We’ve been to Paris over 10 times since we started traveling professionally, spending anywhere from 2 days to over a week exploring the city. After all those visits – including an intensive 8-day trip in November 2023 where we covered every major attraction, and our most recent visit in July 2024 where we learned some seriously helpful tips about visiting in peak season – we finally know exactly how to spend a perfect 2 days in Paris.
Our itinerary isn’t theoretical. We’ve tested different routes across different seasons, learned which museums justify the wait times, figured out the optimal visiting hours for each landmark and identified which experiences are actually worth squeezing in as a first-time visitor. Through years of return trips to Paris, we’ve refined what works, eliminated what doesn’t, and figured out more efficient ways to visit certain attractions that we want you to take advantage of.
Mark and Kristen with the Eiffel Tower in Paris at dusk
Hi, we’re Mark and Kristen Morgan. We left our scientific careers in 2018 to become travel writers and photographers, and since then our expert guides have helped millions of travel planners take better trips. Read more about us.
Why trust us with your Paris itinerary? After 10+ trips to Paris, we’ve done all there is to do as tourists. Our itinerary is exactly how we’d do 48 hours in the city if it was our first time again. As always, every photo in this guide is ours.
We designed our first day to be strategically intense, ticking off major attractions like the Eiffel Tower, Musee d’Orsay and the Louvre. This action-packed push creates the platform to slow down on day two, when you can focus on the unique experience of Parisian cafe culture among the charming streets of St. Germain, Ile de la Cite and Le Marais – all while avoiding the common planning mistakes that cost us time on earlier trips.
This guide is the 2-day Paris itinerary we wish we’d had for our first visit. After 10+ trips, we’ve condensed everything we know into a step-by-step plan that hits all the major attractions and the city’s best neighborhoods. It’s exactly how we’d spend 48 hours in Paris if it were our first time again, and we’re confident it’s the most balanced short-stay route. Stick around until the end for our map, expense report and mistakes you should avoid. Let’s dive in.
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Day 1 Strategy: Major Attractions
We must start by being totally up front with you here – we’d be tired after this long first day. Anyone would be. But we’d prepare for it by making sure we had pre-booked tickets for every attraction to cut down waiting in entry lines, and we’d eat hearty on-the-go meals to keep up our energy. Make sure to do both when you visit.
The goal would be to strategically tick off the top attractions in Paris on day 1 to free up day 2, knowing we’d able to relax with nothing major (like the Louvre) hanging over us. Here’s an hour-by-hour walkthrough of how we’d spend our first day (at the end we’ll also share the best workarounds if it sound too overwhelming for your travel style).
Boulangerie: Breakfast With The Locals (7:30 AM – 8:30 AM)
Breakfast
Breakfast at hotels in Paris is called le petit dejeuner, and honestly it’s almost never worth paying extra for. We must have paid to include breakfast at 5 or 6 hotels now, and the only time it was worth it was when we stayed at Hotel des Arts in Montmartre because they went out and bought fresh croissants each morning from the local boulangerie.
These were the fresh croissants at Hotel des Arts breakfast in Montmartre
So now when we stay in Paris, we skip sitting in our hotel’s basement eating overpriced and average food at the buffet – instead we head out to the closest boulangerie to mix with the locals, drink cheap coffee and eat the freshest, tastiest croissants in the city. No fuss, quick service, delicious pastries. Perfect!
Kristen with our tray of delicious croissants at Laurent Dheilly boulangerie
With a jam-packed itinerary ahead of us, we’d leave our hotel in the southern part of Le Marais, the 4th arrondissement (we loved our stay at Hôtel Le Presbytère – it has a fantastic location for this itinerary) and walk 5 minutes to Mark’s favorite boulangerie in the area called Laurent Dheilly (we found this hidden gem during a trip in 2021 when staying at a hotel near Tour Saint-Jacques).
Two strong coffees, two buttery croissants and a velvety pan au chocolate each would do the trick for filling us up ready for the big morning ahead. We’d certainly need all those calories!
Stop 1: Eiffel Tower Summit At Opening (9:00 AM – 10:30 AM)
After breakfast we’d take the line 1 metro from Chatelet to Concorde, followed by a transfer to line 8 for Ecole Militaire. Use this Paris metro map pdf to figure out the easiest way to get to Ecole Militaire. (The RER C line to Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel is another option to consider if you have a direct link from the closest station to your hotel or breakfast spot.)
We took this photo of the Champ du Mars on our July 2018 trip 
This was how the Eiffel Tower looked during our summer trip
Back in daylight, we’d take a slow walk through the lush green grassy areas of Champ de Mars to the Eiffel Tower. The whole place was closed off for the Paris Olympics during our July 2024 trip, which we were disappointed about – but it’ll be back open and green as ever now. Walking northwest to the Eiffel Tower is superb for photos because the sun is directly behind at this time of morning, perfect for lighting.
