5-Day Paris Itinerary at a Glance
Who This 5-Day Paris Itinerary Is For
This itinerary is designed for first-time visitors or return travelers who want to see the major sights—Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Montmartre, Versailles—plus neighborhoods like Le Marais, Saint-Germain and Canal Saint-Martin, without turning the trip into a checklist sprint.
Expect 15–20k steps per day, with built-in slow moments for café stops and wandering backstreets. If you're traveling with kids or prefer a slower pace, you can easily drop one minor museum or swap an evening neighborhood for an early night.
Popular Activities
Top-rated tours and experiences in Paris
Le Marais, Île de la Cité & Seine Evening Cruise
Ease into Paris with a walkable day focused on Le Marais, Notre-Dame's island and a sunset cruise on the Seine.
Morning
Place des Vosges & Le Marais Streets
Place des Vosges is one of the prettiest squares in Paris, and Le Marais's narrow streets give you that "I'm really in Paris" feeling within minutes.
How to Do It:
- • Begin at Place des Vosges and loop under the arcades before ducking into side streets like Rue des Francs-Bourgeois and Rue Vieille du Temple.
- • Browse a few boutiques and cafés, but don't over-shop yet—this is your orientation day.
- • If you like museums, you can pop into the Musée Carnavalet (Paris history, often free) for an hour.
Tips
- → Grab a coffee and pastry at a corner café rather than a chain—Le Marais is full of independent spots.
- → Take note of restaurants that look good for another night; they book up fast on weekends.
Afternoon
Île de la Cité & Notre-Dame Exterior
You'll see where medieval Paris began and get classic views of Notre-Dame, even as restoration continues.
How to Do It:
- • Walk from Le Marais across the Seine toward Île de la Cité.
- • Circle the Notre-Dame area for river views and photo spots along the quay.
- • Walk over to Square du Vert-Galant at the tip of the island for a quieter perspective over the water.
Tips
- → Notre-Dame's interior reopened in late 2024 and now uses timed free tickets with very heavy crowds. Check the cathedral's official site or Paris tourism board for the latest booking system and allow extra time for security.
- → Avoid the most aggressive souvenir stands right in front of the cathedral—better options are a few streets away.
Evening
Evening Seine Cruise
You'll glide past the Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Eiffel Tower and more, with zero effort and maximum views.
How to Do It:
- • Choose a sunset or night cruise departing near the Eiffel Tower or Île de la Cité.
- • Arrive 20–30 minutes early for an outdoor upper-deck seat.
- • Bring a light jacket even in summer; it gets breezy on the river.
Tips
- → Skip the most touristy dinner cruises if you care more about views than food—do a simple sightseeing cruise and eat elsewhere.
- → If it's raining, consider a covered boat with large windows instead of an open-top barge.
Eiffel Tower, Trocadéro & Champs-Élysées
Do your Eiffel Tower day properly, then walk the Champs-Élysées up to the Arc de Triomphe.
Morning
Eiffel Tower Visit
Still the classic Paris view—especially when you combine the summit with the 2nd floor and park views afterwards.
How to Do It:
- • Book official tickets 60 days in advance for your preferred time slot.
- • If summit tickets are gone, a 2nd floor ticket or small-group tour is still worth it.
- • On the way down, walk through Champ de Mars for postcard shots back toward the tower.
Tips
- → Watch for pickpockets and bracelet sellers around the tower base.
- → If you're afraid of heights, stay on the 2nd floor—views are excellent and platforms feel wider.
Afternoon
Trocadéro Viewpoint & Arc de Triomphe
From Trocadéro you get the wide-angle Eiffel view, and from the Arc's rooftop you see the city laid out in perfect Haussmann lines.
How to Do It:
- • Walk over Pont d'Iéna toward Trocadéro and climb the steps for your wide-angle Eiffel Tower photo.
- • Take the metro or walk up the Champs-Élysées to Arc de Triomphe.
- • Climb to the top of the Arc for 360° views at golden hour.
Tips
- → Use the underground passage to reach the Arc—never cross the traffic circle directly.
