In this guide, learn how to spend 2 days in Paris. We cover the top sights to visit, how to get around, where to stay, and of course, how to plan your time.

If you are planning your first visit to Paris, this Paris itinerary is perfect for you. With 2 days in Paris, you have just enough time to visit the highlights of this extraordinary city. Visit the Louvre, enjoy the views from the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, stroll along the Champs-ร‰lysรฉes, and explore the charming neighborhoods of Paris.

So far, we have visited Paris four times. Paris is one of our favorite cities in the world, and we want to share everything we’ve learned during our visits.

We know what itโ€™s like to travel with limited time. Many of our first trips to Europe involved quick, two- or three-day visits to major cities. Whether youโ€™re squeezing Paris into a bigger European adventure or just want a quick introduction to the city, two days is enough to see its main highlightsโ€”just be prepared for a busy, fun-filled itinerary.

Paris is one of Europeโ€™s most visited cities and with that, lines can be long at the more popular attractions. However, with some advance planning, you can book your tickets in advance, to avoid these long waits. We let you know how to do this in this itinerary.

The times listed in the daily schedule are rough estimates, just to give you an idea about timing throughout the day. Your times may differ, based on queues and how much time you decide to spend at each place. I did my best to anticipate waiting times and visiting times, but on very busy days (or very quiet days) these times can differ.

I do my best to keep the hours of operation and pricing up to date for each attraction, however, these can change at any time. I recommend getting updated hours and pricing for your dates of travel. The link to the official website is provided for each site.

November 2025 Update: Added updated pricing and verified all links. Added new information about visiting Notre Dame (the towers are open).

The city center of Paris is bisected by the Seine River. The main sites in Paris are clustered on either side of this river.

The Right Bank (Rive Droite) refers to the area of Paris that is north of the Seine River. This is where you will find the Champs-ร‰lysรฉes, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Louvre, the Marais, and Palais Garnier, just to name a few.

The Left Bank (Rive Gauche) refers to the area of Paris that is south of the Seine River. This is where you will find the Eiffel Tower, Musรฉe dโ€™Orsay, the Rodin Museum, and the Latin Quarter.

Just to keep things interesting, there are also two islands that sit within the Seine River, รŽle de la Citรฉ and รŽle Saint-Louis. This is where you will find Notre Dame and Sainte Chapelle.

Spiraling out from the Seine River are the 20 arrondissements of Paris. An arrondissement is a district. They are numbered 1 to 20, starting with 1 at the tip of รŽle de la Citรฉ and spiraling out clockwise from here. The lower numbered arrondissements are located near the Seine River and the higher numbered arrondissements are located farther from the city center.

Finally, there are many different neighborhoods in Paris. Some of these neighborhoods are located in more than one arrondissement. For example, the Marais is located in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements. Other famous neighborhoods are Saint-Germain des Prรฉs (6th arrondissement), Montmartre (18th arrondisement), and the Latin Quarter (5th arrondissement).

Notre Dame Paris View | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

View from Notre Dame | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

Paris is a large city that is filled with historical sites, museums, and some of the most famous landmarks in the world. Add in sidewalk cafes, rooftops bars, and charming neighborhoods to explore, and you could easily spend a week here and not run out of things to do.

Ideally, plan on spending at least three days in Paris. This gives you just enough time to visit the highlights, explore a few neighborhoods, and dine at a few restaurants. If you have three days, take a look at our Three Days in Paris itinerary.

With 2 days in Paris, you can see the main highlights in two very busy days. It will be a whirlwind of a visit and booking your entrance tickets in advance will be key in maximizing your time, but what an amazing 2 days it will be!

In this Paris itinerary, we want to help you experience the best of Paris in the most efficient and enjoyable way possible.

Below is a list of the places to visit if you have 2 days in Paris. All of these are included on this Paris itinerary.

