Perfect Paris Itinerary 2025: Your Day-by-Day Guide

Ah, Paris! The city where every street corner tells a story and every cafe tempts you with fresh croissants. Planning your Paris adventure can feel overwhelming – after all, how do you fit 2,000 years of history, 130 museums, and 44,000 restaurants into one trip? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!

Did you know that the average visitor only sees 20% of Paris’s major attractions? Let’s change that! As a couple who’s helped thousands of travelers plan their perfect Paris experience with our videos, we’re here to share the ultimate Paris itinerary that maximizes your time while avoiding the dreaded tourist burnout. Ready to fall in love with the City of Light? Allez, on y va!

Planning Your Paris Trip: Essential Pre-Travel Tips

Best time to visit Paris (seasonal highlights)

As Audrey Hepburn said it in a movie a while back, Paris is always a good idea! But when you’re planning a trip and it might be the only one you make to the city of light, you might want to pick the time of year that suits you best.

Know that Paris and France has a continental climate with 4 very distinct seasons where it’s cold in the winter, nice in the spring, hot in the summer and rainy in autumn.

To help you decide, here’s a few info about each time of year:

• March through may: this is considered the spring (until early june actually). You will find a nice weather during the day, not too hot. Usually chill or slightly cold in the evening. It’s a time of year when it’s not too crowded, yet the weather is nice and not too extreme in cold or heat.
• June through august: These are the summer months, therefor it’s pretty hot. Remember that most hotels in Paris don’t haver A/C. It’s also the vacation time in many countries to expect loads of crowds. August is a vacation months in France and many shops, restaurants and other places can be closed for 2 to 3 weeks. Days are also a lot longer which makes you stay very pleasant.

• September through november: Here comes autumn. September is a pretty nice month when it comes to the weather, and a lot less crowded. Then october and november are pretty rainy and days are getting shorter. You have less crowd but you’re planning lots of outdoor activities you might have to reschedule.
• December through February: Winter time & Christmas. Winter is a fun time of year if you don’t mind the cold. With the end of year celebrations approaching, markets open up around towns which sells artisanal goods and things to eat. Very crowded around christmas, the rest of the time you won’t be bothered by tourists.

Best Time to Visit Essentials information

Picking when to hit up Paris can change your whole vibe. Paris is calling all year long, but certain months make everything extra special with killer weather, less hustle, and the good kind of buzz.

Month	Avg High (°F)	Avg Low (°F)	Crowds	Events/Festivals
April	60	45	Chill	Cherry Blossoms, Paris Marathon
May	65	50	Packed	French Open, Night of Museums
June	70	55	Busy	Music Festival
October	60	45	Chill	Montmartre Wine Harvest Festival, Nuit Blanche
December	45	35	Jammed	Christmas Markets, New Year’s Eve

All throughout the year, Paris tosses in some epic events and celebrations that make the trip that much sweeter.

For those hunting down the perfect blend of comfy weather and fewer crowds, April and October are your golden tickets to Paris. The scenes are postcard-perfect, the weather is just right for an outdoor spree, and there’s no better backdrop for your Paris memories. Peek at our paris itinerary for more planning hacks that’ll have you living your best Paris life.

Each time of year can be very well adapted for your Paris itinerary, you need to know what works best for you.

How many days you really need

There’s a saying that goes, “you will discover something new everyday in Paris”, and we feel this is 100% accurate. Even after being in the city day after day, you will always find more to do in Paris, new café, restaurants, art exposition or shop. You name it! The city is well alive.

On average, visitors come to Paris for 4 to 5 days. That will be enough to discover main attractions, keep some time to stroll around the city and clearly make the best of your stay. Paris can get expensive so you also need to adjust to your budget and what you need to do. If you want to get a feel for the city, we recommend a minimum of 3 days in Paris to make it worth a trip even as a Euro trip.

Transportation from airports (CDG & Orly)

Both major international airports are out of the city. CDG airport serving long distance international (North & South America, Asia, Africa, Middle-east, France & all of Europe), while Orly or ORY serves shorter distances (Europe, North Africa, Europe).

It is pretty easy to access the airports from and to the city by public transportation (around 1 hour each way) or car (40min to 1 hour depending on trafic). You can check out our guide for transfers from Paris airports to find the best alternative for you.

You must always be careful of taxi scams at Paris airports as they’re very active and could ruin your arrival. To prevent that, check our recommended transfer services from Paris airports.

Accommodation recommendations by budget

There are around 1500 hotels in Paris, so how can you find the perfect one for your stay?

Good question and we’ve answered that question for you with our 125 Paris Hotels Guide that you can download. With that being said, there are hotels for every budget, style, need and neighborhoods. You can look where to stay in Paris on this page or simply check these suggestions below.