We’d have pre-booked tickets for the very first Eiffel Tower time slot to “the top with lifts” at 9:00 AM. They cost €36.10 each which is pricey, but they’d give us access to the 2nd floor and summit by lift which speeds things up. Other options include the 2nd floor only by steps or by lift, or the 2nd floor by steps followed by lift access to the summit. There are no steps to the top, otherwise we’d have climbed them by now. All ticket options include 1st floor access – choosing 2nd floor or summit is deciding the highest point you’ll visit, and they have different prices.
Kristen climbing up the steps of the Eiffel Tower during our November 2023 trip
Tickets become available 60 days in advance – so Kristen would book ours on the exact day tickets for our date opened up. This would eliminate waiting in lines or losing time climbing 674 steps to the 2nd floor, before taking the summit lift. We’ve been up the Eiffel Tower at least 5 times, and we’ve walked up the steps every single time, so taking the lift from the ground would be a novelty! But this itinerary is fast and furious, so taking the time (and energy) saving lift would be essential.
From experience, we think the 2nd floor has better views than the summit. It’s high enough to see everything but low enough to pick out landmarks, whereas everything appears tiny from the top. So don’t worry too much if you can’t get tickets to the top. Our favorite part about the summit wasn’t being at 276 meters (906 feet), it was seeing a mock-up of Gustave Eiffel’s private office. There’s also a champagne bar at the top if you fancy a cheeky glass of champers at 9:30 AM.
Mark took this photo looking up at the immense Eiffel Tower
We think the best route to take is lift (or walk) straight to 2nd floor, then immediately lift to the summit and beat the crowds. It’s a tiny space up top so it’s more relaxing with fewer people. Plus, visibility is usually better early in the morning. After the summit we’d lift back to the 2nd floor, walk around and learn about the construction, enjoy better views, then walk to the 1st floor via the steps, stand on the terrifying glass floor, then walk the steps to the bottom. All in all, an hour and a half would be ample time.
Get organized: Online tickets sell out pretty much same day. We highly recommend booking tickets 60 days before your trip. If there aren’t any advanced tickets left, you can still turn up and join a line to buy on the day tickets but you will lose time. Part of the reason we start with the Eiffel Tower first in our optimized itinerary is to beat the crowds by joining this line before the mid-morning rush when the queues get longer.
Kristen on the less impressive Champ du Mars at sunset in November 2023
Tickets: The Eiffel Tower has lots of visiting options and price points based on the experience you want, the ages of your group and the time you want to go up. We won’t list them all here, but for adults a basic 2nd floor ticket with steps costs €14.50, 2nd floor with lift costs €23.10, summit with steps to 2nd floor costs €27.50 and summit with lifts costs €36.10. Head over to the official site to check all time slots, dates and ticket types.
Mark’s insider tower tip: Some places in Paris are worth paying for a guided tour (like the Louvre) but the Eiffel Tower is not one of them. Unless you’re uniquely interested in history or architecture, this is very much a do-it-yourself attraction.
Want to learn more? Read our guide on visiting the Eiffel Tower for the first time so you know exactly what to expect.
Stop 2: Trocadero For The Iconic Photo (10:45 AM – 11:00 AM)
After quickly exiting the grounds, we’d cross the Pont d’lena, walk through the Trocadero Gardens and climb an attractive marble staircase leading up to Esplanade du Trocadero.
At the top, we’d snap the quintessential shot of “pinching the Eiffel Tower” as you can see Kristen attempting in our photo below. It wasn’t especially busy that cool morning in November 2023, but we remember weaving our way through immense crowds of people here on a previous visit in May 2018.
Kristen (almost!) pinching the top of the Eiffel Tower
Plan for no longer than 15 minutes at Trocadero, snap photos of the tower and don’t forget to try some fun perspective shots. Big on Instagram or TikTok? This is where to get your Eiffel Tower content. At this time of day the light isn’t great because it’s looking straight into the sun, so go back later at sunset or night if you want to get great photos or videos here.
Kristen’s top safety tip: Be extra vigilant with your personal belongings and valuables around Trocadero. It’s a hot spot for pickpockets (along with the base of the Eiffel Tower and the bottom of the steps near Sacre-Coeur in Montmartre). Get your photos and move on.
Stop 3: Underrated Views At The Arc de Triomphe (11:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
Next, we’d walk 30 minutes along the bustling tree-lined Av. Kleber to the Arc de Triomphe. Don’t fancy the walk? Hop on the metro line 6 from Trocadero to Charles de Gaulle Etoile instead.
We thought the Arc de Triomphe from below was a great photo
We’d stop at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, take photos of the mighty structure from below and then pay €16 each to climb to the observation deck at the top of the Arc. It’s free for under 18’s if you’re visiting with the kids. You can also book tickets in advance at the official website, but we paid in person on the day without issue in November 2023.
Views from the observation deck were even more impressive
Honestly, we didn’t expect the 284 steps to the top of Arc de Triomphe to be so tiring – prepare for another lung busting climb if you’ve already climbed steps up the Eiffel Tower. Remember when we said we’d need those extra calories at breakfast? This is why.
