Si et Des Mets (4.5/5 from 1,800+ reviews) for coffee and croissants from €5; or Au Grain de Folie (4.4/5 from 2,400+ reviews) for a vegetarian brunch at €16–22.
🚌
Transit
Métro Line 12 from Abbesses (deepest Metro station in Paris, 36m — has a working antique elevator) south 2 stops to Pigalle — 4 min, €1.73.
€1.73
🎪
13:00 – 17:00
Pigalle, South Pigalle (SoPi) & Moulin Rouge Exterior
South Pigalle — the neighbourhood between Montmartre and the 9th arrondissement — has become one of Paris’s most reviewed independent food and cafe districts since 2015. Rue des Martyrs (rated 4.4/5 from 12,000+ reviews) is the main artery: a traditional market street with fromageries, patisseries, natural wine bars and independent restaurants. The Moulin Rouge (4.5/5 from 30,000+ reviews) on Boulevard de Clichy is the most photographed facade in the neighbourhood — visible from the street, no ticket needed for the exterior (the €87–210 dinner-and-show requires advance booking separately).
Rose Bakery (4.4/5 from 2,800+ reviews) on Rue des Martyrs is one of Paris’s most reviewed lunch spots for Anglo-French baking: scones, quiches and salads from €8–14. Supernat (4.5/5 from 1,400+ reviews) two doors down is one of the best natural wine shops in Paris with open bottles available by the glass from €6.
Full Transport Guide
Paris has one of the world’s most comprehensive urban rail networks. The Metro (16 lines), RER (5 regional lines within the city), bus and tram together cover every tourist destination. Taxis and Uber exist but are rarely necessary in central Paris.
🚌 Paris Transport Options
The Metro covers all five days of this itinerary except the Versailles day trip (RER C). A Navigo Easy card loaded with t+ tickets is the most cost-effective option for stays under 7 nights.
🚌
Métro (Lines 1–14 + 3b, 7b)
Underground · covers all central Paris
Single t+ ticket€1.73 (from Jan 2025)
Carnet of 10 tickets€16.90
Navigo Easy card fee€2.00 (one-time)
Operating hours05:30–01:15 (02:15 Fri–Sat)
t+ tickets are valid on a single journey (Metro, bus, tram — no transfer between Metro and bus). Buy Navigo Easy at any ticket machine or staffed window. Contactless payment on validators from 2025 at major stations.
🚊
RER (A/B/C/D/E)
Regional express · airport & day trips
Within Zones 1–2 (t+ valid)€1.73
CDG Airport (RER B)€11.80 flat
Versailles (RER C)€4.40 each way
Orly Airport (RER B + Orlyval)€14.50
RER stations within central Paris accept standard t+ tickets for intra-city travel. Airport and Versailles journeys require separate tickets purchased at the destination-specific machines. Do not use a standard t+ ticket for CDG or Versailles — it will not open the exit barriers.
🚐
Bus & Noctilien
Surface bus · t+ ticket valid · night buses
Single journey (t+ ticket)€1.73
Bus 96 (Montparnasse → Hôtel de Ville)Scenic Seine route
Noctilien (night buses)01:00–05:30
Buses are slower than Metro but give above-ground views of Paris — useful for scenic rides rather than efficient transit. Bus 69 (Eiffel Tower → Place de la Bastille via Saint-Germain) is a classic tourist route with no effort. Validate ticket on boarding.
🚘
Taxi & Uber
On-demand · useful for luggage & late night
CDG to Right Bank (fixed)€52–56
CDG to Left Bank (fixed)€62–67
Central Paris short trip€8–18
Official Paris taxis have fixed rates from both airports (set by prefecture). Within the city, fares are metered. Uber operates but is often more expensive than official taxis during surge. Avoid drivers soliciting in arrivals halls — use the official taxi rank only.
Cards & Cash in Paris
Paris is predominantly card-friendly — contactless payment (Visa/Mastercard/Apple Pay) is accepted at virtually all restaurants, museums, shops and transport ticketing machines. Cash is useful for small markets, street vendors and tips (rounding up is standard; 5–10% for service is appreciated but not obligatory). ATMs (distributeurs) are available at every Metro station. Avoid currency exchange kiosks at airports — bank ATMs give the best rate.
🗺 Full 5-Day Route Map
All 5 days plotted in sequence
🗺 11 locations across 5 days · Colour-coded by day
Where to Stay in Paris
All properties rated 8.5+ on Booking.com with 200+ reviews as of June 2026. The 1st–7th arrondissements are the most convenient base for this itinerary. The 9th–10th offer better value with Metro access to all sites within 15–20 minutes.
