Planning on visiting France? Then it is a no brainer that the French capital, Paris is on your list! This elaborate 2-day Paris itinerary is perfect for first-time or returning visitors trying to experience the best that the city has to offer.
City of Love, Paris has it ALL – the beautiful architectures, history as a centre for novel art, fashion, and an abundance of romantic Parisian cafes offering mouthwatering desserts.
Paris is ALWAYS a good idea!
Last year, my boyfriend and I visited Paris for 2 days. I am from Toulouse and have visited Paris several times. But, it was his first time in France so I wanted to ensure that we make the most out of it.
Paris offers so much to visitors that it may require a few lifetimes to see it all. Even if you live in Paris, you’d still be discovering a hidden treasure every now and then.
That said, a well-planned itinerary can unravel the magic of this city that you have so far only seen in the movies or read in the books.
Getting Around Paris
Paris is HUGE – it is divided into twenty arrondissements (or zones); each having a special touch of its own! Fortunately, Paris is a very well connected city (as one would expect) and we have a few options for getting around.
Arriving from the Charles de Gaulle (CDG) Airport: There are several means to get from the airport to the city. The most economical ones are RER B (10.30€) and the airport shuttles like Le Bus Direct (12€ to 21€ depending on the route). You can always take a Taxi/Uber but the price can be a little steep… minimum of 50€.
Moving in and around the city: Like in most European cities, walking is the best way to explore Paris. But, you can use the local public transportation RATP to save time and rest those feet. They offer a T+ ticket (1.90€ for single ticket, packs of 10 preferable) that can be used to travel by all the public means of transportation namely metro, train, buses, and tram. You can purchase them directly at the metro stations.
Itinerary for 2 DAYS in Paris
Before we get into the details I’d like to warn you that this is a pretty tight schedule and will require a lot of walking at times! Don’t worry if you cannot cover it all, enjoy the French culture, the cafes and ease up on visiting the landmarks (per your interests). After all, it’s a VACATION!
That said, if you visit the landmarks in the order listed below, you will save up on a lot of commute time and hence reap the most out of this 2-day trip to Paris.
DAY 1
Musée du Louvre
Musée du Louvre, with its captivating glass pyramids, is the largest art museum in the world!! Whether you appreciate art or not, this place is a must-visit to simply wow at its architectural grandeur. The iconic Mona Lisa and her enigmatic smile is a permanent resident at the Louvre. On an average day, one has to wait for ~1.5 hours in a queue to get a 10 seconds glimpse of this marvelous painting.
We chose an Airbnb that was just a 7-minute walk to the Louvre. Try to start your day early as early mornings are least crowded and you can manage to get those stunning pictures without random photobombs.
Notre-Dame Cathedral & Sainte Chapelle
Notre Dame Cathedral is one of Paris’ most popular religious marvels and was considered to be one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture.
Unfortunately, the tragic fire in April 2019 parched the beautiful top of the Cathedral making it unavailable for visits for the foreseeable future.
Regardless, it is worth a visit especially with Sainte Chapelle nearby.
It takes most tourists multiple visits to Paris before they actually go inside this royal Gothic-style chapel which I would describe as the prettiest church that I have ever visited. Now that we can’t go inside Notre Dame, this nearby gem is a must-visit. The moment you walk inside, you will be left stunned by the colorful stained glass windows running from the floor to the high ceiling of the chapel.
For lunch, you can stop by at this gorgeous Parisian cafe nearby – Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole. It has a quaint and lovely view from the outside & a cozy yet luxurious feel on the inside. Also, it’s great for your Instagram feed. 😉
Montmartre
Montmartre is an area that has historically been one of the most artistic districts in the city. Perched on the top of a hill with cobbled streets and bistros, it artists a very buzzing colorful area.
Rue Foyatier is a street in Montmartre, rather one giant set of stairs. One of the most famous streets in Paris, it comprises of 222 stairs and has a 100m staircase (longest of all Montmartre’s staircases). It runs from the bottom of the hill and up to the Sacré-Cœur.
Phew! That was certainly a climb but all worth it when you see the magnificent La Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre on top of the hill.
Sacré-Cœur
The Basilica of the sacred heart of Paris, commonly knows as Sacré-Cœur is the third highest point in Paris, standing tall at the summit of the Butte Montmartre! This is a perfect viewpoint to watch a beautiful sunset with the hues scattered all over the City of Love!
The lush greenery it encompasses is in abundance and makes for an amazing picnic spot with tons of local artists playing instruments and dancing! *Some free entertainment never hurts*😉
For those who do not enjoy hiking up the stairs there is a fun funicular called “Funiculaire de Montmartre’- it is a short 1 minute 30 seconds ride up to the Sacré-Cœur church.
