Paris 5-Day Itinerary (For A First-Time Visitor!)

Planning your first trip to Paris? This is one of the world’s most romantic and culturally rich destinations and it’s among the most visited cities in the world.

From iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Louvre Museum to charming neighborhoods such as Montmartre and the Latin Quarter, there are a ton of incredible sights here. Large crowds and countless attractions spread across this sprawling city, which can make the destination challenging at times.

In fact, this city tends to garner some very polarizing opinions, with many loving it and nearly just as many hating it.

Below is everything I did during a 5-day trip to Paris, I saw lots of the tourist highlights and really enjoyed my time here. By sharing my exact itinerary and tips I picked up along the way, I hope this helps you fall in the ‘love it’ category.

Read on for my exact 5-day Paris itinerary as a first-time visitor.

5-Day Paris Itinerary For First-Time Visitors

Day 1: Paris 5-Day Itinerary

Musée d’Orsay

Day 1 we landed, stored our bags, and headed for Musée d’Orsay, a museum which I loved. In fact, it was probably my favorite museum of the entire trip.

Musée d’Orsay is located in a former railway station (which is a work of art in itself) and showcases an incredible collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces. Visitors can admire world-famous works by Monet, Van Gogh, Degas, and Renoir, alongside beautiful marble sculptures.

We spent about 3 hours here and that allowed us to see a majority of the well-known displays.

We booked our timed-entry ticket 1 week in advance at Musée d’Orsay, but most morning time slots were already full by this point, so I’d book even further out.

Arc de Triomphe

After a few hours in Musée d’Orsay, we grabbed our bags and checked into our rental, then headed to the Arc de Triomphe, a world-famous monument commissioned by Napoleon I in 1806 to honor the French army.

Note: You can head straight to the Arc de Triomphe from Musée d’Orsay by following the Champs-Élysées, a famous avenue lined with luxury boutiques, theaters, cafes, and historic landmarks.

At the top of the arch is a large rooftop platform with excellent views, we tried timing our visit for sunset but were a bit off. To avoid making the same mistake we did, give yourself some extra time to reach the rooftop. Once your ticket is secured, you’ve got go through security, then walk up 284 steps. Next time, I’d buy my ticket in advance at Arc de Triomphe and show up about 30 minutes before sunset.

Once on the rooftop viewing platform, you’ve got fantastic 360-degree views of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower. We spent a lot of time up here taking photos and enjoying the views.

On the way down, we read about the history of this massive monument in the small museum just below the observation deck.

After all this, we took in the views of the monument from ground level, it’s got a remarkable amount of detail! The 164-foot limestone arch is covered with intricate sculptures and engraved with the names of military victories and generals. Beneath the arch also lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, with an eternal flame that burns in remembrance of fallen soldiers.

I absolutely think this was a worthy excursion, I just wish we’d done it later in the week. Having just landed in Paris, I didn’t really know what I was looking at yet, whereas if I’d gone a few days later, I would’ve recognized some landmarks. It’s all good though, I still really enjoyed this one. 

See The Eiffel Tower From Trocadéro

To wrap up the night, we went to Trocadéro to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle.

The Trocadéro is centered around the Palais de Chaillot, which houses several museums, including the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine and the Musée de l’Homme. We didn’t visit any of these museums during this trip, just stopped by to admire the surrounding views instead.

Thanks to its prime location directly across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, the Trocadéro has become a famous location in Paris, offering an excellent vantage of the beloved landmark.

Seeing the Eiffel Tower at any time is incredible, but to watch it sparkle at night is extra special. If you want to catch the twinkling lights, they go off for 5 minutes at the top of every hour beginning after sunset and going until 11 pm.

Day 2: Paris 5-Day Itinerary

Louvre Museum

Day 2 we were up early to visit the Louvre. To avoid standing in a long, long line, this is a ticket you must secure well in advance. We booked the opening time slot (9 am) one month in advance via Louvre Museum.

Trust me, when I say the lines are long, I’m not exaggerating, this is the world’s largest and most-visited museum. Even with a timed-entry reservation, you will wait in a long security line to enter, those without a ticket will likely wait hours.

The Louvre has garnered an elite reputation thanks to an unmatched art collection spanning thousands of years. It’s housed in a former royal palace, showcasing masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace, to name only a few.

The museum is so large, in fact, it would technically take a month to see everything, so you really need to arrive with a plan.

There are lots of guided tours available, but we just followed this self-guided tour from the Louvre’s official website Louvre Masterpieces Self-Guided Tour (it’s free!). This essentially shows you the highlights and it was great for a beginner like me who didn’t know much about the museum.