There’s not an enormous amount to do at the Arc de Triomphe, but it’s cool to see in person (not just the structure, but the chaos of the cars and bicycles going around it!) and the observation deck views are totally unique – looking directly down 12 long and straight avenues in the shape of a wheel with spindles.
Mark and Kristen at the top of the Arc de Triomphe
Mark’s insider photography tip: After going up the Eiffel Tower, Montparnasse Tower, Sacre-Coeur and the top of the Pompidou Center, Mark would say the Arc de Triomphe has some of the most visually striking views for pro photographers.
Stop 4: Lunch Time Champs-Elysees Stroll (12:30 PM – 1:45 PM)
For us, the Avenue des Champs-Elysees is a bit overhyped. Sure, it’s a fun street to walk down, especially if you’re into shopping or fashion. But otherwise it’s just like Fifth Avenue in NYC or Oxford Street in London – interesting to see an iconic street but there’s not much else you get out of it.
Kristen walking down the Champs-Elysees
That said, we know it’s a spot most first-timers want to see in Paris so we kept it in our itinerary. After reaching the base of the Arc de Triomphe, we’d walk straight down the famous street towards Place de la Concorde. The only places we’ve stopped on previous trips were Galeries Lafayette to see the inside of the department store, and Moka Brunch & Coffee for a quick on-the-go but delicious and affordable refuel (which we highly recommend).
Now, we’ve allocated one hour to walk along the Champs-Elysees from the Arc de Triomphe to the Musee d’Orsay, which is totally doable with a quick stop for coffee and takeaway food. But it is not enough time to also have a sit down lunch. If sitting down for lunch is non-negotiable for your visit, you’ll have to find time by cutting an attraction or two.
Mark took this photo of the famous street when crossing over
Kristen’s foodie tip: Back when we were travel newbies in 2018, we got ripped off at a brasserie along the Champs-Elysees. The food was terrible and the price brought tears to our eyes. If you want to eat lunch in this area, do your due dilligence on the quality of places available – don’t just stumble into any old place and make the same mistake we did.
Other foodie options we’d happily try for lunch nearby include Chez Gabrielle for French food, Azur Cafe for Mediterranean inspired brunch, or Bacha Coffee for an elevated brunch and coffee experience.
Mark’s planning tip: Don’t forget to check the opening times of restaurants and cafes. Many eateries in Paris only open for a few hours at lunch time before closing for the afternoon and re-opening for dinner. This has always been one of our least favorite aspects of trip planning in Paris.
Stop 5: Highlights At Musee d’Orsay (1:45 PM – 3:15 PM)
At the end of the Champs-Elysees, we’d walk through Jardin des Tuileries beyond the Musee de l’Orangerie (which we enjoyed on a different visit to Paris but don’t think is essential for a first timer with only 2 days), and cross the Seine to visit the Musee d’Orsay – one of our favorite museums in Paris.
Kristen (almost!) pinching the top of the Eiffel Tower
We’d arrive with pre-booked tickets for the 1:30 PM time slot for €16 each, so we wouldn’t have to stand in line to get inside (here’s the official website to book your tickets ahead of time). We actually like having time slot bookings when we travel because it forces us to stay tightly aligned with our itinerary, instead of drifting and wasting precious time.
Now, we know the Musee d’Orsay’s 5 floors featuring the world’s largest collection of impressionist and post-impressionist art inside a vast former railway station doesn’t sound like a quick stop. But it really doesn’t need to take all day. In November 2023, we rented one audio guide to share for €6, then we spent an hour and a half finding the most important works and listening to the information. Honestly, it was way less overwhelming that we expected because pretty much everything we wanted to see was on the 5th floor.
Kristen loves Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” series
We enjoyed seeing the most famous Impressionist masterpieces by Monet, Renoir, Degas and Manet – along with walking through the post-impressionist gallery to see works by Van Gogh and Cezanne. They were all on the top floor. We understand there are tons more historically important works in the museum, but we’re not art experts, so we quickly walked through the remaining floors and left with time to spare.
Mark couldn’t wait to take a silhouette photo of Kristen with the giant clock
Mark’s photo tip: Don’t miss the giant clock on the 5th floor for a completely unique photo opportunity. We loved the views over Paris with Sacre-Coeur on a hill in the distance through the massive clock, but it was also perfect for silhouetting Kristen within the deep shadows.
Kristen’s must-remember tip: The Musee d’Orsay is closed on Mondays. Do not make the mistake so many people do by turning up expecting to get in on a Monday. You won’t, it’s not open!
Guided tour option: If you’re really interested in art and want to make the most of your visit to the Musee d’Orsay, this top rated guided tour is unmissable for you. It has sky high ratings and there’s even a 1:30 PM starting time which fits perfectly with our itinerary.
Stop 6: Travel Expert’s Way To Visit The Louvre (3:30 PM – 6:00 PM)
From the Musee d’Orsay it’s just a short 15 minute walk to the world-famous Louvre Museum. We’d have pre-booked tickets for the 3:30 PM time slot which cost €22 each, and we’d both rent audio guides for €6 each. For the world’s most visited museum, we don’t think €28 is too bad (but there are big future changes planned for the Louvre – including higher prices for non-EU residents).