- → Time your Arc visit for late afternoon/early evening for the best light and fewer tour groups.
Evening
Bistro Dinner
A sit-down bistro meal (steak-frites, duck confit, crème brûlée) is half the Paris experience.
How to Do It:
- • Avoid restaurants on the busiest section of the Champs-Élysées—walk a few blocks off the main avenue.
- • Book a 7:30–8pm slot; 9pm+ is louder and more crowded.
Tips
- → Look for hand-written menus and mostly French spoken around you—that's usually a good sign.
- → If you're exhausted, grab a simpler brasserie dinner and head to bed early; tomorrow is museum day.
Louvre, Tuileries, Orangerie & Saint-Germain
Art-heavy day balanced by gardens and café time on the Left Bank.
Morning
Louvre Museum
From the Mona Lisa to ancient Egypt, the Louvre is a history of European art under one roof.
How to Do It:
- • Pre-book a timed ticket; arrive 30–45 minutes early.
- • Enter via Carrousel du Louvre or Porte des Lions when open to avoid the longest pyramid queues.
- • Follow a highlights route (Mona Lisa → Italian Renaissance → Egyptian Antiquities → Greek/Roman sculpture).
Tips
- → Closed on Tuesdays—swap this day with another if needed.
- → Wear comfortable shoes; distances inside are bigger than they look on the map.
Afternoon
Jardin des Tuileries & Musée de l'Orangerie
Tuileries gives you greenery and people-watching, while l'Orangerie's oval rooms were designed specifically for Monet's Water Lilies.
How to Do It:
- • Stroll east–west through Jardin des Tuileries, stopping at a café kiosk or chair by the pond.
- • Time-slot Musée de l'Orangerie for mid-afternoon when your feet want a break.
- • Spend 45–60 minutes inside, then head across the river toward Saint-Germain.
Tips
- → Orangerie is closed Tuesdays (same as the Louvre)—if your Day 3 lands on a Tuesday, rearrange days or use your flexible Day 4 afternoon for museums instead.
- → Book timed tickets for Orangerie in high season to skip queues.
- → If you're museumed-out, skip l'Orangerie and just enjoy the garden and a long coffee.
Evening
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
This is the Paris of writers and long conversations at small round tables.
How to Do It:
- • Walk Boulevard Saint-Germain past Café de Flore and Les Deux Magots for the atmosphere.
- • Book dinner at a small bistro on a side street rather than right on the boulevard.
- • End with a glass of wine or dessert at a café or wine bar.
Tips
- → Make dinner reservations in advance on Friday/Saturday nights.
- → Keep Google Maps in your pocket and allow yourself to wander—this area is safe and fun to explore.
Montmartre, Sacré-Cœur & Canal Saint-Martin
Bohemian hilltop views in the morning, local canals and bars in the evening.
Morning
Sacré-Cœur & Montmartre Backstreets
From the basilica steps you get one of Paris's best city views, and the lanes behind still feel like a hilltop village.
How to Do It:
- • Arrive by 9am at Anvers or Abbesses metro and walk up (or take the funicular).
- • Spend time on the basilica terrace, then wander behind to Rue des Saules, Place du Tertre and quieter side streets.
- • If you like small museums, consider Musée de Montmartre and its vineyard views.
Tips
- → Beware bracelet sellers at the bottom of the stairs—say a firm no and keep walking.
- → Montmartre is hilly; wear shoes with grip and avoid tight schedules here.
Afternoon
Choose-Your-Own Afternoon
By day 4, energy levels vary. A flexible block prevents burnout.
How to Do It:
- • Return to a neighborhood you loved (Le Marais, Saint-Germain, Latin Quarter) and wander side streets.
- • Or visit another museum such as Musée d'Orsay, Rodin Museum or Centre Pompidou depending on your interests.
Tips
- → Check museum closing days: Orsay (Mon), Louvre (Tue), Pompidou under long-term renovation—verify current status.
- → If the weather is great, prioritize outdoor cafés and parks over more indoor time.