Some exhibits I particularly enjoyed were The Caryatids and Treasures of the Italian Renaissance, in the latter you can see some of Leonardo da Vinci’s pieces up close — I liked this because you can’t get close to the Mona Lisa, so seeing the detail in some of his other pieces helps you imagine the detail in that legendary painting.

I also enjoyed the Galerie d’Apollon and the temporary exhibit, which happened to be Louvre Couture during my visit, the museum’s first ever fashion display.

After visiting inside, we walked around outside the Louvre, there’s an interesting blend of historic and modern architecture here. It’s really cool and definitely worth a quick walk around.

Outside the Louvre are also the the Carrousel and Tuileries Gardens, we didn’t visit them this time, but hopefully will another time.

Luxembourg Garden & The Panthéon

Instead of walking around the previously mentioned gardens, we headed to Luxembourg Garden, another of the city’s beloved green spaces.

We saw the Medici Fountain, watched kids play with charming toy sailing boats, and wandered the gravel paths between the park’s well maintained lawns and gardens.

It was a perfect mental reset following 3 hours in the Louvre.

After about an hour in the park, we grabbed a quick meal and briefly walked around the Latin Quarter. We’ll spend more time in this area later in the week, so we didn’t see a ton this time.

We passed by the Panthéon, though, there wasn’t enough time to go inside, but the exterior is so grand I thought it was at least worth a quick stop.

The Panthéon is a Neoclassical monument, originally built as a church but now serving as a mausoleum for some of France’s greatest figures (that’s an elaborate way of saying “famous French people are buried here”). With its massive dome and Corinthian columns, the Panthéon’s design was inspired by ancient Roman architecture, and is a rather uncommon design-type in Paris.

Saint-Sulpice Church

Finally, to wrap up the afternoon, we stopped by Saint-Sulpice Church, the third largest church in Paris.

This is a 17th-century Baroque-style building, known for its grand exterior, towering twin spires, and impressive artwork inside. The church is also home to the Gnomon of Saint-Sulpice, a historic astronomical device, and a world-renowned pipe organ, one of the largest and France and among the finest in Europe.

The design elements in this church were really beautiful and there were much less people here compared to other attractions in Paris, so I enjoyed walking around here for a bit. I’m also a fan of The Da Vinci Code, which famously references this church, so it was cool to see in person.

Note: We visited the church while filming was taking place outside, for this reason we couldn’t see the front of the church and had to enter through the back, this may be why so few people were here during our visit.

Eiffel Tower Picnic

That night we had a picnic under the Eiffel Tower, it was one of my favorite things we did the entire trip.

I picked up vegan meat, cheeses, and wine from a specialty store called Mon Epicerie Paris (in the 3rd), there were so many good things here. My cousin picked up a few items from a cheese store in the neighborhood, and we got a traditional baguette from our local bakery.

With the goods secured we headed to Jardin de la Tour Eiffel, a green space right under the Eiffel Tower, it was perfection, the views here are outstanding. We ate dinner while the sun set, then watched the Eiffel Tower sparkle not once, but twice.

Note: I haven’t been able to find a firm answer regarding the legality of alcohol in Jardin de la Tour Eiffel, so we kept our wine in discrete cups, left all glass at home, and avoided drinking in excess. There were plenty of others drinking around us, nobody was getting rowdy though.

Day 3: Paris 5-Day Itinerary

Palace Of Versailles

Day 3 we headed to the Palace of Versailles. Again, we got the 9 am entry time, which is the earliest available, and because this is such a popular attraction we booked our tickets 1 month in advance at Palace of Versailles.

The Palace of Versailles is one of the most opulent and historically significant landmarks in France, it’s famed for extravagant Baroque architecture, Gilded interiors, massive gardens, and a lot of political drama.

We were a bit unprepared for Versailles.

While walking through the Palace, infographics are difficult to read due to large crowds. For this reason, I highly recommend purchasing an audio guide or downloading the Palace of Versailles app, it’s free and includes a very handy self-guided tour. Unfortunately, I didn’t know about the app until after my visit, but I’ve since listened to it and really enjoyed it. It would’ve been excellent to have during my visit.

After visiting inside the Palace, spend some time in the gardens. These are not ordinary gardens, they’re massive, so wear comfortable shoes to get around by foot, or even consider renting bikes or golf carts.

At this point you’re probably going to be hungry, there are a number of places to get food here or you can bring your own picnic.

Finally, don’t forget to also tour Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette’s Estate, it’s separate from the Palace, but included with your ticket. Just be aware that it does have different hours.