  • Eiffel Tower
  • Arc de Triomphe
  • The Louvre
  • Tuileries Garden
  • The Champs-ร‰lysรฉes
  • Place de la Concorde
  • Notre Dame Cathedral
  • รŽle de la Citรฉ
  • Seine River
  • Musรฉe dโ€™Orsay
  • Montmartre
  • Sacre-Coeur Basilica
Montmartre Paris France | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

Rue de l’Abreuvoir in Montmartre

Museum Closings in Paris

One more thing to cover before getting to the itinerary: museum closings.

Mondays and Tuesdays are the days when many museums in Paris close, so ideally, plan your visit for Wednesday through Sunday, when the museums are open. If you plan to visit Paris on a Monday or Tuesday, there is a good chance that you will have to modify this Paris itinerary.

Note: not all of these museums are included on this itinerary, but I am listing them, just in case you plan to alter the itinerary and visit one of these museums.

  • Musรฉe dโ€™Orsay
  • Musรฉe Rodin
  • Versailles
  • Louvre
  • Musรฉe lโ€™Orangerie
  • Pompidou Centre

2 Days in Paris Itinerary

Next is the detailed 2-day Paris itinerary, day by day, complete with maps and helpful tips we’ve picked up during our visits. These days can be done in any order, but I think day 1, which includes the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, is a very nice introduction to Paris.

On your first day in Paris, you will visit several of the most popular attractions in the city.

This day is an exact copy of day #1 of our 3-day Paris itinerary. I think this is a great way to spend your first day in Paris, especially if it is your first time in the city. Not only do you get to see some of Parisโ€™ most famous sites, but itโ€™s a nice mix of walking, big views, and this first day doesnโ€™t go crazy with museum visits.

To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.

9 am: Eiffel Tower

If it is your first time in Paris, climbing the Eiffel Tower for panoramic views of the city is a great way to start off your visit.

We’re doing this first, since morning is the best time of the day to avoid the massively long lines to enter the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower

When you visit the Eiffel Tower, you have several options on how to do it. There are several levels to visit (the first level, the second level, and the top of the Eiffel Tower aka the summit) and two ways up the Eiffel Tower (by elevator or by stairs).

The line for the stairs is typically much shorter than the line for the elevator, so if you did not book your tickets in advance, consider climbing those stairs to avoid a long wait in line.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Book your tickets in advance. This can literally save you hours of time. I have heard of people waiting up to 3 hours to enter the Eiffel Tower. I also recommend that you book your tickets as soon as you know your dates of travel. During peak season, tickets can sell out almost as soon as they become available (which is 60 days in advance). If tickets are sold out, we recommend this tour, which is one of the cheapest tours of the Eiffel Tower (we took this tour and had a great experience).

We have visited the Eiffel Tower multiple times. In our opinion, you get the best experience on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. The views of Paris are spectacular but you don’t have to spend more money (about โ‚ฌ10 extra) or more time (adding on the summit adds 45 minutes to 2 hours to your visit, depending on how long the line is for the elevator to the third floor).

Eiffel Tower View | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

View from the second level of the Eiffel Tower

Trocadero

View of the Tocadero from the Eiffel Tower

View from Eiffel Tower Summit

View from Eiffel Tower Summit

Plan Your Visit to the Eiffel Tower

More Information: Check out our guide How to Visit the Eiffel Tower, which has a lot more valuable information about how to visit the Eiffel Tower.
Getting here by Metro: Line 9, stop Trocadero; Line 6, Bir-Hakeim; Line 8, stop Ecole-Militaire. For the prettiest walk to the Eiffel Tower, get off at the Trocadero metro station and enjoy the view as you approach the tower (allow 15 minutes for this walk).
Hours: For updated hours, visit the official website.
Cost: Elevator to 2nd floor โ‚ฌ23.10; Elevator to the top โ‚ฌ36.10; Stairs to 2nd level โ‚ฌ14.50; Stairs to 2nd level and elevator to the top โ‚ฌ27.50
Tickets: Book your ticket in advance on the official website.
If tickets are sold out for your dates of travel, you can book a tour for skip-the-line access to the Eiffel Tower. Here are several highly rated tours that allow you to skip-the-line at the Eiffel Tower.

