Paris itineraries by trip length
Still deciding? Compare: Paris vs Rome · London vs Paris
Paris Itinerary: 5-Day Day-by-Day Travel Plan
Quick answer: Five days in Paris: the Louvre and Tuileries on the Right Bank, the Eiffel Tower with the Musée d’Orsay and Left Bank, hilltop Montmartre and Sacré-Cœur, Le Marais with Notre-Dame and the Seine islands, and a Versailles day trip by RER C.
Planning a trip to Paris? This itinerary is built from a first-time-visitor perspective: hit the icons, eat the best food, and finish with memorable experiences. Each day mixes a major sight, food stops, and downtime.
Paris Itinerary at a Glance
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Louvre & Tuileries |
| Day 2 | Eiffel Tower & Left Bank |
| Day 3 | Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur |
| Day 4 | Le Marais & Islands |
| Day 5 | Versailles Day Trip |
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Louvre & Tuileries
Anchor your first day on the Right Bank around the Louvre, and pre-book a timed morning slot — entry runs about €22 for EEA residents and about €32 for non-EEA visitors since the 2026 dual-pricing change, and slots genuinely sell out days ahead. Go straight to the Denon wing for the essentials, then walk out through the glass pyramid and west along the Jardin des Tuileries, Paris’s grand formal garden, pausing at a green metal chair by the fountains. Continue to Place de la Concorde and its Egyptian obelisk, then up the Champs-Élysées toward the Arc de Triomphe. Ride the Metro on a single ticket (about €2.55) or load a Navigo Easy card, since the old paper carnet was retired. Insider tip: enter the Louvre via the Porte des Lions or the Carrousel mall entrance rather than the pyramid to skip the longest queues.
Day 2 — Eiffel Tower & Left Bank
Give today to the Eiffel Tower and the Left Bank. Pre-book a summit slot — lift to the top runs about €36.70, the second floor about €23.50, and timed tickets vanish fast, so reserve well ahead or take the stairs (about €14.80) to skip the lift line. See it first from the Trocadéro terrace across the river for the classic view. Afterward stroll the Champ de Mars and cross to the elegant Rue Cler market street to assemble a picnic — a baguette, cheese and fruit for a few euros. In the afternoon, walk the Seine to the Musée d’Orsay (about €16), the old Beaux-Arts railway station holding the world’s great Impressionist collection under its giant clock. Insider tip: Orsay stays open late on Thursdays with a reduced evening rate, and the fifth-floor clock window frames Montmartre beautifully.
Day 3 — Montmartre & Sacré-Cœur
Spend the morning climbing Montmartre, the hilltop village of the 18th arrondissement. Take the Metro to Anvers and either walk up the stepped streets or ride the funicular (one Metro ticket) to the white domes of the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, free to enter, with all of Paris spread below. Wander to Place du Tertre, where portraitists still set up easels, then find the quieter lanes past the Clos Montmartre vineyard and the Musée de Montmartre (about €15). Come down toward Pigalle and the South Pigalle (SoPi) district for lunch. Insider tip: this hill invented the bistro, so this is the neighbourhood for a proper steak-frites or a warm quiche in a small corner spot rather than a Place du Tertre tourist cafe; and beware pushy friendship-bracelet sellers on the steps below the basilica.
Day 4 — Le Marais & Islands
Devote today to Le Marais and the river islands, best explored slowly on foot. Start in the 3rd and 4th arrondissements at the arcaded Place des Vosges, Paris’s oldest planned square, then wander the medieval lanes past boutiques and the Musée Picasso (about €16). This is the historic Jewish quarter around the Rue des Rosiers — the classic cheap eat here is falafel from a takeaway window, about €8–10. Cross to the Île de la Cité for the reopened Cathédrale Notre-Dame (free entry, but reserve a timed slot online to avoid the long line) and the jewel-box stained glass of the Sainte-Chapelle (about €13). End on the smaller Île Saint-Louis. Insider tip: queue for a cone at a long-established Berthillon ice-cream counter on the island — the salted-caramel and fruit sorbets are the local institution.