Evening
Canal Saint-Martin
Popular with locals after work, the canal has a younger, more lived-in vibe than central tourist zones.
How to Do It:
- • Pick up picnic supplies or a bottle of wine from a nearby shop.
- • Join locals on the quays on a warm evening, or choose a bar/restaurant overlooking the water.
Tips
- → Keep valuables close at night; the area is lively but, like any big city, petty theft can happen.
- → If you're tired, a simple early dinner here followed by an early night is perfectly fine—tomorrow is a big day trip.
Versailles Day Trip & Latin Quarter Evening
Finish the trip with a royal palace, formal gardens and one last classic Paris evening.
Morning
Versailles Palace & Gardens
Hall of Mirrors, grand apartments and formal gardens show France at its most over-the-top royal peak.
How to Do It:
- • Take RER C to "Versailles Château – Rive Gauche" (about 45 minutes from central Paris).
- • Pre-book skip-the-line or timed palace entry.
- • Allow at least 3 hours for the palace + key garden areas; longer if you want to bike/golf-cart around the grounds.
Tips
- → Avoid Monday (palace closed) and Tuesday (often very busy).
- → Pack a small snack or plan to eat in the onsite cafés to avoid long searches for lunch.
Afternoon
Break & Packing Time
Use this window to rest, pack and pick up any last souvenirs.
How to Do It:
- • Drop bags at your hotel, take a short nap or gentle walk near your accommodation.
- • If you skipped something earlier (like a bookstore or specific shop), you can squeeze it in here.
Tips
- → Double-check airport/train transfer plans and timing for departure day.
- → This is also a good slot for a quick laundry run if you're continuing to another destination.
Evening
Latin Quarter Walk & Dinner
Student energy, bookshops and bistros make the Latin Quarter a fun, classic place for a final evening.
How to Do It:
- • Stroll around Place de la Contrescarpe, Rue Mouffetard and side streets.
- • Choose a bistro or wine bar for a relaxed final dinner.
- • If you still have energy, walk back across the Seine for one last look at the city lights.
Tips
- → Avoid the very cheapest tourist-menu places on Rue de la Huchette; look for smaller bistros on side streets.
- → If you have an early flight the next morning, keep this evening shorter and closer to your hotel.
Arrival & Departure: Flights and Airport Transfers
Fly into Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or Orly (ORY). For this 5-day itinerary, aim to arrive by midday on Day 1 and depart on the morning of Day 6.
From both airports you can take RER B + metro, airport buses or a pre-booked airport transfer. For late arrivals, lots of luggage or kids, using a private transfer is usually worth the extra cost.
If you're continuing elsewhere in France by train, plan your last night near your departure station (Gare de Lyon, Montparnasse, etc.) to simplify departure morning.
Where to Stay for 5 Days in Paris
For a 5-day trip, location matters more than having a huge room. Focus on staying central so most of this itinerary is reachable in under 25 minutes by metro or on foot.
Best bases for this itinerary: Le Marais, Saint-Germain, the Latin Quarter, and parts of the 1st, 2nd and 7th arrondissements. These areas give you easy access to major sights plus plenty of cafés, bakeries and bistros.
If you're on a tighter budget, look at the 10th/11th around Canal Saint-Martin or the 9th (South Pigalle)—you'll get lower nightly rates with only a short metro ride to the center.
Avoid very cheap hotels at the far edges of the city or with consistently poor reviews. Saving €20–30 per night is rarely worth adding 40+ minutes of commuting each day.
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About This Guide
Written by: Jan Křenek
Independent developer and travel data analyst based in Prague. 35+ countries visited across Europe and Asia, 8+ years analyzing flight routes, accommodation prices, and seasonal weather patterns.
Published: November 20, 2025
Updated: November 20, 2025
Data Sources: Official tourism boards and visitor guides • GetYourGuide and Viator activity data • Booking.com and Numbeo pricing data • Google Maps reviews and ratings
Methodology: This guide combines historical climate data, current tourism patterns, and real traveler budgets to provide accurate, actionable recommendations for Paris.