 

11 am: Picnic in Champ de Mars

For an early lunch, go shopping on Rue Cler and have a picnic on Champ de Mars with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

From the Eiffel Tower, it is a short walk to Rue Cler. On this shopping street, you can visit the markets, boulangeries (bread shops), and fromageries (cheese shops) to put together your picnic lunch.

Cheese in Paris | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

Fromagerie on Rue Cler

Places to visit on Rue Cler:

  • Le Chocolat Alain Ducasse for gourmet chocolate
  • La Fromagerie for cheese
  • There are other small markets where you can purchase fruit, bread, crackers, meat and cheese
  • Les Grandes Caves for a bottle of wine

Take your goodies back to Champ de Mars, find a picnic bench or a spot on the lawn with a view of the Eiffel Tower, and enjoy your picnic lunch.

Note: If you have no desire to put together a picnic lunch, there are many sidewalk cafes near the Eiffel Tower where you can have lunch.

Eiffel Tower Picnic

Picnic in Champ de Mars

1 pm: The Louvre

The Louvre is the worldโ€™s largest art museum. This building was once the home to French Kings, including Louis XIV. During the French Revolution in the 18th century, the Louvre was converted to a museum.

Louvre Museum

View of the Louvre from Hotel Brighton

Visit the Louvre Paris
Angelinas at the Louvre

Want to find out where you can indulge at Angelina’s inside of the Louvre? Take a look at our How to Visit the Louvre guide for more information.

This place is enormous and you literally could spend days here. I find the Louvre to be crowded and overwhelming. My favorite part about visiting the Louvre is just taking in the grandeur of the building. The sheer size of this place is impressive. Several rooms, like the Apollo Gallery (where the crown jewels are kept), are gorgeous.

If you are an art lover, take several hours and enjoy this spectacular place. However, if you just want to visit the highlights, you can do so in about an hour.

The main sites to visit in the Louvre are the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory.

There are several ways to avoid waiting in a long line to get into the Louvre.

  • Purchase the Museum Pass. This allows you to skip the ticket line but you may still have to wait in a much shorter security line. With the Museum Pass, you must book a time slot in order to guarantee access into the museum. You must provide the serial number of your Museum Pass, so you cannot do this until you are in possession of the Museum Pass. Learn more here.
  • Book your tickets online in advance.On the official Louvre website, you can purchase your tickets in advance. These cost โ‚ฌ22 and the website advertises less than a 30-minute wait if you purchase your tickets in advance. You can also get a timed entry ticket on GetYourGuide.
  • Take a Tour.There are numerous skip-the-line tours and guided tours that you can take through GetYourGuide.
  • Go first thing in the morning or Friday evenings when the Louvre is open until 9:45 pm.

Getting here: From Champ de Mars, walk to the Ecole-Militaire metro station. Take Line 8, direction Creteil, transferring at Concorde to line 1, direction Chateau de Vincennes, to Palais Royal Musee du Louvre.
Hours: daily 9 am to 6 pm; CLOSED TUESDAYS; on Fridays, it is open from 9 am to 9:45 pm, get updated hours on the official website.
Cost: โ‚ฌ22 under 18 years are free; included in the Museum Pass
All visitors must reserve a time-slot, even if you have a free pass.

In our guide How to Visit the Louvre, we cover the essential paintings, sculptures, and historical artifacts to see. The walking tour that quickly and efficiently gets you to the highlights and then goes deeper into the Louvre, if you have more time. You can also download an eBook version of the guide to take with you. Learn more here โ†“

The Louvre

Best Way to Visit the Louvre: Walking Tour to the Top Sights Plus Printable eBook

Everything you need to know to see the best of the Louvre and have a great experience.

3:30 pm: Indulge at Angelina

Hopefully you worked up a bit of an appetite because now itโ€™s time for a little indulgence. From the Louvre, walk through the Tuileries Garden and cross Rue de Rivoli to Angelina. Angelina is an elegant tea room that serves decadent hot chocolate and delicious French pastries. This is the main location, although there is a smaller restaurant in the Louvre. Enjoy!