This was the 10:30 AM time slot before ours – it’s like a really busy airport security line
We’ve visited the Louvre twice and both times we made the same mistakes. We booked morning tickets (once at 9:00 AM and once at 11:00 AM), we entered through the main entrance that everyone knows about near the glass pyramid, we followed the crowds after entering, and we tried to see every single part of the museum.
Mark and Kristen right after gaining entrance to the museum
But we won’t make these same mistakes next time. Instead, we would book afternoon time slots to arrive after the morning rush people had hit their museum-wall, we’d enter through a hidden entrance barely anyone knows about called Carrousel de Louvre located underground in the shopping mall (near an inverted pyramid) to cut down on the number of people in our time slot line, and we’d only focus on the most iconic works of art located on the ground floor and 1st floor.
We had to wait a while to get a clear photo of the Winged Victory of Samothrace
Doing it this way would mean two and a half hours is plenty of time to see the most important pieces, rather than the grueling 4-hour overcrowded experiences we had previously. We know it might sound like it’s not long enough, but we’re confident we’d comfortably see highlights like Ramses II Statue (room 12) and Venus de Milo (room 345) on the ground floor – along with Winged Victory of Samothrace (room 703), Napoleon’s Coronation (room 75) and of course the Mona Lisa (room 711) on the first floor within that time frame.
Kristen enjoying a break from the crowds on the ground floor 
We snuck in for a quick close up photo of the Venus de Milo
Tickets: €22 for adults, free for under 18’s and EEA residents under 26. Audio guides are €6/person. Here’s the official site to book your date, time slot and tickets.
Mark’s top Paris planning tip: The Louvre stays open until 9:00 PM every Wednesday and Friday. If you can make it work, we strongly recommend planning your 2 days in Paris to include either a Wednesday or Friday so you can follow our itinerary and stay in the Louvre a bit later. It would reduce the time pressure from the rest of the day significantly, and it would be so much quieter inside. Wednesday (day 1) and Thursday (day 2) would be the perfect days for this itinerary.
This is how busy our November visit was at the Louvre
Kristen’s top Paris tour recommendation: Remember earlier when we said guided tours aren’t necessary at the Eiffel Tower? Well, if there’s one place in Paris we would splurge on a guided tour, it’s the Louvre. And next time we absolutely will book this special closing time guided tour with Take Walks that begins later in the day once the crowds leave. On Wednesday and Friday the tour is 5:45 PM – 8:45 PM, or on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday it’s 2:45 PM – 5:45 PM (on these days you’d have to cut time out somewhere else to arrive earlier).
The best alternative we can find is this guided tour with a near perfect 5/5 rating after more than 6,000 reviews – it’s the highest rated tour we’ve ever seen on Viator. Start times are 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM (except Wednesday and Friday which also includes a 5:00 PM tour). It doesn’t matter if you book a guided tour that stars earlier because you can always reshape the day. This itinerary is just an example, but we do think the Louvre would be a better experience in the afternoon when it’s quieter.
This is Mark’s favorite artsy photo from our second trip to the Louvre
The biggest Louvre mistake to avoid: Do not plan to visit the Louvre Museum on a Tuesday, it is closed and you will not get in. We bet so many people have made this rookie mistake over the years. If your trip is a Tuesday and Wednesday, switch around the days in our itinerary to make it work with the later opening hours.
Want to learn more? Read our guide on visiting the Louvre for the first time so you know exactly what to expect.
Stop 7: Evening Seine Cruise (6:30 PM – 7:30 PM)
After the Louvre we’d finish our first day with a cruise on the Seine (it could also be before sunset, during sunset or a night cruise depending on the time of year you visit). On previous visits to Paris, we’ve always taken our no-frills Seine cruises with Bateaux-Mouches which departed near the Eiffel Tower.
Kristen enjoying one of the many Seine river cruises we’ve taken
But now we’d be at the Louvre (a long way from the Eiffel Tower), so what would we do instead? We’d use a new no-frills Seine cruise operator called Vedettes du Pont Neuf which departs on the western side of Ile de la Cite below the bridge, and costs €15 each. They all follow the same route, just with different start and end points. It’s just a 10-minute walk from the Louvre, and these boat tours run frequently so the lines are never too long.
The cruise would take us past many of the famous monuments and museums in Paris, and for the fifth or sixth time, we would listen to the same live commentary explaining what we were looking at. And it would be a cheap, easy and relaxing way to end our long first day. After the cruise it would be a short walk to our hotel in the 4th arrondissement, and of course we’d stop in for a quick glass of wine or two on the way back.
Mark took this photo of other tourists enjoying the views from one of our Seine cruises
If you want to do something a bit more special, have a look for Seine cruises with dinner, music or even drinks included. A lot of the dinner boat tours we can find online get mixed reviews, but this one has good ratings. It doesn’t start until 8:30 PM so you’d have plenty of time after the Louvre to get to the starting point which is very close to the Eiffel Tower and the Pont d’lena.