There you have it – your perfect Paris itinerary! Whether you’re dreaming of sunrise at the Eiffel Tower or sunset from Montmartre, this guide ensures you’ll experience the best of Paris without missing those magical moments that make the city special. Remember, the best Paris experience balances iconic sights with hidden gems, and leaves room for spontaneous discoveries. Ready to start your Parisian adventure? You can print this version of the itinerary, and don’t forget to tag us in your Paris photos!

Day 1: Art & Museums

Right in the center of town so very easy to access, coming to the Louvre is also coming to the biggest museum in the world.

Art buffs, this one’s for you. Begin with a few hours lost in the Louvre’s treasure vault—say “hi” to the Mona Lisa. The louvre is also home to many other pieces like the Venus de milo. Check this article to see all masterpieces in the Louvre you must see in less than 3 hours.

Museum	Time Spent	Highlights
Louvre	3 hours	Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, plus Egyptian treasures.

Lunch

In a nearby restaurant of the Louvre. Check out our recommended restaurants on this link.

Suggested option you can check out :

• Louise Café, small bistro for lunch between 20 and €30

After-lunch: Head to Palais Royal & Tuileries Garden

After lunch we would head over to the Palais Royale which is King Louis the 14th’s childhood home and where you’ll find the Royal Gardens and the iconic Instagram famous stripe columns. Further, there’s a small gardens with galleries you might want to check out.

Next let’s head over to the Tuileries Gardens, these Royal Gardens are an amazing place
to take a stroll. This is also where you’ll find the arcade style Summer Festival and the largest Christmas Market in all of Paris. And if you’re lucky enough to be here when it’s taking place, take the time to go on the giant ferris wheel because the views from the top are stunning

Place de la Concorde

After the Tuileries, head over to place de la Concorde, this is the largest Public Square in Paris. It’s probably best known as the place where the guillotine executions took place during the French Revolution, including Mar Antoinette. It is also another excellent place for photos with the fabulous fountains, a view of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe as this is the bottom of the Champs Elysées. As a side note, off to the northwest corner is where you’ll find the US Embassy

Walk to Pont-Alexandre 3

Let’s walk in the direction of the Eiffel Tower and take a stroll along the Seine. It will be very pretty and you will quickly get yourself to the most photographed bridge in Paris which is the bridge Alexander III. You’re going to want to give yourself some time to enjoy the view, take a few photos and realize you’re in Paris.

Then you can walk up the street and cross the Grand Palais and Petit Palais (Home to some of the 2024 Olympic Games events) and found yourself on the world famous Champs Elysées. On your left will the the Arc de Triomphe and on your right you will have Place de la Concorde where you were earlier. The huge avenue is a place where you will find a lot of fancy shopping and you can also find cafes, ice creams shops etc. Pro tip: before you sit at a café, make you sure check the prices.

You could go up the Arc de Triomphe if you bought a ticket ahead of time.

Dinner

To finish up the day, we recommend a restaurant we love in this neighborhood which is good and simple at the same time.

• Chez Savy, Traditionnal French food in a typical parisian restaurant. Count 50€ per person for a very nice meal.

This was a long day and your legs are probably very tired. It’s not unusual to log 20,000 steps a day while in Paris and this is a great way to see the town. Back to your hotel to rest, because day 2 will also be a big day.

Day 2: Classic Paris Essentials

We would both skip the hotel breakfast and hear towards a nearby boulangerie for a croissants, pain au chocolat and coffee. You can use Google Maps for find the nearest to where you stay or use our guide for the best bakeries in Paris.

Pro tip: Make sure the one you pick says “boulangerie artisanale” which are held to higher quality standards.

Morning: Notre-Dame & Île de la cité

Notre-Dame has finally reopened after 5 years of renovation following the 2019 devastating fire. It is one of the most famous building and the line to get in the building is quite long. Be ready to wait a couple of hours. However, you can still walk around the building, in the gardens behind it to make some memories. Entrance is free.

Sainte-Chapelle
With its magnificient stain glass windows, this building is one of our favorite and totally worth a visit. You will need a ticket to get in at €13 per adult and the visit takes around 60 min.

Lunch

Head towards Les Jardins du Luxembourg and grab lunch on the way to the different available options.

Food recommandation: Le Prince Racine, traditional french food, €20 to €30 per person

Afternoon: Jardin du Luxembourg & Bon Marché

Take a stroll through Le Jardin du Luxembourg where you’ll find the beautiful Medici Fountain, the sailboat Pond, lots of places to play and relax and one of the
four statues of Liberty in the City of Lights.

If the busy pace of your travels is taken a toll, take some time to relax and soak in the peaceful ambience. Lots of locals come here on their lunch break to take a nap read a book or just people watch.