Angelina Paris

Angelina

4:30 pm: Place de la Concorde

From Angelina, stroll through Tuileries Garden or along the Rue de Rivoli to Place de la Concorde. This famous square is full of French history. This was the spot during the French Revolution where King Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and Robespierre were executed by guillotine.

From mid-November to early May a giant Ferris wheel sits in Place de la Concorde. If the line is short and you want a nice view of Paris, consider taking a ride.

5 pm: Champs-ร‰lysรฉes

The Champs-ร‰lysรฉes is one of the most recognizable streets in the world. It is famous as being the finish of the Tour de France and the location of the Bastille Day military parade. Restaurants, shops, the theaters line the Champs-ร‰lysรฉes. It has a touristy feel but itโ€™s still worth the stroll.

Champs Elysees | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

The Champs-ร‰lysรฉes | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

Along the way, if you want another French treat, consider stopping into Laduree for macarons.

WHAT TO EXPECT: From Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe, it is a 2.3 km (1.4 mile) walk. You can walk the entire length of the Champs-ร‰lysรฉes or shorten the walk by taking line 1 on the metro from Concorde to Franklin D. Roosevelt or George V.

6:00 pm: Arc de Triomphe

Itโ€™s time to take in the view from the mighty Arc de Triomphe. This is my favorite view of Paris. Thereโ€™s just something about looking down the Champs-ร‰lysรฉes to the Louvre, out to La Defense, and of course, having a wonderful view of the Eiffel Tower.

Arc de Triomphe Paris

Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe View Paris

View from the Arc de Triomphe 

While on top of the Arc, look straight down. You are standing at one of the worldโ€™s largest round-abouts, where twelve avenues come together. Watching the cars navigate this circle is very entertaining.

Hours: April 1 to September 30: 10 am to 11 pm; October 1 to March 31: 10 am to 10:30 pm; get updated hours here.
Cost: Adults โ‚ฌ16; 17 and under are free; included on the Museum Pass. Click here to purchase a skip the line ticket.
Closest metro station: Charles de Gaulle Etoile lines 1, 2 and 6

Powered by GetYourGuide

Evening: Dinner and Drinks

End the day with dinner and drinks.

For dinner, your options are endless. Paris is filled with rooftop bars and restaurants with a view of the city, quaint sidewalk cafes, and fine dining restaurants.

For recommendations on where to eat and drink, check out our guides to the Rooftop Restaurants and Bars in Paris and 10 Foods to Eat in Paris (and where to get them).

Some of our favorite places to eat are Les Ombres (an upscale French restaurant with an incredible view of the Eiffel Tower), Langosteria (an upscale Italian restaurant with a view of Pont Neuf and the Seine River), and if you want the experience of dining on the Eiffel Tower, Madame Brasserie or Le Jules Verne.

Les Ombres Paris

Les Ombres

For an amazing culinary experience with a view of Paris, take a look at Lโ€™Oiseau Blanc, a 2-star Michelin restaurant with a fantastic view of the Eiffel Tower.

You also have the option to take a Seine River cruise. There are sunset cruises, dinner cruises, and nighttime cruises along the Seine River. These typically last 1 to 2 hours and some cruises include drinks and/or a meal. This evening dinner cruise gets rave reviews and starts at 8:30 pm, so you have plenty of time to visit the Arc de Triomphe and get to the meeting point for the cruise.


Below is a map of the places to visit today as well as a walking route along the Seine River.

8 am: รŽle de la Citรฉ

This morning, you will spend your time on รŽle de la Citรฉ, the historic center of Paris. This is the location of Notre Dame Cathedral.

How to Get to รŽle de la Citรฉ

For a scenic walk to รŽle de la Citรฉ, I recommend taking the metro to Louvre-Rivoli, walking towards the Seine, and then walking along the river to Pont Neuf.

Pont Neuf is the stone bridge that crosses the Seine on the western edge of the island. From Pont Neuf, enjoy the view along the Seine, to the next bridge, Pont des Arts, and to the Eiffel Tower off in the distance.

