Paris in One to Seven Days
Rick's sightseeing highlights
By Rick Steves
Many people fall in love with Paris. Some see the essentials and flee, overwhelmed by the big city. With the proper approach, you'll fall head over heels for Europe's capital city. The day plans below — for visits of one to seven days — will help you prioritize the many sights.
Paris in One, Two, or Three Busy Days
Sights are listed in descending order of importance. If you have only one day, just do Day 1 (below); for two days, add Day 2. If you want to fit in Versailles on a three-day visit, try the afternoon of the second day (easier) or the third day.
Day 1
Morning: Follow Historic Paris Walk from Rick's Paris guidebook, featuring Ile de la Cité, Notre-Dame, Latin Quarter, and Sainte-Chapelle.
Afternoon: Tour the Louvre.
Evening: Cruise the Seine River, take the "Paris Illumination" nighttime bus tour, or follow the book's "Floodlit Paris Taxi Tour" (in the Nightlife chapter).
Day 2
Morning: Follow the book's Champs-Elysées Walk from the Arc de Triomphe down the grand avenue des Champs-Elysées to Tuileries Garden.
Midday: Cross the pedestrian bridge from the Tuileries Garden, then tour the Orsay Museum.
Afternoon: Tour the Rodin Museum or Napoleon's Tomb, or visit Versailles (take the RER suburban train direct from Orsay).
Evening: Enjoy the Trocadéro scene and a twilight ride up the Eiffel Tower.
Day 3
Morning: Follow the book's Marais Walk.
Afternoon: Stay in the Marais and tour your choice of sights: the Picasso Museum, Carnavalet Museum, Pompidou Center, or Jewish Art and History Museum. (Or visit Versailles, if you haven't already.)
Evening: Take the book's Montmartre Walk, featuring the Sacré-Coeur basilica.
Paris in Five to Seven Days without Going In-Seine
Day 1
Morning: Follow Historic Paris Walk from Rick's Paris guidebook, featuring Ile de la Cité, Notre-Dame, Latin Quarter, and Sainte-Chapelle. If you enjoy medieval art, visit the Cluny Museum.
Afternoon: Tour the Opéra Garnier (English tours available), consider the Paris Story film (for a good video orientation), and end your day enjoying the glorious rooftop view at Galleries Lafayette department store.
Evening: Cruise the Seine River, take the "Paris Illumination" nighttime bus tour, or follow the book's "Floodlit Paris Taxi Tour" (in the Nightlife chapter).
Day 2
Reversing the morning and afternoon activities on this day also works well, because the Champs-Elysées Walk leaves you near the Louvre — but most people have more energy for museums in the morning.
Morning: Tour the Louvre (arrive 20 min before opening). Have lunch or coffee at Café le Nemours.
Afternoon: Follow the book's Champs-Elysées Walk from the Arc de Triomphe downhill along the incomparable avenue de Champs-Elysées to the Tuileries Garden and possibly the Orangerie Museum.
Evening: Enjoy dinner on Ile St. Louis, then a floodlit walk by Notre-Dame.
Day 3
Morning: Tour the Orsay Museum (arrive 15 min before opening).
Midday: Tour the Rodin Museum (picnic or café lunch in its gardens).
Afternoon: Visit Napoleon's Tomb, then take the book's Rue Cler Walk and relax at Café du Marché.
Evening: Take the book's Montmartre Walk, featuring the Sacré-Cœur basilica.
Day 4
Morning: Catch the RER suburban train and arrive early (no later than 9:00) at Versailles. Tour the palace's interior.
Midday: Have lunch on Versailles' market square.
Afternoon: Take the shortcut from the market square to Versailles' gardens, and visit the Domaine de Marie-Antoinette. Return to Paris with some time for shopping.
Evening: Shop and enjoy a leisurely dinner .
Day 5
Morning: Follow the Marais Walk from Rick's Paris guidebook and tour the Carnavalet Museum. Lunch at a restaurant on the place des Vosges or on rue des Rosiers.
Afternoon: Depending on your interest, tour two of the following three sights: the Pompidou Center, Picasso Museum, and the Jewish Art and History Museum.
Evening: Enjoy the Trocadéro scene and a twilight ride up the Eiffel Tower.
Day 6
Morning: Take an Impressionist escape to Giverny or Auvers-sur-Oise.
Afternoon: Follow Rick's Paris guidebook Left Bank Walk (featuring art galleries, boutiques, and grand boulevards), mix in some shopping, then relax in the Luxembourg Garden or at a nearby café.
Evening: Join the parade along the Champs-Elysées (which offers a different scene at night than the daytime walk you enjoyed on Day 2). If you haven't hiked to the top of the Arc de Triomphe yet, consider doing it by twilight.
Days 7
Choose from:
More shopping and cafés
Montmartre and Sacré-Coeur (by day)
Marmottan or Jacquemart-André Museums
Day trip to Chartres
Day trip to Vaux-le-Vicomte and Fontainebleau
Day trip to Disneyland Paris
Evening: Night bus or boat tour (whichever you have yet to do)
Updated for 2008. For lots more information, check out our best-selling Rick Steves' Paris guidebook — or join us on one of our free-spirited tours in Paris.