Next we would take the 10-minute walk to the Bon Marché department store and while the store is nice the real thing to come for is the grand épicerie, there’s actually a whole grocery store. It’s next to the deli part which is just behind the area where you’ll find the most amazing dessert.

Mid-afternoon: Eiffel Tower visit strategies

Take the metro from the stop Sèvres-Babylone to La Motte-Picquet Grenelle, an 18 minute ride to get to the Champs de Mars, the park behind the Eiffel Tower.

You can take a moment to relax on the lawn, take a small break and then take your chance to climb the Eiffel Tower.

Pro tip: It is an area where you can meet a lot of scammers, pickpockets and other distubing people. Check out article about Paris scams to be alert.

Even after being there so many times, we always get blown when walking by the tower.

Pro tip: Even though this is a must-do, the Eiffel Tower is often crowded and there can be a long wait. Getting a Skip-the-line tour of the Eiffel Tower is a must.

After the Eiffel Tower, cross the bridge towards the Trocadero to get a better view of this monument and make a couple pictures for your albums.

Dinner

Two dinner recommandations nearby:

• Cocotte: French food, €30 per person
• La Fontaine de Mars: Classic french food, €60 per person

This is the end of a second long day and your feet probably need some rest. And so do you. This is the moment when you’re very happy you brought some good walking shoes. Check out the walking shoes we use to go on these adventures.

Day 3: the bohemian Paris

Morning: Montmartre exploration & Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Montmartre is a village and it sometimes overlooked by first-time travelers. For us, it’s a must-do to make your Paris itinerary complete. From there, you will find local life, dozens of restaurants, shops, a ton of charm and some incredible views from Paris. Depending on where you stay, it can take a little bit of time to get there, but once you arrive, you fall for the charm of the place.

The awesome thing is that the strolling is absolutely free so you can really make the best of your time there. There are a lot of stairs in Montmartre, so if this is an obstacle for you, use the funicular, it’s only €2.

Montmartre is where the famous movie Amélie Poulain was filmed, it is also home to many artists that you will see on some walls, the Sacré-Coeur, Place du tertre and the iconic Moulin Rouge.

We would start the day with a walking food tour to taste the flavors of the local shops with a local expert to help you get most of it. We of course recommend the food tours by Vincent (Antoine’s brother), who owned a restaurant for 40+ years and is a very knowledgeable. Check his Montmartre food tours here.

Main attractions in Montmartre from the bottom to the top:

• Moulin Rouge
• Cobble stone streets to the top
• Place du Tertre (where you can get sketched by an artist)
• Sacré-Coeur
  

Pro tip: for a small fee (€8 per person), you can get to the top of Sacré-Coeur and get an incredible view of the city.

Day 4: Alternative Day at Versailles

As an alternative day, we would recommend to go visit the Palace of Versailles. This would require an early start as the castle is 45 minutes outside of Paris by train.

It takes anywhere between 5 to 7 hours to visit and you will be able to discover many historical places.
By train, take the RER C (45 min) and then it’s a 10 min walk to the Palace.

Getting a timestamped ticket is recommended for Versailles. You can even download a free audio guide from the website if you figure out instructions (We haven’t yet… ☹️ ).

It is a place where having a guided tour makes a lot of sense to save up time, see the most important things and get a memorable experience. There’s so much history and art, having someone walk you through and describe what you’re seeing is a must. They usually take two to three hours.

Last night in Paris

Dinner recommandations:

• Show at the Moulin Rouge
• L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon
• Le Bon George
• Dinner cruise (Le Calife)

Bonus Activity: Giverny Day Trip

Feeling adventurous? Slot in a day at Giverny (Monet’s house) if you’ve got time and want to see more of the country side. Fun for folks of all sizes, it’s a great way to cap off your time here.

Activity	Time Spent	Tips
Giverny Day Trip	Half day	To make it a full day, you can add the city of Auvers sur Oise.

For more Parisian nuggets, check out our page on things to do in Paris. Enjoy Paris with our laid-back travel plans, leaving you with plenty of memories and time to enjoy!

Les Frenchies Insider Tips for Getting Around

1. Walk Whenever Possible
   • Loads of must-see spots are a short walk from each other. Taking a stroll lets you soak in all that beautiful Parisian architecture and vibe.
2. Choose Convenient Passes
   • Long trip? Snag a Paris Visit pass for endless rides on metro, RER, buses, and trams. For shorter visits, the Mobilis day pass will do the trick.
3. Use Applications
   • Apps like Citymapper or Paris Metro Map are lifesavers for navigating public transport. They offer real-time updates, routes, and insights that are super handy.
4. Scenic Routes
   • Buses might take their sweet time, but they offer great views of the city. Plus, they’re on the road longer than the metro.
5. Plan for Attractions
   • The RER trains are your best bet for reaching spots like the Versailles Palace and Disneyland Paris. Check those timetables and try to dodge peak hours.