Pont Neuf

Pont Neuf

This walk, of course, is optional. It takes 20 minutes and is 1.4 km (1 mile) long from Palais Royal Musรฉe de Louvre to Sainte-Chapelle.

Alternatively, you can take the metro to Citรฉ, which is located on รŽle de la Citรฉ and just a few steps from Sainte-Chapelle.

Sainte-Chapelle

Sainte-Chapelle is home to one of the worldโ€™s best displays of stained glass.

Sainte Chapelle Paris

Sainte-Chapelle

This is another location that is notorious for having long lines so, for the best experience, purchase your ticket in advance (on the official website, you will book a time slot for your visit). 

Hours: April 1 to September 30: 9 am to 7 pm; October 1 to March 31: 9 am to 5 pm; closed January 1, May 1, December 25
Cost: โ‚ฌ19 June through September, โ‚ฌ13 October through March; included with the Museum Pass
Combo Ticket with Conciergerie: โ‚ฌ20 – โ‚ฌ25
Metro Station: Line 4, Cite
Website: Sainte-Chapelle can close on other days during the year. Check their website to confirm hours before your visit and to purchase your ticket with a time slot in advance.
Skip-the-Line Tickets: You can get a skip-the-line-ticket combination ticket for both Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie.

The Conciergerie

This is optional, but for those with an interest in French history, you can visit the Conciergerie. This is where people were imprisoned before taken to Place de la Concorde to be executed. Marie Antoinette is the most famous prisoner.

The Conciergerie is located next to Sainte-Chapelle.

Hours: Open every day 9:30 am to 6 pm
Cost: โ‚ฌ13; Combination ticket with Sainte-Chapelle โ‚ฌ20; included with the Museum Pass

Notre Dame Cathedral

From Sainte-Chapelle itโ€™s a very short walk to Notre Dame Cathedral.

In front of Notre Dame Cathedral a small plaque marks Point Zero (Point Zero des Routes de France), the historic center of Paris.

In 2019, Notre Dame closed after a devastating fire destroyed parts of the cathedral.

Visitors can now enter Notre Dame Cathedral. To do this, you can either book a time slot in advance (this is free to do on the official website) or get in line at the entrance to the cathedral. Making a reservation in advance can be a big time saver, as there is generally a queue to enter Notre Dame Cathedral.

The towers have also recently opened. Climbing the steps to the top of the towers are one of our favorite experiences in Paris, and the views of the city are one of the best. Get pricing and the link to purchase your ticket on the Towers of Notre Dame website.

Notre Dame Paris View

The view from the Notre Dame towers

Eiffel Tower 2023

Notre Dame in March 2023

Walk through รŽle de la Citรฉ and from Notre Dame, it is a quick walk to one of the prettiest storefronts in Paris, Au Vieux Paris dโ€™Arcole. This is a small cafe so you can eat an early lunch here.

Au Vieux Paris | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole

11:30 am: Views of รŽle de la Citรฉ and Notre Dame

From Au Vieux dโ€™Arcole, walk along Rue Chanoinesse to the back side of Notre Dame. This small park is a great spot to take a break, if you need to sit down for a few minutes, and admire this view of the cathedral.

Note: Currently, the back of Notre Dame is covered with elaborate scaffolding. Itโ€™s still a sight to see, the amazing amount of work that is going into restoring this landmark.

Paris in April | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

Paris in April

When you are ready, cross Pont de lโ€™Archeveche to the Left Bank. From here, you get another beautiful view of Notre Dame Cathedral.

Notre Dame 2018

View of Notre Dame from Pont de lโ€™Archeveche (photo taken before the Notre Dame fire)

Walk west along the Seine River. As you continue your walk along the river you will notice stands set up selling books. These booksellers, or โ€œbouquinistesโ€ sell used books, magazines, and posters.

You will also pass Shakespeare & Company. This bookstore opened in 1919 and was a gathering place for Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, and Ezra Pound.