As you can imagine, you can easily spend an entire day at the Palace of Versailles. Even arriving unprepared, I still really enjoyed the visit, the Palace is magnificent. But with better preparation, I would’ve gotten more out of the visit.

Note: The Palace of Versailles is about an hour outside of Paris. It’s accessible by Metro via the RER. The train is very cheap and convenient, train tickets do not need to be purchased in advance.

Catacombs Of Paris

After a half day at Versailles and a quick lunch in our neighborhood, we headed to the Catacombs of Paris.

The Catacombs are a vast underground burial site holding the remains of over six million people, making it one of the city’s most eerie yet fascinating attractions. Originally the site of limestone quarries, they were transformed into an ossuary in the late 18th century to address the issue of overcrowded cemeteries.

Eventually, the bones were meticulously arranged into oddly beautiful patterns along the tunnel paths (a job you couldn’t pay me a million dollars to do), quickly making this a highly popular public attraction.

To visit the Paris Catacombs you need to book a ticket in advance, they become available 7 days out. Keep in mind, only a limited number of people can visit at a time, so they enforce a strict timed-entry policy, and in-person tickets are normally sold out. As with all Paris attractions, be sure to book through the official website, theirs is Les Catacombes de Paris (and your ticket includes an audio guide!)

With your ticket secured, you’ll follow a 1.5 kilometer (.9 miles) one-way circuit through narrow and dim corridors lined with skulls and femurs for the majority of the way. Be aware, the path also includes 131 steps to go down, 112 steps to climb up, and is uneven at times. Most people require about an hour to complete the tour. Also, the Catacombs are damp and chilly year-round, remaining a consistent 14°C (57°F) with high humidity, bring a sweater.

This was one of my favorite attractions in Paris, it was so unusual and unsettling, yet somehow incredibly interesting.

After a tour through the Catacombs, we enjoyed another wonderful picnic under the Eiffel Tower at Jardin de la Tour Eiffel before calling it a night.

Day 4: Paris 5-Day Itinerary

Notre-Dame

On day 4 we headed to some of the city’s most famous churches, first up is Notre-Dame.

This is one of the most iconic French Gothic cathedrals in the world, renowned for its grandiose architecture with towering spires and intricate embellishments both inside and out.

It was originally built between the 12th and 14th centuries and has been a witness to key moments in French history ever since.

It’s located on Île de la Cité, a small island in the Seine just off the Latin Quarter, and is easily accessible by both vehicle and pedestrian bridges.

This is one of the most visited attractions in all of Paris, so don’t expect the peace and solitude you’d normally find in a church. Having said that, the church is very large, so the crowds aren’t too overwhelming even with abundant visitors.

The church is free to visit but there are often long lines to get in. I’ve yet to find a way to book reservations far in advance, but they do have online reservations available a few hours before your visit, which you can secure at Notre-Dame de Paris. So, at 7 am on the day of my visit, I booked an entry time of 10 am. Upon arrival, my QR code was quickly scanned before passing through security, no lines whatsoever. It was great.

As for the church itself, I do think it’s incredibly beautiful in here, I understand the hype. Be sure to take in the detail outside the church as well, the building facade and even the cathedral doors are so intricate. I’m very grateful that my trip to Paris landed just after the cathedral’s reopening in late-2024.

Sainte-Chapelle

After visiting Notre-Dame, we walked the short distance to another famous French church, Sainte-Chapelle.

This is considered one of the greatest achievements of Gothic architecture particularly due to the 1,113 stained glass panels, which depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen, the colorful and intricate windows rise up 15 meters (49 feet) from the floor of an otherwise very small room.

The church was originally built in the 13th-century to house precious Christian relics like the Crown of Thorns and a fragment of the True Cross, which have since been moved to the treasury of Notre-Dame de Paris.

The famous stained glass room is in the upper chapel which requires one flight of stairs to access. Visitors also have access to the lower chapel, which is less ornate but still really beautiful.

I loved this church and absolutely think it’s worth a visit. Just be sure to book tickets at least a few weeks in advance, you can do so at Sainte-Chapelle. Due to the chapel’s small size, only a limited number of visitors are allowed inside per day. Purchasing tickets day-of (like we did) can often take hours and entry is not guaranteed. Don’t be like me.

Walk Along The Seine River

After visiting both churches, we walked along the Seine and had a picnic, while enjoying some impeccable spring weather.

For a majority of the way, we followed the pedestrian-only pathway along the river bank. While it’s certainly not crowd-free, it is much less crowded than the upper sidewalks, which run alongside the car traffic.