Do you enjoy cliches? With at least 700,000 metal padlocks (love-locks) on the railings of Pont des Arts, it’s no wonder that Paris is known as the city of love.
Unfortunately due to the heavyweight of these locks a section of the railing came crashing down and thus this bridge now remains closed.
However this does not stop the love birds from attaching a lock to other significant railings like here at Sacré-Cœur right in front of the church.
Le mur des je t’aime – Wall Of Love
Wall Of Love is a 40 square meter art installation that found a permanent home on the hillside neighbourhood of Montmartre. There are approximately 311 phrases on the wall in total, spanning across just over 250 different languages. It’s quite a special thing to stand near the wall and observe the many different people from around the world gazing up at the 600 tiles, all attempting to spot their own language.
It is now time to relax…take a coffee break you deserve it! We halted at this cute pink cafe called La Maison Rose – do stop by it’s very Instagram friendly!
Moulin Rouge
Looking for your Marilyn Monroe moment in Paris? You’ve reached the right place – look for the vent opposite the street from Moulin Rouge. Moulin Rouge hosts some of the most popular cabaret shows which happen inside an over 100-year old Belle Epoque-style theatre. Even if you don’t plan on watching a show, its fun to visit just for the surrounding atmosphere.
Galeries Lafayette Haussmann
Often considered as the Parisian wonderland for shoppers, Galeries Lafayette is an upmarket French department store chain. To add the icing on the cake there is an ice skating ring on their rooftop with an amazing backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. We were fortunate to be visiting during the Christmas season because this place is so decked up, with a gigantic hanging well-decorated Christmas tree!! So well LIT and glittery that we were taken in awe of this place!
We grabbed dinner at a local restaurant nearby and headed home. It was a long day but a very interesting one! We slept well before midnight to wake up fresh for the most-awaited Eiffel Tower!
DAY 2
Eiffel Tower – Trocadéro, Champ de Mars
The beautiful Iron Lady can be seen from several spots in the city, and you must have already seen her towering over the skyline as you wandered around Paris. But, nothing really compares when you are staring at her upfront from Trocadero or looking up from underneath at Champ de Mars.
I love the view from Trocadéro particularly in the mornings when the sun rises up from behind the Eiffel Tower, filling the sky with candy colors. Also, you are most likely to skip the buzzing crowds of tourists in the morning.
On a side note, this place now holds a very special place in our hearts since Ankur’s surprise marriage proposal!
Getting back to our itinerary, you can either choose to take the metro or walk up to to the park Champ de Mars, which boasts wide green lawns that are perfect for a picnic right under the Eiffel. If you plan on going to the top of the Eiffel, I strongly recommend you buy the tickets in advance to avoid the long cumbersome queues.
For a better view of the city skyline (with Eiffel in it), my recommendation is going to the top of the Montparnasse Tower which is scheduled for later today.
Now is a good time to grab some brunch at one of the nearby cafes. There are plenty of options to choose from. You can also pack your food and enjoy it sitting on the green lawns under the Eiffel Tower.
Seine River Cruise
If you start walking further, you’ll see the Seine River – a famous 777-kilometer-long river flowing from east to west through the heart of the city dividing the Left Bank and Right Bank.
The Banks of the Seine are often seen as the beaches of Paris. The locals love to relax and have a drink here especially during the spring/summer season. It serves as a perfect spot for a romantic stroll with many a times artists providing a beautiful melody in the background. However, if you don’t fancy walking you can always hop on board a Seine River Cruise. Just sit back, relax, and absorb the spectacles of the city from the river, usually accompanied by a guided narrative.
Pont Alexander III
Along the river there are about thirty-seven bridges! Yes that is indeed a lot of bridges, but most popular among tourists is The Pont Alexander III.
This bridge connects Invalides on the left bank and the Grand Palais on the right bank. As it is located within the Champs-Élysées quarter, it has stunning views of major landmarks. It is considered to be one of the most ornate bridges in the city…très élégant!
Champs-Élysées & Arc de Triomphe
A short 10-minute walk from the bridge gets us to Champs-Élysées, where you will discover how this city dictates fashion to the entire world.
With Arc de Triomphe on one end and Place de la Concorde on the opposite end, it portrays a lovely picture postcard. You should definitely take a walk on this 2-kilometer avenue which serves as a residence to many high-end luxury brands, the moderately priced brands, amazing fragrance boutiques, and some excellent restaurants as well.
Start walking towards the west-end to see the magnificent Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile.