Adapting The First Day: How To Slow Down
Following our first day exactly is going to be long and tiring. If it sounds like too much to organize or too much walking around the city, there are a few ways you can slow the itinerary down.
The first thing we would do is cut the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysees. They’re cool to see, but they’re not absolute must-visit places for a first Paris itinerary in our opinion. That would save almost 3 hours and leave just the Eiffel Tower, Musee d’Orsay, Louvre and a Seine Cruise, which is doable even for slower travelers. You could also skip the same things and do the route in reverse – visit the Louvre early and see the Eiffel Tower at sunset or night.
Our next alternative would be to cut the Musee d’Orsay if we weren’t feeling massively in the mood for museums or art. That way we could free up a full 2 hours to focus our attention on the more famous Louvre or a longer lunch with drinks.
There is flexibility within this day, so use it as a baseline and adapt to better suit your preferences. We promise the second day is much calmer and less overwhelming!
Day 2 Strategy: Slowing Down For Culture & Food
With all the big hitters out of the way in one epic first day in Paris, we’d be excited to get started with our second day, which would be all about immersing ourselves into what makes the city so unique – cafe culture, food and charm.
Don’t worry, we wouldn’t just sit on street corners people watching with endless coffees and croissants. We would still pack in some seriously worthwhile attractions, and it would be totally stress-free. There are two places to consider adapting for, which we’ll explain at the end.
Stop 1: Skip The Line As Sainte-Chapelle Opens (9:00 AM – 10:00 AM)
We love getting a solid start to the day, so by 7:30 AM we’d already be eating a croissant with our morning coffee at the same nearby boulangerie. But this time just the one pastry because we’d have plans to eat a bigger brunch after visiting Saint-Chapelle right as it opened.
We had to wait in this (very!) slow walk-in line to get inside
This one would be a big deal for us. The only time we made it inside Sainte-Chapelle was in November 2023 but it didn’t go so well. We arrived somewhere around 3:00 PM thinking “it’s not the Louvre or Eiffel Tower, so we’ll be fine”. And of course we weren’t. The line for pre-booked was slow, but the line for walk-ins was even slower.
This stunning stained glass windows photo from inside Sainte-Chapelle is one of Mark’s favorites from Paris
In the end we waited well over an hour to gain entry as the time slot lines shuffled through ahead of us. It was well worth the wait, but we said next time we’ll book in advance and we’ll book the earliest time available. So we’d arrive at 8:45 AM with 9:00 AM time slot tickets which cost €19 each for entry + €3 each for audio guides, and we’d waltz straight though as two of the first people inside.
Kristen took this photo of Mark enjoying the interior on her phone
And once we got inside? The spectacular stained glass windows would blow us away all over again. The 15 large glass panels depicting 13th century stories are one of the most visually stunning photo spots we’ve found anywhere in Paris. When sunlight filters through the windows, an intense and rich purple color envelops the chapel in a kind of mysterious and medieval way that feels incredibly immersive.
This was Mark holding a tablet inside Le Conciergerie
Almost next door to Sainte-Chapelle is the Conciergerie, which was once a residence to the kings of France in the Middle Ages and a prison that held Marie Antoinette. We did think it was interesting and cool to see, but we absolutely would not say it’s essential – so skip it unless you have a specific interest in its history. If you do want to see the Conciergerie, buy a combined ticket with Sainte-Chapelle for €20-25 (depending on season) to save a few euros.
Stop 2: Brunch With The Tourists At Kristen’s Favorite – Kozy (10:15 AM – 11:15 AM)
After leaving Sainte-Chapelle, we’d walk across the Pont Saint-Michel into the 5th arrondissement, also known as the Latin Quarter. We’d take the narrow pedestrian-only Rue de la Huchette (this street gets lively at night so consider coming back if you want a party vibe) to Rue du Petit Pont and the place Kristen loves most for brunch in Paris, Kozy.
This was Mark’s french toast with fresh fruit at Kozy
We must have eaten at Kozy 6 or 7 times now (it’s a Paris chain with 5 locations), and it never gets old. Kristen always gets the “halloumi benny” with avocado, halloumi cheese, poached egg and paprika hollandaise sauce – and Mark loves the fresh fruit french toast.
Mark’s delightful pan au chocolate and raspberry croissant in Bo&Mie
Kristen’s foodie tip: If Kozy isn’t for you, our next choice is BO&MIE on nearby Bd Saint-Michel – it’s an upscale bakery with expensive but delicious pastries. We overindulge there every time!
Stop 3: Famous Tombs Of The Pantheon Crypt (11:30 AM – 12:30 PM)
After a hearty brunch and more coffee, we’d walk a few steps to Shakespeare and Company bookstore which is a real old-world treat. We love a unique bookstore and this one has a labyrinthine interior like something out of a movie. After a quick look around and maybe even buying a new book, we’d hot-foot it to the majestic looking Pantheon – a mausoleum housing the remains of prominent French figures like Marie Curie, Victor Hugo and Voltaire.
