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: Enjoy the Trocadéro scene and a twilight ride up the Eiffel Tower.
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: Cruise the Seine River, take Paris Vision's night-time Illumination bus tour, or follow Rick's Paris guidebook's Floodlit Paris Taxi Tour.
Day 3
Morning: Ride the RER suburban train out to Versailles (tour the château and sample the gardens).
Afternoon: Follow the book's Marais Walk.
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 video orientation), and end your day enjoying the glorious rooftop view at Galleries Lafayette department store.
Evening: Cruise the Seine River.
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 (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 by 8:00 to arrive early at Versailles (before it opens at 9:00). Tour the palace's interior.
Midday: Have lunch in the Gardens at Versailles.
Afternoon: Spend the afternoon touring the Gardens and the Domaine de Marie-Antoinette.
Evening: Have dinner in Versailles town or return to Paris. For dessert, follow Rick's Paris guidebook's Floodlit Paris Taxi Tour.
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: Tour the Pompidou Center 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
Bus #69 tour from Rick's guidebook, followed by Père Lachaise Cemetery
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 Reims
Day trip to Disneyland Paris
Evening: Night bus or boat tour (whichever you have yet to do)
Updated for 2010. 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.