Day 1
Iconic Paris
Start at the Eiffel Tower and Trocadéro, walk the Champs-Élysées up to the Arc de Triomphe, and end with a Seine cruise as the city lights come on.
Paris wears its reputation lightly: the Eiffel Tower over the Champ de Mars, Haussmann's boulevards, the Seine curling under dozens of bridges. Yet the city lives less in its monuments than in its rituals — the espresso at the zinc counter, the crackle of a fresh baguette, the unhurried art of walking nowhere in particular.
Each quarter keeps its own character, from the medieval lanes of the Marais to the bookshops of Saint-Germain and the bohemian slopes of Montmartre. You don't tick Paris off — you drift through it, get lost on purpose, and let a café terrace decide the shape of your afternoon.
Itinerary
Day 2
Art & history
Give the morning to the Louvre, breathe in the Tuileries, then cross to the Île de la Cité for Notre-Dame and the Sainte-Chapelle before losing yourself in the Latin Quarter.
Day 3
Montmartre & Marais
Climb early to the Sacré-Cœur and explore Montmartre's lanes, then switch to the Marais for boutiques, falafel and the Musée d'Orsay in the late afternoon.
Highlights
🏛️Landmark
Eiffel Tower
Gustave Eiffel's 300-metre iron tower from 1889 is the city's undisputed emblem, with lifts climbing to the summit viewing deck at 276 metres. After dark it sparkles for five minutes on the hour, best watched from the Trocadéro terrace across the river.
🖼️Museum
The Louvre
The world's largest art museum holds the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory behind I. M. Pei's glass pyramid. To dodge the pyramid queue, enter through the underground Carrousel du Louvre or the quieter Porte des Lions.
🏘️Neighbourhood
Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur
The city's highest hill is crowned by the white domes of the Sacré-Cœur basilica, above a maze of cobbled lanes, staircases and the painters' Place du Tertre. Come early in the morning to wander the back streets and drink in the free panorama before the tour groups arrive.
🏛️Landmark
Notre-Dame & Île de la Cité
On the Seine island that forms the historic heart of Paris rises the Gothic cathedral of Notre-Dame, reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire. A few steps away, the Sainte-Chapelle glows with 13th-century stained glass soaring 15 metres high.
🖼️Museum
Musée d'Orsay
Set in a lavish Belle Époque railway station on the Seine, it holds the world's finest collection of Impressionist art, with Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir and Degas. Don't miss the view through the giant glass face of the station's original clock on the top floor.
🌄Viewpoint
Seine Banks & Bouquinistes
The UNESCO-listed riverbanks of the Seine are lined with the green boxes of the bouquiniste booksellers, ornate bridges like the Pont Alexandre III and views back to Notre-Dame. It's best enjoyed on an evening river cruise or a picnic on the quay steps as the sun turns the stone gold.
Neighbourhoods
Le Marais
A fashionable 17th-century maze across the 3rd and 4th arrondissements, full of mansions, concept stores and the Jewish Rue des Rosiers. Ideal for wandering, with the Picasso Museum and the arcaded Place des Vosges at its heart.
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
The intellectual Left Bank of café legends Les Deux Magots and Café de Flore, now polished and literary. A perfect base for the Orsay, the Luxembourg Gardens and long afternoons among bookshops.
Montmartre
The former artists' village of the 18th, clinging to its hill and crowned by the Sacré-Cœur. Step off the tourist spine and you find quiet vineyards, staircases and cafés that still belong to the neighbourhood.
Canal Saint-Martin
A plane-tree-lined canal of footbridges where young, creative Paris slows down. Concept shops, natural-wine bars and canal-side picnics make it the city's most laid-back quarter.
Where to eat
Boulangerie viennoiserie
The morning starts with a still-warm, flaky croissant or a pain au chocolat from the corner bakery. Look for the 'fabrication maison' sign — made on the premises makes all the difference.
Bistro classics
Steak-frites, French onion soup, duck confit and œufs mayo served on paper tablecloths by candlelight. The best hide in small, tight bistros off the main streets, where the menu is chalked by hand.
Cheese & wine
A well-aged board from the fromager with a glass of natural wine from a cave à manger. Ask for a selection from soft to strong and let the cheesemonger guide you.
Pâtisserie
Macarons, éclairs, tarte au citron and the small masterpieces of makers like Pierre Hermé. One perfectly made pastry in the afternoon beats any window full of mediocrity.
Good to know
Best time to visit
Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September and October) are ideal — mild weather, gardens in bloom or golden light, and lively terraces. Summer is warm with long evenings but crowded, and many Parisians leave in August. Winter is grey and cold but magical around the holidays, with fewer crowds and lower prices.
Getting around
The Metro is fast and blankets the whole city; pick up a Navigo Easy card as paper tickets are being phased out in 2026, or use the RATP app. Central Paris is gloriously walkable, and the RER links you to Versailles and both airports. A Paris Museum Pass saves queuing time at 55-plus sights.
- Currency
- EUR €
- Languages
- French
How much does Paris cost?
A realistic daily budget per person, in three styles.
Backpacker€70per person / day
Mid-range€150per person / day
Comfort€300per person / day
Paris can be expensive, but there are options for every budget.
Local tips
- ✓Always say 'Bonjour' before you ask anything — it changes everything.
- ✓Many national museums are free on the first Sunday of the month; go early.
- ✓Skip the Champs-Élysées cafés and eat where the side streets get narrow.