This maze-like bookstore is so much fun to explore
We’d pay €16 each to go in, plus €4 for one audio guide to share. If we’re being honest we didn’t listen to this audio guide as much as we could have when we visited in November 2023, but that was because we were just soaking up the impressive architecture instead. We loved the vast dome and Corinthian columns, as well as the Foucault’s Pendulum which was a nice scientific surprise.
We didn’t expect the Pantheon to be this impressive
Honestly, we’d say the Pantheon is a bit of a hidden gem on this itinerary because most people skip it. There is a viewing terrace on top of the building that has yet more striking views over Paris for a few extra euros, but at the time of our latest update to this guide, it is closed.
Tickets: €13-16 for adults, free for under 18’s and under 26 for EU residents. Here’s the official site to book tickets. Even if you don’t go inside, it’s worth seeing from the outside and that doesn’t cost a penny.
We learned that Marie Curie’s tomb in the Pantheon is lead lined due to radiation
Mark’s attraction tip: During trip in November 2023, we also visited the nearby Musee de Cluny and although we enjoyed its medieval collection, we don’t think it’s a must-do for this 48 hour itinerary. Save it for the next time you visit Paris.
Stop 4: Lovely Luxembourg Gardens (12:45 PM – 1:15 PM)
Unlike New York with Central Park, London with Hyde Park or Rome with Villa Borghese, Paris doesn’t really have an outstanding green space. But Saint-Germain’s beautiful Luxembourg Gardens is by far our favorite mini-green space in the city, so after leaving the Pantheon we’d walk less than 10 minutes west on Rue Soufflot to the park’s east entrance.
Kristen loves the Medici Fountain in Luxembourg Gardens
It only takes around 20 minutes to walk a nice and slow clockwise loop around the park (including a stop at the replica Statue of Liberty), before ending at the stunning Medici Fountain. We loved this spot from our trip in November 2023, so we’d give ourselves a 10 minute rest on a bench overlooking the water.
Stop 5: Mark’s Favorite St. Germain Spot – Rue de Buci (1:30 AM – 2:30 PM)
From the park we’d walk up Rue de Tournon until reaching Rue de Buci – Mark’s favorite Parisian cafe culture, people watching, lunch time drinking spot in Saint-Germain-des-Pres.
We love the cafe culture vibe and vibrant eateries in Saint-Germain
Over the years, we’ve had a glass of wine in most places in the area, but one of the standout spots we tried in July 2024 was La Diva des Pres. It was very pink, but the people watching vibe was top-notch.
This area is basically one great big Parisian cafe culture hub and it’s a fantastic place to just sit and watch the world go by. We’d hang out for a good hour with wine, snacks and plenty to look at. If you’re not a “tick off attractions” type of traveler, and more of a “let’s just chill and get stuck into the local atmosphere” type – this is the perfect area to go.
We imagine this hidden alley gets very busy on warmer days
Mark’s top dinner tip: If you’re staying in the 6th arrondissement or you want to see this area again at night, we loved a spot nearby called Kodawari Ramen Yokocho from a previous trip. Walking inside was like going through a portal to Japan!
Stop 6: Re-Opened Towers At Notre-Dame (3:00 PM – 4:30 PM)
After peeling ourselves off comfy chairs at our outdoor table, we’d have one final attraction stop to make just 15 minutes walk away on Ile de la Cite – the truly majestic Notre-Dame de Paris.
The most famous Gothic style cathedral from the Middle Ages pretty much has celebrity status, and although Mark prefers York Minster in England (bit of hometown bias!), it’s hard to ignore how special this building really is – history, literature, craftsmanship and even a modern emotional connection after the fire.
Despite all the construction we were able to get this photo from the Seine
Luckily, we went inside Notre-Dame back in May 2018 during our first trip to Paris as newlyweds just beginning our 18 month trip around the world. Then of course a year later in April 2019 it burned down, and it didn’t reopen until December 8th, 2024 so we didn’t make it back inside on any of our subsequent trips to the city – including our most recent visit in July 2024.
The good news for you is that Notre-Dame’s main cathedral is open, but the even better news is the towers also reopened on September 19th, 2025. The stained glass windows have been cleaned after centuries of dirt and grime, so visitors now get a fresh Notre-Dame de Paris version 2.0. We can’t wait to go back and see it again.
This was the best front-on view we could get of Notre-Dame in November 2023
During our trip in November 2023, we sat on a temporary staircase outside the cathedral admiring its intricate architecture and stone masonry, before heading down below into the Crypte Archeologique de l’Ile de la Cite to see centuries of remains from underneath Notre Dame. It costs €11 for adults, free for under 18’s. We enjoyed it but wouldn’t say it’s one you must do, especially now the cathedral is open again.
Mark’s insider planning tip: It’s free to go inside Notre-Dame’s main cathedral, but we remember how ridiculously long the line was from our 2018 visit. Instead of waiting in line, book a free time slot reservation in advance to skip the line and walk straight in. Time slots open within 48 hours – so if it’s Thursday you can book tickets on Tuesday, Wednesday or even on the day if there are any left.