I loved the lower pathway, we had great views of Notre-Dame and the Eiffel Tower, and there were occasional grassy areas to sit.

For a portion of the walk, we also followed the upper sidewalks, were you’ll find artist stalls, street musicians, and the famous bouquinistes (book stalls) selling vintage books and prints. There is a lot of interesting stuff to look at, however, the sidewalks become quite narrow with the artists stalls, making the crowds feel more intense.

île Saint-Louis

We then detoured to the small island of Saint-Louis which I loved, it was so adorable here.

As with the previously mentioned neighboring island, Île de la Cité, Saint-Louis is just off the Latin Quarter and easily accessible by both vehicle and pedestrian bridges.

The picture-perfect island is home to elegant buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, and quaint cafes. It’s a perfect for a leisurely stroll while browsing boutique shops and art galleries.

Don’t forget to grab some ice cream from Berthillon.

Latin Quarter & Shakespeare and Co Bookstore

After visiting île Saint-Louis, we explored the intricate alleyways and historic buildings which make up the Latin Quarter. While this area is really crowded, there are some gorgeous buildings and cafes here, just wander around and see what you find (that’s what we did!).

We popped into Shakespeare and Company, a cozy bookstore famed for floor to ceiling books and adorable reading nooks. It’s definitely not a hidden gem, so while it’s beautiful, it’s not easy to browse books in here. Additionally, there may be a line to get in. I’m not sure it’s worth it if you’ve got to wait a long time, we were lucky and walked right in without a queue though.

After seeing the bookstore, we stopped by a random bar for a few drinks before our next excursion, which was one of my favorites of the entire trip.

Sunset River Cruise On The Seine

Finally, to wrap up day 4, we did a sunset river cruise along the Seine. This was so much fun, I absolutely loved it.

A river cruise is a magical way to see the city’s most iconic landmarks no matter the time of day, but it’s extra special at sunset. Along the river you’ll pass famous sights like Notre-Dame, the Louvre, Musée d’Orsay, and the Eiffel Tower.

There are many tour companies to choose from, we booked the Sunset Happy Hour Cruise with Les Vedettes du Pont Neuf about a week before our visit. It included an hour on the water, a drink, and lots of fabulous views.

For more information about the cruise we booked, check out my Sunset River Cruise In Paris guide.

It was the perfect way to conclude a very busy 4th day in Paris.

Day 5: Paris 5-Day Itinerary

Palais Garnier

On the morning of our final day in Paris, we headed to the Montmartre neighborhood, but made a few quick stops along the way.

Our first was Palais Garnier, which is one of the most famous opera houses in the world. It’s known for Beaux-Arts architecture, grand marble staircases, Gilded chandeliers, a grand foyer reminiscent of Versailles’ famous Hall of Mirrors, not to mention an extravagant auditorium complete with a massive painted ceiling.

It’s also famous as the inspiration for Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera.

Tours here are very popular but it didn’t fit into our schedule, so we just did a walk-by this time, I hope to return during another visit.

Galeries Lafayette

Just across from Palais Garnier are the Galeries Lafayette, a luxury department store that also happens to have an incredible interior and beautiful rooftop space.

The stained-glass dome is a stunner, and definitely worth a quick peak, it’s located in the main building. In this same building, you can follow the escalators to the rooftop where you’ll find a large outdoor space with excellent views of the city. Best of all, this is all free.

Montmartre

After a quick visit to Galeries Lafayette, we made our way to Montmartre, where we spent a majority of the day.

This artistic district was once home to legendary painters like Picasso and Van Gogh, and still exudes a creative spirit today. You’ll find numerous galleries throughout the neighborhood, plus bustling street stalls in areas like Place Du Tertre.

And thanks to Montmartre’s excellent location atop a large hill, it has sweeping views of Paris.

In addition to a deep history and beautiful views, it’s also an incredibly charming area, filled with picture-perfect buildings and charming cafes.

I really enjoyed walking around here, we also stopped in Sacré-Coeur and Musée de Montmartre, which I’ll talk about more below. If you have the time though, this is a good place to join a walking tour.

Sacré-Coeur

At the heart of Montmartre you’ll find the incredible Sacré-Coeur, a massive church that’s become one of the most visited monuments in Paris.

The domed Romanesque-Byzantine structure took nearly 40 years to complete, with construction finishing in the early 1900s. The interior matches the exterior’s grandness, with countless intricate mosaics (my favorite feature!), and one of the world’s largest bells, named the Savoyarde.