🏞
7th arr. · Eiffel Tower view ⭐ Top Pick
Hôtel Britannique
Elegant 40-room hotel on Quai de la Mégisserie in the 1st arrondissement — walkable to the Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle and the Seine. Haussmann-era building with individually furnished rooms, attentive service and one of the best location-to-price ratios in central Paris.
“Location is unbeatable — 5 minutes from the Louvre, right on the Seine. Breakfast is genuinely good for a Paris hotel.” — Booking.com user, April 2026
Check availability on Booking.com →
🏛
6th arr. · Saint-Germain Boutique
Hôtel des Grandes Écoles
A hidden garden courtyard hotel in the Latin Quarter — 51 rooms in three 19th-century pavilions around a private garden. Quiet, romantic and unlike anything else in Paris at this price point. 5-minute walk from Notre-Dame and the Musée de Cluny.
“Woke up to birdsong in a Paris garden. The rooms are old-fashioned in the best possible way.” — Booking.com user, May 2026
Check availability on Booking.com →
🌄
2nd arr. · Right Bank Value
Hôtel Bachaumont
Design hotel in a 1929 Art Deco building in the 2nd arrondissement — midpoint between the Louvre, Marais and Montmartre. The hotel brasserie is one of the neighbourhood’s best. Metro Line 3 from nearby Sentier gives 20-minute access to all itinerary sites.
“Beautiful building, great brasserie downstairs, and genuinely central location without the 1st-arrondissement prices.” — Booking.com user, March 2026
Check availability on Booking.com →
🏕
4th arr. · Marais Boutique
Hôtel du Petit Moulin
A 17th-century bakery converted into a 17-room boutique hotel designed by Christian Lacroix — each room is individually themed. Set in the heart of the Marais on Rue de Poitou, 3 minutes from Place des Vosges and the Picasso Museum.
“Every room is a different world — the Lacroix design is genuinely extraordinary. The Marais is the best Paris neighbourhood for walking.” — Booking.com user, February 2026
Check availability on Booking.com →
🏠
9th arr. · Best Value ⭐ Top Pick (budget)
Hôtel Gramont Opéra
Well-reviewed 3-star hotel near the Opéra Garnier with Metro Line 3 connection. Clean, reliable and significantly cheaper than equivalent 1st-arrondissement hotels. 20 minutes by Metro to all five days of this itinerary.
“Exactly what you need in Paris — clean, quiet, central enough, good breakfast. Saved €80/night vs similar in the 1st and didn’t notice the difference.” — Booking.com user, April 2026
Check availability on Booking.com →
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18th arr. · Montmartre
Hôtel Montmartre Mon Amour
Quirky boutique hotel in the heart of Montmartre village — 10 themed rooms, 5-minute walk from Sacré-Cœur. The best base if Day 5 Montmartre is the priority. Metro Line 12 from Abbesses gives access to the rest of the itinerary.
“Each room is completely different. Waking up in Montmartre and walking to the Sacré-Cœur steps before the crowds is worth the slight Metro commute.” — Booking.com user, January 2026
Check availability on Booking.com →
ℹHotel links above are Booking.com affiliate partner links. They do not affect our selection or ratings, and cost you nothing extra. Full affiliate disclosure →
📊 Research Sources & Methodology
Data sources: Itinerary informed by 8,000+ verified TripAdvisor and Google Maps reviews (minimum 4.0/5.0, 500+ reviews per attraction, verified June 2026). Hotel data from Booking.com (minimum 8.5/10, 200+ verified reviews) as of June 2026. Museum entry prices from official websites: eiffel-tower.com, ticketlouvre.fr, musee-orsay.fr, chateauversailles.fr, sainte-chapelle.fr, notredame.paris — all verified June 2026.
Transport data: Métro and RER fares from the official RATP fare schedule effective January 2025 (ratp.fr). RER C Versailles fare from the official Versailles tourism office. CDG and Orly fixed taxi rates from the Prefecture de Police de Paris official decree, verified June 2026.
Notre-Dame reopening: Information on the December 2024 reopening sourced from the official Notre-Dame de Paris communication office and cross-referenced with French Ministry of Culture announcements, verified June 2026.
Affiliate disclosure: Hotel links are Booking.com affiliate partner links. This does not affect rankings or selection. Full disclosure →
Last verified: 2026-06-02. Museum admission prices, Metro fares and attraction opening hours are subject to change. Verify with official sources before travel.
Information out of date? We update within 48 hours of verified corrections. Submit a correction →