Tower tickets: €16 for adults, free for under 18’s and EU nationals 18-25. Tickets for the tower are not sold on site, they must be bought in advance on this official website. We just checked availability and it looks like they release tickets for almost 2 months ahead of time. It’s worth keeping tabs on when tickets are released for your dates of travel, get in early and book a 3:30 PM time slot for the towers.
Stop 7: Dinner & Drinks In Le Marais (5:00 PM)
After Notre-Dame and the crypt, we’d cross the Pont d’Arcole into Le Marais (the 3rd and 4th arrondissements) which is the old-world medieval part of Paris with narrow streets and tons of great places to eat. If you need recommendations for dinner, we love Au Bourguignon du Marais for a beef bourguignon and Robert et Louise for a two person steak (they’re both a bit fancier and pricier but excellent).
We’d have no real plan for walking around The Marais. In our experience, the best thing to do here is slowly amble around and enjoy the maze-like streets. We’d allow ourselves to relax after completing this hectic but amazing 48 hours in Paris, and we’d probably take a quick pit stop at Stolly’s for a beer or Divvino Marais for a glass of wine in their hidden basement, before calling it a night.
Kristen walking through Le Marais during our November 2023 trip
Kristen’s top foodie tour options: If you’d rather skip some of the attractions on day 2 and take a food or wine tour instead, Le Marais is the place to do it. Next time we visit Paris, we will 100% take one or two of these tours:
Alternatively, you could take this top rated food tour with Viator in Notre-Dame at 5:00 PM instead of going into Le Marais after the towers. This would fit into our itinerary and you could then go for drinks in Le Marais before heading back to your hotel.
Adapting The Second Day: Two Inviting Options
We designed our 2 day itinerary to be easy, efficient, attraction-heavy and as walkable as possible. But we’re acutely aware of the two major omissions we left out of the itinerary – Montmartre and the Palace of Versailles. We love both, but adding either into day 2 means significantly adapting your plans, and as a result you’d end up having to skip major attractions or other neighborhoods.
Kristen walking through the lovely streets of Montmartre
Montmartre would be the easier of the two to take a quick side trip. You’d need to take a metro (likely with a transfer) because the 18th arrondissement is way up on the north side of the city. We spent 2 nights in Montmartre during our November 2023 trip and honestly loved the cobbled streets and romantic atmosphere – but not so much the hills!
The Sacre-Coeur in Montmartre is also amazing (we paid €8 each to go up to the dome and it was worth it), but fitting it in with just 2 days would mean cutting other things out. If you really want to see Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur, keep day 1 in tact, but skip some of day 2 – maybe the Pantheon and Luxembourg Gardens? Or skip the cafe culture in Saint-Germain and evening vibe in Le Marais?
Kristen walking through the grounds of the Palace of Versailles
Adding in the Palace of Versailles is a different beast altogether. We did it in November 2023 and it was amazing, but it took us a good 8 hours roundtrip with transport along with fully exploring the palace and grounds. So essentially, you’d lose most of one of your two days.
If you simply can’t miss it, read our guide on taking a day trip to the Palace of Versailles from Paris. To summarize, here’s how we did it:
- Booked our Palace of Versailles tickets in advance (for the 9:30 AM time slot – €24 each)
- Took the RER C train to Versailles Château Rive Gauche
- Walked 10-15 minutes to the main palace entrance
- Explored the entire grounds and had lunch on site
- Took the RER C train back to Paris around 3:00 PM
Mark’s guided tour tip: If you don’t want to deal with figuring out trains, tickets and audio guides yourself, book a top rated guided tour like this one that includes transport, entry and guided tour of the palace grounds – or this one that has the same perks but explores the palace by bike.
Route Map
Map key:
- Red – Day 1 attractions
- Blue – Day 2 attractions
How to use this map: Click the map above to activate, then tap any icon to see more information. See a list of all attractions by clicking the arrow icon in the top left, or see a full version of the map by clicking the “view larger map” icon in the top right. When you’re in Paris you can open the map, tap the next place you want to visit and get directions. Attractions for both days on the map are listed in order, so you can easily follow the route.
How to save this map: Click the small star next to the map title – this will add the map to your Google account. Open your Google Maps app, tap “saved”, then tap “maps” and open this map.
Budgeting & Expenses
Wondering how much all these attractions are going to cost? Let’s take a look at exactly how much we’d spend by following this exact itinerary – not including food or hotels (all prices are per adult):
- Eiffel Tower – €36.10
- Arc de Triomphe – €16
- Musee d’Orsay – €16 (+ €6 audio guide)
- Louvre – €22 (+ €6 audio guide)
- Seine cruise – €15
- Sainte-Chapelle – €19 (+ €3 audio guide)
- Pantheon – €16 (+ €4 audio guide)
- Notre-Dame Tower – €16
Total attractions cost: €175.10 per adult
If that sounds like it’s not going to work for your budget, start by buying cheaper Eiffel Tower tickets. Remember, you could buy 2nd floor only with steps for €14.50, 2nd floor only with lift for €23.10, or summit with steps to 2nd floor for €27.50 to make it cheaper.