12:00 Latin Quarter and Saint-Germain-des-Prรฉs

Have lunch at a cafรฉ in the Latin Quarter or St.-Germain-des-Prรฉs. There are many cafes to choose from as you walk through these neighborhoods but here a few of our recommendations:

Le Petit Bouclerie. This small cafรฉ serves crepes and is a good option if you donโ€™t want to spend a lot for lunch. It is located on 33 Rue de la Harpe in the Latin Quarter.

Le Procope. Some say that this is the oldest cafรฉ in Paris. It is located in Saint-Germain-des-Prรฉs and Rousseau, Diderot, Benjamin Franklin, Napolean, and Marie Antoinette all dined here.

Les Deux Magots. Also located in Saint-Germain-des-Prรฉs, this is one of the most famous cafes in Paris. Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Julia Child, James Joyce, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Simone de Beauvoir all dined here.

Les Deux Magots

Les Deux Magots

2:00 pm: Musรฉe dโ€™Orsay

Musรฉe dโ€™Orsay houses the largest collection of Impressionist art in the world. It is here that you can see Monet, Manet, Degas, Cezanne, Renoir, Van Gogh, Gaugin and more. Itโ€™s literally a collection of the whoโ€™s who in the Impressionist art world.

But this museum is more than just Impressionist art. The building is also a work of art. Musรฉe dโ€™Orsay was once Gare dโ€™Orsay, an old train station, that was renovated and became this art museum. It is beautiful inside.

Musee DOrsay

Musรฉe d’Orsay

On the top floor, look for the giant clock windows that give you a very unique view of Paris and make a creative photographic spot.

Musee DOrsay View

Musรฉe d-Orsay is one of our favorite art museums in the world. Most people spend about 2 hours here, but your visit could last longer, if you are a fan of Impressionist art.

Hours: Daily 9:30 am to 6 pm; open until 9:45 on Thursday; closed Mondays, May 1, and December 25
Cost: โ‚ฌ16, included with the Museum Pass.
Website: Get updated hours and pricing on the official website.

France Travel Guide

France Travel Guide

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4:00 pm: Sacre-Coeur and Montmartre

Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening exploring Montmartre. This maze of hilly streets is one of Parisโ€™ prettiest neighborhoods to visit.

To get here from Musee dโ€™Orsay, ride metro line 12 from Concorde to Lamarck-Caulaincourt, direction Aubervilliers Front Populaire.

From the Lamarck Cualaincourt station, walk towards the Sacre-Coeur Basilica. This is a very nice walk that takes you past photogenic spots such as La Maison Rose and Le Consulat Restaurant (the walking route is on our map above).

Paris France

View from the steps near the Lamarck-Caulaincourt metro station

La Maison Rose

La Maison Rose

Le Consulat Paris

Le Consulat

Before arriving at Sacre-Coeur Basilica, you will walk through Place du Tertre. This small square is filled with artists. Go shopping, grab a drink at a cafรฉ, or have your portrait drawn.

Place du Tertre

Place du Tertre

The Sacre-Coeur Basilica sits atop the highest hill in Paris. The steps in front of the Basilica are a popular spot to watch the sunset. You also have the option to climb the 300 steps to the top of the Dome for an even better view.

Sacre Coeur

Sacre-Coeur

Hours: 6:30 am to 10:30 pm; the dome is open from 10 am to 5 pm
For more information, visit the official website.

7:00 pm: Dinner

Here are a few dinner ideas for tonight.

On our most recent trip to Paris, we dined at Maggie Restaurant, which is located inside of Hotel Rochechouart, within walking distance of the Sacre Coeur basilica. We had a wonderful dinner, dining on roasted turbot and seared scallops and the largest artichoke Iโ€™ve ever seen. On top of the hotel is a rooftop bar and terrace with a view of Sacre Coeur and the city skyline.

Le Relais Gascon. We had a wonderful dinner here. This restaurant serves French food and is located in Montmartre.

La Maison Rose. The photogenic cafรฉ also makes a great spot for dinner. It is located in Montmartre.