Standing outside the church’s front entrance, you’ll also have outstanding views of Paris below.

The basilica is free to visit, although you’ll have to wait in a security line to enter. The line was long but moved fast during our visit.

Musée de Montmartre

While in Montmartre we also visited Musée de Montmartre, a hidden gem in Paris.

It’s set in a charming 17th-century building that once served as a home and studio for famous artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Suzanne Valadon. Inside, visitors can explore paintings and memorabilia telling the story of Montmartre’s vibrant artistic and cabaret scene, from the Moulin Rouge to the legendary cafés where Picasso and Toulouse-Lautrec gathered.

I thought this was an excellent way to learn about the history of Monmartre and the artists who have called this neighborhood home.

While here, be sure to also check out the Renoir Gardens, a peaceful green space with great views of the Clos Montmartre vineyard.

We purchased our tickets day-of and enjoyed the museum for about 2 hours with just a handful of other visitors.

Additional Things To Do In Paris

There are so many wonderful attractions in Paris, it’s impossible to see them all in your first visit alone.

Below are a couple items that didn’t make the itinerary due to time.

• Paris Sewer Museum
• Antique and vintage markets
• Jazz bars
• Père Lachaise Cemetery
• Bibliothèque Nationale de France
• Bastille Open Air Market (Marché Bastille) – bring cash!
• Musée de l’Orangerie
• Les Invalides (The Tomb of Napoleon)
• Palais Garnier tour

Where I Stayed In Paris

For 4 out of the 5 nights we stayed at a rental in the 15th arrondissement, near the edge of the 7th. I was obsessed with this area, it was bustling with locals instead of tourists. The restaurants were casual and affordable, servers were nice, and the bars were full of locals, it was the perfect place to unwind and reset.

Where we stayed in the 15th was about a 15 – 20 minute walk to the Eiffel Tower and a 15 – 20 minute Metro ride to most tourist attractions. If you’re not comfortable taking the Metro, I don’t recommend this area, you’ll be wasting a lot of time in traffic.

I have recommendations for the best places to stay for first-time visitors over in Where To Stay In Paris (for first-time visitors) guide.

For our final night we stayed in the 10th arrondissement, we needed to be near Paris Gare du Nord for an early travel day the next morning. We stayed at Hôtel Le Milie Rose, which I loved, the hotel was adorable. There are many hotels in this area and lots of them have bad reviews, this one did not, and I can understand why.

While I loved the hotel, this was not my favorite area. Being near a major train station, it didn’t have the quiet and charm you’ll find in other parts of Paris (we did have a really good dinner here at Faubourg Daimant though). Having said all that, we only stayed for a limited time and we kept to a small area, so take my review with a grain of salt.

Getting Around

In most Paris neighborhoods it’s easy to get around on foot. But you’ll need something quicker when moving throughout the city — Paris is larger and more spread out that you might expect.

The metro is usually the fastest and most efficient way to get around, and after using it once or twice, it becomes much easier to navigate than it first appears.

I highly recommend using either Google Maps or the Citymapper app for directions — both work extremely well in Paris. Just know that metro stations often involve a lot of stairs and walking corridors (if traveling with large luggage, you may want to skip the metro). Check out my Tips For Riding The Paris Metro for information on buying tickets, safety, and more.

While taxis and rideshares are widely available (use Uber, Bolt, or the G7 app), traffic in Paris can be very slow, especially during busy hours. Plan accordingly if this is your preferred mode of transit.

What To Wear

Most people in Paris dress stylishly, but in a very simple and understated way — think neutral basics, layers, trench coats, scarves, comfortable shoes, and outfits that actually work for walking around the city all day.

One of the biggest things to prioritize when packing for Paris is definitely comfortable footwear. Between sightseeing, Metro stairs, museums, cafes, and wandering different neighborhoods, it’s very common to walk well over 20,000 steps in a day here.

A few versatile layers, practical shoes, and simple outfits you genuinely feel good wearing will work perfectly for most trips.

For outfit ideas and a full packing list check out my guide to What To Wear In Paris.

Paris is a wonderful and intricate city, but it’s not the easiest travel destination, so if you’re planning your first trip, I hope you’ve found this helpful.

Any questions? Please leave a comment below or reach out on social media.

Looking for more information? Check out my additional guides below.

More Information For Your Paris Vacation:

• Where To Stay In Paris (for first-time visitors)
• Sunset River Cruise In Paris: A Perfect Evening On The Seine
• Paris Tips For First-Time Visitors
• Tips For Riding The Paris Metro
• What To Wear In Paris