Our next step to saving more money would be to cut the Pantheon. Finally, we would skip audio guides at Sainte-Chapelle and Musee d’Orsay. Keep the audio guide at the Louvre, it’s essential (unless you book a guided tour which would be more expensive but much better).
Mark at the Louvre early morning before the crowds arrived
Paris Attraction Passes
Have you ever paid for a pass that bundles attractions for a discounted rate? As travel experts, we’ve used them in most major cities around the world and they do work when used correctly. During our November 2023 trip to Paris, we each used a Go City Paris pass and a Tiqets Attraction Bundle. We haven’t used a Paris Museum Pass yet.
Here’s how much you could save by using each of the three passes and following our 2 day itinerary:
Go City – In order to visit all the attractions we include in this guide, you’d need to buy the “All-Inclusive Pass Plus” 2-day ticket for €179. That works out more expensive than doing all the sites individually and that isn’t taking into account extras for audio guides. For slower travelers this isn’t going to work. However, if you feel like you can go faster than our itinerary, this pass does include tons more attractions you could visit, which would end up giving you better value for money (Orangerie Musum, Army Museum, Picasso Museum, Rodin Museum and La Conciergerie are all included). Use this exact link to Go City Paris and add MORGANS5 as a promo code at checkout to get our 5% discount on your entire order.
Tiqets – We actually used the Paris & Versailles Bundle which included the Louvre, Palace of Versailles and Seine cruise for around €57 each. The total cost of those three attractions is €61, so we saved €4 each. But we’ve done the math, and for this itinerary it’s not cost effective to buy any of the passes from Tiqets.
Paris Museum Pass – You’d need to buy the 2 day pass for €70. It includes Arc de Triomphe, Musee d’Orsay, Louvre, Pantheon and Sainte-Chapelle. So you’d need to buy individual tickets for Eiffel Tower, Seine cruise and Notre-Dame tower. Let’s say you did the cheaper Eiffel Tower steps and lift combo for €27.50 plus €31 for the cruise and tower, that makes €128.50 – add in €19 for all the audio guides for a total of €147.50 and a saving of €27.60 vs buying individual tickets. Plus, it includes more museums and attractions not included in our itinerary for faster travelers who want to squeeze more in. Here’s the official site to buy tickets.
Kristen’s pass comparison: Figuring out attractions, passes and prices is one of Kristen’s favorite things to do when we travel. Read our comparison of the Paris attraction passes to learn more about which pass is best for you.
Kristen at the summit of the Eiffel Tower
Mistakes To Avoid
Not buying advanced tickets – With just two days in the city, you can’t afford to lose time waiting in lines to get into museums or attractions. We strongly urge you to book all tickets and time slots as soon as they’re released so you can keep this itinerary as efficient as possible. Just one missed time slot could force you to completely re-adjust your plans.
Staying in the wrong location – The most efficient place to book a hotel to follow our itinerary is in the 1st, 2nd or 4th arrondissements which are close to the majority of attractions. These areas have easy access to metro links and links to the airports. Staying anywhere else means you’ll either lose time walking further or spend more time on metros. Here’s our guide on the best arrondissements to stay in Paris if you want to learn more.
Taking too many metros – Our top tip for visiting major cities like London, Rome, New York City or Tokyo is always to walk as much as possible because it’s the best way to see a place, especially on a shorter trip. We carefully planned our days so we could walk an efficient route to attractions and arrondissements, avoiding the metro unless absolutely essential.
Visiting on Monday or Tuesday – Our itinerary works perfectly for a Wednesday and Thursday or a Friday and Saturday trip. But a weekend break to Paris will still work well enough. The key aspect here is that the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay (plus the Palace of Versailles if you add it in) close on Mondays or Tuesdays, along with many other attractions and even restaurants too. These early weekdays make planning much more challenging, so skip them if you can.
Next Steps
We hope our itinerary helps with planning your first visit to Paris.
Don’t forget you can book a travel planning video call with us if you’d like our expert help organizing your first trip to the city. We can answer any questions you have or adapt our itinerary to suit your travel style.
Still researching for your trip?
Finally, if you’ll be visiting more places on the same trip, we recommend reading our France travel guide for more helpful tips and advice.
Happy Travels,
Mark and Kristen
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Mark and Kristen spent 6 years traveling the world, visiting over 40 countries across 4 continents and more than 30 US states. They created Where Are Those Morgans in 2018 to help others plan the best possible vacations by writing authentic travel and hiking guides based on their real experiences.
Since the arrival of baby Maya in late 2024, Mark and Kristen’s extensive travels have slowed down but they still take plenty of trips. Where Are Those Morgans now helps millions of travelers each year to visit new places and hike new trails through information-packed blog posts and expert travel guidebooks. Read more about Mark and Kristen.
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