Le Moulin Rouge. End the day with a show at the Moulin Rouge. Dinner shows start at 7 pm and includes a 3-course dinner along with the show. The later shows (at 9 pm and 11 pm) do not include dinner. Tickets for the Moulin Rouge book up months in advance and if tickets are sold out for your visit, you can also check GetYourGuide.

After dinner, Le Chat Noir is a great spot for drinks, if you arenโ€™t quite ready to end the day. Itโ€™s just a short walk from the Moulin Rouge.

From the Sacre-Coeur, you can walk to the Moulin Rouge or ride the metro to Pigalle.

Should You Get the Museum Pass?

The Museum Pass covers your entrance fee into almost every site in this itinerary and it allows you to skip the ticket lines. Just be aware that it does not guarantee getting into every attraction without a line. During busy times, you still may have to queue for security.

If you plan to visit the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, and the Musรฉe dโ€™Orsay (all sites included on the Museum Pass), you will spend โ‚ฌ74. The 48-hour Museum Pass costs โ‚ฌ70, so the savings are minimal, but it gives you the ability to skip the ticket lines at these attractions. Just remember to book your Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, and Conciergerie time slots in advance.

The Museum Pass does not include the Eiffel Tower.

You may also hear about something called the Paris Pass. It includes attractions and tours, most of which are not listed on our itinerary.

The cost is โ‚ฌ199 for 2 days, as of November 2025.

Unless you also plan on taking the hop-on hop-off bus tour, a walking tour, a Seine River cruise, and visiting places like the Paris Aquarium, you will not get your moneyโ€™s worth so we do not recommend purchasing the Paris Pass.

Purchase the 2-day Museum Pass for โ‚ฌ70 and a weekly Navigo Pass for โ‚ฌ31.60 for a grand total of โ‚ฌ101.60. The Navigo Pass is good for one week, starting on Monday and ending on Sunday. If your trip takes place during the time frame when one week ends and the second one begins, you will have to purchase two weekly passes. In this case, you will save money by purchasing a Paris Visite Pass for โ‚ฌ44.45, giving you a grand total of โ‚ฌ114.45.

You can purchase your Navigo Pass or Paris Visite Pass at the ticket booths in the metro stations (do this the first time you ride the metro). This will pay for your transportation on the metro, RER, bus, and the Montmartre funicular and it includes the Paris airports and Versailles.

Paris Metro Sign

Paris metro sign | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

Make Your Reservations in Advance

Here are the attractions where we highly recommend making a reservation in advance, plus the link to the official website and GetYourGuide, just to make things a bit easier for you.

GetYourGuide offers some advantages over the official websites. For some attractions, GetYourGuide tickets and tours can be cancelled up to 24 hours in advance and you get a full refund (but itโ€™s good to double check this, because there are exceptions). Any GYG tours and tickets you purchase are stored on their app, making it easier to organize your tickets in one spot. Finally, if you use GetYourGuide for multiple tickets and tours, you will load your credit card information into one website, rather than the long list below. We use GetYourGuide when we travel and have had nothing but positive experiences.

And of course, donโ€™t forget to make your dinner reservations. Check out our Paris Restaurants and Rooftop Bars for recommendations.

Note: If you have the Museum Pass, you do not need to purchase tickets for the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, Sainte-Chapelle, the Conciergerie, or Musรฉe dโ€™Orsay. However, you will need to reserve a time slot for the Louvre, Sainte-Chapelle, and the Conciergerie.

Planning Your Trip

In our guide How to Plan a Trip to Paris, we cover everything you need to know to plan a trip to Paris. This includes must-see sights, more sample itineraries, where to stay, where to eat, rooftop bars with panoramic views of Paris, plus the logistics that come with planning your trip.

Paris Travel Guide

How to Plan a Trip to Paris: Tips & Itineraries for Your First Visit

Everything you need to know to plan your dream trip to Paris.

When is the Best Time to Visit Paris?

The best time to visit Paris is during spring (April and May) and fall (September and October), when the weather is mild, the city is lively but less crowded, and outdoor cafes, gardens, and strolls are most enjoyable. Our favorite months to visit Paris are April and October.