It is an iconic place that pays homage to soldiers and generals who sacrificed their lives for France. You can go all the way to the top of the Arc de Triomphe (a climb of 280 steps) and get the panoramic views of the bustling city. Within the structure, there is a museum worth visiting as well if you are curious to know more about it’s history.
Montparnasse Tower
The Montparnasse Tower Observation deck is an outdoor panoramic terrace on the 56th floor that you can reach in 38 seconds using Europe’s fastest elevator. Arrive before sunset to watch the orange hues of setting sun followed by the shimmery lights of “Paris by Night”. It also has a cafe inside if you want to grab a bite.
Once again I would like to remind you to buy the tickets beforehand.
Louvre at Night
If you are like me, you will not want to leave Paris without watching the magnificence of the lit Pyramids at Musée du Louvre!
Sip a glass of wine and/or dine at Le Café Marly as you sink into the architectural marvel of your surroundings.
And just like that, it was time to bid adieu to this beautiful city! Although we have now scratched the most iconic landmarks of Paris in just 2 days, your heart will still be craving for more.
Remember…
Paris is ALWAYS a good idea!
Itinerary on Google Map
I know there’s a lot to track! As always, I have added all the points of interest on Google Maps as per the itinerary above (color-coded by day). You can easily refer to it during your trip – simply copy the link or favorite it.
Essential Tips For Visiting Paris
If you are planning to visit multiple top attractions, I highly recommend buying a Paris Pass or Go Paris Pass which can give you free entry to a choice of up to 60+ top Paris attractions (depending on the pass you choose) including Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Seine River Cruise, etc. You also get free, unlimited use of public transport inside central Paris and you get to skip the line!
Where to Stay
- Airbnbs (or budget Hotels): As you would expect, there are several good hotels in the city. But, why not stay like a local in an Airbnb with those marvelous French windowed apartments and balconies just like the ones you see in the movies. If you book early, you might as well get one with a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower at a reasonable price.
| Airbnb | Suitable for |
| Beautiful duplex | Couples |
| Charming Studio | Group of 4 |
| The Iron Lady | Luxurious |
| Top Floor Apartment | Couples |
- Luxurious Hotels: Paris has a lot of boutique-style hotels that can give you an opulent comfort and sumptuous ambiance along with a sick view. Here are a few very popular high-end hotels if you want to indulge in some upscale rentals!
| Hotel | Arrondissements |
| Hyatt Paris | 17th |
| Hotel Balzac Paris | 8th |
| Hotel Eiffel Trocadéro | 16th |
| Shangri-La | 16th |
| Le Meurice | 1st |
| Hotel Plaza Athénée | 8th |
We stayed at this Airbnb which is very centrally located in the 1st arrondissement and 7 minutes walk from the Louvre (and metro). If you are not looking into a luxurious stay, I would recommend you do something similar to save yourself both time and money.
Oh Crêpe! Where To Eat?
French take their food seriously… its an ART in itself! Some of the most famous and known French cuisine include the oh so famous Baguette, Croissants, the many varieties of French Cheese (and Wine) they have to go hand in hand 😛, the classic Foie Gras and Duck, Cassoulet and Coq au vin. Bon Appétit!
Got a sweet tooth like me? It’s time to gobble up those mouth-watering French desserts. Just thinking about it makes me salivate. 😋 Do try out the macarons at Sadaharu Aoki and Pierre Herme. They are also popularly known as the Picasso of Pastry and master extraordinaire of macarons!
Fancy a beautiful romantic date with your love? The City of Love offers tons of options but below are my top recommendations.
- Brunch date at Café de l’Homme with a stunning up-close view up of the Iron Lady.
- Date night at 58 Tour Eiffel Restaurant inside the glittery Eiffel Tower.
- Parisian cafe date at Au Vieux Paris d’Arcole which is a very chic, elegant cafe (bliss for Instagrammers!) close to Notre Dame.
I hope the above itinerary comes in handy when you are ready to visit Paris! All information shared is from my first-hand travel experience and research. Feel free to leave any questions or feedback that you might have.
Looking for more travel inspirations? You’ll like some of my other travel guides!
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4 Comments
parikhit dutta
May 5, 2020 at 5:04 amParis is a city that I can never get enough of 🙂
Pınar Vural
May 5, 2020 at 9:44 am👍
Stuart Forster
June 5, 2020 at 1:42 amParis is a city that I’d love to return to after the lockdown is lifted. You’ve listed some of the attractions I want to visit when I explore the city. Thanks!
Ankur Khemani
June 24, 2020 at 3:52 amHopefully that happens soon and glad you found the guide useful!