Day 5 — Versailles Day Trip
Take a day trip to the Château de Versailles, about 40 minutes southwest. Ride the RER C to Versailles Château Rive Gauche; fares are now a flat regional price, so a single ticket or a Navigo Jour day pass (about €12.30, all zones, airports excluded) covers the round trip. Pre-book a timed palace slot — the Passport ticket covering the whole estate runs about €25, or about €35 on Musical Fountains days, and morning entry beats the tour-bus crush in the Hall of Mirrors. Beyond the State Apartments, save real time for the vast Gardens (free most days, ticketed on fountain-show days) and the calmer Estate of Trianon with Marie-Antoinette’s rustic Hameau de la Reine. Insider tip: rent a rowing boat on the Grand Canal or a bike to cross the huge grounds, and pack a picnic, as on-site food is limited and pricey.
Where to Stay in Paris
Choose a central neighborhood within walking distance of major sights — you’ll save hours of commute time over 5 days. Mid-range hotels in the historic center run $140-280/night; budget options 1-2 transit stops away $60-130/night. Book 6-12 weeks ahead for best rates.
Budget Breakdown (5 Days)
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel (per night) | $60-130 | $140-280 | $300-700 |
| Food (per day) | $20-40 | $50-90 | $120-300 |
| Activities (per day) | $10-30 | $40-80 | $100-300 |
| Local transport (per day) | $5-15 | $15-30 | $40-100 |
| Total 5 days | $475-$1075 | $1225-$2400 | $2800-$7000 |
Totals exclude international flights. Add $500-1,500 round-trip from US/Europe.
What to Pack
- Clothing: Layers for changing temperatures. Comfortable walking shoes.
- Tech: Phone with offline maps, portable battery, universal adapter.
- Documents: Passport (6+ months validity), copies stored separately, travel insurance proof.
- Money: ~$200-300 local currency for arrival. Tell your bank you’re traveling.
- Day bag: Small backpack for daily essentials.
Routing Paris by Arrondissement: Mistakes That Cost You Half a Day
The biggest time-sink in a short Paris trip is criss-crossing the city instead of working one cluster at a time. Group the central icons that sit within walking distance of each other and you save the better part of a day. The Louvre, the Tuileries and the Musee d’Orsay form a tight triangle along the Seine, with d’Orsay just across the river from the Louvre and a 10 to 20 minute riverside walk between them. Pair that with the Ile de la Cite the same morning or afternoon, where Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame sit about 400 metres apart, roughly a 5 minute walk in the 4th arrondissement.
The closing-day trap catches most first-timers. The Louvre shuts on Tuesdays, while the Musee d’Orsay and the Palace of Versailles both close on Mondays, so check before you lock in a day.
- Skip: backtracking to Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur (18th, on the northern Right Bank) between Left Bank museum stops. It sits about 5.5 km from the Eiffel Tower, so give it its own block.
- Add wisely: Versailles eats a full day. The RER C to Versailles Chateau Rive Gauche runs about 35 to 40 minutes each way from central stations, plus the palace queue, so do not bolt it onto a packed sightseeing day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 5 days enough for Paris?
For first-time visitors, 5 days in Paris covers the main highlights without rushing. If you want to add day trips, slower pace, or hidden gems, plan 2-3 more days.
How much will a 5-day Paris trip cost?
Budget travelers: $50-90/day = $250-$450 excluding flights. Mid-range: $130-220/day = $650-$1100. Luxury: $300-500+/day.
What’s the best time for this Paris itinerary?
Shoulder seasons offer the best balance of weather, crowds, and prices for Paris. See destination-specific best-time guide.
How do I get around Paris?
Public transit, rideshare apps, and walking work in most cities. For rural destinations, rental car may be necessary.
What should I pack for 5 days in Paris?
Layers, comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate outerwear, basic toiletries, travel documents, phone charger + adapter.
Should I book hotels in advance?
Yes — for 5-day trips, book 6-12 weeks ahead for best rates. Central locations save commute time.
Related Paris Travel Guides
You Might Also Love
Written by
Drew Treasury is a contributing travel writer at Packzup, specialising in city culture, food markets, street art, and neighbourhood-level travel.