The most affordable time to visit Paris is in the off-season. January and February see fewer visitors, so prices are lower and crowds are smaller. Early December (before the Christmas holiday) and late November are also cheap times to visit Paris.

Below are weather graphs, which show monthly high and low temperatures and average rainfall.

46°F 38°F
Jan
50°F 39°F
Feb
55°F 42°F
Mar
62°F 46°F
Apr
68°F 52°F
May
76°F 59°F
Jun
79°F 62°F
Jul
79°F 62°F
Aug
72°F 57°F
Sep
63°F 51°F
Oct
53°F 44°F
Nov
48°F 41°F
Dec
Average High/Low Temperatures – Paris
1.8in
Jan
1.4in
Feb
1.8in
Mar
1.4in
Apr
2.7in
May
2.0in
Jun
1.5in
Jul
1.9in
Aug
2.0in
Sep
2.2in
Oct
1.7in
Nov
2.2in
Dec
Average Precipitation – Paris

Frequently Asked Questions

The Paris metro is cheap, fast, and very efficient. While in the city center, you are never more than a 5-minute walk from a metro station. It costs roughly โ‚ฌ18 per day for unlimited rides on the metro, so you can travel around Paris without spending a lot of money. I recommend the Paris Metro Map and Routes app (available for free in the Apple App Store) or something similar, which gives you real-time schedules and helps plan your metro routes through the city.

Yes, Paris can be expensive to visit, if you stay in 5-star hotels and dine at Michelin starred restaurants. But you can also have a great experience and visit Parisโ€™ top sights with some money saving tricks.

There are plenty of highly rated hostels and budget hotels to help keep accommodation costs low. Rather than dining at restaurants, put together picnic lunches and dinners at the market. Purchase the Museum Pass to visit the attractions with a discount and skip the ticket line. Riding the metro is very budget friendly. Without splurging on meals or accommodations, it is possible to tour Paris for โ‚ฌ100 per person per day.

Yes, with 2 days, you can see and do quite a bit in Paris, with a well-planned itinerary (like this one!). Visit the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, Musรฉe d’Orsay, Notre Dame Cathedral, and go for a stroll through Montmartre and along the Champs-ร‰lysรฉes.

With 2 days in Paris, I don’t think it is worth adding Versailles, unless you have a big interest in palaces or gardens. A Versailles day trip takes at least half of a day, which is a lot of valuable time, on a quick visit to Paris.

Where to Eat in Paris

In our article 10 Foods to Eat in Paris, we cover ten dishes to try in Paris, with recommended restaurants. In our guide to the Rooftop Bars and Restaurants in Paris, we list the best places to eat and drink with a view of the city.

Where is the Best Place to Stay for a Short Trip to Paris?

On a quick visit to Paris, the best location to stay is the city center, ideally the 1st and 2nd arrondissements. Weโ€™ve stayed here twice and loved it. Itโ€™s centrally located, some rooms have spectacular views of the city, and the Louvre and Champs-ร‰lysรฉes are right on your doorstep. The downside is the price; this is one of the most expensive areas in Paris.

For more recommendations on where to stay, read our guide Where to Stay on Your First Visit to Paris. Learn where to stay for a great view of the Eiffel Tower and get recommendations whether you are looking for a budget hotel, luxury hotel, or if you are traveling as a family.

2 Day Paris Itinerary | 2 Days in Paris Itinerary

Paris and the Seine River (view from Notre Dame)


If you have any questions about this 2 days in Paris itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.

Read all of our articles about France in our France Travel Guide.

2 Days in Paris Itinerary: Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Musee d'Orsay, Montmartre, Arc de Triomphe, and more.
2 Days in Paris Itinerary

Header photo credit: shutterstock.com/V_E

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Julie

About Julie

Julie is the main author for Earth Trekkers. Hiker, foodie, wine aficionado, photographer, and triathlete, Julie loves traveling the world in search of new experiences and then sharing them on this site. Her goal is to make your travel planning process easier and to inspire you to visit new places.

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